Question Guidance on contacts from multiple google accounts.

[bjamrok]

Hello all, first post here, so thanks in advance for your assistance. We are an android family (Galaxy S24s for my wife and I and Galaxy S23's for my kids)

I have my phone logged into my google account plus my kid's google accounts. I want the accounts logged in, mostly to use find device feature or occasionally check their email accounts. But the issue is that their phone contacts are now in my device. I want to remove their contacts from my device. I turned off contact sync on my phone for both of my kids accounts. So do I just delete the contacts from my phone? My fear is that if sync turns on, that it will delete all their contacts. Is that a possibility? Is there any way I can just turn off their contacts in my phone? It's hard when my wife shows up as "Mommy" and my Mother in Law comes up as Grandma... Either way, I'm looking for a solution that removes or turns off their contacts in my phone without disconnecting the account.

Thanks!

 

[SpookDroid]

In theory disabling Contact sync in your Google Account settings should remove it from your phone, but if that doesn't happen, let's check if they are, indeed, not being synced. Just open the Contacts app, tap the hamburger button on the left and select 'Manage contacts'. There turn off sync for your kids' accounts (if still being synced).

Additionally, if these contacts are still in your phone for whatever reason, you can 'turn them off'. Same app and Settings section, but this time just tap the top button (that should usually read 'All contacts'). There you can either select to see just your account's contacts or create a custom list that includes any other accounts but not your kids'.

 

[bjamrok]

In theory disabling Contact sync in your Google Account settings should remove it from your phone, but if that doesn't happen, let's check if they are, indeed, not being synced. Just open the Contacts app, tap the hamburger button on the left and select 'Manage contacts'. There turn off sync for your kids' accounts (if still being synced).

Additionally, if these contacts are still in your phone for whatever reason, you can 'turn them off'. Same app and Settings section, but this time just tap the top button (that should usually read 'All contacts'). There you can either select to see just your account's contacts or create a custom list that includes any other accounts but not your kids'.

So I love a good theory. To answer your question, when I followed your instructions, my kids account syncs were indeed turned off. In the interest of learning, I turned off all accounts that were synced and all of the contacts still remain.

 

[SpookDroid]

Have you tried forcing a new sync (with the kids' accounts disabled) just to see if that 'forces' the wipe? If you open your contacts on the web, are any of your kids' contacts showing up on your account?

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! After turning off the contact sync for those accounts, go to Settings>Apps, turn on the option to Show System, then select Contacts Storage. Clear that app's cache/data. Then open your Contacts app again and give it a few seconds to resync. It should only resync your own contacts from the cloud.

Be aware that if you have any contacts that are saved only to the local Phone account, those might be wiped out, so make sure to back those up beforehand.