How change the default contact type from "Phone" to "Google"?

[alemito]

Hi all,
please let me announce this app that makes exactly this work: move contacts on device to one of your GMAIL accounts.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.ale.phone2google

Best regards
Ale

 

[Harpreet Singh Pannu]

Thanks for the option BUT it does not work.

 

[Convert2]

I have a solution - get a Moto X. My Moto X doesn't even have an Contact Type option of Phone. Adding a new contact defaults to Google. I thought all Android phones did this. However, I came across this when my wife just moved from an HTC One X to an LG G2. Neither of those phones has the option to set the default Contact Type for a new contact, and the default is Phone. What a major pain. When transferring contacts to the new phone, I thought no problem, just sync Google contacts, piece of cake, but all of the contacts didn't sync. She didn't realize that every new contact she added in her One X was being added to the phone only and not syncing to Google contacts. At least the One X has a built in solution under Phone Settings, Manage Contacts, you can copy from one account to another. Who designs these feeble contact apps where you can't change the default settings? Ridiculous!

 

[binarysolo123]

3 years later and I have this same problem as the original poster. When adding new contacts the default contact type is set to "Phone" and I want to change it to "Google". I have scoured the internet for every possible solution. The one commonly recommended fix is to uncheck the other contact types in the drop down when viewing the list of People, so only "Google" is displayed. I tried that, but I still get "Phone" as the default when adding a new contact. I tried restarting the phone after modifying the drop down fields, but it didn't change anything. I am about to pull my hair out.

I have an HTC One M8. Android version 4.4.2. HTC Sense version 6.0. Software number 1.55.605.2. Verizon service.

Please let me know if you know of any fix!!

 

[hybucket]

Let me add another to this long thread. I have added three new contacts to my CONTACTS (on S3) since I got 4.2.2. They added themselves as "phone" contacts as opposed to "G". Two questions:
How do I change them to "G" contacts, so they show up on my laptop's GMail?
How do I change the default to "G", as, when I put first put them in, it did not give me he option of where to put them?

 

[JustJinxed]

I ran across an older verizon LG, android version 2.2.2. Have to say none of the tricks worked to change the default storage of new contacts to google. Fairly certain they have picked up on this problem over time and fixed the UI. This phone in particular has a sub system install of "Backup Assistant" which insists that all contacts be saved to the phone by default. Annoying.

If it wasn't for the fact that someone just gave my aunt this phone, and she really likes the feel of it, I'd tell her to update it. Poor thing won't even handle ICS. *sigh* So for now, our only option is export phone contacts, copy merge all the vcard files into one, and then import them into gmail.

 

[mcefalu]

I had the same issue. I finally gave up trying to screw with it and just deleted the contact and added it back in with gmail selected. Who would ever develop something where you couldn't edit the storage location???

 

[hybucket]

Makes no sense not to be able to edit once saved..
I wound up exporting the contacts (whether they were Google or phone or SIM) to GMail on my computer, deleting them on the phone (went to the app and cleared the cache and the data), then let them re-sync to the phone. I just have to be careful when entering a new contact that I change the setting to Google before I save it.

 

[Andrew4096]

Makes no sense not to be able to edit once saved..
I wound up exporting the contacts (whether they were Google or phone or SIM) to GMail on my computer, deleting them on the phone (went to the app and cleared the cache and the data), then let them re-sync to the phone. I just have to be careful when entering a new contact that I change the setting to Google before I save it.

When performing this operation, contacts should be exported in vCard (.vcf) format to preserve street addresses, notes and thumbnail images. If you save to SIM and expect to get your data back, you'll cry a river of tears: Saving to SIM strips everything except the Name and Primary Phone Number. :'(

When re-importing from a vCard file, the phone should give you the option of which account you want to use — Phone, Gmail, etc. It won't let you use read-only accounts, such as Skype. Select Gmail and all imported contacts will get synchronized with your Gmail Contacts. In the alternative, create all contacts in Gmail Contacts with a browser running on a laptop or desktop machine. That way, you'll save your eyes and every contact you create will be a Gmail contact after it is synchronized with your phone.

 

[ItsMeTonyD]

Problem:
Contacts typed on phone do not go to computer gmail contacts.
Contacts typed on computer gmail contacts go to android.

Solution.
First, here is a sensible work process that I use.

My work process.
I want my contacts to be stored in my main gmail accounts.
(The solution will work if instead gmail you use other provider.)
That is to say, as soon as I type my new contact, it will go
into gmail contact list.
Here is how to achieve that.
On Android do:
1.
main | phone | contacts | +new contact | just UNDER the new contact
there is little triangle that if you touch that, it will be menu
allowing to select who will be hosting your contacts | I select gmail.
This way it will configure that any new contacts will be stored in gmail contacts.
2.
Then to see the right thing (only gmail contacts), do:
main | phone | contacts | menu | contacts to display choose gmail only.

Disclaimer:
If you want to use SIM to store some contacts and gmail to store other
contacts my solution is not applicable.
If you will use my work process, my solution works.
Note to Android designers of phone app, the triangle is a BAD idea, it should
be under menu option.

This worked great for me! By clicking on the triangle then choosing from the drop down menu I chose my Gmail account and now when I add a contact it defaults to this setting. Thanks, it was driving me nuts!!

 

[Don Nems]

Not sure if you got an answer. But I had the same problem and I've solved it.

1. Go to Contacts, then Display Options. De-select all options except Google account (under "Choose contacts to display").

2. Enter a new contact, choose Google under "Contact Type". Save contact.

3. Re-boot Phone.

Voila! This should work.

Using this as a starting point, I was able to set my Exchange server as the default location to create new contacts, which are then uploaded to my Exchange contacts list. I just changed the settings to only display Exchange contacts (by default) in my phone contacts, and now if I create a new contact, it defaults to my list of exchange contacts and when I add a new contact, it shows up in Exchange.

Thanks for your post.

 

[hrc54]

That worked for me! Thank you!!!!!
Now I just have to figure out why certain contacts from my email account keep coming up on my phone even after I've deleted them, they keep coming back :-

Yes!!!This is what worked for me! I didn't even have a triangle to drop down any sort of menu, but this gave me those options! Thank you!!

 

[John Bishop1961]

Contacts/Settings/Manage Contacts/Default Storage Location/Google

 

[9900Boldfan]

Contacts/Settings/Manage Contacts/Default Storage Location/Google

This is good for those who do not care about their privacy but for those that care about privacy just lost this option to save to device on new Google Pixel 2 devices. On new devices one can only save to Gmail unless unless one does not use Gmail or Google Maps app on Pixel 2 Device. An option to choose where one wishes to save their contacts and personal info would be nice. No option is not nice. $1000 smartphone with no option to save contacts to device is not good. I returned my device because of this.

 

[Dixit22]

Haven't seen this solution above. On my Samsung S4 running Android 5.0.1 I just discovered I can easily change all Phone contacts to Gmail contacts:

Contacts/Menu (virtual button to left of physical button)/Move device contacts to/Google

Allow your phone to sync with your Goggle account and you're done!