Preventing contacts from syncing with Google

[OFFS]

Hello.

I was trying to figure out a way to not sync contacts with Google. Every time I try to save a contact, I get told that it's going to be sent to Google. I have CardDAV and CalDAV accounts that I use to sync this kind of data. I'm happy with the setup I have and don't want to manage my contacts through Google. And quite honestly, at this point I'm kind of mad that Google wants to force me to give them my contact's info. My old LG Motion phone allowed me to save contacts locally. That would be ideal.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ledfrog]

I've never tried this myself since I only sync to Google, but you may want to look in the accounts section of the phone settings. In there you'll find all the accounts synced to your phone. Once you click on the Google account in question, you should see an option to turn off syncing for contacts along with other things like calendar events.

If this doesn't work, maybe you can think of the sync to Google as a form of backing up your contacts?!

 

[OFFS]

Thanks for your response, ledfrog.

I think you're probably right. Turning off contact syncing in the accounts menu is probably the right answer. The weird thing is that even though I have that disabled, I still get the dialog window that says Google wants to EDITED BY MODERATOR and take my data. I can either accept or add another account. However, even after continuing, I don't think the contacts actually get sent over to Google's servers.

There is another way to get the Contacts app to save locally! The answer is to delete the Google account. However, this obviously has a lot of side effects. So, be careful. This might end up working for me though, since I don't really like or use many of the Google services.

(I keep my contacts and calendars in sync by using MY server; I don't want to use Google's.)

 

[Biggnaa20]

Ledfrog is right.

Go to Settings/accounts/google/"Email.Gmail.com/Uncheck Contacts (and whatever else you don't want synced).

You can control the majority of your syncing heartache here.

nb

 

[ledfrog]

I don't think the contacts actually get sent over to Google's servers.

You are correct about that. Plus, you can always verify by logging into that Google account and looking at the contacts through Gmail on your computer. If all has gone well, this list should be empty.

 

[ConTejas]

Yo OFFS...you left your tin foil hat on the floor

Just a bit of fun, no offense. Google does not sell off your contact etc. data "Facebook" style. They are upfront about it and always give you the option to opt-out. I flash a lot so Google's backup services are a huge convenience. Of course, I use multiple backup services just in case. I understand Android isn't really "free" and I'm perfectly fine with the tradeoff. Of course, that's just my opinion.

Privacy Policy ? Policies & Principles ? Google

 

[anon(847090)]

I dont see the big deal about syncing your contacts with Google. we have never seen a single person complain about their friend getting ads(heck not even a promotion email) from Google because they synced it. I dont think that Google is interested in your friends phone number to sell ads. that's not how it works.

I think you are very much paranoid.

 

[Jennifer Stough]

Lets not call people names, now, everyone has their own preferences.

OP, when you create a contact, does it give you the option to change the type? We obviously have different phones, but on my DNA running sense 5 I get an option to choose phone, SIM, or Google. Choosing phone or SIM should circumvent the reaping of that data. I have had this option on every phone I have had in the last two years.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using AC Forums mobile app

 

[anon(847090)]

Lets not call people names, now, everyone has their own preferences.

OP, when you create a contact, does it give you the option to change the type? We obviously have different phones, but on my DNA running sense 5 I get an option to choose phone, SIM, or Google. Choosing phone or SIM should circumvent the reaping of that data. I have had this option on every phone I have had in the last two years.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using AC Forums mobile app

its a sense feature. nexus only let you create contacts on Google account. but you can choose not to sync the data with Google server by disabling Contact sync(ie saving on phone).
SIm option is not at all available

 

[Jennifer Stough]

its a sense feature. nexus only let you create contacts on Google account. but you can choose not to sync the data with Google server by disabling Contact sync(ie saving on phone).
SIm option is not at all available

I see. Sounds like the disabling contact sync is the way to go. Thank you for sharing that.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using AC Forums mobile app

 

[iFebby]

If you really want to be sure I guess you can always delete or freeze the google contacts sync apk. Youd have to be rooted but im thinking that would stop any syncing with contacts to google.

Jennifer is right though. We all have our ways of who we share information with and how.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Jonny-S]

Unfortunately these suggestions don't work with my LG phone. I have a list of phone contacts which is what I prefer. Google automatically syncs them all despite all options turned off. The result: 1900 contacts, almost all are duplicates - one in phone, one in Google. Some are triple entries. I hate when programmers make things happen because they think you want it that way. Very annoying.

 

[TLCrom2]

I cut the google cord long ago. I use a local cloud that I run and I use WebDAV to sync Calendar and Contacts just to my own Could server. Google will NEVER get my info.

Here's how: Sync Android Contacts, Calendar, and Files to ownCloud | Super Library of Solutions

 

[Jazz_Precision]

I would like to add that this is NOT true. I have had to manually delete this damn google, and have had to re-add all of my contacts simply because google would not stop delving into my business. I have turned off all sync, and I am rather under the radar than most when it comes to cell phones. I have unsynced everything since I was forced to add a stupid google account just to use the store to download an app that I needed for work. After that, I decided to try and add an account to my phone, but it gave me that it "would be sent to google for backup, blah blah blah." So I went to delete the account, and all of my contacts in my phone went with it; even without it being synched. I do not appreciate being forced to do anything online, and especially not with google!