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How to remove duplicate contacts in Google Contacts

4 min read

Google Contacts can merge duplicate contacts. If the same person appears twice in one Google account, Google can suggest a merge.

It does not merge contacts from different Google accounts. It does not touch the same person in Outlook or Apple Contacts.

Below are Google's steps on a computer and on an Android phone. They start with a backup and end with what Google's tool can't do.

How Google Contacts handles duplicate contacts

Google calls its tool Merge & fix.

  • It shows suggestions for duplicate contacts in one Google account.
  • You accept one suggestion or all of them.
  • You can also pick two or more contacts yourself and merge them.
  • Google does not merge on its own. Nothing merges until you click.

How to remove duplicate contacts in Google Contacts

Export a backup first. In Google Contacts on a computer, select all your contacts. At the top right, click More actions, then Export, and choose Google CSV.

Google also keeps your recent changes. If a merge goes wrong, click Settings at the top right, then Undo changes. You can go back up to 30 days.

These are Google's steps. Both ways work inside one Google account.

On a computer:

  1. Go to Google Contacts.
  2. At the top left, click Menu, then Merge & fix.
  3. If you do not see Merge duplicates, you have no contacts to merge.
  4. To accept one or more suggestions, click Merge. To accept all of them, click Merge all.

To choose the contacts yourself:

  1. Go to Google Contacts.
  2. Hover over each profile picture or monogram of the contacts you want. Check the box.
  3. At the top right, click the merge icon.

On an Android phone or tablet:

  1. Open the Contacts app.
  2. At the top right, select the Google account that has the duplicates.
  3. At the bottom, tap Fix & manage, then Merge & fix.
  4. Tap Merge duplicates. If you do not see it, you have no contacts to merge.
  5. To accept one suggestion, tap Merge. To accept all of them, tap Merge all at the bottom of the screen.

To choose the contacts yourself:

  1. Open the Contacts app.
  2. At the top right, tap More, then Select.
  3. Choose the contacts you want to merge.
  4. At the top right, tap More, then Merge.

Google also says you can separate a contact that you merged.

Where Google Contacts stops

One Google account at a time. Google's help page says: "You can't merge contacts that are saved in different Google Accounts." The same person in your work and personal Google accounts stays as two contacts. To merge them, read how to merge contacts across accounts.

No other services. The tool works inside Google Contacts. If the same person is in Outlook or Apple Contacts, those contacts stay as they are.

You accept each suggestion. Google does not merge on its own.

Merge across Google accounts with ContactZapp

Take Jonathan Miller. He is "Jonathan Miller" in your work Google account and "Jon Miller" in your personal one. In Outlook he is "J. Miller". All 3 have the same phone number.

Google, workJonathan Millerjmiller@work.example.com · +1 555 0102
Google, personalJon Millerjon@example.com · +1 555 0102
MicrosoftJ. Miller+1 555 0102
Same person, same phone number
One contact, in all 3 accountsJonathan Millerjmiller@work.example.comjon@example.com+1 555 0102
3 contacts for Jonathan Miller, in 3 accounts, become one contact.

Merge & fix can't help, because the 3 contacts are in 3 accounts. ContactZapp finds duplicates within one account and across accounts. The shared phone number puts all 3 in one group. You merge once. The merged contact keeps both email addresses, and it is sent to all 3 accounts. You can undo the merge for 12 months.

See how merging across accounts works, or the questions about merging.

FAQ

Can Google Contacts merge duplicates from different accounts? No. Google's help page says: "You can't merge contacts that are saved in different Google Accounts." Each Google account keeps its own copy of the person.

Does Google Contacts merge duplicates on its own? No. Google shows suggestions in Merge & fix. Nothing merges until you click Merge or Merge all.

Why don't I see Merge duplicates? Google shows Merge duplicates only when it has suggestions. If it isn't there, Google found no duplicates in that account. You can still select 2 or more contacts and merge them yourself.

Can I undo a merge in Google Contacts? Yes. Google says you can separate a contact that you merged. You can also go to Settings › Undo changes and go back up to 30 days. That undoes every change since the time you choose, not only the merge.

Can ContactZapp merge duplicates between Google and Outlook? Yes. ContactZapp finds the same person in both accounts. You merge once, and the merge is sent to both.