How to Copy Google Contacts from One Account to Another
Step 1: Prepare Your Accounts
Before you start the process of copying Google contacts from one account to another, make sure you have the following information ready:
- The Gmail account of the person whose contacts you want to copy
- The Gmail account of the recipient whose contacts you want to copy
- The Gmail account of the Google account that owns the contacts you want to copy (this account is not the one you want to copy the contacts from)
Step 2: Enable Google Contacts Sync
To copy Google contacts from one account to another, you need to enable Google Contacts Sync in the Google account that owns the contacts. Here’s how:
- Log in to the Google account that owns the contacts
- Go to Settings > Accounts and Import > Google Contacts
- Click on Enable Google Contacts Sync
- Make sure that the Sync contacts from other Google accounts option is selected
Step 3: Create a Backup of the Recipient’s Gmail Account
Before you start copying the contacts, make sure you have a backup of the recipient’s Gmail account. Here’s how:
- Log in to the recipient’s Gmail account
- Go to Settings > Accounts and Import > Google Contacts
- Click on Create a backup of your Google Contacts
- Save the backup as a .csv file
Step 4: Create a Backup of the Sender’s Gmail Account
Similarly, make sure you have a backup of the sender’s Gmail account. Here’s how:
- Log in to the sender’s Gmail account
- Go to Settings > Accounts and Import > Google Contacts
- Click on Create a backup of your Google Contacts
- Save the backup as a .csv file
Step 5: Copy the Contacts from the Sender’s Account
Now that you have a backup of the sender’s Gmail account, you can copy the contacts from the sender’s account to the recipient’s account. Here’s how:
- Log in to the recipient’s Gmail account
- Go to Settings > Accounts and Import > Google Contacts
- Click on Import contacts
- Select the .csv file you created in Step 3 as the source
- Click on Import contacts
- The contacts will be copied from the sender’s account to the recipient’s account
Step 6: Verify the Contacts
After copying the contacts, make sure they are verified by the recipient’s account. Here’s how:
- Log in to the recipient’s Gmail account
- Go to Settings > Accounts and Import > Google Contacts
- Click on Verify contacts
- Select the contacts you want to verify as the source
- Click on Verify contacts
- The recipient’s account will verify the contacts
Step 7: Remove the Backup
Once the contacts are verified, you can remove the backup of the sender’s Gmail account. Here’s how:
- Log in to the sender’s Gmail account
- Go to Settings > Accounts and Import > Google Contacts
- Click on Remove backup
- Confirm that you want to remove the backup
Tips and Variations
- You can also use the Google Contacts Sync feature to copy contacts from one account to another without creating a backup of the recipient’s account.
- If you want to copy contacts from a specific folder or label, you can use the Advanced search feature in the Google Contacts Sync settings.
- You can also use third-party tools to copy contacts from one account to another, such as Contact Importer or Google Contacts Sync.
Common Issues and Solutions
- Error 403: Forbidden: This error occurs when the recipient’s account is not configured to allow Google Contacts Sync. Try enabling Google Contacts Sync in the recipient’s account settings.
- Error 500: Internal Server Error: This error occurs when there is an issue with the Google Contacts Sync service. Try restarting the service or contacting Google support for assistance.
- Error 404: Not Found: This error occurs when the recipient’s account does not have a backup of the sender’s account. Try creating a backup of the sender’s account and then trying to copy the contacts again.
Conclusion
Copying Google contacts from one account to another is a straightforward process that requires some basic steps and precautions. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your contacts are copied safely and securely. Remember to always enable Google Contacts Sync in the Google account that owns the contacts, create a backup of the recipient’s account, and verify the contacts before copying them.