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How to transfer contacts from your Android device to PC

by Bill White 7 years ago

How to transfer contacts from your Android device to PC How to transfer contacts from your Android device to PC

Contacts can be transferred from Android smartphones to PC in two ways: the simpler and more straightforward method of using the handy Google synchronization feature, and the method that involves using specialized third-party data transfer tools. The later method is more suitable for more complex data synchronization tasks that involve transferring files or SMS messages as well, as the mere contacts' transferring task can be done a lot faster using Google's capabilities. But if you would rather avoid using Google's syncing to put your contacts to PC, then you can resort to using third-party apps.

1. Use Google synchronization

Your Google account can conveniently store all your contacts from your Android device, including real-time synchronization of newly added ones, making it easy to have your contacts always backed up on the Google servers and ready for being taken on a new phone.  In order to synchronize your contacts, add your Gmail account to the device and enable account synchronization, following these steps:

1. Go to the "Settings" of your Android device, then enter “Accounts and sync” section.
2. Tap the “Add account” button, “Google”, and the “Next” button.
3. To sign in, enter your Gmail login information. You can also create a new Gmail account if you don't have one: use the “Create” button instead and fill in the form.
4. The device will download the Gmail account’s information. Press on the “Sync Contacts” option and the “Finish” button.

On some devices, you can add new contacts directly to your Google account just by opening Settings and choosing the People app. Select "Google" as contact type and fill in the remaining details and click Done.

Now, you can access Gmail and your Google account from your PC and find the contacts imported from your Android phone.

2. Use specialized data transfer tools

There is plenty of such tools, so finding one shouldn't be a problem. Finding a high quality one is a bit harder, so here are a few recommendations that should help you make up your mind: Airmore (can be used both wirelessly and with a USB cable ), Moborobo (also known as Mobomarket, it can also be used both ways), SyncDroid (works with Android smartphones and iOS-based devices like iPhones, also called SynciOS).

All these 3 aforementioned apps offer really simple and intuitive methods of transferring contacts from Android devices to PCs, but I will show how it's done using Moborobo.

1. First, download and install the Moborobo app. Unlike other similar Android-to-PC data synchronization tools, this one also offers extensive file management capabilities and even the possibility to organize files, back up data, or download and install new games and apps.

2. Start the Moborobo app and then connect your Android device to the PC using a USB cable, unless you prefer choosing the wireless connection.

Not Connected YetNot Connected Yet

3. Make sure that your Android device has the "USB debugging" option enabled. To do this on devices with Android 4.2 or higher, go to the Settings of your Android phone, scroll down to the bottom and tap "About phone" or "About tablet", then scroll down to the bottom of the "About phone" and locate the "Build Number" field. Now, tap the "Build Number" field seven times to enable Developer Options. A message "You are now a developer!" will be shown when this part is complete. Press the Back button, and you'll see the Developer options menu under System on your Settings screen. Enable the USB Debugging mode by going to Developer Options in the Settings, then to USB Debugging, and checking the USB Debugging checkbox. While you're at it, go to Settings, then Security and check USB Unknown sources, as this should help ensure the Moborobo app works without problems.

4. The MoboDaemon component will be installed, and the Android device should be now properly connected and identified by the app.

ConnectedConnected

5. Click the Device button, and a "Summary" window will be opened. From here, go to "Contacts".

Summary WindowSummary Window

6. Select the contacts that you want to transfer and then press the Export button. The selected contacts will be saved as VCF vCard files in the location of your choice.

Conclusion

As you can see, Google's synchronization capabilities make transferring and backing up contacts from Android devices a really simple job, and if you don't want to use Google's services, you can always resort to other third-party tools.

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