3 Ways to Import Gmail Contacts to iCloud Easily and Quickly

Google’s Gmail is one of the most popular email services. You can save and manage your Gmail contacts in Google Contacts, Google’s contact management tool. Sometimes, you may need to export contacts from Gmail and then import them to other services such as iCloud. This article will show you how to easily import Gmail contacts to iCloud.

 Cisdem ContactsMate

The Best Tool to Import Gmail Contacts to iCloud on Mac

• Support contacts from various sources: Gmail, iCloud, Mac, Exchange and more
• Move contacts between Gmail and iCloud with a drag-and-drop
• Export or convert contacts to 8 formats: CSV, Excel, vCard and more
• Let you view, search, edit, add, group, tag, share, print and sync contacts
• Allow you to backup or restore contacts with 1 click
• Delete or merge duplicate contacts in supported sources
• Easy to use
• Compatible with macOS 10.11 or later

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Method 1. Import Gmail contacts to iCloud with a drag-and-drop

This method applies to Mac computers. If you are using a Windows PC or a phone, you can check out the second method.

Mac users can use Cisdem ContactsMate to easily transfer contacts between different services such as Gmail and iCloud. Before getting started, download and install ContactsMate.

Free Download

When you open this contact manager for the first time, click “OK” to allow access to your contacts.

1. Click Add Account in the toolbar.
2. Select Google and sign in to it.
3. Make sure the box next to Contacts is selected. Click Done.
4. Click the plus icon in the bottom left corner.
5. Select iCloud and sign in to it with your Apple ID and password.
6. Select the box next to Contacts.
7. Click the button next to the Updated contacts detected message. Now you should find Google and iCloud in the left sidebar.
8. Select Google in the sidebar, and all your Gmail contacts will appear in the middle of the interface. Mass select the contacts and drag them into iCloud in the sidebar.

Go to https://www.icloud.com/contacts, and you will find that all Gmail contacts are imported to your iCloud. It’s that easy.

And in a similar way, you can effortlessly and quickly migrate contacts between other services.

If you want to transfer selected contacts from Gmail to iCloud, here’s how. In step 8, select “Google” in the sidebar and then select specific Gmail contacts. Now drag them into “iCloud”.

If some contacts exist in both your iCloud and Gmail, there will be duplicate contacts after you transfer contacts from Gmail to iCloud. In such a case, ContactsMate can help you find and remove the duplicates. After you finish transferring contacts, select iCloud in the sidebar and click “Scan” in the toolbar.

Method 2. Transfer Gmail contacts to iCloud via vCard

Google Contacts provides helpful features for you to manage your Gmail contacts. The Export feature is one of them. Also, iCloud makes it easy to import contacts if the contacts are in vCard format. The good news is that Gmail does allow you to export contacts as vCard.

1. To import Gmail contacts to iCloud, open your web browser. Sign in to Google using your Google account.
2. Click the Google apps menu and select Contacts. If you can’t find it, click More.
3. In the sidebar on the left, click Export.
4. You can choose to export all of your Gmail contacts, or selected contacts or contacts with a certain label.
5. To export Gmail contacts to iCloud, select the vCard (for iOS Contacts) option under the Export as section. Click Export.
6. Once the download is done, you can find the exported vCard file (with the extension of .vcf) on your computer.
7. Visit https://www.icloud.com/contacts and sign in to it.
8. Click the gear icon in the bottom left corner.
9. Choose Import vCard and import the exported vCard file.

Note: It’s recommended to do the above steps on a computer because it will be easier to operate. That being said, you can use this method on iPhone or Android phone without problems.

Method 3: Import contacts from Gmail account to iCloud on your iOS

This method is only available for iOS devices. Some people have multiple email address such as iCloud, Gmail, Exchange, etc. iOS’s built-in Contacts app supports importing contacts from other accounts. How to transfer contacts from Gmail to iCloud via this Contacts app? Follow these a few steps:

1. Go to Settings on your iPhone.

2. Click on Contacts > Account > Add account.

3. Choose Google and log in to your Gmail account. Switch on the toggle bar next to Contacts. Click on Save on the top right.

4. Go back to Settings. Click on your Apple ID on the top. Tap on iCloud and switch on the toggle bar next to Contacts.

After that, all your Gmail contacts will be synced to iCloud.

Tips

How to keep Gmail and iCloud contacts in sync

If you want to sync gmail contacts to icloud instead of making a one-time transfer of contacts, there are third-party apps that can help. Contacts Sync for Google Gmail is one of them, but note that this app is only available for iPhone and iPad. And you can get it from the App Store.

Primarily designed to sync Gmail and iPhone contacts, this app can be used in a number of ways, such as syncing your Gmail contacts with iCloud. Any changes made in one service will be synced to the other instantly and automatically. In addition, you can customize the synchronization. For example, you can choose to sync all fields or selected fields (e.g. name and phone number etc.) in your contact entries.

Merge Gmail contacts to iCloud and avoid duplicates

After you import Gmail contacts to iCloud, it’s a recommended practice to find duplicate contacts and merge duplicates (if any). Duplicate entries of the same contacts could cause inconvenience or confusion. The most common way to handle this situation is to merge duplicate entries. Before you do the merging, you can backup your contacts first. This guide gives more details that you may need.

Conclusion

There is more than one way to import Gmail contacts to iCloud. You can also choose to sync contacts between them. Regardless of the method you use, it won’t be difficult or time-consuming. Once the transfer is finished, it will also become readily easy to copy Gmail contacts to iPhone if you want to. Do you find this article helpful? Which method do you prefer?