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.
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.
When you open this contact manager for the first time, click “OK” to allow access to your contacts.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Rosa has worked in Mac software industry for more than eight years. She believes that the purpose of software is to make life better and work more productively. In addition to writing, Rosa is also an avid runner.