How to add contacts to Gmail: 4 easy step-by-step instructions

It's one thing to have a Gmail account, but it's another to manage your contacts effectively. 

Whether you're using Gmail for work or just want an organized address book to make your life easier, this guide will teach you how to add contacts to Gmail in four different ways. Plus, they're applicable regardless of whether you're looking to add a single contact or bulk upload over a thousand contacts.

Let's get to it.

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What are the four methods to add new contacts to Gmail?

When it comes to adding new contacts to Gmail, Google makes it easy. Below are the four most common ways Gmail users create new contacts within their accounts. Depending on your preference and circumstances, you can choose any one of these methods, or maybe even a combination.

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1. Adding Gmail contacts from a received email

Adding Gmail contacts from a received email is the easiest way on our list, and you can do it in less than a minute. However, it's only a wise option if you want to save one or two new contacts – not more than that. Otherwise, it'll be a bit of a slow method if you want to add multiple contacts (more than 100). Here are the steps involved:

1. Open your web browser.
2. Go to your Gmail account and log in.
3. Open your Gmail inbox.
4. Search for an email from the contact you want to add by writing their name in the search bar.
5. Open the email once you find it.
6. Press down on the email sender's profile picture.
7. Click the Add to Contacts icon on the top right corner of the menu that shows up.

Now, you've added the email sender to your contacts list. You can follow these steps from a laptop, mobile device, or tablet.

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2. Adding new contacts in Google Contacts

If you want a quicker way to add new contacts to your Gmail, you can use Google Contacts. Below, we'll list the steps you need to follow from your laptop, Android device, or iOS device.

On Desktop

To add contacts to your Gmail account from a laptop or a personal computer, here's what you should do:

1. Open your web browser.
2. Open your Gmail account and log in.
3. Go to the top-right corner of your screen and click on the Google Apps icon (nine dots).
4. Open Google Contacts from the drop-down menu.
5. Choose Create Contact from the top-left corner of the screen.
6. Type in your new contact’s information (name, email address, phone number, etc.).
7. Save the contact to add it to your Google Contacts and Gmail.

You can also try adding more than one new contact at once to Gmail by doing the following:

1. Open your web browser.
2. Open your Gmail account and log in.
3. Go to the top-right corner of your screen and click on the Google Apps icon (nine dots).
4. Click on Google Contacts.
5. Choose Create Multiple Contacts from the top-left corner of the screen.
6. Add the information of your new contacts on the page.
7. Tap on Save to add the new contacts to your Google Contacts and Gmail.

On Android

If you don't have access to a laptop or computer, you can use an Android device to add contacts in Gmail. Here's how:

1. Open the Contacts app on your Android device (whether it's a phone or tablet).
2. Click on the + (plus) or Add icon, usually located in the bottom right corner of the screen.
3. Choose whether to add a contact to your Google account or device.
4. Enter the contact details (name, picture, phone number, email address, etc).
5. Tap on the Save button to add the contact to your Google Contacts and Gmail.

On iOS

These are the steps you should follow to add contacts to Gmail from an Apple iOS device.

1. Open the Contacts app on your iOS device (iPhone or iPad).
2. Tap on the + (plus) icon at the top right corner of your screen.
3. Enter the contact's details (name, picture, company, phone number, etc.).
4. Tap on the Done button to save the contact.
5. Go to your device's settings.
6. Go to Contacts, then Accounts.
7. Add your Gmail account.
8. Choose the applications you want to sync with your Gmail.
9. Move the toggle next to each app's name (Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Notes).

Although this method is easy if you want to add a contact or two to your Gmail, it can be pretty boring and slow if you want to add multiple contacts at a time. The easier option in that case is to import contacts to Gmail from a CSV or vCard file, which is the next method on our list.

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3. Importing contacts into Gmail from a file

To easily import several contacts to your Gmail account, we suggest starting by creating a CSV file. You have two choices: create the file on your own, or grab a template online. You'll just need to input each of your contact's details into the file and then follow the instructions.

That said, it's worth mentioning that Google only allows you to add so many contacts at once. If your CSV file includes more than 3,000 contacts, then this method won't work.

Here are the steps to follow after creating your CSV file:

1. Open your web browser and go to the Google Contacts app.
2. Choose Import under Fix & Manage on the left side of your screen.
3. Choose Select File from the menu that shows up.
4. Locate your CSV file on the computer and click on it.
5. Click on Import and wait for Google to add your contacts to your Gmail.

For more details, Google has a great support page on importing contacts from a file.

Pro Tip: Instead of a CSV file, you can also use a vCard file. You can create one by using Excel, or you can download it from an email if someone sends it as an attachment to you. Then, follow the above steps. We recommend watching a video tutorial first because creating this file type, especially in bulk, can be tricky if it’s your first time.

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4. Importing contacts from another Gmail account

Finally, the last technique we'll cover involves transferring contacts from an old Gmail account. This approach comes in handy when you're setting up a new Gmail account and want to replicate the contact list from the old one.

Here are the detailed steps you need to follow:

1. Open your web browser.
2. Log in to your old Gmail account.
3. Open the Google Contacts page.
4. Click on the Export icon on the top right corner of the screen. (The icon has an arrow pointing up.)
5. Choose the contacts you want to send to the new Gmail account.
6. Click on Google CSV under Export As.
7. Tap Export.

Now, a file with your contacts will be downloaded to your computer. To import these contacts to your new Gmail account, follow these steps:

1. Sign out of your old account.
2. Sign in to your new account.
3. Go to the Google Contacts page.
4. Click on Import under Fix & Manage on the left side of your screen.
5. Choose the file you recently downloaded.
6. Wait for Gmail to import contacts.

After Gmail finishes processing your contacts, you'll have access to them, just like you did on your old account.

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Streamline your communication right from your inbox with Streak

Now that you know how to add contacts to your Gmail account, are you interested in streamlining your communication and tracking your clients and companies from one place? If so, you'll love what Streak has to offer. 

Streak is a CRM and project management tool that integrates directly with Gmail and comes with a game-changing feature called Contacts & Organizations. This capability compiles the information of your saved contacts in organized boxes and syncs them with your company's pipeline. This way, you can see which processes in your pipelines and workflows have pending actions from your contacts, and what the status of each action is.

The created boxes also show you all the email threads you share with the contact and let you track their activity task by task, which is a smart and convenient way to monitor team and personal performance.

And we haven't even mentioned the best part — you can try Streak for free to see if it suits your working style. Plus, it only takes 30 seconds to get started.

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Frequently asked questions

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How do you edit Gmail contacts?

If you've made a mistake while creating your Gmail contacts or their contact information has simply changed and you want to edit it, here are the steps to do so:

1. Open your web browser and log in to your Gmail account.
2. Go to the Google Contacts page.
3. Locate the contact you want to edit by scrolling through your contacts list or using the search bar at the top of the screen.
4. Click on the contact's name to open their card.
5. Click on the Edit button.
6. Modify the contact's information as needed.
7. Click on the Save button to save the changes you just made.

Now, the changes you made will be synced across your Google apps so that you don't have to repeat the process. Want to view the edited contacts? You can do so from Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Contacts, and more.

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How do you delete Gmail contacts?

You can delete multiple contacts from your Gmail right in Google Contacts. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Open your web browser and go to the Google Contacts page.
2. Locate the contact you want to delete by scrolling through your contacts list or typing their name in the search bar at the top of the screen.
3. Click on the contact's name to open their card.
4. Click on the three dots located in the top-right corner of the card.
5. Choose Delete from the drop-down menu that pops up.
6. Click Delete on the confirmation box that pops up.
7. Click Undo if you've changed your mind.

Now, the contact will be deleted from all of your Google apps. The process is irreversible after you close your browser and open it again, so think wisely before doing so. Also, make sure you don't delete any important contacts by mistake.