The fastest way to add a contact in Gmail
Open Gmail and click the Google Apps menu (the grid of nine dots in the top right corner). Select Contacts. On the left side, click the red Create contact button. Type the person's name in the first field, their email address in the email field, and any other details you want to save — phone number, address, notes. Click Save.
That contact now appears in your Gmail address book. The next time you type their name or email in a message, Gmail will suggest them automatically. You can also add someone to your contacts directly from an email they sent you: open their message, click the three dots menu at the top right, and select Add to Contacts.
Key Takeaways
- You can add a contact through the Google Contacts app or directly from any email message someone sent you.
- Gmail auto-suggests contacts when you start typing a name or email, so you do not have to remember exact addresses.
- Contacts sync across all your Google services — Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Meet — so you only enter the information once.
- You can organize contacts into groups and add notes, phone numbers, and addresses to keep information organized in one place.
Adding a contact from an email message
When someone emails you, the fastest way to save them is to add them right from that message. Open the email, then look at the sender's name at the top. Click on their name or profile picture, and a small card will pop up showing their email address and any other details Gmail has on file.
At the bottom of that card, click Add to Contacts. A form will open with their email address already filled in. Add their name if it is not there, type in any other details you want to keep, and click Save. The next time they email you or you want to send them a message, their name will appear in your suggestions.
Organizing contacts into groups
If you have many contacts, you can organize them into groups — for example, "Work," "Family," or "Volunteer Board." Open Google Contacts and click Create label on the left side. Type the group name and press Enter. Now when you add or edit a contact, you can assign them to one or more groups by clicking the label field.
Groups make it easier to send emails to multiple people at once. When you start a new email in Gmail and type a group name in the "To" field, Gmail will suggest sending to everyone in that group. You can also use groups to organize your address book so you can find people faster when you need them.
Editing and updating contact information
To change a contact's details, open Google Contacts and click on their name. The contact card will open on the right side. Click the pencil icon to edit. You can update their email address, add a phone number, change their job title, add a birthday, or type notes about them — anything you want to remember.
When you are done editing, click Save. If a contact has multiple email addresses or phone numbers, click the plus sign next to that field to add more. You can also mark one as the default by clicking the three dots next to it and selecting Make primary.
Syncing contacts across devices and services
Any contact you add in Gmail syncs automatically to your Google account. That means the same contact list appears on your phone, your tablet, and any other device where you sign in with that Google account. You do not have to add the same person twice.
Your contacts also sync with Google Calendar (so you can invite them to events), Google Meet (so you can start video calls with them), and Google Chat. If you use Gmail on your phone, the contacts you add there show up in Gmail on your computer, and vice versa.
Importing contacts from another email service
If you have contacts saved in Outlook, Yahoo Mail, or another email service, you can bring them into Gmail. Open Google Contacts and click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) on the left. Select Import. Choose whether you want to import from a CSV file (a spreadsheet format) or from another Google account.
If you are importing a CSV file, read your contacts from your old email service first — most services have an export or backup option in their settings. Then upload that file to Google Contacts. Gmail will match up duplicate contacts automatically, so you do not end up with two entries for the same person.
Managing duplicate and unwanted contacts
If you notice you have the same person listed twice with slightly different names or email addresses, you can merge them. Open Google Contacts, select both contacts by clicking the checkbox next to each name, then click the merge icon (it looks like two overlapping circles). Google will combine them into one entry.
To delete a contact you no longer need, click on their name and then click the trash icon. If you want to hide a contact from your suggestions without deleting them, you can mark them as "Other contacts" instead — they will still be in your address book but will not auto-suggest when you type.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a contact without an email address?
Yes. Open Google Contacts, click Create contact, and type their name. You can add a phone number, address, or notes without an email address. However, you will not be able to email them directly from Gmail unless you add an email address later.
What happens if I delete a contact?
The contact is removed from your address book and will no longer appear in Gmail's suggestions. If you delete them by mistake, you can undo the deletion when ready by pressing Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac). After a few minutes, the undo option disappears.
Can I share my contacts with someone else?
Google Contacts does not have a built-in share feature. However, you can export your contacts as a CSV file and send it to someone, or you can create a group and invite people to view a shared calendar or document that lists those contacts.
Do my contacts stay private?
Your contacts are private by default and only visible to you when you are signed into your Google account. Google does not share your contact list with third-party apps unless you specifically grant permission in your account settings.