Best way to backup contacts? - HTC Inspire 4G

First, I did use the search feature, but couldn't find anything specific to the Inspire. If this already exists, please feel free to link to it/close this thread. Thanks!
So, I can't seem to effectively back up my contacts. Titanium Backup doesn't do it, and I thought they were synced via Google. Not to mention I've had the same SIM card for YEARS and all my contacts have always been on there. Now, since I rooted my phone and started flashing custom ROMS, they have disappeared. Now I am without my 400+ contacts database, which I need.. So my question is, what is the best way to back up contacts, and is there any way to recover the ones I had?
Thanks in advance!

As long as you didn't choose not to sync with Google before you flashed, they are backed up. Most likely the problem you are having is getting them to import. Try going to Settings>Accounts and Sync> and manually sync your Google account.

stonewallmike said:
As long as you didn't choose not to sync with Google before you flashed, they are backed up. Most likely the problem you are having is getting them to import. Try going to Settings>Accounts and Sync> and manually sync your Google account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I rip my employer a little I guess and store ALL my contacts to MS Exchange for several years now with nary a hiccup...that said since I've been on Android, Google does a fine job too. ... I think my free Sugar Sync account probably has them too...with this phone I have given up storing any contacts at all on the SIM card...because I have gone through what you are when simply switching phones or have phones stolen/lost in the past...but yeah make sure at least Google is backing them up...

It all depends on where you have chosen to save your contacts. If to phone then they may be lost forever. If to sim then simply import them back to your phone. If to Google account then as said above just re-sync.
When thinking about flashing rom's the first thing that you should do is make sure all contacts are backed up. Best choice is with Google. That way everytime you wipe data you can boot up your phone sync with Google and BOOM! They are there. Works a treat. Cheers.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Thanks guys. I've had them backed up to Google before, and even restored them before, but it doesn't seem to be working. I just flashed the VU ROM after having been using the RCMix3D ROM for my Inspire, so I'll post the question on their page and see if it's a known issue with the ROM or anything.

Good luck.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

elijahpr said:
Thanks guys. I've had them backed up to Google before, and even restored them before, but it doesn't seem to be working. I just flashed the VU ROM after having been using the RCMix3D ROM for my Inspire, so I'll post the question on their page and see if it's a known issue with the ROM or anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been on a captivate and now the inspire. Flashed upteen different roms and never had an issue with google restoring my contacts. Everytime I put the gmail addy in it pulls it all over.
Doesn't the htc sync account do that as well? Try doing that. If all else fails and you have them in say outlook or still on google then you can export them as a comma separated value (CSV) file and then put that on your sd card then import them via the people app. You can then save to sim via the people app.
I am on VU now and it restored flawlessly from gmail.
This is one app on the market that you can look at.
https://market.android.com/details?id=no.uia.android.backupcontacts&feature=search_result

I would recommend using my backup pro from the android market

Related

Flashing ROM leads to contact issues

I have been going through some ROMs recently and have found that no matter what ROM I try my contacts always do not sync fully/at all. I've been backing up using gmail and backup assistant but neither of these methods have worked for me. Also I can never access my backup assistant after I flash. Any help would be greatly appriciated.
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App
If you are having problems getting all your contacts imported over make sure they are all stored in your gmail account's dashboard. If not then you will have to send your contacts to your sdcard to a .vcf(I think) and import them to gmail that way you know they are stored there. Then you just have to make sure you tap the sync contacts button in Accounts> Your gmail account, about ten times until it says it synced with a time stamp close to the time you tapped it to sync.
MattHorner said:
I have been going through some ROMs recently and have found that no matter what ROM I try my contacts always do not sync fully/at all. I've been backing up using gmail and backup assistant but neither of these methods have worked for me. Also I can never access my backup assistant after I flash. Any help would be greatly appriciated.
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a problem similar to that. Let me see if I can remember what I did...
I think what I did was go to Verizon's website and went to the Backup Assistant on their page. I think after that, I exported all my contacts into a .csv file or something. From there, I went to my Google Mail account and then imported all my contacts from .csv file into my google account. I don't think that was it exactly, but something like that.
-Kevin
Awesome thank you so much guys hopefully I get my contacts working today once I can flash one of the ROMs I got from a couple days ago =)
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App

[Q] Where the hell are my contacts saved to?!

ATT sync is OFF.
Google Sync is ON.
I sign into Google, go to Google Contacts... nothing.
I flash a new rom, I sign into my account on my phone - all my contacts are there. With their painstakingly-manually assigned photos.
Are my contacts being saved in some dark sector of my phone? Are they hidden on some Google Sever? Where can I find them?!
You might not looking goot at Google contacts look carefuly
Yuna said:
You might not looking goot at Google contacts look carefuly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I type "Google Contacts" into Google, and click on the first link. Where should I be looking?
go to Gmail, and on left check Contacts...
Maybe your error is that you search for something not being logged in into gmail, or another account?
If you are using any 2.1 rom then any contact appears on your phone when you sign into google... not Just 'my contacts' or any other group, so check the all contacts tab or whatever it's called. Every contact in your gmail account will appear, even your Craigslist adult services email addresses that you love to send to (the local police know about you). I would venture to say that 99% this is a Google issue and not a phone issue as there is no way your phone pulls these out of the blue. Also if its that much of a problem, hit the menu button in the contacts list and then go to display or settings (can't remember what) and unselect Google contacts.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
COuld be on the SIM card.
Well my phone's OS is totally busted, so I guess we'll find out the hard way
Use titanium backup and backup something called "contacts storage" (not the contacts app) and take a backup of it. This is the place where phone contacts are copied to, no matter where else they might be backed up the system. This has been a life saver for me many times, even today.
diablo009 said:
Use titanium backup and backup something called "contacts storage" (not the contacts app) and take a backup of it. This is the place where phone contacts are copied to, no matter where else they might be backed up the system. This has been a life saver for me many times, even today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like I'll have to get Titanium Backup when I get my rom flashed, as Google didn't save my contacts anywhere. Time to redownload all my pictures... *sigh*
thehyecircus said:
Looks like I'll have to get Titanium Backup when I get my rom flashed, as Google didn't save my contacts anywhere. Time to redownload all my pictures... *sigh*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you go to mail.google.com and sign in?
imeraz said:
Did you go to mail.google.com and sign in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I did. They weren't saved on there before, and now that my phone had some issue and I reflashed it back to stock and logged back into my account, there are no contacts either.
thehyecircus said:
Yes I did. They weren't saved on there before, and now that my phone had some issue and I reflashed it back to stock and logged back into my account, there are no contacts either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you add a new contact does it ask you where you want to save the contact to? choices would be phone, SIM or google.
imeraz said:
When you add a new contact does it ask you where you want to save the contact to? choices would be phone, SIM or google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I copied all my contacts over from SIM. I figured it would then put then onto my Google Contacts, but I guess I was wrong. It's not a big deal.
thehyecircus said:
I copied all my contacts over from SIM. I figured it would then put then onto my Google Contacts, but I guess I was wrong. It's not a big deal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm...strange, would think it would have too. Sorry I couldn't help out.
imeraz said:
Hmmm...strange, would think it would have too. Sorry I couldn't help out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's too late for anyone to help anyway. It's not a problem. It could have been a Perception issue?
turn google sync on
yes, that one, the one under sync thingy setting somewhere on your phone, that you have turned off I bet. Let it sync like a crazy wild ass Then check in Gmail contacts on the left and voila. Wizard Magic of the totally not evil google.
Basically, never turn the google sync off, or your'e f-d on contacts and it seems a few other things too.
bwolmarans said:
yes, that one, the one under sync thingy setting somewhere on your phone, that you have turned off I bet. Let it sync like a crazy wild ass Then check in Gmail contacts on the left and voila. Wizard Magic of the totally not evil google.
Basically, never turn the google sync off, or your'e f-d on contacts and it seems a few other things too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had Google Sync on since day one and it never did anything. I even turned it on and off to force the issue.
I have my new flash, and all my contact photos deleted. I have reupped a few of them, and nothing in my Google Contacts yet either. Do I need to "star" them in Android?
Going forward, when you create a new contact and it asks where you want it saved, choose Google. This will automatically save the contact to your Gmail account. When you flash your again and sign in after flashing, your contacts will be there
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
wretchedlocket said:
Going forward, when you create a new contact and it asks where you want it saved, choose Google. This will automatically save the contact to your Gmail account. When you flash your again and sign in after flashing, your contacts will be there
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like my accounts saved to my SIM card in case anything happens. I would also like them saved to Google as a redundant backup. Why is this not possible?

[Q] HTC Sync issues.

Ok, so I'm having a sync problem. I know it has nothing to do with the rom I'm using but after quite a bit of searching I can't seem to find what I'm looking for. (must not be using the right terms)
After a clean flash of Saga 1.0.1 last night I restored my contacts from a backup I made within people. This morning when I got up I had some duplicates & even triples of contacts but not all, kinda weird. I've had this happen in WM on my Tilt2 when I sync'd on multiple pc's but that's not the case here and when it happened then it would be all contacts not random ones. Another odd thing that happened is a couple of received mms's got sent back to the sender. I think it must have something to do with Gmail and/or Htcsense.com
Well when I got to work I sync'd with my pc then cleaned up everything in outlook & wiped contact storage on the phone thinking that I would just resync with the pc and all would be good. Not! When I tried to sync with HTC Sync it will not load the contacts to my phone and Gmail would not add them back either.
Also, being the moron I am, I had also deleted the backup on the sdcard because there were several linked contacts and I wanted to start from a clean slate. The only way I could find to sync back up with the pc was to do a FDR and select manual syncing in the setup. Is there a better way of going about this?
The pc is running 32bit win7 & I'm using outlook 07. Any help will be much appreciated!!
anit77 said:
Ok, so I'm having a sync problem. I know it has nothing to do with the rom I'm using but after quite a bit of searching I can't seem to find what I'm looking for. (must not be using the right terms)
After a clean flash of Saga 1.0.1 last night I restored my contacts from a backup I made within people. This morning when I got up I had some duplicates & even triples of contacts but not all, kinda weird. I've had this happen in WM on my Tilt2 when I sync'd on multiple pc's but that's not the case here and when it happened then it would be all contacts not random ones. Another odd thing that happened is a couple of received mms's got sent back to the sender. I think it must have something to do with Gmail and/or Htcsense.com
Well when I got to work I sync'd with my pc then cleaned up everything in outlook & wiped contact storage on the phone thinking that I would just resync with the pc and all would be good. Not! When I tried to sync with HTC Sync it will not load the contacts to my phone and Gmail would not add them back either.
Also, being the moron I am, I had also deleted the backup on the sdcard because there were several linked contacts and I wanted to start from a clean slate. The only way I could find to sync back up with the pc was to do a FDR and select manual syncing in the setup. Is there a better way of going about this?
The pc is running 32bit win7 & I'm using outlook 07. Any help will be much appreciated!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
okay this seems REALLY confusing. to clear some things up, what all does your phone sync to (htc, google?, outlook?), and where are your contacts stored that's kinda like your home base for contacts from which everything is synced? Outlook, or google?
also, your google account on your phone, is it the android google account? or do you have a separate exchange server set up?
and yeah, if you try a FDR, let me know what happens with this. that might just be a good way to clean up all the residual stuff...
nhshah7 said:
okay this seems REALLY confusing. to clear some things up, what all does your phone sync to (htc, google?, outlook?), and where are your contacts stored that's kinda like your home base for contacts from which everything is synced? Outlook, or google?
also, your google account on your phone, is it the android google account? or do you have a separate exchange server set up?
and yeah, if you try a FDR, let me know what happens with this. that might just be a good way to clean up all the residual stuff...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I initially got the phone I used HTC Sync to pull office 07 contacts from my work pc. Since then I've been using a vcard backup on my sdcard. I also had google setup to sync with as it also restores apps, wallpaper, etc after flashing. I thought that google would ignore existing contacts, it did for some and not others.
The google account is the gmail account I setup when I got the phone.
The FDR did work and everything is fine now but I want to be sure it doesn't happen again the next time I flash a rom.
Thanks for your help!
anit77 said:
I want to be sure it doesn't happen again the next time I flash a rom.
Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad I could try to lol. And maybe next time just pet Google do it so you don't introduce extra copies of contacts to your phone
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
Where does google store the info at? When I log into my gmail account on my pc there are no contacts stored. If I'm going to let google be my "home base" I'd like to be able to edit it. At the same time how safe is the data? I have birthdays, anniversaries, addresses and so on in my contacts.
This is my first android phone. It's funny that I had no problem rooting, flashing, adding themes or side loading but the **** that's supposed to be simple is what's f'ing me up.

VZW backup assist apk????

I download the theor3ginger Rom . Need to get VZW backup assist so I can download my contacts....
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
If you have a google account set up, all you have to do is turn on backup my data and then once you are installed with a new ROM, it will restore. Also if you already have backup assist, you can sign in online and transfer to your google account, but I believe you can download it from the market.
Would like to install VZW backup assist to download contacts and back them up to Google
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
I'm confused...
If your contacts are already backed up using back up assistant then just go to Verizon website and export them into a .csv
Then just import into your gmail account.
Doesn't Google already backup your contacts if you are already using a Google smart phone? I could never figure out why I had VZW Backup Assnt. on here. Glad I finally rooted and got rid of alot of junk.
Idk about you guys but the way android is set up is that you can choose where to save your contacts. Some will sync to google, some will sync to active sync, etc. However, they don't sync with one another. It really sucks because all your contacts are potentially scattered across all these servers (it can also be stored on phone only with VZW Backup). I think this is where the OP has problems with.
****************************************************************
What I did was exporting ALL of my contacts to a file. Go to google.com/contacts. Import, remove duplicates, and there you go, your life belongs to the googlian overlord.
VolDroid said:
Doesn't Google already backup your contacts if you are already using a Google smart phone? I could never figure out why I had VZW Backup Assnt. on here. Glad I finally rooted and got rid of alot of junk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
google only backs up if the contact is set up as a "google contact" when created. When you click to create a new contact, the default is to save to the phone only, you have to change the drop-down to google every time. If you do that, it will save it to gmail contacts.
I've looked everywhere for it.
I had to backup the app and then send the backup to the phone I needed it for.
It's a nice way of sharing some paid apps with friends.
*hinthint* Haha.

[Q] Transferring contacts between OS's?

I just started reading up on rooting about 3 days ago so a lot of this is new to me but i couldn't find anything about this. I'm currently running CM9 ICS on on my infuse 4.0.4 and before i ever did any of this i used titanium backup and backed up all apps + system data while i was on froyo 2.2.1 and transferred it to my pc. I noticed they have a whole new people app on ics and i'm going to assume the old back up data is formatted for froyo, but i think they have the same destination?
data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/database
Something like that, how would i go about transferring them if possible? Apparently google never backed them up either. Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance.
One of the many possible issues when testing unfamiliar roms...lack of homework....
But when you log on to the phone..and setup your google accts it is not...syncing your contacts....?
Well its either they were never synced or it's just not working, i could just wait until the roms complete i guess but for the time being it would be a lot more convenient to have them if possible
Is data working for you...on the phone? Can you log on gmail on your pc and see your contacts there?
Nope just the contacts I've added recently added since switching to ics. i never had any other google accounts. any thing i can do with these?
com.android.providers.contacts-0155e16b1e02ab3e1f83406632029fc7.apk
com.android.providers.contacts-20120409-230535
com.android.providers.contacts-20120409-230535.tar
com.google.android.syncadapters.contacts-4a9248374bf4af8864bea57f2100d9d9.apk
com.google.android.syncadapters.contacts-20120409-230544
com.google.android.syncadapters.contacts-20120409-230544.tar
com.android.contacts-20120409-230533
com.android.contacts-bf86983ea79f37363d8d86c9b701b7b4.apk
com.android.contacts-20120409-230533.tar
Extracted using titanium backup on froyo
Just gonna quickly warn you. Never back and restore system data between roms. It could cause problems to arise. If you're gonna restore, restore missing apps with data. Don't restore system data or anything with system in it
Try a pizza taco sometime, if you don't know what it is, look it up then
Haha yeah i learned that.. i was screwing around with it with pretty much zero knowledge about this and ended screwing up 3 or 4 system processes and had to re flash it. Any suggestions? any way to make the files into vcard data? By the way i have no idea what that really is i just tried importing from sd and it said "Cannot find Vcard data."
Go back to froyo, restore your contacts with TB. Once you have contacts restored click the "menu" soft key. Click the import/export option. Choose export to sdcard or export to memory or something like that...that will create vcard data
Now flash cm9 and restore contacts from sdcard by importing from sdcard
I know, its a lot of work but its the only way I can think of to create the card data
Sent from my SGH-I997 using XDA
Devugly said:
data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/database
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm that's where contacts are located, just used es file explorer and opened up the files as text...however I can not confirm changing the files in that directory with your old ones will work...
However if you do try to replace those files make sure you reboot after replacing
Good luck hope you get your contacts back
Sent from my SGH-I997 using XDA
I was hoping i didnt have to go back to stock, will try just replacing the files let you know how it goes thanks
i honestly think you shouldnt reaplce ICS apks with FroYo apks..
youre gonna screw things up trust me
do the long way and go back to froyo export a Vcard then go back to ICS and import
youll be safer and itll save ya the headache
No luck, contacts were just blank with a small scroll bar as if there was a lot on the page. probably going to re flash tomorrow i have work in 5 hours haha thanks again
SUCCESS. I have all my contacts and numbers thanks to this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1432962
I did this with no command prompt knowledge, let alone common sense. Thanks again!
Glad you found a simple way to get your contacts
Sent from my SGH-I997 using XDA
Yes, glad it worked out for you...
Wow, I haven't "transferred" contacts in years! A google email account solved all that headache
Jep56 said:
Wow, I haven't "transferred" contacts in years! A google email account solved all that headache
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that was exactly what I was saying...he must have had his contacts sync off or sync off in general...
Yes i always synced contacts from facebook, but this rom doesnt have that feature and market apps such as facebook sync only synced names and pictures. All backed up now though =]
Devugly said:
Yes i always synced contacts from facebook, but this rom doesnt have that feature and market apps such as facebook sync only synced names and pictures. All backed up now though =]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont use facebook much less sync with FB,...but ok, at least your up with your contacts.
I loaded the preview of the ICS and my contacts loaded up great when I log into google...?
bigjoe2675 said:
I dont use facebook much less sync with FB,...but ok, at least your up with your contacts.
I loaded the preview of the ICS and my contacts loaded up great when I log into google...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah same here... I think contacts loaded up faster with ICS compared to GB and FroYo lol
Sent from my SGH-I997 using XDA

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