Syncing Contacts Across Microsoft and Android: A Trustworthy Guide?

Outlook
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When syncing contacts between Microsoft services and Android devices using various apps, users frequently run into problems. Contacts are duplicated across services and show up in multiple places. Moreover, certain apps create unwanted contact categories that can't be removed. To make matters worse, different Microsoft services use different phone number formats, despite industry standards. Is there a recommended way to set up contact syncing, or is regular cleanup the only way to manage this issue?

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Hey, if you’re having problems with duplicated or misplaced contacts across your Microsoft services and Android devices, there are some steps you can take to sync them properly and avoid those unwanted contact categories.

Method 1: Sync Contacts Using the Outlook App on Android

  1. Ensure the Outlook app has permission to access your Contacts:

    • Open the Settings app on your Android.
    • Tap “Apps” (or “Applications”).
    • Find and tap “Outlook”.
    • Tap “Permissions”, then “Contacts”, and switch the toggle to “Allow”.

  2. Sync Contacts Within the Outlook App:

    • Open the Outlook app on your Android.
    • Tap the Microsoft Office icon in the top-left corner.
    • Tap the gear icon to access Settings.
    • Select the Outlook account you want to sync contacts from.
    • Tap “Sync Contacts”.

This will sync your Outlook contacts with your Android device’s Contacts app.

Method 2: Copy Contacts Without Syncing

If you prefer manual control over the contacts you transfer, you can use the Droid Transfer app:

  1. Download DroidTransfer on your PC and the free Transfer Companion app on your Android.

  2. Scan the QR code to connect your PC and Android using Wi-Fi:

    • Launch DroidTransfer on your PC.
    • Open the Transfer Companion app on your Android and scan the QR code displayed in DroidTransfer.

  3. Copy Contacts to Outlook:

    • Click “Contacts” in DroidTransfer to view those on your Android.
    • Select the contacts to copy, or use Ctrl+A to select all.
    • Click “Copy Contacts” and choose “Copy to Outlook”.

This will manually transfer the selected contacts from your Android to Microsoft Outlook on your PC.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • Check if Auto-Sync is Disabled:
    If the Sync Contacts toggles are disabled in your Outlook app with a message mentioning contacts sync not being turned on in system settings, you’ll need to enable Auto-sync data in your Android settings under Accounts.
  • Ensure the Proper Sync Settings:
    To sync contacts from your Outlook account to your Android device:
    • Go to Settings.
    • Under Accounts, tap the Outlook account you want to sync.
    • Switch the Sync Contacts slider to ON.

Following these steps should help you maintain a clean and consistent contact list across your Microsoft services and Android devices.