Learn what Google Play services can do with access to your contacts

Google Play services enables important features of your device and helps make your device more secure and reliable. Google Play services is different from the Google Play Store. Learn more about Google Play services.

How Google Play services can use your contacts

Google Play services may periodically access your contacts to perform core services on your device. Some examples are:

To backup & restore contacts

When you use Google Play services, you can restore your contacts on a new device from your Google Cloud backup or from your old device.

Tips:

To backup your contacts:
1. On your Android device, open Settings.
2. Tap Google 👁 and then
  All services.
3. Under "Backup and restore,” tap Google Contact sync 👁 and then
  Status.
4. Turn on Google Contact sync.
To restore your contacts:
1. On your Android device, open Settings.
2. Tap Google 👁 and then
  All services.
3. Under “Backup and restore,” tap Restore contacts.

To help you manage your contacts

Google Play services may access your contacts to help you with services such as the examples described below:

Move your contacts between Google and non-Google accounts
Automatically clean up and fix issues with your contacts
Get easy access to your contacts in other Google apps and services on your device through features like autocomplete suggestions
Look up contacts in your work or school account

To sync your contacts with your Google Account

When you sign in to your Google Account on your device, Google Play services may periodically access your contacts in the background to sync them with your Google Account so that you don’t lose them.

Tip: To change your contacts sync setting with your Google Account, on your Android device, open Settings 👁 and then
Google 👁 and then
Settings for Google apps 👁 and then
Google Contacts sync.

To make your contacts available to other Google apps, services & devices

Google Play services may periodically access your contacts in the background to improve availability of your contacts for Google apps and services on your device and other devices like your smart speaker. This enables voice command experiences like “OK Google, call Bob.”

Tips:

To manage on-device sharing of your contacts to other Google apps and services:
1. On your Android device, open your device’s Settings app.
2. Tap Google 👁 and then
  All services.
3. Under “Privacy & security,” tap Personalize using shared data.
4. Turn on Device Contacts.
To opt in and manage sharing of your contacts to other devices like your smart speaker:
1. On your Android device, open your device’s Settings app.
2. Tap Google.
3. Tap your Profile picture or Initial 👁 and then
  Manage your Google Account.
4. Under “People & sharing,” tap Contact info from your devices.
5. Turn on Save contact info from your signed-in devices.
  - You can also go to https://myaccount.google.com/devicecontacts.

To share files with your contacts

Google Play services can access your contacts in the background to help you securely share files with your contacts, even when you’re not connected to the internet.

Tip: To turn Nearby Share on or off, on your Android device, open Settings 👁 and then
Google 👁 and then
Devices & sharing 👁 and then
Nearby Share.

How Google handles your information

In order to enable some features, Google Play Services may collect and send some information to Google which may include crash logs and diagnostics information for analytics purposes. Any information that Google collects is handled in accordance with Google's Privacy Policy.

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URL: https://support.google.com/android/answer/10635452