Top 7 Fixes for Android Not Saving Contacts

Your Android phone is a powerful device that can do many things, but it can be frustrating when it does not work how you want it to. For example, it can be annoying when you are trying to add the contact information of someone you’ve just met, and your Android cannot save it.

The default Contacts app on your Android device may differ depending on your phone’s manufacturer. However, the following solutions should help address and resolve contact-saving issues on any Android phone.

1. Force Close and Reopen the App

Force-closing an app on Android terminates all of the app’s processes, which can help when the app is not working properly. If you cannot view your newly added contacts due to a minor issue, restarting the app should fix the problem.

Long-press on the Contacts app icon and tap the info icon from the resulting menu. Then, tap the Force stop option at the bottom.

Reopen the app and check if your contact shows up.

2. Configure the Contacts App to Display All Entries

Have you applied filters or configured the Contacts app only to show entries from a specific account? If so, that might prevent your Android from showing new contacts, making it seem like it is not saving them.

Most Android phones come with the Google Contacts app as the default option. If you are using the same, open it, tap the three-dot menu icon at the top, and select Customize view.

Select the All contacts option.

If you are using a Samsung Galaxy phone, you need to ensure that you are not looking for your newly added contacts in a specific group. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner and select All contacts. Following this, the Contacts app should show all the entries, including your newly added contacts.

3. Try Saving Contacts to Your Phone

Sometimes, your Android may have trouble saving contacts to your Google, Samsung, or Outlook account. This might be due to authentication issues, sync errors, or other account-specific problems. You can try saving contacts on your phone’s local storage to see if that helps.

Open the Contacts app on your phone, tap the plus icon to create a new contact, and enter all the relevant details. Use the drop-down menu at the top to select Device or Phone. Then, tap Save.

After saving a contact, check if it shows up as expected.

4. Use the Default Contacts App

Instant messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp also let you add new contacts to your Android. If your Android is having trouble saving contacts through one of these apps, the problem may be with the app itself.

You can use the default Contacts app to add a new contact and see if that works. If it does, consider clearing the cache of the problematic app and updating it to fix any issues with it.

5. Allow Necessary Permissions

The Contacts app on your Pixel, Samsung, or any other Android phone may be unable to save contacts if it does not have the necessary permissions. To resolve this, you need to allow the Contacts app all the permissions it requires.

Step 1: Long press on the Contacts app icon and tap the info icon from the resulting menu. Then, select Permissions.

Step 2: Go through each permission one by one and allow it.

6. Clear App Cache

Suppose you can’t save new contacts on your Android even after allowing all the necessary permissions. In that case, the existing cache data associated with the Contacts app may be causing problems. You can clear the cache of the Contacts app to see if that resolves the issue.

Step 1: Long-press on the Contacts app icon and tap the ‘i’ icon from the resulting menu.

Step 2: Go to Storage and tap the Clear cache option at the bottom.

7. Update the App

Have you disabled automatic app updates on your Android or iPhone? If so, you may be using an outdated version of the Contacts app, which can sometimes lead to problems.

Head over to the Play Store and search for your contacts app. If a newer version is available, tap Update to install it. Following this, the app should be able to save contacts as before.

Don’t Lose Your Connections

Most of us rely on our phones to store and manage contacts of friends, family, and colleagues. Hence, it can be frustrating when your Android fails to save contacts and gives you problems. We hope that one of the tips above has helped you fix the underlying issue and you can save new contacts as before.