> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.withallo.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Google Contacts

> Two-way sync between Allo and your Google Contacts

## What this integration does

The Allo-Google Contacts integration keeps your contacts in sync automatically. Changes in either system update the other in real-time. Perfect for users who want their phone contacts and Allo contacts always matched.

**Key benefits:**

* Two-way contact sync
* Automatic updates in both directions
* Phone number matching
* Contact photo sync

## Setup

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Allo app">
    Launch Allo mobile app
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go to Settings">
    Navigate to **Settings** in bottom navigation
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Contacts">
    Tap **Contacts**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable Google Contacts sync">
    Turn on the toggle for **Google Contacts**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Authorize access">
    You'll be redirected to Google. Select your Google account and authorize Allo to access your contacts.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm sync">
    Return to Allo and wait for initial sync to complete
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  Initial sync can take 1-5 minutes depending on how many contacts you have. New contacts sync in real-time after setup.
</Info>

## How it works

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Google to Allo" icon="https://mintcdn.com/themobilefirstcompany/0w3bVWjKfZPY4i7y/media/integrations/Google-Contacts.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=0w3bVWjKfZPY4i7y&q=85&s=d826b36d91ea8070631877f386b7347e" width="500" height="500" data-path="media/integrations/Google-Contacts.svg">
    All Google contacts import into Allo automatically with names and numbers.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Allo to Google" icon="https://mintcdn.com/themobilefirstcompany/4JKVqOLduvlaK6pG/media/integrations/Allo.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=4JKVqOLduvlaK6pG&q=85&s=de5eaa45a01e052c9506804098dbb8ce" width="256" height="256" data-path="media/integrations/Allo.png">
    New contacts created in Allo sync back to Google Contacts instantly.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Two-way sync

**Google Contacts to Allo:**

* Contact names
* Phone numbers
* Email addresses
* Contact photos
* Notes

**Allo to Google Contacts:**

* Contact names
* Phone numbers
* Email addresses
* Notes added in Allo

**Real-time updates:**\
Changes in either system sync within seconds.

### Duplicate handling

If a contact exists in both systems with the same phone number:

* Allo merges the information
* The most complete data is kept
* No duplicate contacts are created

## What syncs

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Google to Allo">
    **From Google Contacts to Allo:**

    * Contact names (first and last)
    * Phone numbers (all numbers)
    * Email addresses
    * Company name
    * Job title
    * Contact photo
    * Notes
    * Birthday
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Allo to Google">
    **From Allo to Google Contacts:**

    * Contact names
    * Phone numbers
    * Email addresses
    * Notes added in Allo
    * Call history tags

    **Note:** Contact photos added in Allo don't sync back to Google.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Contact matching

Contacts are matched using these methods:

1. **Phone number** (primary method)
2. **Email address** (secondary method)
3. **Exact name match** (tertiary method)

If no match is found, Allo creates a new contact.

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Authorization failed">
    **Common causes:**

    * Google authorization denied
    * Using wrong Google account
    * Browser blocking popup

    **Solutions:**

    * Make sure you authorize Allo when prompted
    * Select the correct Google account
    * Allow popups for Allo domain
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Contacts not syncing">
    **Check these items:**

    * Integration shows as "Connected" in Settings
    * You granted contacts permission to Allo
    * Your Google account is active
    * You have internet connection

    **Force resync:** Disconnect and reconnect the integration to trigger a fresh sync.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Duplicate contacts appearing">
    **Why this happens:** If phone numbers are formatted differently (with or without country code), Allo may not recognize them as the same contact.

    **Solution:** Manually merge duplicates in Google Contacts, then wait for sync to complete.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Missing contact information">
    **Check data in both systems:**

    * Verify the contact exists in Google Contacts
    * Ensure the phone number format is consistent
    * Check that contact isn't in Google's "Other Contacts"

    **Move to My Contacts:** In Google Contacts, move the contact from "Other Contacts" to "My Contacts".
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Photos not syncing">
    **From Google to Allo:**\
    Photos sync automatically if they exist in Google Contacts.

    **From Allo to Google:**\
    Photos added in Allo don't sync back to Google Contacts. This is a Google API limitation.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Need to reconnect">
    To reconnect the integration:

    1. Go to **Settings** > **Contacts**
    2. Turn off **Google Contacts** toggle
    3. Turn it back on
    4. Reauthorize access to Google
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Manage your integration

### Disconnect Google Contacts

To disconnect the integration:

1. Open Allo app
2. Go to **Settings** > **Contacts**
3. Turn off the **Google Contacts** toggle
4. Confirm disconnection

<Warning>
  Disconnecting stops sync between Allo and Google Contacts. Existing contacts remain unchanged in both systems.
</Warning>

### Selective sync

Currently, Allo syncs all Google contacts. There's no option to sync only specific contact groups.

**Workaround:**\
Create a separate Google account for business contacts and sync only that account with Allo.

### Revoke access

To completely revoke Allo's access to Google Contacts:

1. Go to [Google Account permissions](https://myaccount.google.com/permissions)
2. Find "Allo" in the list
3. Click **Remove access**

## Use cases

### Unified contact management

Keep business and personal contacts in sync automatically. Update once, reflect everywhere.

### Team collaboration

Share Google Contacts with team members. All changes sync to Allo for everyone.

### Backup and recovery

Maintain automatic backup of all Allo contacts in Google. Recover contacts if you switch devices.

### Cross-platform access

Access Allo contacts on any device through Google Contacts web interface.

## Need help?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Contact Allo support" icon="https://mintcdn.com/themobilefirstcompany/4JKVqOLduvlaK6pG/media/integrations/Allo.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=4JKVqOLduvlaK6pG&q=85&s=de5eaa45a01e052c9506804098dbb8ce" href="/en/support/contact" width="256" height="256" data-path="media/integrations/Allo.png">
    Get help with the integration
  </Card>

  <Card title="Google Contacts help" icon="https://mintcdn.com/themobilefirstcompany/0w3bVWjKfZPY4i7y/media/integrations/Google-Contacts.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=0w3bVWjKfZPY4i7y&q=85&s=d826b36d91ea8070631877f386b7347e" href="https://support.google.com/contacts" width="500" height="500" data-path="media/integrations/Google-Contacts.svg">
    Learn more about Google Contacts
  </Card>
</CardGroup>