How to merge contacts on Android Honor: 5 ways to remove duplicates

Duplicate contacts in the phone book Honor is a common problem that occurs after synchronizing with multiple accounts (Google, Huawei ID, WhatsApp), importing from a SIM card or backup copies Scattered records of one person not only clutter up the address book, but also complicate the search: instead of one complete profile, you see several cards with fragments of data - somewhere just a number, somewhere an email, and somewhere a photo. In this article we will look at 5 proven ways to merge contacts on Honorincluding built-in tools EMUI, features Google Contacts and third-party utilities.

It is important to understand that the methods differ in effectiveness depending on the firmware version and smartphone model. For example, on Honor 90 or Magic 5 Pro with the latter MagicOS the combining algorithm may differ slightly from older devices on EMUI 10. We will take these nuances into account and provide universal solutions that work on most brand devices. If you encounter duplicates after updating the system or changing your account, this guide will help you get your address book in order in 10–15 minutes.

1. Merging contacts through the standard Contacts application

The easiest way is to use the built-in merge function in the standard application Contact (or Phone on some models). This method is suitable for manual association individual takes and does not require the installation of additional apps. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the application Contact on your Honor.
2. Click on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Manage contacts → Merge contacts.
3. The system will automatically find possible duplicates. Opposite each offer there will be a button Combine.
4. Check the data in both cards (sometimes the system makes mistakes!) and click Combine.
5. Confirm the action if necessary.

If automatic offers do not appeared, you can use manual search:

• 🔍 Enter the contact name in the search bar.
• 📋 Click on the desired card and select Edit.
• 🔗 In the upper right corner tap on the icon Link (two paper clips) and select a duplicate entry.

⚠️ Attention: On some models Honor (for example, Honor 8X or Honor 10 Lite) option Merge contacts can be located in section Settings → Import/Export → Manage duplicates. If you don’t find the item, update the application Contact via AppGallery.

2. Using Google Contacts for bulk merging

If there are too many duplicates (for example, after migrating from iPhone or restoring a backup), manual merging will take hours. In this case, it is more convenient to use the web version Google Contactswhich offers automatic merging more flexible settings. The method works if your contacts are synchronized with your account Google:

1. Open the browser on your PC or phone and go to the site contacts.google.com (log in with the same account as on Honor).
2. In the left menu, select Double —the system will show all found matches.
3. Click Merge all for mass merging or select duplicates manually.
4. After merging, wait for synchronization (usually takes 1-2 minutes) and check the result on your smartphone.

Advantages of this method:

• 🌐 Works on any device, even if the phone Honor is temporarily unavailable.
• 🔄 Allows you to cancel the merger (within 30 days via Trash).
• 📊 Shows statistics of duplicates and offers to merge contacts with similar names, but different numbers.

⚠️ Attention: If you use multiple accounts Google on Honor, make sure that synchronization is enabled for the correct profile. You can check this in Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact synchronization.

3. Applications for automatically merging contacts

If the built-in tools do not cope (for example, they do not find duplicates with different names, but the same numbers), third-party utilities will come to the rescue. We tested several popular applications and chose those that work best on Honor:

Application	Features	Pros	Cons
Simpler Merge	Scans contacts by numbers, emails and names Offers merging with preview.	Free, no advertising, supports Russian language.	Does not always work correctly with Chinese characters in names.
Contacts Optimizer	Can combine duplicates by partial match (for example, "Ivan" and "Ivanov").	Flexible settings filters, backup.	Paid version for mass merging (from 199 ₽).
Cleanup: Duplicate Contacts	Automatically finds and merges duplicates, saving all data.	Simple interface, works offline.	Limitation on 50 combinations in the free version.

How to use such applications (using an example Simpler Merge):

1. Download and install the application from AppGallery or Google Play.
2. Run a scan - the utility will show all duplicates found.
3. Check the sentences (sometimes the app makes mistakes by combining different people with the same names!).
4. Click Merge and confirm the action.

⚠️ Attention: Before using third-party applications be sure to back up your contacts via Settings → System → Backup or export them to a VCF file. Some utilities may delete data instead of merging if you interrupt the process!

What to do if the application does not find duplicates?

Try clearing the cache of the Contacts application in the phone settings. Also check if synchronization with Google/Huawei ID is disabled. If the problem persists, try another application from the table above.

4. Merging contacts via Huawei Cloud (for Huawei ID owners)

If you use an account Huawei ID (and not Google), duplicates can be combined via a cloud service Huawei CloudThis method is especially relevant for devices Honor on MagicOS or EMUI the latest versions, where integration with the ecosystem Huawei is maximum. Here are the step-by-step guide:

1. Open the application Huawei Cloud on your phone (or go to the website cloud.huawei.com).
2. Login using your own Huawei ID.
3. Go to the section Contact.
4. Click on the three dots (⋮) and select Manage contacts → Merge duplicates.
5. The system will offer merging options - confirm the correct ones.

The advantages of this method:

• 🔒 Data is stored in an encrypted cloud Huawei, which is safer than third-party applications.
• 🔄 Synchronization occurs instantly with all devices linked to Huawei ID.
• 📱 Works even if the phone is lost or reset to factory settings.

If you do not use Huawei ID, but want to try this method, register an account in Settings → Huawei ID and enable contact synchronization. Please note that when merging for the first time via Huawei Cloud, confirmation by SMS or email may be required.

5. Exporting and importing contacts to “clean” duplicates

A radical but effective way is to export contacts to fileclear it of duplicates on the computer and then import it back. This method is suitable if other options have failed or you need to merge thousands of records (for example, after migrating from a corporate system). Here's how to do it:

1. Export: Open Contact → Settings (⋮) → Import/Export → Export to file. Select the format .vcf (or .csv) and save the file to a memory card or to the cloud.
2. Cleanup: Transfer the file to your PC and open it in Excel or Google Sheets (if the format is .csv). Remove duplicate rows manually or use the function Remove duplicates (tab Data).
3. Import: Return to Contact to Honor, select Import from file and specify the path to the edited file.

Important nuances:

• 📄 When exporting to .vcf each contact is saved as a separate business card. It is more convenient for mass editing. .csv.
• 🔍 Before importing, make sure that there are no empty lines or broken characters in the file - this can lead to errors. errors.
• 📱 After importing, check that all numbers are displayed correctly (formatting or country prefixes are sometimes lost).

⚠️ Attention: If you edit contacts in .csv, do not change the column names (for example, Name, Phone) - this will lead to an import error. Also avoid using commas in data fields (replace with a semicolon).

6. How to avoid duplicates in the future

Merging contacts is good, but even better prevent them from appearing. Here are some tips to help keep your address book in order:

• 🔄 Disable automatic synchronization For example, If you do not use WhatsApp or Viber to store contacts, deny them access to the phone book in Settings → Applications → Permissions.
• 📱 Import contacts from the SIM card once. Repeated import from SIM creates duplicates. After transferring data, delete entries from the card.
• 🔗 Set up a main account for synchronizationIf you use both Googleand Huawei ID, select one as the main one and disable the duplicate synchronization.
• 📌 Check regularly duplicates. Make it a habit to open contacts.google.com or the built-in application once a month Contact and merge new matches.

It is also useful to know:

• On Honor s MagicOS 7.0+ there is a function Smart sorting in contacts that automatically groups entries by company or family connections. Turn it on in the application settings.
• If you often exchange business cards by Bluetooth or QR code, use applications like CamCardthat automatically check duplicates before saving.

By following these rules, you will minimize the risk of duplicates. If the problem returns, repeat the merger using one of the methods described above.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about merging contacts on Honor

Is it possible to merge contacts from different accounts? (Google and Huawei ID)?

Yes, but only manually. Automatic merging only works within one account. To merge records from Google and Huawei ID:

1. Open the contact in the application Contact.
2. Click Edit → Link (icon) paper clips).
3. Select a duplicate entry from another account.

After this, the data will be displayed together, but will be saved in different accounts.

Why do photos disappear after merging? contacts?

This happens if:

• The photo was linked to only one of the merged records (check which card you selected as the main one).
• Synchronization with the cloud (Google Photos or Huawei Cloud) is disabled.
• The photo format is not supported (for example, .heic on older versions of Android).

Solution: re-add the photo manually after merging.

How to merge contacts if you don’t have them on your phone "Merge" options?

Possible reasons and solutions:

• Outdated firmware: Update EMUI/MagicOS via Settings → Update system.
• The Contacts application is missing: Install it from AppGallery (called Huawei Contacts).
• Manufacturer restrictions: On some models (for example, Honor Play) the option is hidden. Use Google Contacts or third-party utilities.

Is it possible to unmerge contacts?

Yes, but with restrictions:

• In Google Contacts: Within 30 days, merged entries can be restored from Trashes.
• In Huawei Cloud: There is no cancellation, but you can manually separate contacts via Edit → Unlink.
• In third-party applications: Recovery checkpoints depend on the app (for example, Contacts Optimizer saves backups).

If more than a month has passed, you can only restore the original data from backup copy.

Why does the system suggest merging contacts of different people?

This happens due to:

• Identical names (for example, two Ivan Petrovich with different last names).
• Similar numbers (for example, +79123456789 and 89123456789).
• Errors in data (spaces, different record formats).

Always check the system offers before confirming! If in doubt, open both cards and compare numbers, email and others fields.