In order not to get confused in numerous numbers, owners of smart devices add them to the address book of the mobile gadget, where each subscriber is assigned a name and, if necessary, a photo.
A notebook, like a video or photo, does not exist separately in the device’s memory. It takes up a certain amount of space, and all contacts are placed in a separate file. Ordinary users don’t even think about where it is. And this can become a serious mistake if problems arise with the operation of the smartphone.
Why do you need access to the contacts file on Android?
Over time, the mobile device may begin to function unstably, and the only way out of the situation will be to reset it to factory settings. During this operation, all data on the phone is lost. And if a person can simply temporarily transfer music, videos and photos to another medium, then with numbers everything is much more complicated.
Most often, people simply rewrite numbers, and, as it seems to them, there is nothing strange about this. Indeed, when 10-15 contacts are stored in the address book, their settings can be manually transferred in a few minutes.
Vyacheslav
For several years he worked in mobile phone stores of two large operators. I understand tariffs well and see all the pitfalls. I love gadgets, especially Android ones.
Ask a Question
Question to the expert
But what to do when there are 100 or more numbers stored in your phone? Is it really necessary to sign out every subscriber?
No. The owner of a smartphone running Android OS just needs to access the contacts file and move it to another device. After reinstalling the system, the data is returned to Android. Unlike the handwritten transfer option, the operation will not take much time to complete. And this is not the only example of when a person may need access to a notebook file. For example, the owner of a smartphone wants to share contacts with another person. In this case, he also gets the opportunity to access a separate file, thereby saving a lot of time.
In addition, some applications require access to the contacts file during the first launch. Give this permission only to proven programs that have good reviews.
Problems and solutions
File does not open
You can use any text editor to open the CSV or VCF as mentioned in the text. If it is important to use specialized software, try Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets as a solution for CSV, and VCF Contacts for VCF.
In the case of contacts. db, you should use the SQLite Browser computer program. Another solution is to convert the database to vCard using a simple online tool.
Can't save contacts.db
Most likely you do not have root rights. First you need to obtain them using the methods discussed in the text.
The situation may also be caused by an editing conflict - for example, right now the document is occupied by another process. You need to end all background applications that may be causing this problem and try again.
The file contains strange characters
If a document containing information about contacts contains strange characters instead of normal content, it is worth changing the encoding to UTF-8. By default, the built-in editor saves data with the same settings with which it was opened, so this situation only occurs with some third-party software.
It is better not to modify the contacts.db file in any way other than using special software for modifying SQLite databases. Such documents have complex syntax, and one extra character in their content can lead to problems reading the content.
It’s easy to find out where your contacts are in Android, as well as perform various actions with them. An excellent advantage is the presence of all these functions in built-in programs, which even applies to different firmware - all the features available in “Pure Android” are also present in Samsung One UI, as well as images of MIUI, Flyme and others.
Android users are given not only the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the information, but also access to their detailed editing. Export and import are also simple operations that any smartphone or tablet can handle.
Share link:
Where are contacts stored in the phone memory?
The process of saving a number on an Android phone looks very simple. After entering contact information, the user only needs to go to options and click the “Add contact” button. Next, the system will offer to fill out a short questionnaire about the subscriber, but you can safely refuse this.
If a person saves a number to the phone’s memory, then you can find the contacts file as follows:
- Open File Explorer (an application for viewing files).
- Go to the “data” folder.
- Open the following folder “com.android.providers.contacts”.
- Click on “databases”.
The specified location will contain a .db file. Typically it is named "contacts" or "contacts2". It stores all the numbers that the user has saved on the phone.
If you are unable to find the file in the specified path, try first opening the “Android” folder in Explorer, and only then “data”.
You won't be able to edit the file without a special application. But the changes will automatically take effect as soon as the smartphone owner changes the contact settings through the address book.
Saving a number to your phone's memory is the most popular way to add a new contact. But he's not the only one. Along with it, users save subscribers to a SIM card and add them to their personal Google account. We’ll talk further about how to access the file in this case.
On the SIM card
If a person needs access to the contacts file only in order not to lose records on a new phone or after resetting to factory settings, it is not at all necessary to save subscribers to the phone’s memory. Many people do this, saving to a SIM card. This small chip is installed in the phone and, like the internal memory of the device, carries some information.
In the case when a person adds a new contact to a SIM card, it is impossible to access the shared file. The chip has a different structure than the internal memory of a smartphone. But there is a way to still open the contacts file. To do this, you will need to transfer all subscribers from the SIM card to the phone.
To carry out the transfer, you need:
- Open the Contacts application.
- Select subscribers whose numbers are saved on the SIM card.
- Go to options.
- Click the “Move to phone memory” button.
In addition to transferring, you can copy. This way you can protect yourself in case your phone breaks at the wrong time. After all the numbers are in the memory of the Android smartphone, the shared file can be accessed in the same way as described in the previous paragraph. That is, through Explorer.
A SIM card is a small chip that is subject to wear and tear. In this regard, it is recommended to change the SIM card at the operator’s communication store at least once every 5 years, so as not to lose contacts due to its breakdown.
In Google account
All smartphones running the Android operating system have Google services pre-installed. Even when you turn on the device for the first time, the system requires you to create a new account to access all the features of the gadget. A similar procedure is even included in the list of basic services that are provided in communication shops for money. But any user can cope with the task without the help of a specialist.
Creating an account opens up a huge variety of functions to the owner of the smartphone, including adding contacts to a Google account. This may be needed in order not to lose records after a smartphone breakdown or to view subscribers on a computer.
You can import numbers into your account through the Contacts application. The user will need to open the settings, click the “Import” button and select the appropriate method for performing the operation. This can be imported from a SIM card, if the numbers are written to it, or from the phone’s memory using a VCF file.
Once the contacts are imported, they can be viewed through your Google account:
- Open the phone settings.
- Select the “Accounts” section.
- Click on “Google”.
- Go to the “Contacts” section.
Also, all recorded numbers that are in your Google account, but not in the phone’s memory, will be displayed in the standard Contacts application.
How to use an exported contacts file
View
To find out the information contained in a file, just tap on it. CSV and VCF files can be opened not only with Excel and Contacts, respectively, but also with a text editor.
Change
For this purpose, you can use the built-in application or any table editor. There is nothing stopping you from doing the same as the previous step and using a simple Notepad.
Transfer to another device
All you need to do is share the file using Bluetooth , Wi-Fi or any other method. The next step needs to be done on another device - import the information, following the instructions discussed in the subsection “Storing contacts on a SIM card,” but instead of SIM, select a file from the device’s memory.
How to find contacts on your phone via computer
If your phone is not working and you need to access your contacts file, you need to connect your mobile device via a USB cable. On your PC you will need to open the file located at /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts.db.
Via Google account
If your phone book entries are synchronized with Google services, you can access your contacts even without connecting your smartphone to your computer. To do this, log in to your account on google.com, open your profile and go to the “Contacts” section.
If you are unable to find the section in your account, then after logging in, try going to contacts.google.com.
Sync Android contacts with Google - where to find them
Many users enable synchronization of phone numbers with their Google account. In such a case, the information is saved to the linked account. You can check which email is attached in your account settings. To view your contacts, go to the mail website from your computer and log in to the same account. Further steps are presented a little higher.
To enable synchronization, you must:
- Open system settings on your smartphone.
- Go to accounts.
- Add a new account, select Google or Gmail from the options offered. If the account has already been added, proceed to the next step.
- Open your account settings and find the word contacts in the list. Check the box next to this item.
- You may have multiple accounts. Choose the one that will sync with your gadget.
Now the device will automatically synchronize information with your mailbox. The system not only records phone numbers, but also saves photos.
Once you've finished setting up, look at what other data you can synchronize with your mail. If necessary, enable the appropriate functions. All information is saved on Google Drive - a cloud service linked to your account. To disable synchronization, just uncheck the corresponding box in your account settings.
How and where is it better to save contacts on Android
Phonebook numbers are important information that should be kept in a safe place. As a rule, if your smartphone is protected with a password or fingerprint, no one will be able to open your contacts. But, if they are saved on a SIM card, the attacker will only need to remove it and insert it into another mobile device.
Best options for saving contacts:
- To prevent a stranger from seeing your address book, it is recommended to save all numbers in the phone’s memory.
- And to be on the safe side in case your device breaks down, you should set up synchronization with your Google account. This way, contacts will also be presented on your personal page.
Rate this article
Changing the storage location for contacts
If you need to change the location for storing contacts, follow the instructions:
- We repeat steps 1 and 2 of the previous instructions.
- Click “Change contacts”, then select “Default account for new contacts”.
- A window will appear in which we select the appropriate method - device memory or suggested accounts.
- All changes made to the settings are applied automatically.
Read Contacts disappeared on your Android phone - how to get it back
On a paper notepad
The method is convenient in that all contacts are written in a handwriting that is understandable to the owner.
You can also write down the name in full and with certain notes in a notepad. Phones have a limited number of characters, so sometimes it's difficult to understand abbreviations. For example, you have 2 contacts in your phone called “Lyudmila P”. You know two women with the same name, but P. can mean a hairdresser or just a person's last name. Therefore, a notepad is more convenient in this regard: you can write down the name in detail, avoiding awkwardness and confusion if, for example, you call the wrong person.
However, there are also disadvantages: if you have a huge number of contacts and, say, extensive handwriting, then the notepad will be very thick or there will be several of them, which is not always convenient. In addition, there is a possibility, especially if a person carries notes with him, that he may simply lose them.
How to view deleted numbers?
To recover deleted data from the Contacts app, launch it and sign in to your Google Account. Then open Settings and click "Restore". Select the appropriate copy and follow the program prompts.
Interesting materials:
How to concatenate text with a space in Excel? How are grapes dried for raisins? How to dry and store rowan? How to dry raisins at home? How to dry raspberries for tea? How to brew coffee from whole beans without a Turk? How to weld invisible? How are movement and distance traveled related? How to link EA and Twitch accounts? How can I contact Blablakar?
Summary
You can store phone book contacts in different ways: in the phone memory, in a cloud service, and on a SIM card. Modern SIM cards can accommodate from 100 to 200 contacts.
If you use the methods separately, this does not ensure 100% data security. Only a combination of methods works well: write all contacts to the phone’s memory, export to the cloud - iCloud, Gmail or Dropbox, and copy the most important ones to a SIM card. This way, even in the most unforeseen situation, you will retain all the contacts that are important to you.
