Are you overwhelmed by unwanted Gmail-synced contacts cluttering your Android device? I’ve been there, and today I’m sharing two proven methods to remove these automatically synced contacts. Whether you prefer to turn off sync or undo recent changes, this guide—updated for 2025—will help you regain control of your address book.
Google Contacts now offers smart AI-driven features and more granular controls than ever before, making it easier to manage your contacts. In my experience, these two methods are the most effective:
So, here’s how to undo it or delete Google/Gmail synced contacts on any Android.
A step-by-step tutorial with all the screenshots and videos.
Most people assume their contacts sync only from Gmail, but here’s what’s actually happening behind the scenes:
- AI-Suggested Contacts: Google automatically adds contacts it thinks you might need—even if you never saved them.
- Old Google Accounts: If you’ve logged into multiple Google accounts, your phone syncs contacts from all of them, even inactive ones.
- Third-Party Apps: Apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and LinkedIn merge their contacts with Google, sometimes overriding your settings.
- Deleted Contacts Still Exist in the Cloud: Even if you delete them from your phone, Google keeps a backup and may resync them.
- Hidden “Other Contacts”: Google stores extra contacts in a section called Other Contacts. They don’t appear in your main list but sync when you switch devices.
🚀 This is why turning off sync doesn’t always remove contacts permanently. Let’s fix it.
Method 1: Turn Off Google Contacts Sync
When you disable sync, all contacts that have been imported from your Google (Gmail) account will be removed from your device (but not from your online Google account). This method is ideal if you want an immediate, one-time cleanup to declutter your phone.
Here’s how to do it:
On a Samsung phone or any device not preloaded with Google Contacts, simply install the Google Contacts app and log in with your Google account. Once logged in:
- Tap your profile icon at the top of the screen.
- Select Contact Settings.
- At the top of the settings menu, tap Google Contacts Settings—this controls your contact backup and sync.
- Turn off the sync option. The app will notify you that a certain number of contacts (for example, 250) will be removed from your device.
- Rest assured, these contacts remain safely stored in your Google account (visit contacts.google.com) and will be restored if you re-enable sync later.
This method is straightforward and effective—if you want to prevent future clutter, keep sync turned off for the Google account you use for contacts.
❌ No, disabling sync only removes contacts from your phone.
✅ They remain in your Google account at contacts.google.com.
📲 Enabling sync again restores all contacts back to your phone.
In this video, I disable sync, remove 250 contacts, then re-enable sync—and they all come back.
Method 2: Undo Changes in the Google Contacts App (The Time-Reversal Trick)
Below is the straightforward procedure to undo the newly synced contacts on your device:
The first step is installing the Google Contacts app; if you already have it, that is great. Now, follow the steps carefully.
- Open the contacts app.
2. Tap on a fix and manage.
3. Then select the settings.
4. In settings, scroll down. Select Undo changes.
5. Select the time you want to remove the synced contacts here. The popup shows below the given time-lapse. Then hit confirm.
- 10 Minutes ago.
- 1 hour ago.
- Yesterday.
- One week ago.
- Custom.
Note: This removes and deletes all your changes in the contacts app. Suppose you mistakenly synced (added) some contacts you don’t want to. Then, you can undo those changes by going through the above changes.
If you accidentally synced unwanted contacts or if duplicates have recently flooded your phone, the Undo Changes feature in the Google Contacts app is another excellent option.
This feature allows you to revert your contact list to a previous state. Here’s what you do:
- Open the Google Contacts app (ensure it’s updated to the latest version).
- Tap on “Fix & manage” (found in the bottom menu or side panel).
- Scroll down in Settings until you see Undo Changes.
- Select the timeframe corresponding to when the unwanted contacts were synced (options typically include 10 minutes ago, 1 hour ago, yesterday, one week ago, or custom).
- Confirm your selection, and the app will remove the contacts added during that period.
This method not only helps remove unwanted contacts but also reverts any accidental edits or merges—giving you precise control over your contacts list.
Following these steps will remove Gmail synced contacts from your Android device.
Is it safe to undo changes on the Contacts app?
Yes, it is entirely safe because the app allows you to undo the changes you made. Select the time from which you want to undo the changes.
For instance, if you have synced the contacts on the last day, you can select “Yesterday” and confirm it.
Disable Contact Sync Gmail
There’s another way you can disable the sync for that Google account in that manner next time. You won’t get all those contacts to sync automatically in the background.
Note: It is for the people who want to avoid the same thing happening shortly.
- Open the Gmail app.
- Tap on your profile.
- Then tap Manage accounts on this device.
- Tap on your Gmail account.
- Select sync account.
- Turn off the contacts sync by toggling the blue button.
For instance, no contacts will be synced in the background when the sync button is turned off. It is like the permission for the device to get it synced.
What is the difference Between Gmail and Google Contact Sync?
Contact syncing for Google and Gmail is the same. Because all the Android Google accounts are contacts, it’s the same for Gmail. When it’s on, it is on for both Gmail and Google. In the end, Gmail is a product of Google.
Summing up everything I wrote above in Fixing Pro’s way.
To undo the synced contacts and to remove them, Open the contact app, get into the settings, and then select undo changes. At last, please choose a time frame you have made the changes, then delete it.
“Controlling your contacts is all about setting boundaries with technology—so you can focus on what truly matters.”
– The Fixing-Pro Team
Conclusion
I hope you found the article helpful and helped get things done. We are Fixing-Pro.com, and your one comment can help us.
Share your experience: Did these tips work for you? Are there any new quirks with the latest Google Contacts app? Drop a comment below—your insights help me refine these tutorials with fresh, real-world feedback. Happy organizing!
