Samsung Galaxy S3: How to Remove Duplicate Contacts

Samsung Galaxy SIII lets you to add contacts from several accounts, such as SIM card contacts, phone contacts, Google account, etc. This sometimes end up your phone with one or more duplicate contacts for each entry. Fortunately, there is an option which will allow you to merge the same or duplicate contacts into one.

See also: How to Merge Duplicate Contacts on Samsung Galaxy S3

Another way that you can do to remove duplicate contacts on your phone book is by displaying contacts from a single source only. You can choose to only displaying phone contacts, SIM card contact, Google account or another email account you already synced.


How to remove duplicate contacts by displaying contacts from single source?
Here are the steps you need to do:
  1. Go to Apps through Home screen.
  2. Tap Contacts.
  3. Tap Contact tab.
  4. Tap the Menu key.
  5. Scroll to Contacts to display, then tap on it.
  6. Now you will see a list of your contacts source. They are:
    • All contacts: Choose this option if you want to display contacts from all the accounts.
    • Phone: Choose this option to only displaying phone contacts.
    • SIM: Choose this option to only displaying SIM card contacts.
    • Your synced Google account: Choose this option to only displaying contacts from your Google account.
    • Another your synced email account: Choose this option to only displaying contacts from your synced email account.
  7. Tap the desired contacts source you wish to display.
  8. Now your phonebook will display contacts from the account you've just selected before.

Showing contacts from single source will prevent your phonebook displaying duplicate contacts. This of course will help you to clean up your phonebook and make you more easier when you want to use them. You can also use the steps I've mentioned above to hide SIM contacts or another contacts source. So, hope this helps :)

8 comments:

  1. I still can't delete duplicate or ANY contacts from email contacts list.HELP!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sergei Ourusoff,
      Thanks for coming.
      Have you ever tried to only show contacts with numbers? You can see the steps to do so in here:http://inside-galaxy.blogspot.com/2013/07/samsung-galaxy-s3-how-to-show-only.html
      Try this then see whether it helps :)

      Delete
  2. I finally found it. You edit one contact, and there's a "Link" button, You have to click one more button to Link other accounts (or something like that) and it will automatically search for any similar names, or give you the option to merge with any other contact in your contacts list. Once linked, they'll all appear as a single contact.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Michelle,
      Thanks for coming and share your thought here.
      Maybe what you mean is about merge contacts which will allow you to merge more than one contact (the Contacts app will suggest you the similar contact that you might want to join) into a single contact. Merge contact is best used to join more than one contact with different numbers or emails. But, if both contacts has the same numbers, then both the numbers would be listed in the new single contacts. Aside from your steps, you can also do merge contact as listed in our post here: http://inside-galaxy.blogspot.com/2013/05/samsung-galaxy-s3-how-to-merge.html
      The step listed in the link above may be a little bit different, but should have the same result.

      While, by displaying contacts from a single source you should not be going to see the same contact number unless that's already double contacts from the beginning. If so, the possible ways to do is either to delete one of them to get the single contact with single number or merge them to get a single contact with the double numbers.
      Hope this short answer is helped :)

      Delete
  3. Good afternoon,

    I have a contact that's showing ONLY when I'm in messages, I want to remove this number, and have gone through all the "contacts to display" - it's not there, ONLY when I want to add a contact for a message.
    I've even deleted my Google accounts etc. nothing helps

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Stellajo,
      Thanks for coming.
      Have you ever tried to clear cache and clear data of the Messaging app? If not, try to do so by going to Settings> tap "More" tab> tap "Application manager"> swipe to the "All" screen> scroll down to find "Messaging", then tap it> tap "Clear cache" button and "Clear data" button. FYI, this will not make you lose any message, but if you're worried you can backup all of your messages first before doing this step.

      Delete
    2. samsung galaxy3 user: I have the same issue. I tried clearing cache too. Still shows double contacts when I message only

      Delete
    3. Hi Kzlibero24,
      Thanks for coming.
      Did you remember what have you done before this problem occurred? I've tried to duplicate your issue on my phone, but when I added contact for the message, there was no contact displayed twice. Anyway, I think your problem is caused by syncing option. If you have ever synced your contacts with other account, try to disable sync and then clear cache and clear data of your Contacts app(it won't delete any contact, but if you're worried, you'd better backup your contact first before doing clear cache and data of your Contacts app).

      Delete

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