How to add a contact on your Android: 4 ways

How to add a contact on your Android: 4 ways

There's more than one way to add a contact on your Android smartphone. You can type in the number, add it from your logs or chats. There are also several apps that let you add a new contact on your Android, and you can choose which one to use depending on the situation. This tutorial illustrates four ways to add a contact on your Android, so you can decide what works best for you:

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NOTE: This guide applies to Android 10, and it was created on a Nokia 5.3 smartphone. If you do not know your Android version, read How to check the Android version on your smartphone or tablet. The procedures are similar on all Android-powered devices, although you might come across some small differences, depending on your device's manufacturer.

1. How to add a contact on Android using Google's Contacts app

Google's Contacts app has the advantage of looking the same regardless of the Android device you're using, so it's a surefire way to add contacts. It's easy to add new people with the Contacts app. On the Home screen, swipe up to access the All Apps screen or tap the All apps button, if available.

Swipe up from the Home screen to access All Apps
Swipe up from the Home screen to access All Apps

On the All Apps screen, find the Contacts app and tap on it. Its icon looks like a stick figure's bust on a blue background.

Tap on the Contacts app to open it
Tap on the Contacts app to open it

The Contacts app opens, displaying a list of every contact saved on your Google Account. Tap the round Add (+) button in the lower-right corner.

Tap + to start adding a contact
Tap + to start adding a contact

On the Create contact screen, tap on the available fields to insert the contact's details. The arrow next to First name reveals additional name options. Press the More fields option at the bottom to reveal more boxes where you can add extra data. Use the Add contact photo icon at the top to also associate an image with the contact you're creating.

Add data for your new contact
Add data for your new contact

When you are done inserting everything, press Save in the top-right corner, and your contact is created.

Press Save to finish adding a contact
Press Save to finish adding a contact

A brief notification at the bottom of the screen lets you know your contact is saved, and you can view the details you just added.

Your contact is saved in your Google Account
Your contact is saved in your Google Account

The Contacts app also offers suggestions regarding the people you can add.

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Open it and tap on the hamburger button in the top-left corner.

Press on the hamburger button
Press on the hamburger button

This opens an additional menu, where you can access Suggestions.

Tap on Suggestions
Tap on Suggestions

On the next screen, you get the option to "Add people you email often." Tap on it.

Tap to add people you email often
Tap to add people you email often

You are presented with all the suggestions to review. To add any of them to your contacts, tap on the Add contact option next to it.

Tap to add any suggested contact
Tap to add any suggested contact

That person is immediately added to your contacts using the available details. A brief warning at the bottom of the screen informs you of this, giving you the option to View your contact for further editing.

The contact is added
The contact is added

2. How to create a contact on Android using the dial pad

If you need to write down a number fast, the dial pad in your Phone app may be the most obvious choice. First, open the Phone app, which should be available by default in your Favorites bar, at the bottom of the Home screen. If it's not, you can access it from the All Apps screen. Tap on the app's phone receiver icon.

Tap to access the Phone app
Tap to access the Phone app

Some smartphones give you access to the dial pad at this point. On others, the dial pad button is available in the lower-right corner of the screen. Tap on it.

Tap on the dial pad button
Tap on the dial pad button

On the dial pad screen, insert the number you want to add. Then, tap on "Create new contact."

Creating a new contact
Creating a new contact

The "Add to contacts" pane opens, where you can fill in some basic data for the number you inserted. You can tap on More details to add additional info, as seen in the first section of this tutorial. Press Save to finish adding a new contact on your Android.

Finish adding a new contact
Finish adding a new contact

You get a message that the contact is saved and you are returned to the dial pad.

The new contact is added to your Android smartphone
The new contact is added to your Android smartphone

TIP: Alternatively, you can also use the "Create new contact" option available in the Phone app's Contacts tab. This takes you to the Create contact screen illustrated in the first section.

Add a new contact with the Create new contact option
Add a new contact with the Create new contact option

3. How to add a contact on Android using your call history

You can also use the call history in the Phone app to add anyone you've been in contact with. First, access the Phone app either from your Home screen or All Apps.

Tap to open the Phone app
Tap to open the Phone app

Then, access the Recents tab.

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This is where you can see your call history - calls made, received, and missed on your Android smartphone.

Access Recents for your call history
Access Recents for your call history

Pressing on any unknown phone number in the list reveals a dropdown menu, where you can tap on the Add contact option. On some smartphones, like those from Huawei, press on the small i icon next to a number to reveal an option named Create New Contact.

Start adding a contact
Start adding a contact

This opens the "Add to contacts" pane. Use it to add basic details to the number and press Save.

Tap Save after adding details for the new contact
Tap Save after adding details for the new contact

Alternatively, you can also access Call history by first tapping on the More button available in the Phone app. Its icon looks like three vertical dots.

Access More
Access More

In the menu that opens, tap on Call history.

Access Call history
Access Call history

The Call history screen shows the calls on your device grouped into All and Missed. Tap on any unknown number to reveal a dropdown menu and press on "Create new contact."

Tap on Create new contact
Tap on Create new contact

The "Add to contacts" pane opens, same as above. Insert any details and tap Save.

Add contact details and press Save
Add contact details and press Save

4. How to create a contact on Android from Messages

If you exchanged messages with someone and want to add that person to your contacts, start by accessing the Messages app either from your Home screen or All Apps.

Open the Messages app
Open the Messages app

On the next screen, you should be able to see all the messages received on your device. Find the chat with the contact you want to add. You now have three options to add their number to your contacts.

Find the chat with the contact you want to add
Find the chat with the contact you want to add

You can touch-and-hold on that chat to select it, and then tap on the Add contact icon.

Select a chat to add that contact
Select a chat to add that contact

Another option is to tap on the chat to open it, and then press on the More button from the top-right to reveal a dropdown menu. Its icon looks like three vertical dots.

Open the chat and press More
Open the chat and press More

Tap on Add contact to start adding your new contact.

Start adding a new contact
Start adding a new contact

Regardless of the method chosen, both these options take you to a new screen, where you can see your number and a big "Add to contacts" button. Tap on it.

Press Add to contacts
Press Add to contacts

This takes you to a screen where you can choose to associate the number with an existing contact or create a new one. Tap on "Create a new contact."

Choose to Create a new contact
Choose to Create a new contact

You are taken to the "Add to contacts" pane, where you can insert basic data for your contact, and then press Save.

Insert details for the new contact and Save
Insert details for the new contact and Save

As a third option, you might get a "New contact?" banner at the top of the screen. Tap on Add contact.

Add a contact from the banner
Add a contact from the banner

This opens the "Add a contact" pane, where you can insert some basic details, and then tap Save.

Insert the contact details and Save
Insert the contact details and Save

How much detail do you add to new contacts?

We think it's great that there are so many ways to add a contact on your Android smartphone. On top of that, if you're using a contact often, you can add a speed-dial shortcut for it. Before you close this tutorial, we're curious about the details you fill in when adding a contact. I usually only take the time to add the first name, but some of my colleagues also add a lot of information. What about you? Which fields do you usually fill in when adding a new contact? Let us know in the comments.

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