> iPhone/iPod/iPad > Sync google contacts with ipad

How to Sync Google Contacts with iPad without iTunes

As an iPad user, you must find that it’s sometimes trouble to use Google services on iOS devices. Here the article shows you how to sync Google contacts with iPad step by step:

1. Go to Settings

2. Tap on Mail, Contacts, Calendars.

3. Choose Add Account…

4. Choose Microsoft Exchange.

sync contacts to ipad

5. Enter your account information. (The domain name is optional)

sync contacts ipad

6. Type up your Google email address as the Username.

7. Enter the Password.

8. Tap Next at the top right of the login box.

9. Enter m.google.com as the Server

10. Tap Next again.

sync contacts ipad

11. Now you can sync Google mail, contacts or calendars on your new iPad by turning them on or off.

12. Tap Save.

sync contacts to ipad

13. Press Sync twice when/if warned about data loss.

14. Then select the option your would like with the Existing Local Contacts.

15. Then press Save at the top.

sync gmail contacts with ipad

After your synced the Google Gmail, contacts or calendars on your iPad, you now need to go back to Settings and reset the settings you just changed.

Tip: If you have multiple calendars, gmail, Google contacts needed to be synced to your new iPad, you can open m.google.com/sync on Safari -> Tap on Device and select the target Calendars -> Save.

  • Al  2013-05-31 18:38
    The correct way to go about it is open Add account Click on Other Click on Add cardDAV account Under server type in google.com Username is ur google email xxxxxx@gmail.com Ur password Click next Open Contacts on ur device and it should start sync in a bit.
  • Greg  2013-04-20 00:52
    Where do I find Advanced Settings? I'm having absolutely no luck with Exchange. It asks for another password that I don't know after I save all the info.
  • Greg  2013-04-20 00:36
    This process fails numerous times on ipad 4. Not sure the software is any different but can you suggest another way to get my google contacts into my ipad? I'm having no luck.
  • twitter-69330972  2013-04-18 12:23
    Thank you :) very useful information!
  • Mukeshkoshym  2013-04-15 22:30
    Thank you very much. It works for ipad retina display
  • google-048c6ad5b41935d45fed5f6  2013-04-13 20:16
    After doing all of this I get a message that says, \"Cannot get mail connection to the server failed\"!
  • google-36978bd3f175185a00f3042  2013-03-30 11:09
    PERFECT! Any side effects? issit a 2 way sync?
  • google-c5e6fd0709bccfbc365ed2e  2013-03-28 23:46
    Thank you Güneş Aydın ! Been trying all day with no luck until found your post. Thank you again !
  • Alex  2013-03-28 04:19
    many thanks - worked perfectly! i'd been struggling through adding contacts via the microsoft exchange solution with no luck. very happy now :)
  • Ntsako  2013-03-26 16:34
    I have been struggling to login for gmail email account please help
  • facebook-1331521231  2013-03-20 04:00
    Tap Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Add Account > Other > Add CardDav Account. Enter the following information in the fields: Server: google.com User Name: Enter your full Google email address Password: Your Google account password Select Next at the top of the screen to complete the setup. After you have completed the setup, open the Contacts app on your device. Syncing should begin automatically. Additional Information Note: Make sure that SSL is enabled (under Advanced settings), and that the port is 443. If you are using application based special password go to https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?btmpl=va&continue=https%3A%2F%2Faccounts.google.com%2FIssuedAuthSubTokens%3Fhide_authsub%3D1 and instead of your password put that special code and u r done.
  • twitter-228112555  2013-03-15 23:21
    It keeps asking me to enter the password of my exchange account. I don\'t even reach the sync step. What on earth is my exchange account password and how can I get one?
  • Lucian Iorgus  2013-02-23 23:08
    download McBackup from store (for free) on your iPhone or pad, save cvs file and this is it !!
  • Delpha Flad  2013-02-21 23:00
    Didn't work for me. Never got the Existing Local Contacts popup screen.
  • Lisa  2013-02-04 23:03
    Fran, did you ever get any word as to what to do? I've just done this and am at the same point, where it is saying it will delete the contacts if I delete the account I just created...
  • Foxlevel  2013-02-03 18:05
    Thanks so much for this. You have no idea how long we have been trying to get our AOL contacts into the IPad. We first moved the AOL into Gmail, then from Gmail into the IPAD. I followed your instructions above and voila, the contacts were in the iPad.
  • Susanseliger  2013-01-29 15:16
    Hi. Great instructions. Clear and succinct. It worked-- BUT ONLY PARTIALLY. Weirdly enough, many of my contacts were left out of the sync process. (Incidentally, there was no SYNC button as you indicated, but i went on anyway). I tried to sync again, but it would not allow me to complete the process as my ipad said I already had that account. How can I get the missing contacts?
  • Ej Brain  2013-01-24 20:03
    oh dear, I have no clue what my Exchange password is. I evidently have one, but do not remember creating it. Not sure how to proceed now
  • Eibenstr3  2013-01-16 08:12
    Fantastic! Many thanks! I am able to sync my Android and Apple devices!
  • ddd  2013-01-07 09:01
    What settings do you change back?
  • Schilke1815  2012-12-27 01:44
    I tried this but can't get past the "Exchange password" prompt. Any ideas?
  • Jon barchi  2012-12-26 18:36
    Google is phasing out exchange sync on normal accounts as of 30 January, in favor of the open CalDAV and CardDAV standards. For more information on sync with these protocols, directly from google, see the following URL: http://www.google.com/sync/index.html
  • herman  2012-11-28 16:47
    i tried it, there was no sync button and no warning message about data loss. BUT! eureka the contacts magically appeared in my Ipad contacts list. So it worked perfectly.
  • Nshaq  2012-11-10 14:53
    Thank you!!!!! That took me a while to figure out
  • disqus_RbTae3XCKA  2012-10-09 08:56
    This worked brilliantly but the last step leaves me a bit confused. 'After your synced the Google Gmail, contacts or calendars on your iPad, you now need to go back to Settings and reset the settings you just changed.' Does that mean I should then delete the account i just created? I went to do that but it said it would delete all contacts. I'd be very grateful if someone could get back to me :)
  • facebook-2364256  2012-10-04 01:24
    I have the same problem as Ivy. Don't see a sync button, don't get the warning about old data. So what am I missing? I've been thru the whole set of instructions twice. I deleted and re-added my Gmail account separately from the exchange setup. I did rename my Google Exchange to Google Exchange because I have another Exchange account already set up. Is that the problem? I've seen hints that you can only sync one exchange account, but I've also seen that that is not true.
  • Grant  2012-09-24 07:02
    Thanks Ivan, having been grappling with that issue for ages. Glad I found your solution!
  • Ivy  2012-09-13 08:26
    Hi, I have try all the step up to step 12, then I am stuck because it would not warn me about the old data? Where do I find the sync button to press twice? If i press save it only shoe the account added. Then it would not sync the contact list at all. Please help?
  • Rajesh Shanbhag  2012-09-08 09:59
    Why does it sync only Gmail contacts in group? It does not sync contacts from those assigned to groups.
  • Trish  2012-09-02 01:58
    Thanks so much for the step by step instructions! I am so glad I was able to find your solution...there's a lot out there about how to do this using the computer, and I really wanted something where I could use just the ipad. I appreciate your help!
  • Mark  2012-09-01 03:44
    This works perfectly. So what is the difference between using this setup trick using Exchange verses using the iPad's gmail account setup? Is it more or less secure and why? Mark
  • Steve  2012-08-26 15:42
    Thank you so much. I am new to iPad but can't do without Gmail/Contacts and Calendar. Tomorrow will be much easier will your help.I hope 2012 brings you much happiness
  • Roshelle  2012-08-06 14:05
    Good day, Yes you are right! Thanks for the help! :)
  • Astronomer4313  2012-08-04 23:38
    This allows the data to transfer one way--from the Gmail contacts and Google Calendar to the iPad. What can I do to cause a contact or a calendar event created on the iPad to be uploaded to Gmail contacts and Google Calendar?
  • Mtkulam  2012-07-09 19:39
    Amazing, my friend, it just worked, thanks a lot.........
  • twitter-25659119  2012-07-07 00:34
    thanks Ivan. worked like a charm
  • Becky  2012-07-06 01:06
    I can't begin to tell you how glad and grateful I am that I stumbled onto your site. I have been back and forth to the apple store trying to sync my contacts without having to go to icloud or itunes. I just downloaded icloud and found that to be the wrong answer since most of my devices can't use icloud. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
  • JK  2012-06-25 23:24
    Thank you for this, very helpful and it worked a treat.
  • Nagarra65  2012-06-21 09:05
    Worked like magic. Thanks a lot
  • Ronald Lazaro  2012-06-12 18:49
    Thanks, worked like a charm. I only wish I read this earlier. Ron Lazaro
  • Pbrant  2012-05-29 15:00
    Dude... this was exactly the info I needed! Man if only we all utilized our talents simply in the name of helping someone else, this world would effin ROczk! Thank you!
  • Kaneshiro Daniel  2012-04-18 03:58
    Awesome! You saved my life!! Mucho mahalo!!
  • Cfo209  2012-04-09 03:33
    THANK YOU!!!! Works perfectly!!!
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