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7 Fixes for Telegram Not Syncing Contacts on Android and iPhone

by Pankil Shah

Over the years, Telegram has managed to provide one of the best user experiences by constantly adding useful features and improving app stability. However, Telegram, like any other messaging app, can occasionally malfunction. One such example is when Telegram fails to sync contacts. Whether it’s due to the misconfigured sync settings or a buggy app update, this post will guide you through all the possible solutions to fix Telegram’s contact not syncing issue on your Android or iPhone.

1. Enable Contact Sync in Telegram

Your first course of action is to ensure that the contact sync feature is enabled on Telegram. Otherwise, the app will fail to sync any new contacts added on your Android or iPhone.

Android

1. In the Telegram app, tap the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner and select Settings

Settings on Telegram for Android

2. Tap on Privacy and Security.

Privacy and Security in Telegram for Android

3. Scroll down to Contacts and enable the switch next to Sync Contacts.

Enable Contact Sync for Telegram for Android

iPhone

1. Open up Telegram on your iPhone and navigate to the Settings tab in the bottom right corner. Then, tap on Privacy and Security.

Telegram Settings on iPhone

2. Go to Data Settings and toggle on Sync Contacts option.

Enable Contact Sync on Telegram for iPhone

Now check to see if Telegram is syncing contacts. Here is a guide on how to sync, unsync, and export Telegram contacts.

2. Check App Permissions

Telegram may also fail to sync contacts if the app does not have access to your contact list. To fix this, you’ll need to check Telegram’s app permission on your phone. Here’s how to do it.

Android

1. Long press on the Telegram app icon and tap on the info icon from the menu that pops up. Then, go to Permissions.

Telegram App Permission on Android

2. Tap on Contacts and select Allow from the following screen. 

Allow Telegram to Use Contacts on Android

iPhone

Open the Settings app on your iPhone and scroll down to tap on Telegram. Then, enable the switch next to Contacts.

Allow Contacts Permission to Telegram for iPhone

Restart the app after this and see if contacts are syncing correctly.

3. Manually Telegram Sync Contacts (Android)

If Telegram is still failing to sync contacts on your Android, you can try syncing them manually by following the steps below.

1. Open Settings on your Android phone and navigate to Accounts.

Accounts on Android

2. Select your Telegram account and tap on Account sync.

Account Sync for Telegram on Android

3. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner and select Sync now option.

Sync Contacts in Telegram for Android

Your phone should begin syncing contacts immediately, and Telegram should display all of your contacts now.

4. Add Contacts Manually

If Telegram’s contact sync issue is limited to just one or two people, you can also add them manually. Here’s how.

Android

1. Open the Telegram app on your phone. Tap the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner and select Contacts.

Contacts on Telegram for Android

2. Tap on the add contact button in the bottom right corner. Enter your contact’s name and phone number on the following screen, then tap the right checkmark at the top.

Add Contacts to Telegram for Android

iPhone

1. In the Telegram app, tap on the Contacts tab in the bottom left corner. 

Contacts Tab in Telegram for iPhone

2. Tap on the plus icon in the top right corner and type in the contact’s name and phone number in the appropriate fields. Once done, tap on Create.

Add Contact in Telegram for iPhone

5. Delete Synced Contacts and Sync Them Again

If the issue persists, try deleting all the synced contacts and start from scratch. This will force Telegram to resync all of your contacts, effectively resolving the problem. Here’s how you can go about it.

Android

1. In the Telegram app, tap the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper left corner and select Settings from the list.

2. Tap on Privacy and Security.

3. Scroll down to Contacts and tap on the Delete Synced Contacts option. Hit Delete when prompted. 

Delete Synced Contacts for Telegram for Android

iPhone

1. Launch Telegram on your phone and tap on the Settings tab in the bottom right corner.

2. Go to Privacy and Security and then scroll down to tap on Data Settings.

3. Tap on Delete Synced Contacts and hit Delete when prompted.

Delete Synced Contacts on Telegram for iPhone

6. Clear Telegram Cache Data

Temporary data stored by Telegram can also affect the app’s performance at times, especially when corrupted. Fortunately, Telegram lets you clear that cache directly from its settings menu. Here’s how you can access it.

1. Open Settings on Telegram.

2. Go to Data and Storage and tap on the Storage Usage option.

Telegram Storage Settings on Android

3. Under Device storage, tap on the Clear Telegram Cache option. Then, tap on the Clear Cache button. 

Clear Telegram Cache on Android

7. Update Telegram

Lastly, if none of the above solutions work, the issue could be caused by a buggy app update. You can try updating Telegram from Play Store or App Store to see if that helps. 

Syncing Now

It can be frustrating when your favorite messaging app starts acting out and bothers you with such sync issues. Hopefully, one of the above tips has helped you fix Telegram’s contact sync issue for good and you’re able to connect with your favorite people again.

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