Google Contacts Syncing at Random Times — Any Workarounds?

[userlQcCM1wRc8]

I sent this to Samsung via feedback, but I wanted to open it up here in case anyone’s found a workaround.

Lately, I’ve noticed Google Contacts syncing at unpredictable times—like right now, while I’m posting this and watching my battery drain. I rely on my phone throughout the day, and having background sync kick in whenever it wants (especially when I’m not charging) isn’t ideal.

I’d love to see more user control over sync behavior—like restricting it to when the device is charging or on Wi-Fi. Has anyone figured out a way to manage or delay contact sync more intentionally?

Appreciate any insights or settings tweaks you’ve discovered.

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Post to Samsung...

I’ve noticed that Google Contacts sync initiates at seemingly random times, including during active device use or when battery conservation is critical. As a user focused on stewardship and operational clarity, I’d like to request more granular control over sync behavior—specifically the ability to restrict sync to when the device is charging or connected to Wi-Fi.

This would align with other battery-conscious settings and empower users to manage background activity more intentionally. Is there a roadmap or workaround that allows for this level of sync scheduling?

Thank you for considering this feedback.

System logs attached as the sync is currently happening while I type this message. 

[realaud]

Google contact syncing would be a Google issue.  However, most of the time, any app that syncs will sync overnight, or immediately when you make a change on one side or the other.  This should not cause battery drain as you are always connected to your Google account.  Something else might be causing your battery drain.  Have you looked at your battery statistics?

This is a peer-to-peer user help forum and not a direct line to Samsung developers.  You can send feedback directly to the developers and attached your logs here: https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Tips-Tricks/How-to-Send-Feedback/ba-p/3001692

[userlQcCM1wRc8]

Thank you! Very helpful.
I have turned auto sync off and created a Bixby Routine to turn it on again when charging. Google Sync does not respect the rule and will sync regardless.
I have close to 5,000 contacts so when Google Contacts Sync all at once as it is doing right now as I type this response, it is definitely the battery drain culprit.
My strategy of limiting background sync may be back firing, to your point, if Google Sync just updated as contacts are added and edited in real time, it might not try and sync all contacts at once.

Your response is appreciated and helpful. Thank you. 👍

[realaud]

Well, maybe the issue is that you have auto sync off, so it's not properly syncing when it should.  Do your battery statistics actually *show* that it's Google sync that's using your battery resources?  Even with 500+ contacts, sync only looks for and syncs new items, it should not be continuously swapping and replacing each and every one of your contacts.  Personally, I keep all my contacts in Google, and point the contacts app to Google as the default storage location so, no sync involved. Keeping them in Google allows me to look up and update my contacts from any device and makes for easy transfer to a  new phone.  I started doing this in the early days of smart phones/late days of traditional cell phones, when Google introduced it. Made switching phones a less arduous task because you did not have to go through acrobatics to transfer your contacts from one phone to another and they were always up to date.

In any case, the sync issue is a Google issue, not a Samsung issue, so you should be contacting them (instead or as well).

[userlQcCM1wRc8]

Just to clarify—it’s actually 5,000 contacts, not 500. Easy typo, but it makes a big difference when it comes to battery impact.

I’ve enabled auto sync and disabled the Bixby Routine to see if that helps prevent Google from syncing the entire batch at once. Still, I’m seeing notifications like “1,200 of 5,000 syncing” mid-day, which drains battery when I’m not charging.

Contacting Google hasn’t been fruitful, but since this is a Samsung device with its own customization layer, I think it’s reasonable to ask for more control over sync behavior—especially around battery and charging conditions.

Appreciate the discussion!

[realaud]

Google is in charge of it's sync schedule. However, if they are unresponsive, if it were me, once you are sure all the contacts are synced, I'd just move all my contacts to Google and select Google as the default storage location and all new contacts will be added directly to Google contacts and you never have to worry about sync again .  And you will still be able to access your contacts from any device anywhere.

[realaud]

What does your routine look like?  it could be that Google isn't respecting the routine because if you have the routine set to auto sync data when charging, it may mean only auto syncing Samsung data to the Samsung servers and not Google's or Microsoft's (OneDrive).

[userlQcCM1wRc8]

Generic response, perhaps.
Samsung appears to be taking ownership of it.

[userlQcCM1wRc8]

This is madness!
I have kept contact sync on all the time.
Google Contacts denotes synced 3 hours ago. That would have been while charging. Good right?
Not so fast, all throughout the morning Google Contacts are synchronizing various segments of contacts, draining battery.

Turn it off? Nope, Google Contacts will erase the contacts stored on the phone!
Really? Are these my contacts or yours, Google.

I have contacted Samsung about this who, seems to admit the control of this function is under their pervu.

If it were not so "convenient" to have a backup and cross platform sync (phone and PC) I would get rid of Google Contact Sync altogether.

Looking for options to further De-Google my phone!

[realaud]

That is a standard feedback response.  Google Contact sync is an Android feature, not a Samsung one, so Google would be responsible.  That's an awful lot of contacts - I do not think I've met that many people in my entire, considerable, lifespan. Perhaps it's taking so long to sync and syncing more often precisely because of the sheer number of contacts.  The sync checks all the information  in each contact to make sure they contain the same information.  Do you keep your contacts on your phone, or fully contained within Google?  Keeping them fully contained in Google and not on the phone at all would eliminate syncing altogether, as once you add, delete or edit a contact, you are doing it directly on Google's servers. If you are not keeping your contacts solely in Google contacts, you can move them there by selecting the option in the contacts settings.  I have always kept my contacts strictly in Google, as it makes it absolutely painless to switch phones, and although I have Google sync on and it says it syncs, since there's nothing on my phone or SIM to sync, it doesn't really do anything other than check to see if contacts were added to the phone or SIM.

If you turn sync off, the contacts no longer reside on your device, but are retained in your Google account as part of Google backup, so you will still be able to access them from anywhere and when you turn sync back on, they will be downloaded back to your phone.  If you point your contacts app to Google as the default contacts location, all future contacts will be saved to Google and not your phone, and all your contacts will still be available.