Back up Gmail and contacts with usable exports
Save a mail archive you can read: preserve export context, check attachments, test contacts, and separate access from the original account.
Read the 6-minute guideDevices & personal data
Contacts Insta Backups
Keep the fields, not just the names.
An address book can combine several accounts and local records into one view. Before exporting, identify which contacts belong to which source and what you are permitted to retain. A useful copy preserves the phone numbers, email addresses, notes, and organization fields that give each name context.
What to preserve
- The source account and permitted scope of the contact export.
- Complex records with several numbers, notes, and accented characters.
- An untouched export and a field-mapping check for the destination.
Your starting workflow
Use the contact service’s supported export format. Store the result in a protected destination and label the capture date. Try a small import in an isolated address book before merging anything into your live records. Keep work-directory information under the organization’s rules.
Test the recovered copy
Compare several representative records after import. Check multiple phone numbers, names, notes, and any grouping you rely on. A matching count is helpful, but duplicates can hide missing information, so inspect actual fields as well.
Should I export CSV or vCard?
Use a supported format that your intended destination can read. Test the fields that matter rather than assuming either format preserves every custom detail. Keep the original export unchanged while you compare import results.
From Insta Backups Lab
Put the plan into practice.
Android and iOS: back up before changing phones
Check photos, contacts, application data, and sign-in access before you erase or trade in the device that still holds your originals.
Read the 6-minute guide