How to Stop Chronic Rogue Duplication of Contacts in Your Phone

Dealing with chronic duplication of contacts can be frustrating. Here are some steps you can take to stop this issue:

Identify the Source of Duplication

Syncing Issues: If you have multiple accounts like Google, iCloud, etc., ensure that syncing contacts does not duplicate entries. Check your sync settings in each account.
Third-Party Apps: Some apps can create duplicates if they import contacts without checking for existing ones.

Merge Duplicates

Manual Merging

Go through your contacts and manually merge duplicates. Most smartphones allow you to link or merge contacts.
Use Built-in Features: Many phones have a feature to find and merge duplicates automatically. Check in the contacts app settings.

Third-Party Apps

Consider using apps like Contacts, Truecaller, or Duplicate Contacts Remover to help identify and merge duplicates.

Adjust Sync Settings

Limit Syncing Accounts

If you have multiple accounts, consider limiting syncing to just one primary account for contacts.
Disable Duplicate Syncing: Some services offer settings to prevent syncing of duplicate contacts. Check your account settings.

Regular Maintenance

Periodic Cleanup

Set a reminder to regularly clean up your contacts and remove duplicates.
Backup Contacts: Before making major changes, back up your contacts to avoid losing important information.

Update Your Apps and OS

Ensure that your contacts app and operating system are up to date as updates often fix bugs related to syncing and duplication.

Check for Import Issues

If you frequently import contacts from CSV files or other sources, ensure that the files do not contain duplicates before importing.

Consider Factory Reset as a Last Resort

If the problem persists and is severe, consider backing up your data and performing a factory reset on your device.
This should be a last resort as it will erase all data on your phone.

By following these steps, you should be able to significantly reduce or eliminate the chronic duplication of contacts on your phone.