How to Delete Read Only Contacts in Android

If you have ever attempted to delete contacts from your Android device and found that some of them are read-only, you may be frustrated with the limitations of your device. Fortunately, there are ways to delete read-only contacts on Android, and we will explore some of them in this post.

Video Tutorial:

What’s Needed

Before we dive into the methods of deleting read-only contacts, there are a few things that you will need to have on hand:

1. Your Android device
2. Access to your contact list on the device
3. The knowledge of how to back up your contacts (just in case something goes wrong)
4. An idea of which method you want to use to delete the read-only contacts.

What Requires Your Focus?

When attempting to delete read-only contacts on your Android device, there are a few things that may require your focus and attention:

1. Making sure you have the correct contact information to delete
2. Enabling developer mode on your device if necessary (depending on the method you choose)
3. Running a backup of your contacts before attempting any deletions (just in case)
4. Carefully following steps listed in each method.

Method 1: Using Third-Party Applications

If you are hesitant to remove the read-only contacts manually or can’t access them due to some security purposes, you can try using third-party applications. Several apps are available that allow the user to delete the read-only contacts on their Android devices.

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Enter "delete read-only contacts" in the search bar, and search.
3. Select an application with good reviews and install it on your device.
4. Open the application and follow its prompts to delete read-only contacts.

Pros:
– User-friendly application interface.
– Some apps are free of cost.
– No need to enable developer mode.

Cons:
– Potential privacy invasion.
– There is always a risk to install third-party apps from unsecured sources.

Method 2: Editing Google Contacts

If you can’t make changes to your device’s contact list, you can try editing the same on your synced Google account.

1. Go to Google Contacts on your PC or Laptop.
2. Log into your Google account associated with the Android device.
3. Find the contact on Google Contacts and delete it.
4. Sync your account by restarting your device.

Pros:
– Easy to follow steps.
– No app installations are required.
– A safe method of deleting contacts.

Cons:
– Involves manual deletion of contacts which could be time-consuming.
– Requires a Google account linked with Android device.

Method 3: Enable Developer Options and Perform Batch Operation

To make changes to your read-only contacts, you need to enable developer options in your Android device and use the batch operation function.

1. Open settings on your Android device.
2. Scroll down and find the "About Phone" option.
3. Tap the "Build Number" option five times repeatedly.
4. Go back to the settings and find the "Developer Options" option.
5. Tap on "Developer Options" and look for the "Simulate Secondary Displays" option. Enable it.
6. Connect your device to a PC using a cable.
7. Open your PC’s Command Prompt or Terminal and navigate to the folder containing the ADB tool files.
8. Type the command "adb shell input keyevent 82" and tap on the "Enter" button.
9. Under the "Developer Options," scroll down to the "Debugging" option, and enable the "USB debugging" option.
10. Download and install the SQLite Editor app from the Google Play Store.
11. Open the SQLite Editor app and find the Contacts Storage option.
12. Tap and hold on the "contacts2.db" option and select "Open as."
13. Tap on the "Database" option and select "contacts.db" to open it.
14. Select the "phonebook" option and tap on "Delete" to remove all contacts.

Pros:
– Batch deletion speeds up the deletion process.
– Deleting using a computer makes the process less tiring.

Cons:
– Complicated and time-consuming method.
– Enabling developer mode and keeping it there makes your device vulnerable to mishandling.

Why Can’t I Delete Read-Only Contacts?

Here are some reasons why you might not be able to delete read-only contacts, along with solutions:

1. Security settings prohibit changes: check your device’s security settings to make sure changes to contacts are allowed.
2. The contact list is read-only on a third-party application: Install another app or try a different method.
3. The contacts are saved by the provider: There is no way to delete these contacts.

Implications and Recommendations

When deleting read-only contacts, it is essential to consider the implications of the deletion. Users should make sure they back up their contact lists before attempting any deletions or edits to prevent accidental loss of important contacts.

It is also recommended to use the method that suits you best to avoid complications. You should also read reviews and check the ratings of the third-party applications before downloading and installing them.

FAQs:

Q: How do I turn on developer mode on my device?
A: Go to "Settings," then "About Phone," and tap on "Build Number" seven times until you see the message "You are a developer."

Q: Why can’t I delete a contact that I’m sure is saved to the device?
A: Check the security settings and device administrator permissions.

Q: Can I undo the deletion of a contact?
A: If you’ve done a backup, you can restore it. Otherwise, you won’t be able to retrieve lost data.

Q: Removing read-only contacts can not finish, and the Number stays the same. Why is that?
A: Restart your device, and the changes should apply themselves.