Beside syncs directly with your phone’s native Contacts app.
This means the contacts you see in Beside are the same ones stored on your device, not a separate list.
📱 Before you start: how contact access works
Beside does not store or manage its own contact list.
Your contacts sync when:
You grant the Beside mobile app permission to access contacts
Your device’s Contacts app is updated
Contact access is enabled for Beside in system settings
✋ If contacts are missing or incomplete, it’s almost always a permissions issue on the device.
If your contacts do not display correctly within Beside even after enabling permissions, make sure to disable and then re-enable contact access for Beside in your phone's settings. This refreshes the synchronization process and resolves most issues related to missing profiles or details.
🍏 iPhone: About Apple’s new permission flow
When Beside requests access, Apple now gives you two options:
1️⃣ Select Contacts
Allows you to choose/pick contacts one at a time
Beside can only import the specific contacts you select
Use this if you want to restrict access
2️⃣ Allow Full Access (recommended)
Grants Beside access to your entire address book
Beside can import your entire address book automatically
Access can be changed anytime in iOS Settings
🔧 How to grant full access to your contacts
If you accidentally chose Select Contacts and expected everything to sync, follow the steps below to switch to Full Access.
Steps to Grant Full Access to Beside
Open iOS Settings: Tap the Settings app on your iOS device.
Navigate to Beside Settings: Scroll down to the list of apps at the bottom. Find and tap on Beside.
Access Contact Permissions: In the Beside settings, tap on Contacts.
Select Full Access: You’ll see two options: Selected Contacts and All Contacts. Tap on All Contacts to grant full access.
Restart Beside: Close the Beside app completely. Re-open Beside to apply the new permissions.
Your contacts will now import automatically.
🤖 Android: Contact permissions
On Android, the contact permission is simpler.
You only have one choice: Allow Beside to access contacts.
To verify or enable it:
Open Settings
Tap Apps → Beside
Tap Permissions
Enable Contacts
Restart the Beside app
Android devices sync immediately after permissions are updated.
⭐ Why allow full access?
It’s easier = Import everything at once: Import all your contacts at once without adding them individually.
Better caller experience: Beside can function optimally with your address book. This means you can easily tap to call people directly from the app and see real names instead of phone numbers when calls come in.
Safe & private: Beside ensures that all shared contact information is strongly encrypted and used only to enhance your app experience - never sold, never shared.
🔄 Troubleshooting: contacts missing or incomplete?
If your contacts are missing or appear incomplete within Beside:
Open your device's settings and navigate to the Beside app.
Disable contact access and then re-enable it.
This will refresh synchronization between Beside and your address book, resolving most issues.
If contacts are still missing, reach out through the in-app support chat, we’re here to help!
❓ FAQs
How do I delete contacts from Beside?
Beside does not have its own deletion feature.
It mirrors your device’s Contacts app.
To delete a contact:
Open your phone’s Contacts app
Delete or edit the contact
Beside will automatically update
Can I choose which contacts sync?
Yes, on iPhone only, via Selected Contacts.
On Android, contact access is all-or-nothing.