Set the Auto-Merge level

Auto-Merge merges the duplicates we're confident about, after every sync. The rest wait for you in Review duplicates. You choose how confident we must be.

Before you start

Off is the starting choice. We merge nothing on our own until you choose a level.

Steps

1. Open Settings and tap Merging.
2. Find the Auto-Merge card.
3. Under How confident should we be?, tap the level you want:
   • Certain: "Same person, beyond doubt".
   • Very likely: "Same name, and one more thing in common".
   • Likely: "A similar name, and the same email or phone".
   • Off — I'll review every one myself: nothing is merged on its own.
4. Choosing a level saves it. There is no save button.

Each level includes the ones above it. Certain is the strictest. Likely is the most permissive.

Not sure what a level means? Tap See an example to see a made-up pair. Tap See yours to see your own duplicates at that level. Each one opens its review.

Likely can link two different people who share a family phone or email. We suggest it only if you'll glance at History afterwards.

To see what a merge keeps, tap What does a merge keep?

What you see on the card

Above the levels, a line tells you how many of your potential duplicates the chosen level would merge. For example: "contacts (3 groups) out of 12 potential duplicates can be auto-merged". Each level also shows how many of your duplicates it covers, in the form "N of {total} merged".

At the bottom, a line tells you what happens after the next sync. It shows how many will merge and how many still need your review. Tap the review count to open Review duplicates on exactly those groups.

Merge what qualifies now

You don't have to wait for the next sync.

1. Choose a level that merges something.
2. Tap Merge N now. The button is hidden when the level is Off or has nothing to merge.
3. A progress line shows "Merging… {processed} of {total}". You can leave the page.

When it finishes, the card says how many duplicates were merged.

What happens next

After every sync, we merge the duplicates that meet your level. A pair below your level stays in Review duplicates. See Review a duplicate.

You can undo any merge from History. See Undo a merge. For the short answer, see the linked question about auto-merging.

Open Auto-Merge from the review

Review duplicates has an Auto-Merge button next to Finish later. It takes you to this card. The first time you open Review duplicates, a short pointer to that button may appear. Tap Open Auto-Merge or Got it to dismiss it.

If something goes wrong

• "We couldn't count your duplicates. Try again." Open the card again. The levels still work.
• "The merge could not be completed. Try again." Tap Merge N now again.
• "{count} merged. {count} could not be merged." Some groups were left as they were. They stay in Review duplicates.
• "The merge stopped before it finished. N groups were merged." Tap Merge N now again to carry on.
• Duplicates aren't merging. Check that the level isn't Off. Then check that the pair isn't below your level.