IssueTracker

Strange this issue is not addressed by google, nor other android users seems to realise that they have this issue. I have been trying to figure this out but no help available on any of the forums.
Samir

I've the same problem, I formatted my phone some times ago and now I have to reinsert the default number manually on each of my over 400 contact...
I use programs to send SMS that use that info and if it is not available they do not even send the messages without any notification.
It's becaming very frustating to scan manually every contact to see if the default is set or not.

I see this thread is quite old already. but sadly i seem to have the very same issue still on android 4.0.3.
i am synching my contacts with exchange, and exchange has a "primary phone" field. it could be very useful if marking a default nr. in android actualy moves this number into the primary phone field in exchange. currently numbers in the primary phone field are not displayed at all in android! This is causing me to manually moving the numbers from that field to other fields in outlook just to have them displayed...

As this seems to be an ancient problem and it is still not handled appropriately (seems to be a fault of the Google Contacts' data model more than the Android Apps I guess), my plan is to create a workaround Application for this.

Use case like this:
In your Google contacts you would create groups like:
"default_mobile"
"default_work"
etc...
And the App would set the default number according to the contacts' group membership and vice versa. Since group membership is persist-able in Google Contacts this way you should be safe when changing phones (you just use this App again). A paid version could do this instantly (if possible) or periodically.

Do you like this idea? Would it help you with your problems? Any other suggestions?
Can anyone think of a good name for the App? Something like "Default Number Sync"?
What were the keywords that you've searched with if you did search for an App about this?

Google guys, please tell me you're planning to fix this so I don't need to waste time with this lame workaround.

If anyone has created something like this already or will be quicker than me (this is not really top priority for me right now) please just redirect us to your App.

the same problem still exists on android 4.1.1. i've faced it when i've upgraded my old android phone to new one :(

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I have exactly the same problem. It is difficult to google for this issue because all kind of default gmail settings are popping on top of the list, but finnaly I have found out that I'm not the only one.

Surely, default phone number should be synchronized by Google and not by some third-party programs. It is so basic necesity when you have many many hundreds of contacts and lot of them have multiple phone numbers.

Three days ago I have switched to another Android phone and it is so annoying to do all that tyring work all over again.

Recently I have noticed that in my Gmail contacts on the computer I can mark phone number as "Main" and I tought that this problem was finnaly addressed. Unfortunately no. What does "Main" means if it is not the same like "default phone number"?!?

Solution is soooo simple: Since the type of phone number is allready sunchronized then if on the phone there are no marked "default phone numbers" use "Main" phone number first!!!

any news ?

I have thesame problem. I make a default number and within hours it looses itl also the speed dial i set it but when i see, its gone!

and ... google still hasn't fixed this

Not working on android 4.1.2

Why is this obsolete? Has it been fixed in google?

Does someone moderates those issues ?

Yea, I completely agree with the OP. BTW, why this thread is marked as obsolete?

To the project member that marked this obsolete - can you explain why? If it is not an Android issue and is a Google contacts issue then let us know so we can lobby Google.

It does appear that both Android and Google contacts have part to play in this bug.

and a long lasting one :-(

I use my Nexus 5 phone quite extensively.When I visit India, the default number is set to call Indian numbers directly.When I am in Europe, the default number is set to call my VOIP provider and then followup the Indian number.

Oflate, the default settings in Android contacts AND google contacts is completely messed up.Ended up calling India numbers directly through my mobile operator,resulting in huge bills.

Friend of mine has an iPhone and has the same problem.

Clearly, this is a google contacts issue and not limited to Android. Will google listen ?