Sync Android contacts to Gmail I am trying to backup contacts from my phone (Galaxy S, Android 2.2.1) to Gmail account. The procedure I found on the Internet goes as follows:


  
  Open Contacts
  Menu -> Import/Export -> Export to SD card
  Menu -> Import/Export -> Import from SD card -> Google (i.e. save imported to Google account)
  


For some reason I don't have option to use SD card, so I use SIM instead. However, when I import contacts, they save to the phone (there is no prompt where to store them). I changed settings to automatically save contacts to Google and it works for newly created ones, but doesn't affect importing.

Am I missing something? Or could you verify this behavior on your phones?
Contacts, by default, that are saved on the device, will sync with the google account ( or accounts ) that are signed in on the device. 

If you have contacts on your sim, you can go in to the contacts application, go in to the menu and select "Import/Export", then you select Import from SIM. This will import your contacts that are on your SIM to the account(s) that you are logged in to on the device. 

Finally, make sure you have Contact Sync enabled for your account. Go in to the settings -> Accounts &amp; Sync, Select the Google Account you want to sync the contacts and then make sure "Contacts" is checked.

In response to your last comment about "you can save contacts to SIM", I guess that would depend on your device. AOSP (Stock) Android 2.3.5 does not give you the option for phone the device and SIM. Below is a screenshot of all of my synced accounts, and the only option for "unsynced". Since you say you see icons next to some of them, I would be willing to guess you have a samsung device that is running touchwiz. There is a setting that you can change to "always add to 'this' account". Don't bother "linking" multiple contacts together, it is only on the phone side, it does nothing when syncing.