Android k9 wont let me use google contacts

Android 5.1 and 12 on two smart devices wont let me add a contact from contacts.google.com. it gives me a list of recently used contacts but no my whole addressbook.
I am using k9 or Thunderbird 8.20. There is no problem with gmail app though gmail does not have the unread flag switch so I dont want to use that.

Did you grant K-9 the permission to access your address book?

Hello, I switched to Android Thunderbird but it looks similar or the same but I have not found did not see that setting it sounds like something a more recent Androde than 5.1 has? Also I have added the app contacts but it is not synchronising and reading any Google contacts.

Further to my reply google AI search does suggest running gmail but exporting and importing contacts from gmail. Then using gcontacts which the androide app does not seem to have a way to do.