How to Transfer Contacts to a New Phone: Android, iPhone, and Everything in Between

The best way to transfer contacts to a new phone depends on which two phones you are using. Going from Android to iPhone, use Apple’s Move to iOS app during setup. Going from iPhone to iPhone, use Quick Start or turn on iCloud Contacts. Going from Android to Android, use the “copy data” step in the new phone’s setup, or sign in with the same Google Account. Going from iPhone to Android, connect the phones during setup or export a vCard file. If your contacts are already synced to a Google or iCloud account, signing in on the new phone is often enough.

That is the short version. The longer version matters, because contacts can live in more than one place, and the wrong choice can leave you with half a phonebook. This guide walks through every common switch, step by step, in plain language. It also covers what to check afterward and what to do when something goes wrong.

Before You Start: A Five-Minute Checklist

A little preparation prevents most contact-transfer headaches. Do these things first, even if you are in a hurry.

1. Charge both phones. Plug them in if you can. A transfer that dies halfway is annoying, and some methods, like Apple’s Move to iOS, ask you to keep both devices on power.
2. Connect both phones to Wi-Fi. Most methods need an internet connection, and Wi-Fi keeps you from burning mobile data.
3. Count your contacts. Open the Contacts app on the old phone and scroll to the bottom, where a total is usually shown. Write the number down. You will compare it later.
4. Know your passwords. You will likely need your Google Account password, your Apple Account password, or both. Make sure you remember them and can receive any verification code.
5. Check storage on the new phone. Google notes that if the new device does not have enough storage, you will not be able to transfer everything.

Where Your Contacts Actually Live

This is the part most guides skip, and it explains why “my contacts did not transfer” is such a common complaint. A contact can be saved in several different places, and each place needs a different method.

Your Google Account. On most Android phones, contacts are saved to a Google Account. Google says these contacts stay in your account and sync to a new device when you sign in. You can see them on a computer at contacts.google.com.

Your Apple Account (iCloud). On an iPhone, contacts can be stored in iCloud. When you turn on iCloud Contacts, the contacts on that device upload to iCloud, and they appear on any device signed in to the same account. Apple has a short guide to setting up iCloud Contacts.

The phone itself. Some contacts are saved only on the device. On an iPhone this shows up as “On My iPhone.” On Android it may be called “Phone” or “Device.” These contacts have no cloud copy, so signing in to a new phone will not bring them back.

The SIM card. Older phones often saved contacts to the SIM. SIM storage is limited and usually holds only basic details like a name and number.

Other accounts. Work email, Outlook, Yahoo, and similar services can also hold contacts.

Here is a simple way to check. On your old phone, open Contacts and look for an accounts or groups view. If you see only “Phone” or “On My iPhone,” your contacts are not in the cloud, and you should use a direct transfer method instead.

Your phone’s Contacts app is just an app like any other. On Android, it is one of many Android apps that can store your data in the cloud or only on the device. The same idea applies to the Contacts iPhone app. The app is the window. Where the data is saved is a separate setting.

Transferring Contacts From Android to iPhone

This is the most common switch, and Apple has made it fairly smooth. You have four good options.

Method 1: Use the Move to iOS App

Apple’s Move to iOS app is built for this exact job. It runs while you set up the new iPhone, and it can move contacts along with other content.

Before you begin, Apple says to make sure Wi-Fi is on and that both phones are plugged into power. Apple also lists Android 4.0 or later as a requirement for the Android phone.

1. Turn on your new iPhone and follow the setup steps until you reach the Apps & Data screen.
2. Tap Move Data from Android.
3. On your Android phone, install and open the Move to iOS app from Google Play. If you do not have it, your iPhone can show a QR code that opens the Google Play page when scanned.
4. On the Android phone, tap Continue and accept the terms.
5. On the iPhone, tap Continue on the Move from Android screen. A code appears.
6. Type that code on the Android phone.
7. When asked, choose what to transfer. Make sure Contacts is selected.
8. Wait for the loading bar on the iPhone to finish. Apple says to leave both devices alone until it does, even if the Android phone says it is finished.
9. Tap Done on the Android phone, then continue setting up the iPhone.

A few practical tips from Apple’s guide: keep the Move to iOS app open on the Android phone the whole time, and turn off mobile data on the Android phone if the connection gets stuck. If something did not transfer, you can move it manually. Read Apple’s own page on moving from Android to iPhone for the latest steps.

There is one catch. This method works during setup. If you already finished setting up the iPhone, Apple’s process would require erasing it and starting over, so many people use one of the other methods below instead.

Method 2: Sync Through Your Google Account

If your Android contacts are already saved to your Google Account, this is the cleanest method. It also keeps the two in sync afterward.

First, make sure the Android phone has actually backed up its contacts to Google. Google’s wording varies by phone, but the path usually looks like this: open Settings, tap Google, open the Google Contacts sync settings, and turn on the option to also sync device contacts. Google adds that automatic backup depends on the make and model of your phone, so your screen may differ. See Google’s page on backing up and syncing device contacts.

Then add the Google Account to the iPhone:

1. On the iPhone, open Settings.
2. Tap Contacts, then Accounts, then Add Account. (On some iOS versions you may find accounts under Mail instead.)
3. Choose Google and sign in.
4. Make sure the Contacts switch is turned on.
5. Open the iPhone’s Contacts app and wait a minute or two. Your Google contacts should appear.

Changes you make to a contact in one place will show up in the other, as long as both are signed in to the same Google Account.

Method 3: Export and Import a vCard File

Use this when your contacts are not in the cloud, or you want a one-time copy without syncing. A vCard is a file ending in .vcf that holds one or many contacts.

On the Android phone:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Look for a menu such as Fix & manage, then tap Export to file. Google’s help text describes this path.
3. Choose which accounts to export from.
4. Tap Export to .VCF file and save it.
5. Send the file to yourself by email, or move it to a computer.

On the iPhone, there are two easy ways to bring it in. You can open the email on the iPhone, tap the .vcf attachment, and choose to add the contacts. Or you can go to iCloud.com on a computer, open Contacts, click the gear icon at the bottom left, and choose Import vCard.

If your contacts are in a Google Account, there is an even easier trick. On a computer, go to contacts.google.com, select the contacts you want, click Export, and choose the vCard option for iOS Contacts. Then import that file the same way.

Method 4: Use the SIM Card

If your contacts are on the SIM, move it to the iPhone, open Settings, tap Contacts, and choose Import SIM Contacts. Expect basic details only.

After the transfer, you may want to reinstall your favorite apps. Apps do not travel along with contacts, so open the App Store on the iPhone and download them again. Some Android apps may not have an iPhone version.

Transferring Contacts From iPhone to iPhone

Apple makes this the easiest switch of all. Pick whichever of these fits your situation.

Method 1: Quick Start

Quick Start is the fastest way to set up a new iPhone using your current one. It moves your data, including contacts, as part of setup.

According to Apple, you need an iPhone or iPad running iOS 11, iPadOS 13, or later on the old device. Quick Start takes over both phones, so choose a time when you will not need your old phone for a few minutes.

1. Make sure your current iPhone has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
2. Turn on your new iPhone and place it near the old one.
3. Follow the prompt that appears on the old iPhone.
4. Connect the new iPhone to Wi-Fi or mobile data, and set up Face ID or Touch ID when asked.
5. Choose how to transfer your data. Apple gives two options. If you download from iCloud, your apps and data download in the background, so you can start using the new phone right away. If you transfer directly from the old phone, you need to wait until the transfer finishes on both devices.
6. Keep both phones near each other and plugged in until the process is complete.

Apple’s page on using Quick Start explains it in more detail. One limit worth knowing: if your new phone is managed by an organization through Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager, Quick Start may not work.

Method 2: Turn On iCloud Contacts

If both iPhones use the same Apple Account, this is the easiest ongoing method.

1. On the old iPhone, open Settings and tap your name at the top.
2. Tap iCloud.
3. Find Contacts and turn it on. Wait on Wi-Fi while everything uploads.
4. On the new iPhone, sign in with the same Apple Account.
5. Repeat the same steps and turn on Contacts in iCloud.
6. Open the Contacts app. After a few minutes, your contacts should appear.

Apple notes that turning iCloud Contacts off does not delete your contacts from iCloud, but it also stops them from updating automatically.

Here is the catch that trips people up. Only contacts saved in iCloud sync. If some of your contacts sit under “On My iPhone,” they stay on that phone. To fix this, go to Settings, then Contacts, then Default Account, and set it to iCloud so new contacts are saved there. For older contacts, you can open iCloud.com on a computer to confirm what is actually stored in the cloud. If you use two different Apple Accounts on the two phones, iCloud will not move the contacts for you, and you should use Quick Start or a vCard export instead.

Method 3: Restore From a Backup

During setup, the Apps & Data screen offers Restore from iCloud Backup. It brings back your contacts with the rest of your data, but it takes longer than Quick Start. Check that your backup is recent first, under Settings, your name, iCloud, iCloud Backup.

Method 4: Share a Single Contact

If you only need one or two contacts, open the contact, tap Share Contact, and send it by AirDrop or message.

Transferring Contacts From iPhone to Android

Going the other way takes a few more steps, but Google has built tools for it. Before you start, if you have a physical SIM card, you can move it to the new phone. Google also mentions that you need an internet connection and enough storage on the new phone.

Method 1: Copy Data During Android Setup

1. Turn on your new Android phone and begin setup.
2. When asked, choose to copy apps and data from your old device, and select iPhone as the source.
3. You can use a cable if you have one. Google says to connect your iPhone’s charging cable to the old device, then connect the other end of the cable or adapter to the new phone. If your phone supports it, you can also copy data without a cable by scanning a QR code on the Android screen with your iPhone camera.
4. Choose the data types you want, including Contacts.
5. Tap Copy and let it finish.

Google’s guide on copying data from an iPhone to a new Android device lists what can and cannot be copied. Google also gives a separate overview of transferring contacts from iPhone to Android. One more tip from Google: once you finish setting up the Android phone, you will not be able to repeat the setup transfer, so select everything you want during this step.

Method 2: Export a vCard From iCloud

If you skipped the setup transfer, or your contacts live in iCloud, use a computer.

1. On a computer, go to iCloud.com and sign in.
2. Open Contacts.
3. Select the contacts you want. To select all, use Ctrl+A on Windows or Command+A on a Mac.
4. Click the gear icon and choose Export vCard.
5. Go to contacts.google.com on the same computer, signed in to your Google Account.
6. Click Import, choose the .vcf file, and click Import. Google explains the process on its page about importing contacts to Google Contacts. It says you can import from either a .csv or a .vcf file.
7. On the Android phone, sign in with that Google Account and make sure contacts sync is on.

Transferring Contacts From Android to Android

This one is usually painless, because Android is built around the idea that your Google Account holds your stuff.

Method 1: Copy Data During Setup

1. Turn on the new phone and start setup.
2. When you see the option to set up using another device, tap it and keep your old phone nearby and unlocked.
3. Follow the prompts to connect the two phones.
4. Choose what to copy. Google lists contacts stored on your phone or SIM card as something that can be copied.
5. Tap Copy on the new phone and, if asked, on the old one.
6. Wait until the new phone says it is done.

Google’s official page on copying apps and data to a new Android device has the full steps. It also warns that if an organization such as a school or business manages your phone, you may not be able to transfer all your data. If you use WhatsApp, Google says to turn on WhatsApp backups on the old phone first, because chats are not part of the contacts transfer.

Method 2: Sign In With the Same Google Account

If you did not use the setup transfer, you can still get your contacts back. Sign in with the same Google Account on the new phone. Google says contacts saved to your Google Account remain there and sync to a new device when you sign in. Make sure Contacts sync is on in the Google settings. Contacts saved only on the old phone, rather than to the account, will not appear, so use the vCard method for those.

To back up the rest, on the old phone open Settings, tap Google, and look for the Google Contacts sync settings, where you can turn on the option to also sync device contacts. This setting may be named differently depending on your phone.

Method 3: Samsung Smart Switch

If your new phone is a Samsung Galaxy, Samsung’s own tool is often the smoothest route. Smart Switch can move contacts, photos, messages, and settings, and it works from Android and iPhone.

1. Open Smart Switch on the new Galaxy phone. Samsung says recent Galaxy phones have it preinstalled. If you cannot find it, download it from the Google Play Store.
2. Tap Receive data on the new phone, and choose the type of old phone.
3. On the old phone, open Smart Switch and choose Send data.
4. Pick a connection. Samsung describes three ways: wirelessly over Wi-Fi, with a USB cable, or through a computer.
5. Allow the connection and choose Contacts along with anything else you want.
6. Tap Transfer and wait for it to finish.

You can read more on Samsung’s Smart Switch page. Samsung notes that some protected content, like certain DRM-locked media, cannot be transferred this way, but contacts are supported.

All Methods Compared

If you are not sure which to choose, pick the method that matches your situation in the first column, then double-check the result using the steps in the next section.

What to Check After the Transfer

Do not wipe the old phone yet. Spend a few minutes confirming the transfer worked.

1. Compare the counts. Open Contacts on the new phone and compare the total with the number you wrote down earlier. A small difference is common if duplicates were merged, but a big gap means something is missing.
2. Spot-check a few contacts. Search for people you know are tricky: names with accents, contacts with several numbers, and contacts with photos. Make sure the details came across.
3. Check the default account. On an iPhone, look at Settings, then Contacts, then Default Account. On Android, check which account new contacts save to. You want new contacts to land in the cloud account, not only on the device.
4. Add a test contact. Create a fake contact on the new phone and see if it appears on your computer at iCloud.com or contacts.google.com. If it does, syncing works.
5. Merge duplicates. Both Google Contacts and the iPhone Contacts app can find and merge them.
6. Look at other lists. If you also have contacts in Outlook, a work account, or WhatsApp, check that those still show up where you expect.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Some contacts are missing. They were probably saved to the phone only, not to the cloud. Go back to the old phone and use the vCard method for those.

Everything is duplicated. This often happens when the same contacts arrive both from a direct transfer and from an account sync. Use the merge tool, or remove the extra account from the new phone’s settings.

The transfer app is stuck. Keep both phones close and plugged in. Make sure Wi-Fi is on. For Move to iOS, Apple suggests turning off mobile data on the Android phone and not using other apps during the transfer. If it still fails, restart both phones and try again.

There is not enough space. Free up storage on the new phone. Google notes that you cannot copy everything when storage is short.

Contacts will not sync. Check that Contacts is switched on for the account, that you are signed in to the right one, and that you have an internet connection. Large address books can take a few minutes.

The old phone is already broken. If your contacts were synced to Google or iCloud, sign in to the same account on the new phone. If not, look for a recent phone backup.

Keeping Your Contacts Private and Safe

A contact list holds other people’s personal details, so use official tools from Apple, Google, or Samsung where you can. Read permission prompts before any app gets access to your contacts. Our guide to app permissions explains what these requests mean. Contacts are one kind of app data stored on your phone or in your account, which is why backup matters. Finally, delete any exported .vcf file when you are done, because it is a full copy of your address book.

Cleaning Up the Old Phone Safely

Once every contact is confirmed on the new phone, sign out of your Google or Apple account on the old one, turn off iMessage if you are moving from iPhone to Android, and then use the reset option to erase it. A factory reset cannot be undone, so wait a few days first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest way to transfer contacts to a new phone?

For most people, the easiest way is the transfer option built into the new phone’s setup screen. Android to iPhone uses Move to iOS, iPhone to iPhone uses Quick Start, and Android to Android uses the “copy data” step. Syncing through a Google or iCloud account also works well.

Can I transfer contacts without a computer?

Yes. Setup transfers, account sync, SIM import, and sharing a vCard by email all work without a computer. A computer is only needed for a few methods, such as exporting from iCloud.com to import into Google.

Will my contacts transfer automatically when I sign in to my account?

Only if they were saved to that account. Contacts saved only on the old phone, such as “On My iPhone,” do not sync. Check where they are stored before you rely on this.

How do I transfer contacts from Android to iPhone after setup?

Add your Google Account to the iPhone under Settings, Contacts, Accounts. Or export a vCard from the Android phone and import it on the iPhone. Move to iOS is mainly meant for the setup stage.

How do I transfer contacts from iPhone to Android?

During Android setup, choose to copy data from an iPhone using a cable or the wireless option. Or export a vCard from iCloud.com and import it into Google Contacts, then sign in with that Google Account on the Android phone.

What is a vCard or VCF file?

It is a standard file format for contact details. One .vcf file can hold many contacts. Most phones and email services can read it, which makes it a useful backup and a good bridge between different systems.

Why did only some of my contacts transfer?

Usually because they are stored in different places. Some may be in your Google Account, some in iCloud, and some only on the device. Check each location and transfer the missing group separately.

How do I back up my contacts before switching phones?

Turn on Google Contacts sync on Android, or iCloud Contacts on iPhone. You can also export a vCard file and store it somewhere safe. Doing both gives you a cloud copy and an offline copy.

Disclaimer

• This article is for general educational purposes. It explains common ways to move contacts between phones, but it is not a substitute for the official instructions from your phone maker.

• Menu names and screens change between phone brands, Android versions, and iOS versions. If a step on your phone looks different, check the official support pages linked in this guide.

• Back up your contacts before you start, and do not erase your old phone until you have confirmed that every contact is on the new one.

• Mentions of apps, brands, and services are for information only. This article is not sponsored and does not endorse any third-party product.

• Only transfer contacts from phones you own or are authorized to manage. Contact lists hold other people’s personal details, so treat them with care.