The fastest way: use your Google Account

The simplest path is to sign into your Google Account on your new iPhone. When you do, your contacts sync automatically — the same contacts you had on Android appear in the iPhone Contacts app within minutes. You do not need to export anything or use a cable.

During iPhone setup, you will see a screen asking for your Apple ID. Before you enter that, look for "Other login options" or a similar button, then choose "Sign in with Google". Enter the email address and password for the Google Account you used on your Android phone. Your contacts, calendar, and Gmail will all sync to your iPhone.

If you already finished setup without signing in with Google, you can still do this later. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account, choose Google, and sign in with the same credentials. Your contacts will appear in the Contacts app within a few minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Signing into your Google Account on iPhone automatically syncs all contacts you stored in Google Contacts on Android.
  • This method works during initial setup or afterward through Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account.
  • If your contacts are stored only on your SIM card or in a phone-only storage, you will need to export them to Google Contacts first on your Android phone.
  • A cable transfer through a computer is slower and requires iTunes or Finder, but works if you have no Google Account or prefer not to use one.

If your contacts are only on your SIM card

Some Android phones store contacts directly on the SIM card rather than in Google Contacts. You can tell by opening Contacts on your Android phone, looking for a menu option (usually three dots), and checking whether contacts show a SIM card icon next to them.

If they do, you have two options. The easier one: on your Android phone, go to Settings > Accounts > Google, add or sign into your Google Account if you have not already, then go back to Contacts and look for an option to export or copy contacts to Google. The exact wording varies by phone manufacturer, but it is usually under a menu labeled "Manage contacts" or "Import/Export".

Once your contacts are in Google Contacts, follow the method above — sign into that Google Account on your iPhone and they will sync. If you do not want to use Google, you can also move your SIM card to your iPhone (if it is the same size) and your iPhone will read those contacts directly.

Moving contacts through a computer if you prefer not to use Google

If you do not have a Google Account or do not want to sync through one, you can transfer contacts using a computer. On your Android phone, open Contacts, tap the menu (three dots), and look for "Export" or "Send contacts". Choose to export as a VCF file (a standard contact format) and email it to yourself or save it to Google Drive or another cloud storage you can access from your computer.

On your computer, read that VCF file. If you use a Mac, open Finder, go to Applications > Utilities, and open Contacts. Drag the VCF file into the Contacts window. If you use Windows, you will need to import the file into Outlook or another contacts program first, then sync to your iPhone through iTunes or iCloud.

This method is slower and more steps than using Google, but it gives you control over which contacts move and when. It also works if you have contacts stored in multiple places on your Android phone and want to consolidate them before moving to iPhone.

What happens to contacts stored in other apps

Some contacts live in apps rather than in your phone's main Contacts app — WhatsApp, Telegram, LinkedIn, and others keep their own contact lists. These do not transfer automatically when you move to iPhone, because they are part of each app's own data, not your phone's system contacts.

The solution depends on the app. Most messaging apps let you export your contacts or back them up to the cloud. Open the app on your Android phone, look for Settings or a menu option for contacts or backup, and follow the export steps. Then reinstall the app on your iPhone and sign in — your contacts usually restore automatically.

For apps that do not offer export, you may need to manually add important contacts to your iPhone's main Contacts app, or accept that you will rebuild those lists as you use the app on iPhone. Check the app's help section or support page for the specific steps.

Checking that all your contacts arrived

After your contacts sync or transfer, open the Contacts app on your iPhone and scroll through to spot-check a few names. Look for any that are missing, duplicated, or have incomplete information like missing phone numbers or email addresses.

Duplicates sometimes happen when contacts exist in multiple places — for example, the same person in both Google Contacts and your SIM card. If you see duplicates, open one contact, tap "Edit", scroll to the bottom, and tap "Link Contacts" to merge them. This combines the information into a single entry.

If a contact is missing entirely, go back to your Android phone and check whether it was actually saved to Google Contacts or your SIM card. Some contacts may have been stored only in an app or in a backup you did not transfer. You can always add missing contacts manually to your iPhone later.

Protecting your contacts during the move

When you sign into your Google Account on a new device, Google may ask you to verify your identity by entering a code sent to a recovery email or phone number. This is a security check, not a problem — it confirms that you are the real owner of the account. Have that recovery information handy before you start.

If you use a VCF file to transfer contacts, be careful where you store it. Do not leave it in a public folder or email it to an address you do not control. Once the transfer is complete, delete the file from your computer and any cloud storage where you saved it temporarily.

Your iPhone stores contacts in iCloud by default once you sign in with your Apple ID. This means your contacts back up automatically and sync across all your Apple devices. You can turn this off in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud if you prefer not to use iCloud, but keeping it on protects your contacts if you lose your phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my contacts transfer if I do not have a Google Account?

Yes. You can export contacts as a VCF file on your Android phone and import them through a computer using iTunes or Finder. You can also move your SIM card to your iPhone if it is the same size. Creating a Google Account is free and the fastest method, but not required.

What if some contacts have the same name but different phone numbers?

They will transfer as separate entries. After they arrive on your iPhone, you can merge them by opening one contact, tapping Edit, scrolling to the bottom, and tapping Link Contacts. Choose the other entry to combine them into one card with multiple phone numbers.

Do I need to keep my Android phone after the transfer is done?

No. Once your contacts are in your Google Account, on your SIM card, or in iCloud on your iPhone, you can safely erase your Android phone. Make sure the transfer is complete and you have checked that all contacts arrived before you do.

Can I transfer contacts from multiple Google Accounts?

Yes. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account and sign into each Google Account you used on Android. All contacts from all accounts will sync to your iPhone Contacts app.

What if my contacts have photos or custom ringtones attached?

Photos attached to contacts transfer through Google Contacts and VCF files. Custom ringtones do not — those are stored separately on your phone. You will need to reassign ringtones to contacts on your iPhone if you want them.