The fastest way depends on what phone you're switching to

If you're moving to the same type of phone you had before — iPhone to iPhone, or Android to Android — your contacts probably synced automatically to an account you already use. If you're switching between types, or if you're not sure whether your contacts backed up, you'll need to move them manually or restore them from a backup file. The method takes between five and twenty minutes depending on how many contacts you have.

The reason this matters: contacts stored only on your old phone disappear when you stop using it. Contacts linked to your email account or phone manufacturer's account stay with you across devices. Before you set up your new phone, check whether your old one already sent your contacts somewhere safe.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone contacts sync automatically to iCloud if you signed in with your Apple ID; Android contacts sync to Google if you signed in with a Google account.
  • To check what synced, open Settings on your old phone, find the account section, and look for a Contacts or Backup option.
  • If nothing synced, you can export contacts as a file from your old phone and import that file into your new one.
  • When you first set up your new phone, signing into the same account you used on the old phone will restore your contacts automatically.
  • If you're switching from iPhone to Android or vice versa, exporting and importing a file is usually simpler than trying to sync between different systems.

Check whether your contacts already synced to an account

On an iPhone, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Look for Contacts and check whether the toggle is on (it will be green or blue). If it is on, your contacts are already stored in iCloud and will appear on your new iPhone when you sign in with the same Apple ID.

On an Android phone, open Settings, scroll down to Accounts, and tap the Google account you use most. Tap Account sync, then look for Contacts. If the toggle next to Contacts is on, your contacts are in Google Contacts and will appear on your new Android phone when you sign in with the same Google account.

If the toggle is off or you don't see a Contacts option, your contacts are stored only on this phone and you'll need to export them before you switch. Write down the account name and password you use on this phone — you'll need it to sign into your new phone.

Export contacts if they didn't sync automatically

On an iPhone without iCloud Contacts turned on, open the Contacts app, tap Groups in the top left corner, make sure All Contacts is selected, then tap Edit in the top right. Tap Select All, then tap Share. Choose a method — email, AirDrop, or Messages — and send the file to yourself or to an email address you can access on your new phone. The file will arrive as a .vcf file, which is the standard format for contacts.

On an Android phone, open the Contacts app, tap the three-line menu icon, then tap Settings. Look for Export or Backup. Tap Export Contacts, choose which contacts to export (select All), then choose where to save the file — usually Google Drive, OneDrive, or your email. Send the file to an email address you can access on your new phone, or save it to cloud storage you can reach from the new phone.

If your phone doesn't have an Export option in Contacts, try opening Settings, searching for Backup, and looking for an option to back up contacts to your email account or cloud storage. Different phone makers put this in different places, but the goal is the same: get a .vcf file or a backup file to somewhere you can reach from your new phone.

Import contacts into your new phone during setup

When you first turn on your new phone, you'll be asked to sign in with an account — Apple ID for iPhone, Google account for Android. Sign in with the same account you used on your old phone. The phone will ask whether you want to restore from a backup or set up as new. Choose Restore from Backup if that option appears, and select the backup from your old phone if it's available.

If you're restoring from a backup, your contacts will appear automatically within a few minutes. You don't need to do anything else. If you chose Set Up as New or if the backup didn't include contacts, you'll need to import the .vcf file you exported. Open your email or cloud storage, read the contacts file, and open it. Your phone will ask which app to use to open it — choose Contacts. The phone will then ask whether to import all the contacts in the file. Tap Yes or Import, and your contacts will appear in the Contacts app.

Moving contacts when you switch between iPhone and Android

If you're moving from iPhone to Android, iCloud won't sync with Google Contacts automatically. Export your contacts from your iPhone as a .vcf file using the method above, then email the file to yourself. On your new Android phone, open the email, read the .vcf file, and open it. Android will ask which app to use — choose Contacts. Tap Import and select All Contacts.

If you're moving from Android to iPhone, export your contacts from your Android phone as a .vcf file, email it to yourself, then read it on your iPhone. Open the file and tap Import. If your iPhone doesn't recognize the file, try opening it in the Contacts app by tapping the file in Mail and choosing Open in Contacts.

The .vcf format works on both systems, so this method is reliable even though the phones use different account systems. The export and import usually take less than five minutes total.

What to do if some contacts didn't transfer

Contacts stored in apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, or LinkedIn don't transfer with your phone contacts — they stay in those apps. When you install those apps on your new phone and sign in, your contacts in those apps will reappear. You don't need to move them separately.

If you had contacts saved only in your old phone's SIM card, they won't transfer to your new phone automatically. Ask your phone carrier whether they can read the contacts from your old SIM card and add them to your account, or manually type the most important numbers into your new phone's Contacts app. Most carriers can do this over the phone in a few minutes.

If you exported contacts but some didn't import, the file may have been corrupted during export or transfer. Try exporting again from your old phone, or ask your phone carrier's support line whether they can export your contacts for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to keep my old phone to transfer contacts?

No, but you need to export them before you stop using the old phone. Once you've sent the .vcf file to your email or cloud storage, you can transfer it to your new phone anytime. If you've already switched phones without exporting, contact your phone carrier — they may be able to retrieve contacts from your account.

Will my contacts transfer if I just sign into the same account on my new phone?

Yes, if you turned on syncing for contacts on your old phone. If syncing was off, signing into the same account won't bring over contacts that were stored only on the old phone. Check your old phone's settings before you switch to know whether this will work.

What if I don't remember the password to my old account?

Reset it before you switch phones. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, then tap Password and Security. On Android, go to Settings, tap Accounts, select your Google account, then tap Manage Your Google Account and follow the password reset steps. You'll need the account password to sign into your new phone.

Can I transfer contacts from my old phone to my new phone using Bluetooth?

Some older phones support Bluetooth contact transfer, but most modern phones don't. Exporting to a file and importing it is faster and more reliable. If your phones are very old, ask your phone carrier whether they offer contact transfer as a service.

What happens to my contacts if I don't back them up before switching phones?

Contacts stored only on your old phone will be lost when you stop using it. Contacts synced to iCloud or Google will stay in those accounts and appear on your new phone when you sign in. If you've already lost contacts, contact your phone carrier or the account provider — they may be able to recover them from a recent backup.