How to Move Your Phone Contacts to a New Phone

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

The method you use to move contacts depends on whether you're switching between iPhones, between Android phones, or from one type to the other. iPhones back up contacts through iCloud automatically if you're signed into an Apple account. Android phones typically use Google accounts. If you're switching between the same type of phone and you were already signed into your account, your contacts may already be waiting on the new device — you just need to sign in and let it sync.

If you're switching from iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone, you'll need to export your contacts and import them manually, or use a cloud service both phones can access. The process takes between five and fifteen minutes depending on how many contacts you have and which method you choose.

Key Takeaways

iPhone to iPhone: sign into your Apple ID on the new phone and wait for iCloud to sync your contacts automatically.
Android to Android: sign into your Google account on the new phone and contacts will sync within a few minutes.
iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: export contacts as a file from the old phone, then import that file into the new phone using a cloud service or USB connection.
If you only have a few contacts, you can add them manually by typing them into the new phone, though this is slower than any automated method.

Moving contacts between two iPhones

When you set up a new iPhone, Apple will ask you to sign in with your Apple ID during the initial setup. If you use the same Apple ID on both phones and iCloud is turned on, your contacts sync automatically — you don't need to do anything else. This happens in the background and usually completes within a few minutes.

If you've already finished setting up the new iPhone without signing in, you can still get your contacts. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Turn on the toggle next to Contacts. Your phone will ask whether to merge or replace — choose merge to keep any contacts you've already added to the new phone.

If you don't use iCloud or you want to move contacts without signing into your account, you can export them as a file. On your old iPhone, open Contacts, tap the person's name, scroll to the bottom, and tap Share Contact. You can share one contact at a time through email or AirDrop, or use a third-party app like My Contacts Backup to export all contacts at once as a file you can email to yourself and open on the new phone.

Moving contacts between two Android phones

Android contacts sync through your Google account. When you set up your new Android phone, sign in with the same Google account you used on the old phone. Your contacts will sync automatically within a few minutes — you'll see them appear in the Contacts app as the sync completes.

If you've already set up the new phone with a different Google account, you can add your original account afterward. Go to Settings, tap Accounts (or Users and Accounts on some phones), tap Add Account, select Google, and sign in. Then go back to Settings, find the Accounts section again, tap your Google account, and look for a Sync or Contacts option. Tap it to sync your contacts from that account.

If you don't use a Google account or want to move contacts without signing in, export them from your old phone as a VCF file. Open the Contacts app, tap the menu (three lines or three dots), look for Export or Backup, and choose to export to a file. Email this file to yourself, read it on the new phone, and open it — Android will ask which app to use to import the contacts. Select Contacts and confirm.

Switching from iPhone to Android

The simplest path is to use Google's built-in transfer tool if you're setting up a new Android phone for the first time. During initial setup, Android will offer to transfer data from an iPhone. Tap that option, follow the on-screen steps, and your contacts will move over along with photos, messages, and other data. This works best if both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network.

If you've already finished setting up the Android phone, export your contacts from the iPhone as a file. On the iPhone, open Contacts, tap the person's name, scroll down, and tap Share Contact — do this for each contact you want to move, or use an app like My Contacts Backup to export all at once. Email the file to yourself, read it on the Android phone, and open it. Android will import the contacts into your Contacts app.

Alternatively, sign into a Google account on the Android phone and add your iPhone's iCloud account as a secondary account in Android's settings. Some Android phones can sync contacts from multiple accounts at once, though this varies by manufacturer and Android version.

Switching from Android to iPhone

If you're setting up a new iPhone for the first time, Apple offers a data transfer tool during setup. Tap Move Data from Android, follow the prompts, and your contacts will transfer along with photos and other data. Both phones need to be on the same Wi-Fi network, and the process takes a few minutes.

If you've already set up the iPhone, export your contacts from the Android phone as a VCF file. Open the Contacts app on Android, tap the menu, find Export or Backup, and export to a file. Email this file to yourself, read it on the iPhone, and open it — the iPhone will ask which app to use and will import the contacts into your Contacts app.

You can also sign into your Google account on the iPhone. Go to Settings, tap Mail, then Accounts, then Add Account, select Google, and sign in. On the next screen, toggle Contacts on. The iPhone will sync your Google contacts, though they'll appear in a separate list from your iCloud contacts unless you merge them manually.

What to do if contacts don't appear after syncing

If you signed into your account but contacts still haven't appeared after ten minutes, force a manual sync. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, turn Contacts off, wait five seconds, then turn it back on. On Android, go to Settings, tap Accounts, select your Google account, tap Account Sync, and toggle Contacts off and back on.

If you imported a file but only some contacts appeared, check whether the file was corrupted during read. read it again and try importing once more. If contacts imported but they're missing phone numbers or email addresses, the original file may have been incomplete — go back to the old phone and verify that those details were actually saved there.

If you're switching between iPhone and Android and contacts still won't sync, the file format may not be compatible. Try exporting as a VCF file instead of any other format — VCF is the standard format that both iPhone and Android recognize. If the app you're using doesn't offer VCF as an option, try a different export app.

Manually adding contacts if automated methods don't work

If you have fewer than twenty contacts and automated methods aren't working, you can add them by hand. On either iPhone or Android, open the Contacts app, tap the plus sign or Add button, and type in each person's name, phone number, and email address. This takes roughly one minute per contact, so it's only practical for a small number.

Keep your old phone nearby while you do this so you can reference the contact information. If you don't have the old phone anymore, check whether you have the contacts written down, saved in email, or stored in another app like Facebook or LinkedIn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my contacts transfer if I don't have the old phone anymore?

Yes, as long as you know the email address or phone number associated with your account. Sign into that account on the new phone and your contacts will sync. If you don't remember your account details, you can recover your account through the phone manufacturer's website, though this takes longer.

Can I move contacts to multiple phones at once?

Yes. If you sign into the same account on multiple phones, contacts will sync to all of them. Any new contact you add on one phone will appear on the others within a few minutes. This works for both iCloud and Google accounts.

What happens to contacts if I switch accounts on my new phone?

Contacts tied to your old account will remain on the phone but won't sync anymore. If you sign back into the old account, they'll sync again. If you want to keep them, export them as a file before switching accounts, then import them under the new account.

Do I need Wi-Fi to transfer contacts?

For automatic syncing through iCloud or Google, you need Wi-Fi the first time you sign in so the contacts can read. After that, they'll stay on the phone. If you're using the data transfer tool during initial setup, both phones need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Exporting and importing files works over cellular data.

Can I transfer contacts from a very old phone?

If the old phone still turns on and you can access the Contacts app, you can export them the same way as any other phone. If it doesn't turn on, you'll need to recover your account through the manufacturer's website or check whether you have contacts backed up through an old email account or cloud service.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.