How to Transfer Your Contacts to Your New Phone

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

The method that works best depends on whether you're moving from an iPhone to an iPhone, an Android to an Android, or switching between the two systems. Each path is different because iPhones use iCloud and Androids use Google accounts — they don't talk to each other automatically. If you're staying within the same system, the transfer often happens during setup. If you're switching systems, you'll need to export your contacts first, then import them into the new phone.

The good news is that none of these methods are complicated. Most take less than ten minutes, and you don't need a computer. You can do everything from your phone or a web browser.

Key Takeaways

iPhone to iPhone: sign into your Apple ID during setup and iCloud will restore your contacts automatically.
Android to Android: sign into your Google account during setup and your contacts will sync from Google Contacts.
iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: export your contacts as a file, then import that file into the new phone's contacts app.
If you skip the setup process, you can still transfer contacts later by going into your phone's settings and signing into the right account.
Always check that all your contacts arrived before you get rid of the old phone — some contacts may not transfer if they're stored only on the SIM card.

iPhone to iPhone: using iCloud during setup

When you turn on a new iPhone for the first time, it will ask you to sign in with your Apple ID. Use the same Apple ID you used on your old phone. During setup, you'll see an option to restore from a backup — choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" and select the most recent backup from your old phone. Your contacts, along with your apps, photos, and settings, will read to the new phone.

If you've already finished setup without restoring a backup, you can still get your contacts. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Make sure Contacts is toggled on. Your contacts will sync from iCloud to the new phone within a few minutes.

This method works only if you backed up your old iPhone to iCloud before you switched. If you didn't, you'll need to use the export method described in the switching systems section below.

Android to Android: using Google Contacts during setup

When you turn on a new Android phone, it will ask you to sign in with your Google account. Use the same Google account you used on your old phone. Your contacts are stored in Google Contacts automatically — as long as you signed into that Google account on your old phone, your contacts will sync to the new one within a few minutes after you sign in.

If you've already finished setup, go to Settings, find Accounts (the name varies by phone maker), tap your Google account, and make sure Contacts is toggled on to sync. If contacts still don't appear, open the Contacts app, tap the menu (three lines), go to Settings, and check that your Google account is set as the default.

Some Android phones also let you back up contacts to your Samsung account or another manufacturer account. Check your phone's backup settings to see which account your contacts are synced to, then sign into that account on the new phone.

Switching from iPhone to Android

You'll need to export your contacts from the iPhone as a file, then import that file into Android. On your iPhone, open the Contacts app, tap Groups at the top left, and make sure "All Contacts" is selected. Then open Settings, scroll down to Contacts, and tap Default Account. Make sure your iCloud account is selected — this ensures all your contacts are in one place.

Next, you need to export the contacts. The iPhone doesn't have a built-in export button, so you'll use iCloud on a web browser instead. Go to iCloud.com on a computer or phone, sign in with your Apple ID, and click Contacts. Select all your contacts (press Ctrl+A on Windows or Command+A on Mac), then look for an export or read option in the menu. This will read your contacts as a .vcf file.

On your new Android phone, open the Contacts app and tap the menu (three lines or three dots). Look for an option to import contacts. Choose the .vcf file you just downloaded. Your contacts will appear in the Android phone within seconds. If you don't see an import option, try opening the file directly from your Downloads folder — Android will recognize it as a contacts file and ask if you want to import it.

Switching from Android to iPhone

Open the Contacts app on your Android phone and tap the menu (three lines or three dots). Look for an option to export or backup contacts. Choose "Export to file" or "Save as file" — this will create a .vcf file. Some Android phones call this "Send contacts" or "Share contacts." Save the file to your Downloads folder or email it to yourself.

On your new iPhone, you have two options. The easiest is to use Apple's Move to iOS app, which is free and available on Google Play. Install it on your old Android phone, open it, and follow the prompts to transfer contacts, photos, and other data directly to your new iPhone over WiFi. This works even if you've already finished iPhone setup.

If you prefer not to use the Move to iOS app, you can import the .vcf file manually. Email the file to yourself, open the email on your iPhone, tap the attachment, and choose "Add All Contacts." Your contacts will appear in the iPhone's Contacts app.

What to do if some contacts didn't transfer

Some contacts may not transfer if they're stored only on your SIM card instead of in your phone's main contacts. To check, open Contacts on your old phone and look for a section labeled "SIM" or "SIM Contacts." If you see contacts there, you'll need to move them to your phone's main storage before transferring.

On an iPhone, open Contacts, tap Edit in the top left, select the SIM contacts you want to keep, and tap Add to Contacts. On Android, open Contacts, find the SIM contacts, tap and hold to select them, then choose "Copy to Phone" or "Move to Contacts." After you move them, they'll transfer with the rest of your contacts.

If you've already transferred everything and still have missing contacts, check whether they're in a different account. On iPhone, go to Settings > Contacts and check which accounts are enabled. On Android, go to Settings > Accounts and make sure all your accounts are synced. Sometimes contacts are stored in a work email account or a different Google account by mistake.

Backing up your contacts so you don't lose them again

Once your contacts are on your new phone, make sure they stay backed up. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, and make sure Contacts is toggled on. On Android, go to Settings, find Accounts, tap your Google account, and make sure Contacts is toggled on.

You can also export your contacts as a backup file and store it somewhere safe. On iPhone, use iCloud.com as described above. On Android, open Contacts, tap the menu, choose Export, and save the file to your Google Drive or email it to yourself. This way, if something goes wrong with your phone, you'll have a copy of your contacts that you can import again.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, if you backed up your old phone. On iPhone, you can restore from an iCloud backup during setup. On Android, your contacts are in Google Contacts as long as you signed into your Google account. If you didn't back up and don't have the old phone, you'll need to contact your contacts individually to ask for their information again.

Will my contacts transfer if I switch phone carriers?

Yes. Contacts stored in your phone's main storage or in your online account (iCloud or Google) will transfer regardless of carrier. Only contacts stored on your SIM card might not transfer, and those are rare on modern phones. Check your old phone for SIM contacts before you switch.

What if the import option doesn't appear on my new phone?

Try opening the .vcf file directly from your Downloads or Files app instead of looking for an import button. On Android, tap and hold the file and choose "Open with Contacts." On iPhone, tap the file and choose "Add All Contacts." If that doesn't work, try emailing the file to yourself and opening the attachment on the new phone.

Do I need WiFi to transfer contacts?

You need WiFi or mobile data to sign into your account (iCloud or Google) so your contacts can sync. If you're using the Move to iOS app or importing a file, you need WiFi for the direct transfer, but you can import a file over mobile data if you email it to yourself first.

Will duplicate contacts appear after I transfer them?

Duplicates can happen if you import contacts into a phone that already has some of the same contacts. Most phones have a built-in duplicate finder. On iPhone, go to Settings > Contacts > Sort Order, then look for a merge duplicates option. On Android, open Contacts, tap the menu, and look for "Merge duplicates" or "Fix and manage."

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.