The fastest way to move your contacts

The simplest method is to back up your contacts to your Google Account while still on your Android phone, then sign into that same Google Account on your new device. Google stores contacts automatically if you have a Google Account set up — you do not have to do anything extra. When you sign in on a new phone, your contacts appear within a few minutes.

If you want to move contacts to a computer, an iPhone, or a non-Google service, you have other options depending on what you are moving to. The method you choose depends on where your contacts are going and whether you want to keep them on your Android phone as well.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Contacts syncs automatically to any Android phone where you sign in with the same Google Account, with no extra steps required.
  • You can export your contacts as a file (called a VCF or CSV file) and send that file to a computer, email account, or another phone.
  • To move contacts to an iPhone, sign into your Google Account on the iPhone and turn on Contacts syncing in Settings, or use a VCF file.
  • If your contacts are stored only on your SIM card, you must move them to your Google Account or phone storage first before they will sync to other devices.

Moving contacts through your Google Account

Open Settings on your Android phone and scroll down to find Accounts or Accounts and backup (the exact name varies by phone maker). Tap the account section, then select your Google Account from the list.

Tap Account sync or Sync account. You will see a list of things that sync — look for Contacts and make sure the toggle next to it is turned on (it should be blue or green, not gray). If it is already on, your contacts are already syncing. If you just turned it on, wait a few minutes for the sync to complete.

On your new Android phone, sign in with the same Google Account. Go to Settings, find Accounts, select your Google Account, and turn on Contacts syncing the same way. Your contacts will appear within a few minutes. This method works for moving contacts between any two Android phones.

Exporting contacts as a file to move them anywhere

Open the Contacts app on your Android phone. Look for a menu button — usually three dots in the top right corner — and tap it. You should see an option that says Export, Export contacts, or Save contacts.

Tap that option. The phone will ask you where to save the file — choose Internal storage or Downloads. The file will be named something like "contacts.vcf" or "contacts.csv". This file contains all your contacts in a format that almost any phone, email service, or computer can read.

Once the file is saved, you can email it to yourself, upload it to cloud storage like Google Drive, or connect your phone to a computer and copy the file over. From there, you can import it into a new phone, computer, or service by opening that device's Contacts app and looking for an Import option.

Moving contacts from your SIM card

Some older phones store contacts on the SIM card itself rather than in the phone's storage or a Google Account. If your contacts are on your SIM card, they will not sync to other devices automatically — you have to move them first.

Open your Contacts app and look for a menu option that says Manage contacts, Import, or SIM contacts. Select the option to import or copy contacts from your SIM card to your phone's storage or Google Account. Once they are moved, they will sync normally to other devices where you sign in with your Google Account.

Copying contacts to an iPhone

The easiest way is to sign into your Google Account on the iPhone. Go to Settings, tap Mail, then Accounts, and select Add Account. Choose Google, sign in with the same Google Account you use on your Android phone, and turn on the Contacts toggle. Your contacts will appear in the iPhone's Contacts app within a few minutes.

If you do not want to use a Google Account on your iPhone, export your contacts as a VCF file from your Android phone (using the method described above), email the file to yourself, open the email on your iPhone, and tap the VCF file. The iPhone will ask whether you want to add these contacts — tap Add All.

Copying contacts to a computer

Connect your Android phone to your computer with a USB cable. On your phone, you may see a notification asking what you want to do — tap File Transfer or Transfer files. On your computer, a folder window should open showing your phone's storage.

Navigate to Internal storage or Downloads and look for the contacts file you exported (it will be named something like "contacts.vcf"). Drag it to a folder on your computer to save it. You can then open this file in most email programs, contact managers, or spreadsheet software to view or edit your contacts.

Alternatively, export your contacts from your Android phone and email the file to yourself, then read it on your computer.

What to do if contacts are missing after moving them

If you moved your contacts but they do not appear on your new device, first check that you signed in with the correct Google Account. Open Settings on the new device and look at which Google Account is active — it must be the same one you used on your old phone.

If the account is correct, wait a few more minutes and then manually refresh the sync. On Android, go to Settings, find Accounts, select your Google Account, and tap Sync now. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Mail, then Accounts, select your Google Account, and toggle Contacts off and back on.

If you exported a file and the contacts did not import, make sure you chose the Import option in the Contacts app on the new device, not just opening the file. Some phones require you to use the import function rather than straightforward tapping the file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy just some of my contacts instead of all of them?

Most Android phones do not have a built-in way to select individual contacts and export only those. Your best option is to export all contacts, then delete the ones you do not need on the new device. Some third-party contact apps offer selective export, but the standard Contacts app exports everything at once.

What if I do not have a Google Account?

You can still export your contacts as a VCF file and move that file to another device or computer. However, setting up a free Google Account takes two minutes and makes syncing contacts much easier — you will not have to manually export and import every time you get a new phone.

Will copying contacts to a new phone delete them from my old phone?

No. Copying or syncing contacts leaves them on your original phone. They remain there until you manually delete them. If you want to remove them from your old phone after moving to a new one, you have to delete them yourself.

Can I copy contacts from an iPhone to Android?

Yes. On the iPhone, open Settings, tap Mail, select your Google Account, and turn on Contacts syncing. Then sign into that same Google Account on your Android phone and turn on Contacts syncing there. Your iPhone contacts will appear on the Android phone within a few minutes.

What is the difference between a VCF file and a CSV file?

A VCF file is the standard format for contacts and works with almost every phone and service. A CSV file is a spreadsheet format that works with email programs and contact managers on computers. Most Android phones export as VCF by default, which is the safer choice if you are not sure which one to use.