How to Move Your Phone Contacts to a New Phone

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

Moving contacts to a new phone usually takes 10 to 30 minutes and works best if both phones use the same system — both iPhone, both Android, or both using the same email account. If you're switching between iPhone and Android, the process takes a few extra steps but still works reliably. The method you choose depends on whether you have a backup already, whether both phones are in front of you right now, and which operating system each one runs.

The three main paths are: using a cloud backup (fastest if you already have one), using a cable or wireless transfer (works without an account), or exporting contacts manually (slowest but works anywhere). Most people find the cloud backup method simplest because it moves not just contacts but also photos, settings, and app data at the same time.

Key Takeaways

iPhone to iPhone: sign into your Apple ID on the new phone during setup, and contacts restore automatically from iCloud backup.
Android to Android: sign into your Google account on the new phone, and contacts sync within a few minutes.
iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: use Google Contacts or your email account to move contacts, since the two systems don't share backups.
If you don't have time to set up a new phone right now, export your contacts to a file and move them later.
Contacts stored only in your phone's local memory (not in an account) will be lost unless you back them up first.

Moving contacts between two iPhones

When you set up a new iPhone, Apple asks you to sign in with your Apple ID. If you sign in with the same Apple ID you used on your old phone, and if iCloud backup is turned on, your contacts restore automatically during setup. This happens in the background while you're setting up Face ID or Touch ID, so you don't have to do anything extra.

If you've already finished setting up the new iPhone without signing in, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, then set up again and sign in with your Apple ID. This erases the new phone completely, so only do this if you haven't added anything important to it yet. If you have added things you want to keep, instead go to Settings > Mail > Accounts and add your Apple ID there — contacts will sync within a few minutes.

Moving contacts between two Android phones

Android contacts sync through your Google account. When you set up a new Android phone, you'll be asked to sign in with a Google account. If you sign in with the same Google account you used on your old phone, contacts appear automatically within a few minutes. You don't need to do anything else.

If you've already set up the new phone with a different account, go to Settings > Accounts (or Accounts and Backup, depending on your phone brand), tap Add Account, and sign in with your Google account. Then go to Settings > Accounts > select your Google account > tap the three dots > Sync Now. Contacts will sync within a few minutes.

Moving contacts from iPhone to Android

The simplest method is to use your Google account. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account and sign in with a Google account (create one free if you don't have one). Then go to Settings > Contacts > Default Account and select your Google account. This tells your iPhone to store new contacts in Google instead of iCloud.

Next, go to Settings > Contacts > Sort Order and Display Order and make sure both are set the same way, then go back to Settings > Accounts > select your Google account > toggle Contacts on. Your existing iPhone contacts will upload to Google within a few minutes. Then on your new Android phone, sign in with the same Google account during setup, and contacts will appear automatically.

If you want to move contacts without creating a Google account, you can export them from your iPhone as a file. Go to Contacts app > select a contact > tap Share Contact > AirDrop or Mail to send it to yourself, then import it on Android. This works but is slow if you have many contacts.

Moving contacts from Android to iPhone

The easiest method is to use your Google account. On your Android phone, make sure your contacts are synced to Google by going to Settings > Accounts > select your Google account > tap the three dots > Sync Now. Then on your new iPhone, during setup, sign in with the same Google account. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account Google, sign in, and toggle Contacts on. Contacts will appear in your iPhone's Contacts app within a few minutes.

If you don't want to use Google, you can export contacts from Android as a VCF file (a standard contact file format). Go to your Contacts app > tap the three dots or menu > Settings > Export > Export to File, then email the file to yourself or save it to cloud storage. On your iPhone, open the file and tap Add All Contacts. This method works but requires more steps.

Exporting contacts if you need them later

If you're not ready to set up your new phone right now, or if you want a backup copy of your contacts, export them to a file. On iPhone, the easiest way is to sign into your Google account (as described above) and let contacts sync there — you can import them anytime later. On Android, go to Contacts > menu > Settings > Export and save the file to your Google Drive or email it to yourself.

The exported file is called a VCF file and works on any phone — iPhone, Android, or even older phones. You can also import a VCF file into Gmail by going to contacts.google.com > Import > select your file. Once contacts are in Google, you can sign into Google on any new phone and they'll appear automatically.

What to do if contacts don't appear after moving them

If you've signed into your account but contacts still aren't showing up, wait 10 to 15 minutes — syncing sometimes takes longer on slower internet. Then try manually syncing: on iPhone, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts select your account > toggle Contacts off, wait 10 seconds, then toggle it back on. On Android, go to Settings > Accounts > select your account > tap the three dots > Sync Now.

If contacts still don't appear, check that you're signed into the same account on both phones. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] at the top and verify your Apple ID or Google account. On Android, go to Settings > Accounts and look for the account you signed in with. If you signed in with different accounts, contacts won't sync — you'll need to add the correct account and sync again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my contacts if I don't back them up before switching phones?

If your contacts are stored in an account (Google, Apple ID, or your email), they're already backed up and will appear on your new phone when you sign in. If you've only stored contacts locally on your phone without syncing to an account, they will be lost when you switch phones. Check by going to your Contacts app and looking for a setting that shows where contacts are stored.

Can I move contacts if I don't have the old phone anymore?

Yes, if your contacts were synced to an account. Sign into that account on your new phone — Google, Apple ID, or your email provider — and contacts will appear. If you never synced them to an account, they're gone. Going forward, make sure your phone is set to sync contacts to an account so this doesn't happen again.

What if some contacts are missing after I move them?

Contacts stored only locally on your old phone (not synced to an account) won't move automatically. If you still have access to your old phone, you can export those contacts as a VCF file and email them to yourself, then import them on your new phone. If you don't have the old phone, those contacts are lost.

Do I need to pay anything to move contacts between phones?

No. Moving contacts through Google, Apple ID, or your email account is free. You don't need any special app or service — it's built into both iPhone and Android.

Can I move contacts without using an account or cable?

If both phones are near each other, you can use AirDrop on iPhone or Bluetooth on Android to send contacts one at a time, but this is slow for large contact lists. The fastest methods all use either an account (Google, Apple ID) or a cable connection during phone setup. Using an account is recommended because it also backs up your contacts for the future.

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.