The fastest way to move your Android contacts

The easiest method depends on where you want the contacts to go. If you are moving to a new Android phone, Google automatically syncs them if you sign in with the same Google account. If you are switching to iPhone or another device, or backing them up to your computer, you have several straightforward options that take five to ten minutes.

Most Android phones store contacts in Google Contacts, which means they live in the cloud already — you just need to access them from the right place. The steps below cover the most common situations: transferring to a new Android phone, exporting to a computer file, or moving to iPhone.

Key Takeaways

  • Google automatically syncs your contacts across Android devices when you sign in with the same Google account, so a new Android phone may already have them.
  • You can export your contacts as a file from Google Contacts on any computer in minutes, then import that file into another phone or service.
  • To move contacts to iPhone, sign into iCloud.com with an Apple ID, then import the exported file directly into Apple Contacts.
  • Samsung phones let you export contacts through the Contacts app itself without needing a computer.
  • Always test that contacts arrived on the new device before deleting them from the old one.

Moving contacts to a new Android phone

When you set up a new Android phone, Google asks you to sign in with a Google account. If you use the same account you used on your old phone, your contacts sync automatically within a few minutes. You do not need to do anything else — open the Contacts app and they should be there.

If the contacts do not appear after ten minutes, open Settings, go to Accounts, tap your Google account, then tap Account sync. Make sure Contacts is toggled on. If it is already on, tap the three dots in the top right and choose Sync now.

If you are setting up the new phone and have not yet signed in, you can add the account during setup. When the phone asks which account to use, enter your Google email and password. The setup wizard will sync your contacts along with your calendar, email, and other data.

Exporting contacts from Google Contacts on a computer

This method works on any Android phone and creates a file you can use on any device. Open a web browser on your computer and go to contacts.google.com. Sign in with the Google account that holds your contacts.

On the left side, click the three horizontal lines to open the menu. Click Settings. On the Settings page, click Export. A window will appear asking which contacts to export — choose All contacts, then click Export. Your browser will download a file called contacts.vcf to your Downloads folder.

This file can now be imported into iPhone, another Android phone, Outlook, or any other service that accepts contact files. Keep the file somewhere safe in case you need it again.

Exporting contacts directly from your Android phone

If you do not have access to a computer, you can export contacts straight from your phone. The exact steps vary by manufacturer, but the process is similar on most devices.

On Samsung phones: Open the Contacts app. Tap the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings. Scroll down and tap Import/Export. Choose Export to file. Select All contacts and choose where to save the file — usually your phone's internal storage or SD card. The file will be saved as a .vcf file.

On Google Pixel and other Android phones: Open the Contacts app. Tap the three dots in the top right and select Settings. Look for an option called Export or Backup. If you see it, tap it and follow the prompts. If you do not see this option, use the Google Contacts method on a computer instead.

Moving contacts to iPhone

First, export your contacts as described above — you need the .vcf file. Then, on a computer, go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Click Contacts. In the bottom left corner, click the gear icon and select Import vCard. Choose the contacts.vcf file you exported from Android. Your contacts will upload to iCloud and appear on any iPhone signed into that Apple ID.

If you are setting up a new iPhone for the first time, you can also import the file during setup. When the phone asks if you want to restore from a backup, choose Not Now, then continue through setup. Once you reach the home screen, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, tap iCloud, and make sure Contacts is toggled on. Wait a few minutes for the contacts to sync.

Transferring contacts between Android phones using Bluetooth

This method works for a small number of contacts but is slow for large lists. On your old phone, open Contacts, select the contact you want to send, tap the three dots, and look for Share or Send. Choose Bluetooth. Your phone will search for nearby devices. On your new phone, turn on Bluetooth and make sure it is visible. Accept the incoming contact on the new phone.

Repeat this for each contact you want to move. For more than a handful of contacts, the export method above is much faster.

What to do if contacts are not syncing

If you signed in with your Google account but contacts are not appearing, first check that sync is turned on. Go to Settings, tap Accounts, select your Google account, and make sure the Contacts toggle is on. If it is already on, tap the three dots and choose Sync now. Wait five minutes.

If contacts still do not appear, sign out of the Google account and sign back in. Go to Settings, tap Accounts, select your Google account, tap the three dots, and choose Remove account. Then go back to Accounts, tap Add account, choose Google, and sign in again. During sign-in, make sure you choose to sync Contacts.

If you are moving from an older phone that stored contacts on the SIM card instead of Google, those contacts may not sync automatically. Export them from the old phone first, then import the file into your new phone using the steps above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my contacts transfer automatically when I switch Android phones?

Only if you sign in with the same Google account on the new phone. If you use a different account or do not sign in during setup, you will need to export and import the contacts manually. Always sign in with your existing Google account during Android setup to keep your contacts, calendar, and apps.

Can I copy contacts to my computer and keep them there?

Yes. The .vcf file you export from Google Contacts is a standard contact file that any computer can open and store. You can keep it in a folder on your computer as a backup. If you need to move those contacts to a new phone later, you can import the same file again.

What if I forgot which Google account my contacts are in?

Go to contacts.google.com and look at which email is shown in the top right corner. That is the account your contacts are stored in. If you are not signed in, you can try signing in with different Google accounts until you find the right one. Once you find it, you can export the contacts or sign into that account on your new phone.

Do I lose my Android contacts if I switch to iPhone?

No. Your contacts stay in your Google account. You can access them on iPhone by signing into iCloud with an Apple ID and importing the exported file, or by adding your Google account to iPhone Settings. Either way, your contacts will appear in the iPhone Contacts app.

Can I export contacts from a phone I no longer have?

If the phone is gone but you remember the Google account, sign into contacts.google.com on any computer with that account and export from there. If you do not remember the account, you may not be able to recover the contacts. This is why exporting and backing up contacts regularly is useful.