The fastest way depends on what phone you're switching to
The method that works best depends on whether you're staying within the same operating system — iOS to iOS, Android to Android — or switching between them. If you're moving within the same system, your phone manufacturer offers a built-in transfer tool that moves contacts automatically. If you're switching systems, you'll need to export your contacts first, then import them into the new phone. All of these methods are free and don't require a computer.
The entire process usually takes 10 to 30 minutes, depending on how many contacts you have and which method you choose. Most people can complete it while setting up their new phone for the first time.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone to iPhone: Use iCloud or the Quick Start feature during setup to transfer contacts automatically.
- Android to Android: Use Google Account sync or Samsung Smart Switch to move contacts without manual work.
- iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: Export contacts as a file from your old phone, then import that file into your new phone.
- Your contacts stay in your phone's storage even if you don't transfer them — you can retrieve them later if needed.
- Backing up your contacts to your email account or cloud storage gives you a copy that works on any phone.
Moving contacts between iPhones
The easiest method is Quick Start, which transfers everything including contacts while you're setting up your new iPhone. When you turn on your new phone, it will ask if you want to transfer data from another iPhone. Hold your old iPhone next to the new one, and follow the on-screen prompts. Your contacts move automatically along with your apps, photos, and settings.
If you don't use Quick Start, you can move contacts through iCloud. On your old iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and make sure Contacts is turned on. On your new iPhone, sign in with the same Apple ID and turn on Contacts in iCloud settings. Your contacts will sync within a few minutes.
If you need to move contacts without setting up a new phone, you can also export them as a file. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Contacts, tap the three dots, and select Export. This creates a file you can send to yourself or store for later.
Moving contacts between Android phones
The standard method is Google Account sync. On your old Android phone, go to Settings > Accounts > Google, select your Google account, and make sure Contacts is checked for sync. On your new Android phone, sign in with the same Google account during setup. Your contacts will download automatically.
If your old phone is a Samsung, Samsung Smart Switch is faster and moves more than just contacts. Download Smart Switch on both phones, open it on your old phone, select Send Data, and follow the prompts. On your new phone, select Receive Data and choose your old phone from the list. This transfers contacts, messages, apps, and settings wirelessly.
You can also export contacts manually if you prefer. Go to Contacts > Menu > Settings > Export Contacts, choose to save as a file, and select your storage location. Then import that file on your new phone through Contacts > Menu > Import Contacts.
Switching from iPhone to Android
Start by exporting your contacts from your iPhone as a file. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Contacts, tap the three dots, and select Export. This creates a file called contacts.vcf. Email this file to yourself or save it to Google Drive.
On your new Android phone, open the Contacts app and tap Menu > Settings > Import Contacts. Select the contacts.vcf file from your email or Google Drive. Android will import all the contacts into your phone's default contact storage, usually Google Contacts.
If you want your contacts to sync across devices, sign in to your Google account on the Android phone and make sure Contacts sync is turned on in Settings > Accounts > Google. From then on, any contact you add or change will appear on any device where you're signed in with that Google account.
Switching from Android to iPhone
Export your contacts from your Android phone first. Open the Contacts app, tap Menu > Settings > Export Contacts, and save the file to your phone's storage or Google Drive. The file will be named contacts.vcf.
On your new iPhone, email the contacts.vcf file to yourself. Open the email on your iPhone, tap the attachment, and select Open in Contacts. Your iPhone will import all the contacts into the default iPhone Contacts app.
To keep your contacts synced going forward, sign in to your Google account on your iPhone through Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > App-Specific Passwords, or add your Google account through Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account. Then turn on Contacts sync for that account. Your contacts will stay in sync between your iPhone and any Android device you use.
Using a computer to transfer contacts
If wireless transfer isn't working, you can move contacts through a computer. On your old phone, export contacts as a contacts.vcf file and email it to yourself or save it to a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox. Download the file on your computer.
On your new phone, download the file from the cloud service or email, then open it with your phone's Contacts app. The phone will import all the contacts. This method works for any phone switching to any other phone, and it's useful if your phones aren't compatible with wireless transfer methods.
You can also use iTunes on a Mac or Windows computer if you're moving between iPhones. Connect your old iPhone to the computer, open iTunes, and back up your contacts. Then connect your new iPhone and restore from that backup. This transfers contacts along with everything else on your phone.
What to do if contacts don't transfer
If some contacts didn't move, check that they were stored in the right place on your old phone. Contacts saved only to your SIM card or to a specific app won't transfer automatically. Open your old phone's Contacts app and look for a menu option to view contacts by storage location. Move any SIM-only contacts to your phone's main storage before transferring.
If you're switching between iPhone and Android, make sure the contacts.vcf file actually contains all your contacts. Open the file on a computer with a text editor to verify it has entries. If it's empty or incomplete, try exporting again or using a different export method.
Duplicate contacts sometimes appear after transfer. On iPhone, go to Contacts > Edit > Merge Contacts to combine duplicates. On Android, open Contacts > Menu > Settings > Merge Duplicates. Both phones have automatic tools to clean this up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my contacts transfer if I don't have the same email account on both phones?
No, automatic sync requires the same account. You'll need to export contacts as a file and import them manually instead. This works regardless of which email accounts you use on each phone.
Can I transfer contacts without a Google account or Apple ID?
Yes. Export your contacts as a contacts.vcf file, email it to yourself, and import it on your new phone. This method works without any account and preserves all contact information.
What happens to contacts stored only on my SIM card?
SIM contacts don't transfer automatically through most methods. Move them to your phone's main storage before transferring. Go to Contacts > Menu > Settings > Import from SIM or a similar option on your old phone.
Do I lose my old contacts if I don't transfer them?
No. Your old phone keeps all its contacts. You can retrieve them later by exporting and importing, or by signing back into your account on the old phone. Contacts don't disappear unless you delete them.
Can I transfer contacts to multiple new phones at once?
Yes. Export your contacts as a file and import that file on each new phone. You can also sign into the same account on multiple phones, and contacts will sync to all of them automatically.