Moving Your Contacts From One iPhone to Another

The fastest way to move contacts between iPhones

The quickest method is to use iCloud during setup. When you turn on a new iPhone, you'll see a screen asking you to sign in with your Apple ID. If you use the same Apple ID on both phones and have iCloud Contacts turned on, your contacts transfer automatically — you don't have to do anything else. This works even if your old iPhone is still in use.

If your new phone is already set up, you can still move contacts through iCloud by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, then turning on Contacts. Wait a few minutes for them to sync. The contacts from your old iPhone will appear on the new one as long as both phones use the same Apple ID and both have iCloud Contacts enabled.

This method works best because it moves everything at once and keeps your contacts in sync across all your devices. You don't need a computer, a cable, or any third-party apps.

Key Takeaways

The easiest transfer happens during initial setup when you sign in with your Apple ID — iCloud syncs your contacts automatically.
If your new iPhone is already set up, turn on iCloud Contacts in Settings to pull in contacts from your old phone.
You can also export contacts as a file and send them to yourself, then import them on the new phone.
If you don't use iCloud, you can back up your old iPhone and restore from that backup on the new one, which moves everything including contacts.

Using iCloud Contacts when the new phone is already set up

Open Settings on your new iPhone and tap your name at the top. Select iCloud. Scroll down and look for Contacts — if the toggle is off (white), tap it to turn it on (green). Your phone will ask if you want to merge contacts; tap Merge. iCloud will then sync all contacts from your old iPhone to the new one over the next few minutes.

This only works if both iPhones are signed into the same Apple ID. If you're not sure whether iCloud Contacts is on for your old phone, you can check by opening Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud on that phone and looking for the Contacts toggle. It should be green.

If you see a message saying "This iPhone is not signed in to iCloud," you'll need to sign in first. Tap Sign In, enter your Apple ID and password, and follow the prompts. Then turn on Contacts and wait for the sync to complete.

Exporting and importing contacts as a file

If you want to move only certain contacts or prefer not to use iCloud, you can export them as a file. On your old iPhone, open the Contacts app, tap Groups in the upper left (if you see it), and select All Contacts. Tap Edit in the upper right, then select all the contacts you want to move by tapping each one. Tap Share at the bottom and choose Mail or AirDrop to send them to yourself.

On your new iPhone, open the email or AirDrop notification containing the contacts file. Tap the file — it will usually be named something like "contacts.vcf" — and your phone will ask what you want to do with it. Tap Add All Contacts or Import, and the contacts will appear in your Contacts app.

This method takes longer than iCloud but gives you control over which contacts move. It's useful if you're switching to a different Apple ID or if you only want to transfer a subset of your contacts.

Restoring from an iCloud backup

If you have a backup of your old iPhone stored in iCloud, you can restore your new phone from it. During setup, when you see the "Apps & Data" screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup. Sign in with the Apple ID that created the backup, select your old iPhone's backup from the list, and wait for the restore to finish. This moves contacts along with all your other data — apps, photos, messages, settings, and everything else.

Restoring from a backup takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have and your internet speed. Your new phone will restart during the process, which is normal. Don't unplug it or turn it off.

This is the most complete way to transfer everything, but it also means you're moving old settings and apps you might not want. If your new phone is already set up and you want to restore a backup, you'll need to erase it first. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, then set it up again and choose Restore from Backup.

Using a Mac or Windows computer to transfer contacts

If you have a computer, you can move contacts through iTunes or Finder. Connect your old iPhone to the computer with a USB cable. On a Mac running Catalina or later, open Finder and select your iPhone in the sidebar. Click General and make sure "Sync Contacts" is checked. On a Windows PC or older Mac, open iTunes, select your iPhone, click Info, and check "Sync Contacts."

Then connect your new iPhone to the same computer and repeat the process. Your contacts will sync from the computer to the new phone. This method is slower than iCloud but works if you prefer not to use cloud storage or if you're having trouble with iCloud sync.

What to do if contacts don't appear on your new phone

If you've turned on iCloud Contacts but your contacts still haven't shown up after 10 minutes, check that both phones are signed into the same Apple ID. Go to Settings > [Your Name] on each phone and verify the email address is identical. If they're different, you'll need to sign out of iCloud on one phone and sign in with the correct account.

If contacts still don't appear, try turning iCloud Contacts off and back on. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, tap Contacts, and select Turn Off. When your phone asks whether to keep or delete contacts on this iPhone, tap Keep. Wait 30 seconds, then go back to iCloud settings and turn Contacts back on. Tap Merge when prompted.

Make sure your internet connection is working — iCloud can't sync without it. If you're on Wi-Fi, try switching to cellular data or moving closer to your router. If you're still having trouble after trying these steps, restart both phones by turning them off and back on.

Moving contacts when you're switching from Android

If you're moving from an Android phone, the process is different. During iPhone setup, you'll see a screen that says "Apps & Data." Tap Move Data from Android and follow the prompts to sign in with your Google account. Your iPhone will download your contacts from Google Contacts and add them to your new phone.

If your iPhone is already set up, you can still import Android contacts by exporting them from your Android phone as a .vcf file, emailing the file to yourself, and opening it on your iPhone. Tap the file and select Add All Contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my contacts transfer if I use a different Apple ID on my new iPhone?

No. iCloud Contacts only sync between devices using the same Apple ID. If you're switching to a different Apple ID, you'll need to export your contacts as a file and import them manually, or restore from an iCloud backup created with your old Apple ID before switching.

Can I transfer contacts without using iCloud?

Yes. You can export contacts as a .vcf file and email them to yourself, then import them on your new phone. You can also restore from an iCloud or iTunes backup, or use a computer to sync contacts through Finder or iTunes. iCloud is the fastest method, but it's not required.

How long does it take for contacts to sync through iCloud?

Usually a few minutes if both phones are on Wi-Fi and connected to the internet. If you have hundreds of contacts, it might take 10 to 15 minutes. If contacts haven't appeared after 20 minutes, try restarting both phones and checking your internet connection.

What happens to contacts on my old iPhone when I turn on iCloud Contacts on my new one?

Nothing. Your old iPhone keeps its contacts. iCloud Contacts syncs between devices — turning it on your new phone pulls in contacts from iCloud, but doesn't remove them from your old phone. Both phones will have the same contacts as long as both are signed into the same Apple ID.

Can I move just a few contacts instead of all of them?

Yes. Export the contacts you want as a .vcf file, email the file to yourself, and import it on your new phone. This lets you choose exactly which contacts to move. iCloud and backup restoration move all contacts at once, so exporting is the only way to be selective.

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.