The fastest way to transfer contacts is through iCloud during setup
When you turn on a new iPhone, the setup screen offers to restore from your old device using iCloud. If you sign in with the same Apple ID you used on your previous phone, your contacts transfer automatically as part of that restore. This happens whether your old phone is an iPhone, Android, or no longer in your possession — iCloud stores your contacts in the cloud, not on the device itself.
If you've already finished setup on the new phone without restoring, you can still pull contacts from iCloud by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, turning on Contacts, and waiting for them to sync. This usually takes a few minutes depending on how many contacts you have.
The restore-during-setup method is the most reliable because it transfers everything at once and handles duplicates automatically. The manual sync method works if you're already past the setup screen, but you'll need to make sure you're signed into the correct Apple ID.
Key Takeaways
- During new iPhone setup, sign in with your Apple ID and choose to restore from iCloud to transfer all contacts in one step.
- If setup is complete, turn on Contacts in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud to sync contacts from the cloud to your new phone.
- You can export contacts as a file from your old iPhone and import them into your new one if you don't want to use iCloud.
- Contacts stored only in your SIM card or a third-party app won't transfer automatically and must be moved separately.
Transferring contacts if you've already completed setup
If you've already gone through the initial setup without restoring from iCloud, you can still move your contacts over. Open Settings on your new iPhone, tap your name at the top, select iCloud, and toggle Contacts to the on position. Your phone will then read all contacts stored in your iCloud account.
This method works only if your contacts were already synced to iCloud on your old phone. If you never turned on iCloud Contacts before, or if your old phone was an Android device, this won't retrieve them. In those cases, you'll need to use one of the other methods described below.
Moving contacts from an Android phone
If you're switching from Android, your contacts are likely stored in your Google account. On your new iPhone during setup, when asked to restore, choose "Don't Transfer" and complete setup normally. Then go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account, select Google, and sign in with your Google account credentials.
After you sign in, toggle Contacts to on. Your iPhone will read all contacts from your Google account. This process can take several minutes if you have many contacts. Once complete, they'll appear in your Contacts app alongside any other contacts already on the phone.
If your Android contacts were stored only on the device itself and never synced to Google, you'll need to export them as a file before switching phones. Most Android phones allow you to export contacts as a .vcf file through the Contacts app settings — check your specific Android model's documentation for the exact steps.
Exporting and importing contacts as a file
You can move contacts by exporting them from your old phone as a .vcf (vCard) file, then importing that file into your new iPhone. On an iPhone, open Contacts, tap Groups in the upper left, select All Contacts, then tap Edit in the upper right. Scroll to the bottom and tap "Export All Contacts." Your phone will create a .vcf file and let you save it to iCloud Drive, email it to yourself, or send it through another app.
On your new iPhone, open the file (from email, iCloud Drive, or however you saved it) and tap "Add All" when prompted. The contacts will import into your Contacts app. This method works across any phone type and doesn't require you to use iCloud or Google accounts.
The .vcf file method is useful if you want to keep a backup of your contacts or if you're moving contacts between phones that don't share the same cloud service. It's also the only option if your contacts are stored only on your SIM card — you'll need to export them from your carrier's website or through your old phone's settings first.
Handling contacts stored on your SIM card
Some older phones or international carriers store contacts directly on the SIM card rather than in the phone's memory or a cloud account. If your contacts are SIM-based, they won't transfer through iCloud or Google. Instead, you'll need to move your SIM card to the new iPhone, or export the contacts from the SIM before switching.
To check if your contacts are on your SIM, open Contacts on your old phone and look for a "SIM" group or label. If you see one, those contacts live on the card. You can export them by going to Settings > Contacts (or a similar menu depending on your phone) and selecting "Export SIM Contacts." Save the file and import it into your new iPhone using the .vcf method described above.
If you're keeping the same phone number and carrier, you can straightforward move your SIM card to the new iPhone. The SIM contacts will appear automatically, though they may not sync with iCloud unless you manually add them to your iCloud account.
Transferring contacts from third-party apps
If you use a contacts app other than the built-in Contacts app — such as WhatsApp, Telegram, or a CRM app — those contacts won't transfer automatically. You'll need to move them separately depending on the app.
Most messaging and social apps store contacts within the app itself. When you sign into the same account on your new iPhone and read the app, your contacts should appear automatically. For business or specialized contact apps, check the app's settings for an export or backup option, then import that file into your new phone.
If you're unsure whether a contact is stored in the built-in Contacts app or only in a third-party app, open the app on your old phone and look for a settings or export menu. Many apps have a "backup contacts" or "export" feature that lets you save them as a file or sync them to a cloud service.
What to do if contacts don't appear after transfer
If you've completed a transfer but some or all contacts are missing, first check that you're signed into the correct Apple ID or Google account. Open Settings > [Your Name] on your new iPhone and verify the email address matches the account you used on your old phone. If it doesn't, sign out and sign back in with the correct account.
Next, check that Contacts is toggled on in iCloud or Google settings. If it's off, turn it on and wait a few minutes for the sync to complete. If contacts still don't appear, restart your new iPhone by powering it off and back on — sometimes the sync completes only after a restart.
If you transferred from Android and contacts still aren't showing, make sure you added your Google account in Settings > Mail > Accounts and toggled Contacts on for that account. If you used the .vcf file method, open the file again and tap "Add All" to may support the import completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to keep my old phone to transfer contacts?
No. If your contacts are stored in iCloud or Google, they're already in the cloud and will transfer to your new phone when you sign in with the same account. You don't need the old phone present. If contacts are only on the old device, you'll need to export them as a file before getting rid of the old phone.
Will my contacts transfer if I use a different Apple ID on the new phone?
No. Contacts stored in iCloud are tied to your Apple ID. If you use a different Apple ID on the new phone, you won't see those contacts unless you sign out and sign back in with the original Apple ID, or import them as a .vcf file.
Can I transfer contacts without using iCloud or Google?
Yes. Export your contacts as a .vcf file from your old phone, then import that file into your new iPhone. This works without any cloud account and is useful if you prefer not to use iCloud or Google services.
What happens to contacts if I restore from an old iPhone backup?
All contacts from the backup will restore to your new phone, including any duplicates. If you had the same contacts in iCloud and in the backup, you may end up with duplicate entries. You can delete duplicates manually in the Contacts app by opening a contact, tapping Edit, scrolling down, and tapping "Delete Contact."
Why are some contacts missing after I transferred them?
Contacts stored only in third-party apps (like WhatsApp or LinkedIn) won't transfer through iCloud or Google. Sign into those apps on your new phone to see those contacts. Contacts on your SIM card also won't transfer unless you export them separately or move the SIM card itself.