How to Move Your Contacts to a New Phone

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

The method that works best for you depends on whether you're moving between iPhones, Android phones, or switching between the two systems. If both phones are the same type — iPhone to iPhone, or Android to Android — you can usually move all your contacts in one step using the phone maker's built-in tool. If you're switching between systems, you'll need to export your contacts first, then import them into the new phone. Some carriers also offer transfer tools, though these are usually slower than the phone maker's own methods.

The process itself takes anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on how many contacts you have and which method you choose. You don't need to pay for any of this — every option described here is free.

Key Takeaways

iPhone to iPhone: use iCloud or the Quick Start feature to move all contacts at once without a computer.
Android to Android: use Google Account sync or Samsung Smart Switch (if both phones are Samsung) to transfer contacts automatically.
iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: export contacts as a file first, then import that file into the new phone's contacts app.
Your contacts stay on your old phone — transferring them doesn't delete them from the device you're leaving behind.
If you use Gmail, Outlook, or another email service, your contacts may already be synced to the cloud and available on your new phone once you sign in.

Moving contacts from iPhone to iPhone

The easiest method is Quick Start, which moves your entire phone setup including contacts in one step. Turn on your new iPhone and hold it next to your old one. Your old phone will show a setup screen — follow the prompts to transfer data wirelessly. This takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have, and you'll need both phones charged and on the same Wi-Fi network.

If you don't want to transfer everything, or if your old phone is no longer working, use iCloud instead. On your old iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and make sure Contacts is turned on. Then on your new iPhone, sign in with the same Apple ID during setup. Your contacts will read automatically once you're connected to Wi-Fi. This method works even if your old phone is broken — as long as you remember your Apple ID password, your contacts are already backed up in iCloud.

Moving contacts from Android to Android

If both phones use Android, the simplest method is Google Account sync. On your old phone, go to Settings > Accounts > Google and select the Google account you use. Tap Account sync and turn on Contacts. Then on your new Android phone, sign in with the same Google account during setup. Your contacts will sync automatically once you're connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data.

If both phones are made by Samsung, you can also use Samsung Smart Switch. read the app on both phones, open it, and select "Send data" on the old phone and "Receive data" on the new one. Choose Contacts and follow the prompts. The phones will transfer data wirelessly if they're close together, or you can use a USB cable if one phone is broken. Smart Switch also transfers apps, messages, and photos if you want it to.

Moving contacts from iPhone to Android

You'll need to export your contacts from your iPhone first. The easiest way is through iCloud.com. On a computer, go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Click Contacts, select all your contacts (press Ctrl+A on Windows or Command+A on Mac), then click the settings icon and choose Export vCard. This downloads a file with all your contacts.

On your new Android phone, open the Contacts app and look for an import option — this is usually in the menu (three lines or three dots). Select Import from file, then choose the vCard file you just downloaded. Your contacts will appear in the Contacts app within seconds. If you don't see an import option in your Contacts app, you can also import through Gmail: go to contacts.google.com on a computer, click the menu, select Import, and upload the vCard file.

Moving contacts from Android to iPhone

Export your contacts from your Android phone first. Go to Settings > Accounts, select your Google account, and look for an option to export or back up contacts — the exact location varies by phone maker. If you don't find it there, open the Contacts app, look for a menu option (three lines or three dots), and choose Export or Backup. Save the file to your phone's storage.

Transfer that file to a computer using a USB cable or by emailing it to yourself. Then go to iCloud.com on a computer, sign in with your Apple ID, click Contacts, click the settings icon, and choose Import vCard. Select the file you exported from your Android phone. Your contacts will appear on your iPhone within a few minutes, and they'll sync to any other devices using the same Apple ID.

Using email services to sync contacts automatically

If you use Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, or another email service, your contacts may already be stored in the cloud. When you sign into your email account on your new phone, your contacts often sync automatically without any extra steps. On iPhone, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts and add your email account. On Android, go to Settings > Accounts and add your email account. Then open the Contacts app — your contacts should appear within a few minutes.

This method works best if you've been using the same email account for a while and have been adding contacts through that service. If you have contacts stored only on your old phone and not in your email account, you'll still need to export them using one of the methods above.

What to do if you can't find your contacts on the new phone

If your contacts don't appear after you've transferred them, first check that you're signed into the right account. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] and make sure you're using the same Apple ID. On Android, go to Settings > Accounts and check that you're signed into the Google account where your contacts are stored. Sometimes contacts sync slowly — wait a few minutes and refresh the Contacts app by closing it and opening it again.

If you transferred contacts using a file and they still don't show up, the file may not have imported correctly. Try importing again, or try a different method. For example, if you exported a vCard file and the import didn't work, try uploading that same file to Gmail's contacts page instead. If you're still having trouble, contact your phone maker's support line — they can walk you through the process for your specific phone model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my contacts be deleted from my old phone if I transfer them?

No. Transferring contacts copies them to your new phone but leaves them on your old phone. Your old phone keeps all its contacts unless you manually delete them. You can safely keep using your old phone after the transfer.

Can I transfer contacts if my old phone is broken?

Yes, if your contacts were backed up to the cloud. If you used iCloud on an iPhone, your contacts are already in iCloud and will read to your new iPhone when you sign in. If you used Google on Android, your contacts are in your Google account and will sync to your new Android phone. If your contacts were only stored on the phone itself and never backed up, they cannot be recovered.

What if I have contacts in multiple places, like both Gmail and iCloud?

Sign into both accounts on your new phone and your contacts from both will appear. On iPhone, add both your Apple ID and your Google account in Settings. On Android, add both accounts in Settings > Accounts. Your Contacts app will show all contacts from both sources.

Do I need Wi-Fi to transfer contacts?

It depends on the method. Quick Start and iCloud require Wi-Fi or a strong mobile connection. Google Account sync works over Wi-Fi or mobile data. Transferring a file between phones using a USB cable doesn't require any internet connection. If you're using a file method, you only need internet when uploading or downloading the file on a computer.

Can I transfer just some of my contacts instead of all of them?

Yes, but it requires more steps. Export all your contacts as a file, open the file on a computer, delete the contacts you don't want to keep, then import the edited file into your new phone. Most phone-to-phone transfer methods (like Quick Start or Google Account sync) move all contacts at once and don't let you pick and choose.

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.