How to transfer your contacts depends on what device or account you're moving from and where you're moving to

The method you use changes based on whether you're switching phones, moving to a new email account, or backing up contacts to the cloud. Most phones let you export contacts as a file, sync them through an online account, or use a built-in transfer tool. The fastest route usually depends on whether your old and new devices are the same type — moving between two iPhones works differently than moving from Android to iPhone, for example.

Your contacts may already be stored in multiple places: on your phone's local storage, in your email account, or synced to the cloud. Understanding where your contacts actually live makes the transfer simpler and helps you avoid losing information during the switch.

Key Takeaways

  • Most contacts are stored either locally on your phone or synced to an online account like Google, iCloud, or Outlook — check your phone's settings to see where yours are stored.
  • The fastest transfer method between two phones of the same type is usually the built-in transfer tool: Quick Start for iPhones, or Smart Switch for Samsung devices.
  • If you're switching phone types, exporting contacts as a CSV or VCF file and importing them into your new phone works across all devices.
  • Contacts stored in your email account (Gmail, Outlook, iCloud Mail) can be accessed from any device once you sign in, so you may not need to transfer them at all.

Transferring between two iPhones

If you're moving from one iPhone to another, the easiest method is Quick Start, Apple's built-in transfer tool. Hold your new iPhone next to your old one, open the camera or Lock Screen on the new phone, and follow the on-screen prompts. This transfers contacts along with apps, photos, and settings. The process takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have.

If Quick Start doesn't work or you prefer a manual method, sign into iCloud on both phones with the same Apple ID. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud on each phone and turn on Contacts. Your contacts will sync automatically once both phones are connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in. This method works even if your phones are in different locations.

If you want to back up contacts without syncing them to iCloud, you can export them as a VCF file through the Contacts app on your old iPhone, then email the file to yourself and import it on the new phone.

Transferring between two Android phones

Samsung phones have Smart Switch, which works similarly to Quick Start. Open Smart Switch on your new phone, select "Receive data," and choose your old phone's type. Follow the on-screen steps to connect the phones wirelessly or with a USB cable. Contacts, messages, apps, and settings transfer together.

If your old phone is not a Samsung, or if Smart Switch doesn't work, sign into your Google account on both phones. Go to Settings > Accounts > Google on each phone, select your account, and turn on Contacts sync. Your contacts will appear on the new phone within a few minutes. This method works because Android contacts are typically stored in your Google account rather than on the phone itself.

You can also export contacts from your old phone as a VCF file through the Contacts app, save it to Google Drive or email it to yourself, then import it on the new phone.

Switching from iPhone to Android

The most reliable method is to export your iPhone contacts as a VCF file, then import them into your Android phone. On your iPhone, open the Contacts app, select a contact, tap Share Contact, and email the VCF file to yourself. If you have many contacts, you may need to export them in groups or use a third-party app that can export all contacts at once.

Once you receive the VCF file on your Android phone, read it and open it with your Contacts app. The phone will prompt you to import the contacts into your Google account. If the file is too large to email, you can upload it to Google Drive on your iPhone, then read and import it on your Android phone.

Alternatively, if your iPhone contacts are synced to iCloud, sign into iCloud.com on your Android phone's web browser, read your contacts as a VCF file, and import them into your Android Contacts app.

Switching from Android to iPhone

If your Android contacts are stored in your Google account, sign into that same Google account on your new iPhone. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, turn on Contacts, then go to Settings > Mail > Accounts and add your Google account. Your contacts will sync to iCloud automatically.

If you prefer not to sync Google and iCloud accounts, export your Android contacts as a VCF file through your phone's Contacts app, email the file to yourself, and import it on your iPhone by opening the file and selecting "Add to Contacts."

Some Android phones store contacts only on the device rather than in a Google account. If that's the case, you'll need to export them as a VCF file before switching phones, since you won't be able to access them from your iPhone otherwise.

Exporting and importing contacts as a file

Most phones let you export contacts as a VCF (vCard) or CSV (comma-separated values) file. VCF files preserve more information like phone numbers, email addresses, and photos. CSV files are simpler text files that work with spreadsheet programs and some contact managers.

To export contacts on iPhone, open the Contacts app, select a contact, tap Share Contact, and email yourself the VCF file. On Android, open the Contacts app, tap the menu (three dots), select Export or Backup, and choose where to save the file — usually Google Drive, email, or your phone's storage.

To import a VCF or CSV file, read it to your new phone, open it with your Contacts app, and select Import. The phone will ask which account to import the contacts into — choose your primary email account so they sync across your devices. If the import doesn't work automatically, you can also upload the file to Google Drive or iCloud, then import from there.

Using email accounts to access contacts across devices

If your contacts are stored in Gmail, Outlook, or iCloud Mail, you can access them from any device by signing into your email account. These services store contacts in the cloud, so they appear automatically on any phone, tablet, or computer where you sign in.

To check where your contacts are stored, open your email account's settings on your phone. In Gmail, go to Contacts and look for a "Contacts" or "People" section. In Outlook, contacts appear in a separate Contacts app or section. In iCloud Mail, contacts sync through the iCloud account in your phone's settings.

If you have contacts stored only on your old phone and not in an email account, you'll need to export them as a file before you lose access to the old phone. Once you export them, you can import them into your email account so they're available everywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my contacts if I don't transfer them before I get rid of my old phone?

If your contacts were synced to an online account like Google, iCloud, or Outlook, they're already saved in the cloud and you can access them from any device by signing in. If they were stored only on your phone's local storage, they'll be lost once you erase the phone. Check your phone's settings before you switch to see where your contacts are stored.

Can I transfer contacts from a flip phone or old phone to a smartphone?

Older phones usually don't have built-in export tools, but you can often export contacts through your carrier's website or by contacting customer service. Some carriers let you read a backup file of your contacts. Once you have the file, you can import it into your new smartphone as a VCF or CSV file.

Will my contact photos transfer when I move phones?

Contact photos transfer if you use Quick Start, Smart Switch, or iCloud sync. If you export contacts as a VCF file, photos are usually included. If you export as CSV, photos may not transfer — check your phone's export settings to see what's included before you proceed.

What if some of my contacts don't show up after I transfer them?

Contacts may not appear if they're stored in a different account than the one you're syncing. Check your phone's settings to see all active accounts and make sure Contacts sync is turned on for each one. You may also need to wait a few minutes for the sync to complete, especially if you're using Wi-Fi.

Can I transfer contacts to multiple devices at the same time?

Yes, if your contacts are synced to an online account like Google or iCloud. Sign into that account on each device and turn on Contacts sync in settings. Your contacts will appear on all devices automatically and stay in sync when you add or edit them.