How to Move Your Contacts to a New Phone

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

Moving contacts from one phone to another takes minutes if both phones use the same operating system — iPhone to iPhone, or Android to Android. Switching between systems (iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone) takes longer because the phones don't share a built-in transfer method, but you still have several working routes. The method you choose depends on whether you want to move only contacts or everything at once, and whether you have a computer nearby.

Before you start, make sure your old phone is charged and turned on. You'll need access to both phones during the transfer. If your old phone is broken or lost, you can still recover contacts if you backed them up to your email account or cloud storage.

Key Takeaways

iPhone to iPhone: Use iCloud or AirDrop to move all contacts in under five minutes without a computer.
Android to Android: Use Google Account sync or Samsung Smart Switch to transfer contacts automatically during setup.
iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: Export contacts as a file and import them into the new phone's contacts app, or use a cloud account both phones can access.
If your old phone is lost or broken, check your email account or cloud storage for a backup of your contacts.
Contacts stored only in apps (like WhatsApp or Telegram) must be exported from those apps separately — they won't transfer with your phone contacts.

iPhone to iPhone: Using iCloud or AirDrop

The easiest route is iCloud, which syncs your contacts automatically if both phones are signed into the same Apple ID. During setup of your new iPhone, you'll be asked to sign in with your Apple ID. Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" and select the most recent backup from your old phone. All contacts, messages, photos, and apps will transfer together. This takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have and your internet speed.

If you don't want to restore a full backup, use AirDrop instead. On your old iPhone, open Contacts, tap "Select Contacts" (or select individual contacts by swiping left and tapping the checkmark), then tap "Share" and choose AirDrop. Your new iPhone will receive the transfer wirelessly. Both phones must be within 30 feet of each other and have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on.

A third option is to sign into iCloud on both phones with the same Apple ID and turn on "Contacts" in iCloud Settings. Your new phone will read all contacts within minutes. This works even if the phones are in different locations.

Android to Android: Using Google Account or Samsung Smart Switch

Most Android phones sync contacts through your Google Account automatically. During setup of your new Android phone, sign in with the same Google Account you used on your old phone. The phone will ask whether to restore contacts, apps, and settings from your previous device. Select yes, and contacts will read within a few minutes.

If you're switching between Samsung phones, you can also use Samsung Smart Switch, which transfers contacts, messages, photos, and apps all at once. read the app on both phones, open it on your old phone, choose "Send," and select "Wireless." On your new phone, open Smart Switch, choose "Receive," and follow the prompts. The phones must be near each other and connected to the same Wi-Fi network. The transfer usually takes 10 to 20 minutes.

If your old Android phone is lost or broken, sign into your Google Account on the new phone during setup. Google will restore any contacts that were synced to your account before the phone was lost.

iPhone to Android: Exporting contacts through iCloud or email

The most reliable method is to export your iPhone contacts as a file and import them into your Android phone. On your iPhone, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap "iCloud." Make sure "Contacts" is turned on. Then go to iCloud.com on a computer, sign in with your Apple ID, open Contacts, select all contacts (press Ctrl+A on Windows or Cmd+A on Mac), and look for an export or read option in the menu. Export as a vCard file (.vcf).

On your new Android phone, open the Contacts app, tap the menu (three lines), choose "Settings," then "Import/Export" or "Manage Contacts." Select "Import from File" and choose the .vcf file you downloaded. Android will add all contacts to your phone within seconds.

Alternatively, if you use Gmail, you can add your Gmail account to your iPhone's Mail settings. Your iPhone contacts will sync to your Gmail account automatically. Then sign into that same Gmail account on your Android phone, and contacts will read to the Android Contacts app.

Android to iPhone: Using Google Contacts or a vCard file

Sign into your Google Account on your new iPhone during setup, and choose to sync Contacts. Google will send all contacts from your Android phone's Google Account to your iPhone within a few minutes. This works only if your Android contacts were synced to Google — if they were stored only on your old phone's SIM card or internal storage, they won't transfer this way.

If your contacts weren't synced to Google, export them as a vCard file on your Android phone. Open the Contacts app, tap the menu, choose "Settings," then "Export" or "Backup." Save the file to your Google Drive or email it to yourself. On your iPhone, read the file from Google Drive or your email, then open it. iOS will prompt you to add the contacts to your iPhone's Contacts app.

Some Android phones have a built-in backup feature. Check your phone's Settings under "Accounts" or "Cloud" to see if contacts were backed up to a cloud service you can access from your iPhone.

Transferring contacts from a lost or broken phone

If your old phone is no longer working, check whether you backed up your contacts. On iPhone, sign into iCloud.com with your Apple ID and open Contacts — any contacts synced to iCloud will appear there. On Android, sign into your Google Account at contacts.google.com and look for your contacts. If they're there, you can import them into your new phone by signing into that same account during setup.

If you don't see your contacts in iCloud or Google Contacts, check whether they were backed up to another service. Some phones back up to Samsung Cloud, OneDrive, or Dropbox. Check your email for backup confirmations or look in your phone's Settings under "Backup" or "Cloud."

If you have no backup, you may be able to recover contacts from your SIM card if you still have it. Insert the SIM card into your new phone and open the Contacts app. Look for an option to import SIM contacts. Not all phones support this, and it only works if your old phone stored contacts on the SIM card rather than in internal storage.

Contacts stored in apps like WhatsApp or Telegram

Contacts saved only within messaging apps won't transfer when you move your phone. WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and similar apps store their own contact lists separately from your phone's main Contacts app. To move them, you need to export them from each app individually.

In WhatsApp, open Settings, tap "Chats," then "Chat Backup," and choose to back up to Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone). When you sign into WhatsApp on your new phone with the same phone number, the app will restore your chat history and contacts. For Telegram, contacts sync automatically when you sign in with your phone number or account. Other apps have their own backup methods — check the app's settings for "Export," "Backup," or "Cloud Sync."

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my contacts transfer if I just put my SIM card in the new phone?

Only if your old phone stored contacts on the SIM card itself, which is rare on modern phones. Most phones store contacts in internal memory or synced to a cloud account. Putting in a SIM card will transfer your phone number and carrier settings, but not your contact list. Check your old phone's Contacts app settings to see where contacts are stored.

What if I don't remember my Apple ID or Google Account password?

You'll need to reset it before you can transfer contacts. On iPhone, go to iforgot.apple.com. On Android, go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. You'll need access to the email address or phone number associated with the account. This can take 24 to 48 hours if you need to verify your identity.

Can I transfer contacts to multiple phones at once?

Yes. If you're using iCloud or Google Account sync, any phone signed into that account will have the same contacts. If you're using a vCard file, you can import it into as many phones as you want. If you're using AirDrop or Samsung Smart Switch, you can only transfer to one phone at a time.

Do I need Wi-Fi to transfer contacts?

For most methods, yes — iCloud, Google Account sync, and cloud backups all require an internet connection. AirDrop and Samsung Smart Switch use Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct, so they need Wi-Fi but not internet. Importing a vCard file from your computer doesn't require internet once the file is on your phone.

What happens to contacts if I factory reset my phone?

Contacts stored only on your phone will be deleted. Contacts synced to iCloud or Google Account will remain in your account and can be restored by signing in again. Before you factory reset, make sure your contacts are backed up to a cloud account or exported as a file.

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.