The fastest way to transfer contacts from iPhone to Android
The simplest method is to use your Google Account. If you already have a Google Account, you can sync your iPhone contacts to Google Contacts, then sign into that same account on your Android phone and your contacts will appear automatically. If you don't have a Google Account yet, you can create one for free at google.com.
The process takes about five minutes and requires no cables or third-party software. Your contacts move as a complete list — names, phone numbers, email addresses, and notes all transfer together. This method works whether you're switching from an older iPhone or the latest model.
Key Takeaways
- Google Contacts is the fastest route: sign into your Google Account on your iPhone, sync your contacts, then sign into the same account on your Android phone.
- If you don't have a Google Account, you can create one free at google.com before you start the transfer.
- iCloud contacts can also be exported as a file and imported into Android, though this takes more steps than using Google.
- Once contacts are on your Android phone, they stay there even if you later change phones or accounts.
How to sync iPhone contacts through Google Contacts
On your iPhone, open Settings and tap your name at the top. Tap iCloud, then toggle Contacts off. A popup will ask whether to keep or delete the contacts on your iPhone — choose Keep on My iPhone. This step moves your contacts out of iCloud so they're ready to sync with Google instead.
Next, go back to Settings and scroll down to find Mail. Tap Accounts, then tap Add Account, and select Google. Enter your Google Account email and password. After you sign in, toggle Contacts on. Your iPhone will now sync all your contacts to your Google Account.
Wait a few minutes for the sync to complete. You can check the progress by opening Google Contacts in a web browser at contacts.google.com and signing in with the same Google Account. You should see all your contacts listed there.
Setting up your Android phone with the same Google Account
When you first turn on your new Android phone, you'll be asked to sign in with a Google Account during setup. Use the same Google Account email and password you just synced your contacts to. The phone will ask which data you want to restore — make sure Contacts is checked.
If you've already set up your Android phone with a different account, you can add your contacts account later. Go to Settings, tap Accounts, then Add Account, and select Google. Enter your Google Account credentials. After you sign in, go back to Settings, tap Accounts, and tap your Google Account name. Make sure Contacts is toggled on.
Your contacts will appear in the Contacts app on your Android phone within a few minutes. They'll be organized the same way they were on your iPhone.
Using iCloud to export contacts as a file
If you prefer not to use Google, you can export your contacts from iCloud as a file and then import that file into your Android phone. This method takes longer but works if you want to keep your contacts separate from Google services.
On any computer, go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Click Contacts, then select all your contacts by pressing Ctrl+A (or Cmd+A on Mac). Click the gear icon at the bottom left and select Export vCard. This downloads a file called contacts.vcf to your computer.
Email this file to yourself or transfer it to your Android phone using a USB cable or cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox. On your Android phone, open the file. The Contacts app will open and ask where to save the contacts — choose your Google Account or your phone's local storage. Your contacts will then appear in your Contacts app.
What happens to contacts stored only in iCloud
If you turned off iCloud Contacts on your iPhone in the first step, those contacts are now stored only on your phone and in your Google Account. They won't be deleted from your iPhone — they'll just stay there as local contacts. This is safe and doesn't affect the transfer.
Contacts that were stored in iCloud but not synced to Google will not transfer to your Android phone using the Google method. If you had contacts only in iCloud, use the export method instead: go to iCloud.com, export your contacts as a vCard file, and import that file into your Android phone.
Transferring contacts from a backup or old iPhone
If you're transferring contacts from an iPhone you no longer have, or from an old backup, you'll need to restore that backup first. On your new iPhone (if you have one temporarily), go through the setup process and choose to restore from a backup. Once the backup is restored, follow the Google Contacts sync steps above.
If you don't have access to an iPhone at all, you can restore an iCloud backup to a computer using iTunes or Finder, then export the contacts from there. This is more complex and usually only necessary if you've lost access to your Apple ID or iCloud account.
Checking that all contacts transferred correctly
After your contacts appear on your Android phone, open the Contacts app and scroll through to spot-check a few entries. Make sure phone numbers, email addresses, and any notes you added are all there. If you had contact photos on your iPhone, those will transfer too.
If some contacts are missing, check whether they were stored in iCloud or only on your iPhone. Contacts stored only on your iPhone won't sync to Google unless you export them as a vCard file first. You can also sign into contacts.google.com on a computer to see the complete list of what transferred to your Google Account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my contacts transfer if I don't have a Google Account?
You'll need a Google Account to use the fastest method, but you can create one free at google.com in about two minutes. If you don't want to create a Google Account, you can export your contacts as a vCard file from iCloud and import that file directly into your Android phone instead.
Do I need to keep my iPhone after the transfer?
No. Once your contacts are synced to your Google Account and imported into your Android phone, you can sell, recycle, or reset your iPhone. Your contacts will stay on your Android phone and in your Google Account.
What if I have duplicate contacts after the transfer?
Duplicates sometimes happen if contacts were stored in multiple places on your iPhone. On your Android phone, open the Contacts app, tap the menu (three lines), and look for a Merge or Fix option. This will combine duplicate entries automatically.
Can I transfer contacts from Android back to iPhone later?
Yes. If you switch back to iPhone, sign into the same Google Account on your new iPhone and toggle Contacts on in Settings. Your contacts will sync back automatically. You can also export them as a vCard file and import them into iCloud.
Will contact groups transfer to Android?
Contact groups created in iCloud will transfer to your Google Account, but Android handles groups differently than iPhone. On Android, groups appear in the Contacts app but may not sync to all messaging or calling apps the same way they did on iPhone. You can recreate groups in your Android phone's Contacts app if needed.