How to Move Your Contacts to a New Phone

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

The method you use to transfer contacts depends on whether you're moving to the same type of phone (iPhone to iPhone, Android to Android) or switching between them. If you're staying in the same ecosystem, your contacts usually sync automatically through your account — Apple ID for iPhones, Google Account for Android phones. If you're switching between systems, you'll need to export your contacts as a file and import them into the new phone, or use your carrier's tools.

The good news: you won't lose your contacts in the move. The process takes minutes, and your phone will walk you through most of it. What matters is doing it before you set aside your old phone, because some methods work better when both phones are in front of you.

Key Takeaways

iPhone to iPhone: turn on iCloud sync on your new phone and sign in with your Apple ID, and contacts transfer automatically within minutes.
Android to Android: sign into your Google Account on the new phone during setup, and your contacts sync from Google Contacts automatically.
iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: export contacts as a file from your old phone, then import that file into your new phone using the Contacts app or a third-party tool.
Your carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.) may offer a transfer tool through their website or app, which works across phone types.
If you back up your old phone to cloud storage before switching, you can restore from that backup on your new phone instead of transferring contacts separately.

Moving contacts between iPhones

If you're switching from one iPhone to another, the easiest path is to let iCloud handle it. When you set up your new iPhone, you'll be asked to sign in with your Apple ID. Once you do, your phone will ask whether you want to restore from an iCloud backup or set up as new. Choose restore from backup, and your contacts (along with photos, messages, and other data) will read to your new phone.

If you've already set up your new iPhone without restoring a backup, you can still sync contacts. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select iCloud, and turn on Contacts. Your new phone will then sync with iCloud and pull down all contacts stored there. This usually takes a few minutes depending on how many contacts you have.

The key requirement: both phones must be signed into the same Apple ID, and iCloud Contacts must be turned on. If you're not sure whether your contacts are already in iCloud, open the Contacts app on your old iPhone, look at the top left, and check whether it says "All Contacts" or "iCloud". If it says iCloud, they're already synced.

Moving contacts between Android phones

Android contacts sync through your Google Account. During setup of your new Android phone, you'll be asked to sign in with a Google Account. Choose the account where your contacts are stored, and your phone will ask whether you want to restore from a backup. If you say yes, contacts will read automatically.

If you've already finished setup without restoring a backup, open the Contacts app on your new phone, tap the menu (three lines), go to Settings, and look for an option to import contacts or sync. Tap it and select your Google Account. Your contacts will sync within a few minutes.

The requirement is the same as with iPhones: both phones need to be signed into the same account, and sync needs to be turned on. On Android, you can check this by opening Settings, going to Accounts, selecting your Google Account, and making sure Contacts is toggled on.

Switching from iPhone to Android

When you move from iPhone to Android, your contacts won't sync automatically because they're stored in different systems. You'll need to export them from your iPhone as a file, then import that file into your Android phone.

The simplest way is to use Google's built-in tool. On your iPhone, open Settings, go to Contacts, and look for an option to export or back up contacts. (The exact wording varies by iOS version.) Export your contacts as a vCard file (.vcf). Then email that file to yourself or save it to cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox.

On your new Android phone, open Google Contacts (contacts.google.com in a browser, or the Google Contacts app if you have it). Tap the menu, select Import, and upload the .vcf file you exported. Your contacts will appear in your Google Account within seconds. If you then sign into that Google Account on your Android phone, the contacts will sync to your phone's Contacts app automatically.

Switching from Android to iPhone

Moving from Android to iPhone follows a similar path. On your Android phone, open the Contacts app, tap the menu, and look for Export or Backup. Export your contacts as a vCard file (.vcf). Email it to yourself or save it to cloud storage.

On your new iPhone, open the Contacts app, tap Groups (bottom left), and look for an Import option. If you don't see it, try opening the file directly from your email or cloud storage — your phone will ask whether you want to add the contacts to your iPhone. Tap Add All, and they'll import into your Contacts app.

Alternatively, if your contacts are already synced to a Google Account, you can sign into that Google Account on your iPhone. Go to Settings, tap your name, select iCloud, turn off Contacts (if it's on), then go back and add your Google Account. Your iPhone will sync contacts from Google.

Using your carrier's transfer tools

Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and other carriers offer contact transfer services through their websites and apps. These tools work across phone types and can be useful if you're having trouble with the methods above.

To use your carrier's tool, log into your account on their website or open their app, look for a section called Switch Devices, Transfer Data, or Move My Data, and follow the prompts. Most carriers will ask you to enter your old phone number and new phone number, then initiate the transfer. The process usually takes a few hours.

The advantage of using your carrier is that they handle the technical details — you don't have to export or import files yourself. The disadvantage is that it's slower than the methods above and sometimes requires you to keep your old phone active for a period of time.

What to do if contacts don't transfer

If you've tried one of the methods above and some or all of your contacts didn't come through, the most common reason is that they weren't synced to the cloud on your old phone. Contacts stored only on your SIM card or only in your phone's local storage won't transfer automatically.

To fix this, go back to your old phone (if you still have it) and manually sync your contacts to the cloud. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, select iCloud, and turn on Contacts. On Android, go to Settings, select Accounts, choose your Google Account, and make sure Contacts is toggled on. Wait a few minutes for the sync to complete, then try importing again on your new phone.

If you no longer have your old phone, you can sometimes recover contacts through your carrier or through cloud backups you may have made. Call your carrier's customer service and ask whether they can retrieve your contact list from your old account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my contacts transfer if I switch phone numbers?

Yes. Your contacts are stored in your phone or your cloud account, not in your phone number. As long as you sign into the same cloud account (Apple ID, Google Account) on your new phone, your contacts will sync. Your phone number is separate and is managed by your carrier.

Can I transfer contacts without a computer or internet?

It's difficult. Most transfer methods require internet to sync to the cloud or to send files. If you have access to Wi-Fi or mobile data, you can transfer contacts wirelessly. If you have neither, you would need to use a computer to export and import files via USB, which most modern phones don't support easily.

What if I have duplicate contacts after the transfer?

This sometimes happens if contacts were synced to multiple accounts. On iPhone, open Contacts, select a duplicate entry, tap Edit, scroll down, and tap Delete Contact. On Android, long-press a duplicate, tap Delete, and confirm. Most phones also have a Merge Duplicates option in the Contacts app settings.

Do I need to keep my old phone after transferring contacts?

No. Once your contacts are synced to your cloud account or imported into your new phone, you can safely set aside or reset your old phone. Your contacts are stored in your new phone and in the cloud, so they won't be lost.

Can I transfer contacts from a phone I no longer have?

If your contacts were synced to a cloud account (iCloud or Google), you can recover them by signing into that account on your new phone. If they were only stored locally on your old phone, recovery is difficult. Your carrier may be able to help if the old phone was on their network recently.

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.