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 two iPhones, two Android phones, or switching between the two systems. If both phones are the same type, you can usually move all your contacts in one step using the phone maker's built-in tool. If you're switching systems — say, from iPhone to Android — you'll need to export your contacts first, then import them into the new phone. The whole process typically takes 10 to 30 minutes.

Before you start, make sure you have both phones nearby and that the new phone is charged. You'll also want to know your Apple ID password if you're using an iPhone, or your Google account password if you're using Android. If you don't remember either one, you can reset it on a computer before you begin.

Key Takeaways

iPhone to iPhone: Use iCloud or the Quick Start feature to move contacts automatically without typing anything.
Android to Android: Use Google Contacts or Samsung Smart Switch (if you have a Samsung phone) to transfer everything at once.
iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: Export contacts as a file, then import that file into the new phone's contacts app.
If you use a SIM card, some carriers let you store contacts on the card itself, which you can move to the new phone by inserting it.
Check that all contacts arrived correctly on the new phone before you sell or recycle the old one.

Moving contacts between two iPhones

The easiest way is to use Quick Start, which moves your contacts along with your settings, photos, and apps. Turn on the new iPhone and hold it next to your old iPhone. Both phones will show a setup screen. Follow the prompts on the new phone — it will ask you to scan a pattern shown on the old phone using the camera. Once you confirm your Apple ID password, the phones will transfer your data wirelessly. This takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many contacts you have.

If Quick Start doesn't work or you prefer not to use it, you can use iCloud instead. On your old iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Make sure Contacts is turned on. On the new iPhone, sign in with the same Apple ID during setup. When you reach the iCloud screen, turn on Contacts. Your contacts will sync automatically once the phone finishes setting up.

Moving contacts between two Android phones

If both phones use Google accounts, your contacts may already be there. On the old phone, go to Settings, then Accounts, then Google. Tap your Google account name, then tap Account sync. Make sure Contacts is checked and synced. On the new phone, sign in with the same Google account during setup. Your contacts will download automatically.

If you have a Samsung phone, you can also use Samsung Smart Switch, which is Samsung's tool for moving everything from one phone to another. Download Smart Switch on both phones from the Google Play Store. Open it on both phones, choose "Send data" on the old phone and "Receive data" on the new phone, then follow the prompts. The phones will connect wirelessly and transfer your contacts, messages, photos, and apps.

Switching from iPhone to Android

First, export your contacts from the iPhone as a file. On your iPhone, open Contacts, tap Groups at the top left, and make sure All Contacts is selected. Tap Edit in the top left corner. You cannot select all contacts at once on iPhone, so you'll need to use a computer instead. Go to iCloud.com on a computer, sign in with your Apple ID, and open Contacts. Click the settings icon (gear symbol) at the bottom left, then click Select All. Click the settings icon again and choose Export vCard. This downloads a file with all your contacts.

On the new Android phone, open the Contacts app. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), then tap Settings, then tap Import. Choose to import from a file, then select the vCard file you downloaded. Your contacts will appear in the Android phone's contact list. If the import option doesn't show up, try opening the file directly from your Downloads folder — the phone will ask which app to use, and you should choose Contacts.

Switching from Android to iPhone

On the Android phone, open the Contacts app. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), then tap Settings. Look for an Export or Backup option — the exact name varies by phone maker. Choose to export as a vCard file and save it. You can email this file to yourself or save it to Google Drive so you can access it from the iPhone.

On the new iPhone, open the file you exported. If you emailed it, open the email and tap the attachment. If it's in Google Drive, open Google Drive, find the file, and tap it. The phone will ask what to do with the file — choose Contacts. Your contacts will import into the iPhone's Contacts app. If the phone doesn't recognize the file type, try opening it in a web browser first, then saving it to your phone.

Using a SIM card to transfer contacts

Some carriers and older phones store contacts directly on the SIM card — the small chip that holds your phone number and carrier information. If your old phone has contacts on the SIM card, you can move them by inserting the SIM card into the new phone. The new phone will ask whether you want to import SIM contacts. Tap yes, and they'll appear in your contact list.

Not all phones support this, and most modern phones don't store contacts on the SIM card by default. If you're not sure whether your contacts are on the SIM card, check your old phone's settings under Contacts or Storage. If you see an option that says "SIM contacts" or "Phone contacts," you have contacts in both places — the SIM card holds only some of them, and you'll need to use one of the other methods above to move everything.

Checking that your contacts transferred correctly

Once the transfer is complete, open the Contacts app on the new phone and scroll through to spot-check a few entries. Make sure names, phone numbers, and email addresses all look right. If some contacts are missing, it usually means they weren't synced on the old phone. Go back to the old phone and check that contacts were actually saved there — sometimes contacts are only in messaging apps or email, not in the main Contacts app.

If you see duplicate contacts on the new phone, this often happens when contacts sync from multiple sources at once. Most phones have a merge or deduplicate feature. On iPhone, open Contacts, find a duplicate entry, tap Edit, scroll down, and tap Merge Contacts. On Android, open Contacts, tap the menu, tap Settings, then look for a Merge or Fix Duplicates option. The exact steps vary by phone maker, so check your phone's help if you don't see these options.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

You can reset either one on a computer before you transfer contacts. Go to iforgot.apple.com for Apple ID or accounts.google.com for Google. Follow the steps to verify your identity and create a new password. Once you've reset it, use the new password on your new phone.

Can I transfer contacts if I don't have the old phone anymore?

Yes, if your contacts were synced to iCloud or Google. Sign into your Apple ID or Google account on the new phone during setup, and your contacts will download automatically. If they weren't synced, you'll need the vCard file you exported earlier — check your email or cloud storage for it.

Why are some contacts missing after the transfer?

Contacts that weren't saved to your main Contacts app won't transfer — for example, contacts that exist only in messaging apps or email. Go back to the old phone and check whether those contacts are actually in the Contacts app. If not, you'll need to add them manually or export them from the app where they're stored.

Do I need to keep my old phone turned on during the transfer?

For Quick Start on iPhone, yes — both phones need to be on and near each other. For other methods like iCloud or Google sync, no — the transfer happens through the internet, so you can turn off the old phone once the process starts.

What happens to contacts if I factory reset my old phone?

If your contacts were synced to iCloud or Google, they'll still be there — factory reset only erases the phone itself, not your cloud account. If they weren't synced, they'll be gone. Always make sure contacts are synced before you reset an old phone.

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.