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 an iPhone, Android, or a different brand entirely. If you're switching between an iPhone and Android, the process is different than staying within the same system. Most phones let you back up contacts to the cloud (like iCloud or Google), restore from a SIM card, or use a cable connection. The cloud method is usually fastest because it works even if your old phone isn't charged or available.

Before you start, charge both phones and make sure your old phone still powers on. If it doesn't, you may still be able to recover contacts through your cloud backup or SIM card. Write down your passwords for any cloud accounts you use — you'll need them during the transfer.

Key Takeaways

Cloud backup (iCloud for iPhone, Google for Android) is the fastest method and works even if your old phone is unavailable.
If you're switching from iPhone to Android or vice versa, Google Contacts or a SIM card transfer works better than using the phone's built-in tools.
A SIM card holds only basic contact information and works across any phone type, but you must have a SIM card reader or compatible slot.
USB cable transfers are reliable but require the right cable and software, and work best when both phones are the same brand.
Always test that contacts arrived on your new phone before you sell or recycle the old one.

Transferring contacts between two iPhones

If both phones are iPhones, the easiest route is to use iCloud. On your old iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Make sure Contacts is turned on (the toggle should be green). This backs up your contacts to your iCloud account automatically.

On your new iPhone, during the setup process, you'll see a screen that says "Apps & Data." Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" and sign in with the same Apple ID you used on the old phone. Select the most recent backup. Your contacts will restore along with your other data. If you've already finished setting up the new phone, you can still restore contacts by going to Settings, tapping your name, then iCloud, and turning Contacts on — it will sync your backed-up contacts to the new phone.

Transferring contacts between two Android phones

On your old Android phone, open the Contacts app and look for a menu button (usually three dots or lines). Tap "Settings" or "Manage contacts," then look for an option to export or back up contacts. Choose "Google Account" or "Google Contacts" as the destination. Sign in with your Google account if prompted. This uploads your contacts to Google's servers.

On your new Android phone, during setup, sign in with the same Google account. The phone will ask if you want to restore contacts — select yes. If you've already set up the new phone, open the Contacts app, tap the menu, go to Settings, and look for "Import" or "Restore." Choose to import from your Google account. Your contacts will appear within a few minutes.

Switching from iPhone to Android

iCloud and Google don't sync with each other, so you can't use iCloud backup directly on an Android phone. Instead, export your contacts from iCloud to a file, then import that file into Google. On your iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud. Scroll down and tap "Contacts." Look for an export option or use a computer: go to iCloud.com, sign in, open Contacts, select all contacts, and look for an export button (usually in the menu). Save the file as a .vcf file.

On your new Android phone, open Google Contacts in a web browser (contacts.google.com), sign in with your Google account, tap the menu, and select "Import." Upload the .vcf file you saved. Your contacts will appear on the Android phone within a few minutes. If the web import doesn't work, you can also email the .vcf file to yourself, download it on the Android phone, and open it with the Contacts app.

Switching from Android to iPhone

Export your contacts from your Android phone to a .vcf file. Open the Contacts app, tap the menu, and look for "Export" or "Save as file." Choose to export to your phone's storage. Then email the file to yourself or upload it to Google Drive so you can access it on your computer or new iPhone.

On your new iPhone, you can import the .vcf file by opening it in Mail or Files, then selecting "Add to Contacts." Alternatively, if you have a Google account, add it to your iPhone's settings: go to Settings, tap Mail, then Accounts, and add your Google account. Turn on Contacts syncing. Your Android contacts will sync to the iPhone within a few minutes.

Using a SIM card to transfer contacts

A SIM card can hold contact information, though usually only basic details like name and phone number — not email addresses or notes. This method works across any phone type. On your old phone, open Contacts, select each contact you want to save, and look for an option to "Copy to SIM" or "Save to SIM." Some phones let you select multiple contacts at once; others require you to do this one at a time.

On your new phone, insert the SIM card from your old phone (or use a SIM card reader if the new phone uses a different SIM size). Open Contacts, tap the menu, and look for "Import from SIM" or "Copy from SIM." The contacts will transfer to your new phone's storage. After the transfer is complete, you can remove the old SIM card and insert your new one. Note that SIM-based transfers are slow if you have hundreds of contacts, and you'll lose any information that wasn't stored on the SIM card itself.

Transferring contacts with a USB cable

If your phones are the same brand and model (two Samsung phones, for example), you may be able to use a USB cable and the manufacturer's software. Connect your old phone to a computer with a USB cable, then download and open the manufacturer's transfer tool — Samsung has Smart Switch, for example. Follow the on-screen prompts to back up your contacts to the computer.

Then connect your new phone to the same computer and use the same software to restore the backup. This method is reliable but requires the right cable and software, and it only works well between phones from the same manufacturer. If you don't have the cable or software, the cloud methods described above are faster.

What to do if your old phone won't turn on

If your old phone is dead or broken, check whether you have a cloud backup. Sign into your iCloud account (if you had an iPhone) or Google account (if you had an Android) on your new phone and restore from backup. If you don't remember whether you set up cloud backup, try signing in anyway — the backup may exist even if you don't remember creating it.

If there's no cloud backup, a SIM card is your only option. You'll need a SIM card reader (a small device that connects to a computer) to extract contacts from the old SIM card without powering on the phone. SIM card readers cost $10 to $30 and are available online. Once you've read the SIM card, you can import the contacts into your new phone using the SIM import method described above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my contacts transfer if I don't have the same cloud account on both phones?

No — you need to sign in with the same account on both phones for cloud sync to work. If you're switching to a new cloud account, export your contacts as a .vcf file from the old account and import them into the new account. This takes about five minutes and works across any phone type.

Can I transfer contacts without using the internet?

Yes, using a SIM card or USB cable. SIM transfers work offline and don't require an internet connection. USB cable transfers also work offline if both phones are the same brand and you have the manufacturer's software installed on a computer.

What happens to contacts stored only in messaging apps or social media?

These won't transfer with your phone contacts because they're stored in those apps, not in your phone's Contacts app. You'll need to reinstall those apps on your new phone and sign in with the same account. Your contact lists in those apps will sync automatically once you're logged in.

How long does a contact transfer usually take?

Cloud transfers typically complete within a few minutes, though it can take up to an hour if you have thousands of contacts or a slow internet connection. SIM card transfers are slower and may take 10 to 30 minutes. USB cable transfers depend on the software but usually finish within 5 to 15 minutes.

Can I transfer contacts to multiple new phones at once?

Yes, if you use cloud backup. Sign into the same cloud account on as many phones as you want, and your contacts will sync to all of them. This is useful if you're upgrading multiple family members' phones or setting up a work phone alongside your personal 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.