The fastest way to move contacts is through your Google account

If your Android phone is synced to a Google account, your contacts already live in Google's servers. You can pull them into your iPhone without manually copying anything. Sign into that same Google account on your iPhone, turn on contact syncing in the iPhone's settings, and your contacts appear within minutes.

This works whether you're switching phones entirely or just adding an iPhone to a phone you already own. The contacts stay in sync across both devices as long as both phones have the account active.

If your Android phone was never synced to Google, or if you used a different account, you'll need to export your contacts first. Most Android phones let you back up contacts to a file, which you can then move to your iPhone through email, cloud storage, or a computer.

Key Takeaways

  • The simplest path is signing into your Google account on the iPhone and enabling contact sync in Settings > Contacts.
  • If your Android contacts aren't in Google, you can export them as a file from your Android phone's Contacts app and email that file to yourself.
  • iCloud can also pull contacts from Google if you set it up during iPhone setup, though Google sync is usually faster.
  • Contacts synced through Google stay updated on both phones; contacts imported as a one-time file do not.

Syncing through Google: the method that keeps contacts updated

Open Settings on your iPhone, scroll to Mail, then tap Accounts. Select Add Account and choose Google. Enter the email address and password for the Google account your Android phone uses. When prompted, allow access to your contacts.

Next, go back to Settings, tap Contacts, and make sure "Default Account" is set to your Google account. Your contacts should sync within a few minutes. If they don't appear right away, toggle airplane mode on and off, or restart the iPhone.

This method is permanent: any contact you add or change on either phone updates across both devices. If you later remove the Google account from your iPhone, the contacts stay on the phone but stop syncing.

Exporting contacts as a file if Google sync isn't an option

On your Android phone, open the Contacts app. Look for a menu button (three horizontal lines or three dots) and tap it. Select Export or Backup Contacts. Choose to export as a VCF file (sometimes called vCard format) and save it to your phone's storage or email it to yourself.

Once you have the file, email it to yourself or upload it to Google Drive, Dropbox, or another cloud service you can access from your iPhone. On the iPhone, download the file and open it. The iPhone will ask whether to add these contacts to your phone or to a specific account. Choose your preferred location and confirm.

This is a one-time import: contacts added to your Android phone after the export won't appear on your iPhone. If you need to sync new contacts later, you'll have to export and import again.

Using iCloud during iPhone setup

When you first set up an iPhone, you'll see a screen asking how you want to restore data. If you choose "Restore from iCloud" or "Restore from Android," the setup process can pull contacts from Google automatically. You'll need to sign into your Google account during setup.

This method works well if you're setting up a brand-new iPhone. If your iPhone is already set up, you can still add a Google account through Settings, but the automatic import during setup is usually smoother.

What happens to contacts stored only on your SIM card

Some older Android phones store contacts on the SIM card itself rather than in Google or the phone's storage. If your contacts are SIM-only, you'll need to move them to your phone's storage first before exporting them.

On your Android phone, open Contacts, find the menu, and look for an option to import or copy contacts from the SIM card to your phone storage. Once they're in your phone's storage, you can export them as a VCF file or sync them through Google.

iPhones don't read SIM cards for contacts the way older Android phones do, so this step is necessary if any of your contacts live only on the SIM.

Handling duplicate contacts after the transfer

If you've synced through Google and also imported a file, or if you've imported the same file twice, you may end up with duplicate entries. The iPhone's Contacts app doesn't have a built-in duplicate-removal tool, but you can merge them manually.

Open a contact that has a duplicate. Tap Edit, scroll to the bottom, and select "Link Contact." Choose the duplicate entry from the list. The iPhone will merge them into a single card. Repeat this for any other duplicates you find.

If you have many duplicates, consider deleting all contacts and starting fresh with a single import method. This is faster than merging dozens of entries one by one.

Transferring contacts from a work or corporate Android account

If your Android phone is managed by an employer or organization, your contacts may be stored in Microsoft Exchange, Active Directory, or another corporate system rather than in a personal Google account. Check with your IT department or administrator before attempting to export or sync these contacts.

Many organizations restrict what you can do with corporate contacts. Your company may have a process for transferring them to an iPhone, or they may require you to use a separate personal account for contacts you own. Following your organization's policy protects both your data and your employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my contacts update on both phones if I use Google sync?

Yes. Any contact you add, edit, or delete on either phone updates on the other within a few minutes, as long as both phones have the Google account active and syncing enabled. If you remove the account from one phone, that phone stops receiving updates but keeps the contacts it already has.

Can I import contacts from multiple Google accounts?

Yes. Add each Google account to your iPhone through Settings > Mail > Accounts, then enable contact syncing for each one. All contacts from all accounts will appear in your Contacts app, though you can filter by account when viewing or editing.

What if I don't remember my Google account password?

Go to google.com/accounts/recovery on a computer or another device. Google will walk you through verifying your identity and resetting your password. Once you've reset it, you can sign into the account on your iPhone.

Do I need to keep my Android phone to maintain contact sync?

No. Once contacts are synced to your Google account, they stay in Google's servers. You can sell or recycle your Android phone, and your contacts will remain on your iPhone and in your Google account. You can access them from any device that signs into that Google account.

Can I transfer contacts without using Google?

Yes, by exporting contacts as a VCF file from your Android phone and importing that file into your iPhone. This is a one-time transfer, so new contacts added to your Android phone afterward won't appear on your iPhone unless you export and import again.