The fastest way to transfer contacts is through Google Account sync during Android setup

When you first turn on a new Android phone, the setup wizard asks you to sign in with a Google Account. If you sign in with the same Google Account you used on your iPhone, Android will automatically pull in any contacts you had synced to that account. This works if your iPhone contacts were already backing up to Google — which happens automatically if you ever signed into Gmail on your iPhone.

If your contacts were only stored locally on your iPhone and never synced to Google, you'll need to move them first. The most reliable method is to export your iPhone contacts as a file, then import that file into your Android phone. This takes about 10 minutes and doesn't require any paid apps.

Key Takeaways

  • Contacts synced to your Google Account on iPhone will transfer automatically when you sign into that same account on Android during setup.
  • Contacts stored only on your iPhone need to be exported as a file and imported into Android using your Google Account or a file manager.
  • The export-and-import method works through your computer — you'll email yourself the contact file or use a cloud storage service like Google Drive.
  • iCloud contacts do not transfer directly to Android; you must export them from iCloud first before importing them into Android.

Check whether your iPhone contacts are already synced to Google

Open Settings on your iPhone and go to Mail, Contacts, Calendars. Look for a Google account listed under Accounts. If you see one, tap it and check whether Contacts is toggled on. If it is, your contacts are already syncing to Google and will appear on your Android phone automatically when you sign in.

If you don't see a Google account listed, or if Contacts is toggled off, your contacts are stored only on your iPhone or synced to iCloud instead. You'll need to export them manually.

Export contacts from iPhone to a file on your computer

Connect your iPhone to a Mac or Windows computer using a USB cable. On Mac, open Finder and click your iPhone in the sidebar, then click General. On Windows, open File Explorer and locate your iPhone in the device list. Either way, you're looking for the Contacts app data.

The easiest route is to use iCloud.com instead. Go to iCloud.com in a web browser, sign in with your Apple ID, and click Contacts. Select all your contacts (press Ctrl+A on Windows or Cmd+A on Mac), then look for an export or download option in the menu. iCloud will let you export as a .vcf file, which is the standard format Android phones can read. Save this file to your computer.

Import the contact file into your Google Account

Go to contacts.google.com in a web browser and sign in with the Google Account you plan to use on your Android phone. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left, then select Import. Choose the .vcf file you exported from your iPhone and click Import. Google will add all those contacts to your account within a few seconds.

Once the import is complete, sign into that same Google Account on your new Android phone during setup. Your contacts will sync automatically and appear in the Contacts app within a few minutes.

Transfer contacts using Google Drive or email if you don't have a computer

If you don't have easy access to a computer, you can still move your contacts. On your iPhone, open the Contacts app, select a contact, tap Edit, scroll to the bottom, and tap Share Contact. This creates a .vcf file you can email to yourself or upload to Google Drive. Repeat this for each contact, or select multiple contacts at once if your iPhone version supports it.

Once the files are in your email or Google Drive, open them on your Android phone and select "Save to Contacts." Android will add them to your default contact account, which should be your Google Account. This method is slower for large contact lists but works without a computer.

What to do if contacts don't appear after signing in

If you signed into your Google Account on Android but your contacts haven't appeared after 10 minutes, go to Settings on your Android phone, tap Accounts, select your Google Account, and tap Account Sync. Make sure Contacts is toggled on. If it's already on, tap the three-dot menu and select Sync Now to force an immediate update.

If contacts still don't appear, check that you're using the same Google Account on both phones. Go back to Settings and confirm the email address shown under Accounts matches the one you used to import contacts at contacts.google.com. If you used a different account by mistake, you'll need to import the contacts again into the correct account.

Moving contacts from iCloud to Android

iCloud contacts don't sync directly to Android the way Google contacts do. You must export them first. Go to iCloud.com, sign in with your Apple ID, click Contacts, select all contacts, and look for an export option in the menu. Export as a .vcf file, then follow the import steps above to add them to your Google Account.

Some people keep their iCloud account active on Android as well, but this only works for email and calendar — not contacts. For contacts, export and import is the only method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my contacts transfer if I just sign into my Google Account on Android?

Only if those contacts were already synced to that Google Account on your iPhone. If your contacts were stored only on your iPhone or in iCloud, signing in won't bring them over. You'll need to export them first.

Can I transfer contacts without a computer?

Yes. Use iCloud.com on your Android phone's web browser to export contacts, or email individual contacts to yourself from your iPhone's Contacts app and save them on Android. It's slower for large lists but doesn't require a computer.

What if I have contacts in both Google and iCloud?

Export the iCloud contacts as a .vcf file and import them into your Google Account at contacts.google.com. Google will merge duplicates automatically if the names and phone numbers match closely.

Do I need to delete my Apple ID from Android after transferring contacts?

No. You can keep your Apple ID signed in on Android if you want to access iCloud email or calendar. Contacts won't sync from iCloud to Android, but other services will work.