How to Move Your iPhone Contacts to a New iPhone

The fastest way: use iCloud during setup

When you turn on a new iPhone for the first time, Apple walks you through a setup screen that asks if you want to restore from a backup. If you choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" and sign in with the same Apple ID you used on your old phone, your contacts transfer automatically — along with your photos, messages, apps, and settings. This takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have and your internet speed.

This method works only if you backed up your old iPhone to iCloud before you got the new one. If you didn't, you can still back up the old phone now and then restore on the new one, but you'll have to go through setup again. Most people find this the least painful route because it's one choice during setup and then waiting.

Key Takeaways

Restoring from an iCloud backup during new iPhone setup transfers contacts automatically along with everything else on your phone.
If you don't have an iCloud backup, you can use Quick Start to transfer contacts wirelessly by holding the phones next to each other.
You can export contacts to a computer using a Mac or Windows PC, then import them into the new phone if you need to move only contacts.
Contacts stored in your phone's local storage (not synced to iCloud or another service) will be lost if you don't back up before switching phones.

Quick Start: transfer wirelessly without a backup

If you don't have an iCloud backup, Quick Start lets you transfer contacts by holding your new iPhone next to your old one. On the new phone, you'll see a prompt to set up using your old iPhone. Hold the old phone's camera over the animation on the new phone's screen until it recognizes it, then sign in with your Apple ID. The phones will sync your contacts and other data over Wi-Fi.

Quick Start works with iPhone XS and newer on both phones. The transfer takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on how many contacts you have. You need both phones charged and on the same Wi-Fi network. If your old phone is too old to support Quick Start, or if the phones can't connect, you'll need to use iCloud backup or the computer method instead.

Moving contacts through a computer

If you want to transfer only your contacts without everything else, or if you need to move them to a phone that isn't connected to iCloud, you can export them through a Mac or Windows PC. On a Mac, open Contacts, select all your contacts (Command+A), then go to File > Export > Export vCard. On Windows, you'll need to use iCloud for Windows or a third-party tool like Google Contacts to export a file.

Once you have the contact file (usually a .vcf file), you can import it into your new iPhone by opening the file on the phone or uploading it to iCloud.com and importing from there. This method is slower than iCloud backup or Quick Start, but it's useful if you're switching from Android or if you only want to move contacts, not your entire phone setup.

Contacts stored only on your SIM card

Some older phones store contacts on the SIM card itself rather than in the phone's memory. If your old iPhone has contacts on the SIM, they won't transfer through iCloud or Quick Start — you need to move the SIM card to the new phone or export them manually. To check, go to Settings > Contacts > Import SIM Contacts on your old phone. If that option exists and shows contacts, you have SIM-stored contacts.

The easiest fix is to insert your old SIM card into the new iPhone temporarily and import those contacts into iCloud. After that, you can switch to your new SIM card. If you can't use the old SIM card, you can export SIM contacts to a computer using third-party software, though this is uncommon on modern iPhones.

What happens to contacts if you don't back up

Contacts stored only in your iPhone's local memory — not synced to iCloud, Google, or another service — will disappear when you stop using the old phone. They won't transfer to the new phone, and you won't be able to recover them later. This is why backing up before you switch is important, even if you think you'll keep the old phone.

To check whether your contacts are backed up to iCloud, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud on your old phone and look for Contacts. If the toggle is on and green, your contacts are synced. If it's off or gray, they're stored only on the phone itself and will be lost unless you back them up now.

Contacts from Google, Outlook, or other services

If you use Google Contacts, Outlook, or another service to store your contacts, they'll sync to your new iPhone automatically when you sign into that account in Settings > Mail > Accounts. You don't need to do anything special — just add the account and choose to sync Contacts. This works for Gmail, Outlook.com, Yahoo, and most other email providers.

If you have contacts in multiple services, add all of them to your new phone. Your iPhone will merge duplicates automatically in most cases. If you see the same contact twice, open Contacts, tap Edit on one of them, scroll down, and tap "Link Contacts" to combine them into one entry.

Troubleshooting contacts that didn't transfer

If you restored from backup or used Quick Start but some contacts are missing, check whether they're stored in a different account. Go to Settings > Contacts and look at "Default Account" — if it's set to a specific email service rather than iCloud, contacts you added through that service might be stored there instead. Tap "Accounts" to see all your synced accounts and make sure they're all turned on.

If contacts are still missing and you have access to your old phone, check Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Contacts on the old phone to confirm they were backed up. If Contacts is toggled off, they were never synced to iCloud and won't appear on the new phone. In that case, you'll need to export them from the old phone using the computer method or re-enter them manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Wi-Fi to transfer contacts?

Yes, all three methods (iCloud backup, Quick Start, and computer export) require Wi-Fi or a wired connection. iCloud backup and Quick Start need Wi-Fi on both phones. Computer export needs Wi-Fi or USB to connect the phone to the computer. Make sure you're on a stable network before you start.

Can I transfer contacts if I don't remember my Apple ID password?

No — you need your Apple ID password to restore from iCloud backup or use Quick Start. If you've forgotten it, go to iforgot.apple.com on a computer and follow the steps to reset it before you set up the new phone. This usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.

Will duplicate contacts appear on my new iPhone?

If you restore from backup, you shouldn't see duplicates because you're copying the same data. If you use Quick Start or import from multiple accounts, duplicates can appear. Your iPhone will usually suggest merging them automatically, but you can also merge them manually by opening Contacts, tapping Edit on a contact, and selecting "Link Contacts."

What if my old iPhone is broken and I can't turn it on?

If you have an iCloud backup from before the phone broke, restore from that backup on the new phone during setup. If you don't have a backup, you've lost the contacts stored only on that phone. Going forward, make sure iCloud Contacts is turned on in Settings so your contacts sync automatically.

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.