How to Move Your Contacts Between Android and iPhone

The fastest way depends on which phone you're starting from

Moving contacts from Android to iPhone or iPhone to Android takes 10 to 30 minutes and works best when you use the method built into each phone's setup process. If you're switching phones right now, both operating systems offer a direct transfer option during initial setup. If you're moving contacts after you've already set up your new phone, you'll need to export from one phone and import into the other, which requires a computer or cloud account as the middle step.

The method you choose depends on what you have available: a computer with a USB cable, a Google account, an iCloud account, or a third-party app. Each route has trade-offs in speed and what information transfers (phone numbers and email addresses always move; notes, birthdays, and custom fields sometimes don't).

Key Takeaways

During initial phone setup, both Android and iPhone offer direct transfer tools that move most contacts in under 15 minutes without a computer.
If you've already set up your new phone, you'll need to export contacts from the old phone to a file or cloud account, then import them into the new one.
Google Contacts and iCloud both preserve phone numbers and email addresses reliably, but custom fields and notes may not transfer depending on your method.
A computer with iTunes (for iPhone) or a USB cable (for Android) gives you the most control but requires more steps than cloud-based methods.

Android to iPhone during setup

When you first turn on a new iPhone, the setup screen offers "Migrate from Android" as an option. Tap it, and the iPhone generates a temporary code. On your Android phone, go to Settings > Accounts > Google, select your Google account, and look for a "Migrate to iPhone" or "Transfer to iPhone" option (the exact wording varies by Android version). Enter the code from the iPhone, and the phones connect over Wi-Fi. The transfer begins automatically and typically finishes in 5 to 15 minutes depending on how many contacts you have.

This method transfers phone numbers, email addresses, and contact photos. It does not transfer custom fields, notes, or groups you created in Android. If you have fewer than 100 contacts, this is the simplest route. If you have more, or if you need custom fields to move, use the Google account method below instead.

iPhone to Android during setup

When you first turn on a new Android phone, the setup wizard asks which account you want to use. Select your Google account and sign in. Android automatically syncs all contacts stored in that Google account to your new phone. If your iPhone contacts are in iCloud only (not synced to Google), you'll need to export them first using a computer or the method described in the "After setup" sections below.

Most people with iPhones have their contacts in iCloud by default. To check, open Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud on your iPhone and look for "Contacts" in the list. If it's toggled on, your contacts are in iCloud and you'll need to export them before switching to Android.

Android to iPhone after setup

If you've already set up your iPhone, the fastest method is to export your Android contacts to your Google account, then add that Google account to your iPhone. On your Android phone, open Settings > Accounts > Google, select your account, and tap Menu (three dots) > Account sync. Make sure "Contacts" is toggled on. Wait a few minutes for the sync to complete, then on your iPhone go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account, select Google, and sign in with the same account. Toggle Contacts on.

Your Android contacts now appear in the iPhone Contacts app. This method preserves phone numbers, email addresses, and contact photos. Custom fields and notes stored in Android do not transfer. If you need those details to move, you'll need to export to a file format like VCF (vCard) using a computer, which is more involved but captures more information.

iPhone to Android after setup

The most reliable method is to export your iPhone contacts to a file, then import that file into Android. On a Mac or Windows computer, open iCloud.com, sign in with your Apple ID, and click Contacts. Select all contacts (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A), then click the gear icon and choose Export vCard. This downloads a .vcf file containing all your contacts.

On your Android phone, open the Contacts app, tap Menu (three dots) > Settings > Import/Export > Import from file, and select the .vcf file you downloaded. Android imports the contacts into your default account (usually Google). This method transfers phone numbers, email addresses, and some custom fields, depending on how they were stored in iCloud. If you don't have access to a computer, you can also add your iCloud account to Android: go to Settings > Accounts > Add Account, select iCloud (if available on your Android version), and sign in. Not all Android versions support iCloud, so this may not work.

Using Google Contacts as a middle step

If you want to move contacts without a computer and your new phone is already set up, Google Contacts works as a bridge. On your old phone, make sure all contacts are synced to your Google account. On your new phone, add your Google account in Settings, and toggle Contacts on. Wait a few minutes for the sync to complete, and your contacts appear in the new phone's Contacts app.

This works for both Android-to-iPhone and iPhone-to-Android transfers, though iPhone users need to add their Google account manually in Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account. The downside is that Google Contacts stores less information than iCloud or a phone's native storage — custom fields, notes, and some formatting may not survive the transfer. For a basic move of phone numbers and email addresses, this is the simplest cloud-based option.

Using a computer and USB cable

If you have a Windows computer and want to move Android contacts, connect your Android phone via USB, enable file transfer mode on the phone, and look for a Contacts or VCF file in the phone's storage. Copy it to your computer. Then connect your iPhone, open iTunes (or Finder on Mac), select your iPhone, go to Info, and look for Contacts sync options. You can import the VCF file here, though iTunes doesn't always handle VCF files smoothly.

For iPhone to Android on a Mac, the process is simpler: open Contacts, select all, and drag them to the desktop to create a VCF file. Then import that file into Android using the Contacts app's import function. This method gives you the most control and usually preserves the most contact information, but it requires a computer and takes longer than cloud-based methods.

What doesn't always transfer

Phone numbers and email addresses transfer reliably across all methods. Contact photos, names, and phone types (mobile, home, work) usually transfer. Custom fields, notes, birthdays, and groups created in one phone's native app often don't transfer, depending on the method you use. The VCF file method preserves more of this information than cloud syncing, but even VCF has limits — some custom fields are phone-specific and don't have a standard format.

If you have important notes or custom fields, take a screenshot of those contacts before transferring, or manually re-enter them after the transfer is complete. For birthdays and anniversaries, check your new phone's calendar app after the transfer — some methods move these to calendar events instead of contact fields.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer contacts if I don't have a Google account or iCloud account?

Yes. Export your contacts to a VCF file using your old phone or a computer, then import that file into your new phone using the Contacts app's import function. Both Android and iPhone support VCF files. You'll need a computer to do this if your phone doesn't have a built-in export option.

Will my contact groups transfer?

Groups created in Android or iPhone usually don't transfer to the other operating system, because each phone stores groups differently. You'll need to recreate groups manually on your new phone, though the individual contacts and their phone numbers will be there. Google Contacts does preserve some group information if you export and import via VCF, but it's not may provide.

What if some contacts don't show up after the transfer?

Contacts stored only on your SIM card may not transfer automatically. On your old phone, go to Contacts and look for an option to export SIM contacts to your phone's storage or Google account. Then run the transfer again. Also check that you're looking in the right account — if you added a Google account to your iPhone, Google contacts appear in a separate section from iCloud contacts.

Can I transfer contacts wirelessly without a computer?

Yes, if you use a cloud account like Google or iCloud. Make sure all contacts are synced to the cloud account on your old phone, add that account to your new phone, and toggle Contacts on in the account settings. This works for both Android-to-iPhone and iPhone-to-Android transfers and takes 5 to 10 minutes.

Do I need to delete contacts from my old phone after transferring?

No, but if you're selling or recycling the old phone, you should factory reset it to erase all data. Simply transferring contacts doesn't remove them from the old phone. If you're keeping both phones, contacts will stay on both unless you manually delete them.

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.