The simplest way to move contacts is through Google Contacts or a USB cable, depending on what you have set up already

If your iPhone contacts are already synced to a Google account, your new Android phone will pull them automatically when you sign in. If they're only stored on your iPhone or synced to iCloud, you'll need to export them first — either through Google's web interface or by connecting your phone to a computer. The method that works fastest depends on whether you're moving a handful of contacts or hundreds, and whether you have a computer handy.

Most people can move their contacts in under five minutes using one of the three routes below. The catch is that some methods work better if you've already set things up a certain way on your iPhone, so start by checking which of these applies to you.

Key Takeaways

  • If your iPhone contacts sync to Google, sign into that same Google account on your Android phone and your contacts will appear automatically.
  • If your contacts are only in iCloud, export them as a .vcf file through iCloud.com, then import that file into Google Contacts on your Android phone.
  • You can also connect your iPhone to a computer, export contacts as a .vcf file, and import them directly into your Android phone's contacts app.
  • Third-party apps like Google Contacts, Samsung Smart Switch, or Syncthing can move contacts without a computer, though they require the app to be installed on both phones.

Moving contacts through Google if they're already synced

Check whether your iPhone contacts are already syncing to Google. Open Settings on your iPhone, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. If "Contacts" is toggled on, your contacts are in iCloud, not Google — skip to the next section. If you see a Google account listed under Settings > Mail > Accounts, your contacts may already be syncing there.

If your contacts are syncing to Google, the fastest move is to sign into that same Google account on your new Android phone. During the initial setup, Android will ask you to sign in to a Google account. Use the same email address and password. Once you're signed in, go to Settings > Accounts > Google, tap your account, then tap Account sync. Toggle Contacts on if it's not already. Your contacts will sync within a few minutes.

This method works only if you've already been using Google to sync your iPhone contacts. If you haven't, you'll need to export them first.

Exporting from iCloud and importing into Android

If your contacts are in iCloud (the default on iPhone), you need to export them before your Android phone can read them. Go to iCloud.com in a web browser on your computer, sign in with your Apple ID, and click Contacts. Select all your contacts by pressing Ctrl+A (or Cmd+A on Mac), then click the gear icon at the bottom left and choose Export vCard. This downloads a .vcf file containing all your contacts.

On your Android phone, open Google Contacts (contacts.google.com in a browser, or the Google Contacts app if you have it installed). Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left, then click Import. Choose the .vcf file you just downloaded. Google will upload your contacts and they'll sync to your phone within a few minutes.

Alternatively, if your Android phone has a built-in Contacts app (Samsung phones do), you can import the .vcf file directly into that app instead of using Google Contacts. The steps vary by manufacturer, but usually involve opening Contacts, tapping the menu, and selecting Import.

Using a computer to transfer contacts via USB

If you have a computer and a USB cable, you can move contacts without relying on cloud services. Connect your iPhone to the computer, open iTunes (on older Macs or Windows PCs) or Finder (on newer Macs), and select your iPhone. Look for an option to export contacts or sync contacts — the exact location depends on your iTunes or Finder version. Export your contacts as a .vcf file and save it somewhere you can find it.

Then connect your Android phone to the same computer via USB. Depending on your Android manufacturer, you may be able to import the .vcf file directly through the phone's file manager or contacts app. If not, upload the .vcf file to Google Contacts using the method described in the previous section, and it will sync to your phone.

This method is slower than the cloud-based options but doesn't require you to have a Google account set up or to remember your iCloud password.

Using third-party apps to move contacts wirelessly

Several apps can move contacts between phones without a computer. Google Contacts, Samsung Smart Switch (for Samsung phones), and Syncthing all work by installing the app on both your iPhone and Android phone, signing in, and letting them sync. The advantage is that you don't need a computer or a USB cable. The disadvantage is that you need to install an app on your iPhone before you switch, so this only works if you still have access to your iPhone.

Google Contacts is the most universal option. Install it on your iPhone from the App Store, sign in with your Google account, and toggle Contacts on. Then install Google Contacts on your Android phone, sign in with the same account, and your contacts will sync. This can take a few minutes depending on how many contacts you have.

Samsung Smart Switch works similarly but is designed for Samsung phones specifically. It can also transfer photos, messages, and other data in addition to contacts, which makes it useful if you're switching from an iPhone to a Samsung Galaxy phone.

What happens to contacts stored only on your SIM card

Some older phones store contacts directly on the SIM card rather than in the phone's memory or a cloud service. If your iPhone has contacts on the SIM, they won't transfer automatically — you'll need to export them separately. Most modern iPhones don't use SIM storage for contacts, but if you're not sure, check by opening Contacts on your iPhone and looking for a "SIM" group or section.

If you do have SIM contacts, the easiest way to move them is to import them into iCloud first (Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Contacts), export them as a .vcf file, and then import that file into Google Contacts on your Android phone using the method described earlier. Alternatively, some carriers can transfer SIM contacts for you if you visit a store.

Troubleshooting contacts that don't appear on your Android phone

If you've imported your contacts but they're not showing up on your Android phone, the most common cause is that they're in Google Contacts but your phone isn't syncing them. Go to Settings > Accounts > Google, tap your Google account, then tap Account sync and make sure Contacts is toggled on. If it's already on, try toggling it off and back on to force a refresh.

Another common issue is duplicate contacts. If you've imported contacts multiple times or synced from both iCloud and Google, you may end up with two copies of each contact. Most Android phones have a built-in merge tool in the Contacts app — look for a menu option like "Merge duplicates" or "Fix and manage." Google Contacts also has a merge feature: open contacts.google.com, select the duplicates, and click Merge.

If a contact still won't appear, check whether it was actually exported from your iPhone. Go back to iCloud.com or your iPhone's Contacts app and verify that the contact exists and is synced to iCloud or Google.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Google account to move my contacts to Android?

You don't strictly need one, but it's the easiest way. If you don't have a Google account, you can still import contacts directly into your Android phone's built-in Contacts app using a .vcf file, but you won't have a cloud backup. Most Android phones prompt you to create or sign into a Google account during setup, so you'll likely end up with one anyway.

Will my contacts move automatically when I turn on my new Android phone?

Only if they're synced to the Google account you sign into during setup. If your iPhone contacts are only in iCloud, you'll need to export and import them manually. The process takes about five minutes but isn't automatic.

What if I don't have access to my iPhone anymore?

If your contacts were synced to Google, you can sign into that account on your Android phone and they'll appear. If they were only in iCloud, you can still access iCloud.com from any computer using your Apple ID, export your contacts, and import them into Google Contacts. You don't need the iPhone itself.

Can I move contacts from Android to iPhone using the same methods?

Yes, the process is similar in reverse. Export your contacts as a .vcf file from your Android phone, import them into Google Contacts, then sign into that Google account on your iPhone. Your contacts will sync to iCloud automatically.

Will photos attached to contacts transfer over?

Contact photos stored in Google Contacts will transfer, but photos stored only on your iPhone may not. To be safe, make sure your contact photos are synced to Google before you switch phones. On your iPhone, open Contacts, tap a contact with a photo, and check whether it's linked to your Google account or only stored locally.