The fastest way depends on what phone you're switching from and to

The method that works best for you depends on whether you're staying within the same ecosystem — iPhone to iPhone, Android to Android — or switching between them. If you're staying in the same system, your contacts usually sync automatically through your existing account. If you're switching systems, you'll need to export your contacts first, then import them into the new phone's system. The whole process typically takes 15 to 30 minutes, and you can start it before your new phone arrives.

Your contacts live in one of three places: your phone's built-in contacts app, your Google account (if you use Android), or your Apple ID (if you use iPhone). Whichever system holds them, you can move them. The key is knowing which account your current phone syncs to, because that's where the export starts.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone to iPhone and Android to Android transfers happen automatically if you sign into the same account on your new phone during setup.
  • Switching from iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone requires exporting your contacts as a file first, then importing that file into the new phone.
  • Google Contacts and iCloud both let you export your contacts as a .vcf file, which works on any phone.
  • If you have contacts stored only on your old phone and not synced to an account, you must export them before you stop using the old phone.
  • Contacts synced to your phone number through your carrier (like AT&T or Verizon) do not transfer automatically and must be manually moved.

Staying within iPhone or Android: automatic sync during setup

If you're getting a new iPhone and your old one was also an iPhone, your contacts transfer automatically when you sign into your Apple ID during setup. The new phone asks for your Apple ID password in the first few minutes, and once you enter it, iCloud syncs your contacts, calendar, photos, and other data to the new device. This happens in the background and usually completes within an hour, though it can take longer if you have thousands of contacts.

The same applies to Android phones. If you're switching from one Android phone to another, sign into your Google account during setup, and your contacts sync automatically. Make sure you're signing into the same Google account you used on your old phone — if you used multiple accounts, contacts may be split across them.

Before you set up the new phone, verify that your contacts are actually synced to your account. On iPhone, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then iCloud, and confirm that Contacts is toggled on. On Android, open Settings, search for "Accounts," select your Google account, and check that Contacts sync is enabled. If either is off, turn it on and wait a few minutes for the sync to complete before you switch phones.

Switching from iPhone to Android: export from iCloud, import to Google

If you're moving from iPhone to Android, your contacts won't transfer automatically because they're stored in iCloud, not Google. You need to export them as a file, then import that file into your Google account. This takes about 10 minutes and can be done from any computer.

Start on a computer by going to iCloud.com and signing in with your Apple ID. Click Contacts, then select all your contacts by pressing Ctrl+A (or Cmd+A on Mac). Click the settings icon (gear symbol) at the bottom left, then choose Export vCard. This downloads a .vcf file containing all your contacts. Save it somewhere you can find it — your Downloads folder is fine.

Next, go to Google Contacts at contacts.google.com and sign into the Google account you'll use on your new Android phone. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) on the left, then Import. Select the .vcf file you just downloaded, and Google imports all your contacts. This usually takes a few seconds. Once it's done, set up your new Android phone and sign into that same Google account during setup — your contacts appear automatically.

Switching from Android to iPhone: export from Google, import to iCloud

Moving from Android to iPhone works the same way in reverse. Go to Google Contacts at contacts.google.com on any computer and sign into the Google account your Android phone uses. Click the menu icon, then Export. Choose which contacts to export — select All Contacts — and Google downloads a .vcf file.

Now go to iCloud.com on the same computer and sign in with the Apple ID you'll use on your new iPhone. Click Contacts, then click the settings icon at the bottom left, and choose Import vCard. Select the .vcf file you downloaded from Google. iCloud imports all your contacts within a few seconds.

When you set up your new iPhone, sign into the Apple ID you just imported the contacts into, and they sync to the phone automatically. If you want to double-check before you set up the phone, you can log into iCloud.com and verify the contacts are there.

Contacts stored only on your phone: export before you lose access

If you have contacts that exist only on your old phone and aren't synced to iCloud or Google, you must export them before you stop using that phone. Once you reset the phone or stop using it, those contacts are gone.

On iPhone, open the Contacts app, tap Groups at the top left, make sure All Contacts is selected, then go back to the main screen. Press and hold on a contact, then tap Select All. Once all contacts are highlighted, there's no direct export button in the Contacts app itself. Instead, use a computer: go to iCloud.com, sign into the same Apple ID, open Contacts, select all, and export as described in the iPhone-to-Android section above.

On Android, open your Contacts app, tap the menu icon (three dots or lines), and look for Export or Backup. The exact name and location varies by phone manufacturer — Samsung phones call it "Manage Contacts," while others say "Export." Select Export to File or Export as vCard, choose All Contacts, and save the file to your phone's storage or email it to yourself. Once saved, you can import it into your new phone's Google account using the steps in the Android-to-iPhone section above.

Contacts linked to your phone number: carrier contacts don't transfer

Some contacts are stored with your carrier — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile — rather than on your phone or in an online account. These are sometimes called SIM contacts or carrier contacts. They don't transfer automatically because they're tied to your old phone number or SIM card, not to your Apple ID or Google account.

To check if you have carrier contacts, call your carrier's customer service number and ask if any contacts are stored on your account. If there are, ask them to transfer them to your new phone, or ask for a list so you can manually add them. Some carriers can do this over the phone; others require you to visit a store. This is rare for most people, but it's worth checking if you notice contacts missing after you switch phones.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don't remember my Apple ID or Google password?

You can reset your password before you switch phones. For Apple ID, go to iforgot.apple.com. For Google, go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. Have your recovery email or phone number ready. Reset your password, then use the new one when you set up your new phone.

Can I transfer contacts if my old phone is broken?

If your phone still turns on, yes — sign into iCloud.com or Google Contacts on a computer using the account your old phone synced to, and your contacts are there. If the phone is completely dead and you never synced to an account, those contacts are lost. This is why syncing to an account matters.

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

No. Deleting them from your old phone doesn't affect the copies on your new phone or in your online account. You can leave them on the old phone or delete them — it doesn't matter. If you're selling or recycling the old phone, you should factory reset it anyway, which erases everything.

What if some contacts are missing after I switch phones?

Check whether those contacts were synced to an account on your old phone. Open Settings on your old phone (if you still have it), look for Accounts or iCloud, and see which contacts were actually syncing. Contacts stored only locally on the phone won't transfer unless you exported them first. If they're gone, they're unrecoverable.

Can I transfer contacts to multiple phones at once?

Yes. Once your contacts are in your Google account or iCloud, you can sign into that account on as many phones as you want, and the contacts sync to all of them. This is useful if you have a work phone and a personal phone — just sign into the same account on both.