How to transfer contacts from an Android phone to an iPhone in 4 different ways

1 year ago 204

  • You can transfer contacts from an Android phone to an iPhone in several ways, all of which are free.
  • To transfer contacts from an Android to a new iPhone, you can use the Move to iOS app.
  • You can also use your Google account, send a VCF file to yourself, or save the contacts to your SIM card.

Making the transition from an Android phone to an iPhone can be challenging — unlike upgrading from one Android device to another (or an iPhone to another iPhone), there's no single, seamless, one-click transfer process.

But it's not especially difficult, either. There are a handful of ways to transfer contacts from an Android device to an iPhone, depending upon whether you want to set up a new iPhone or move just a few contacts to an existing iPhone.

Here are four ways to move your contacts from an Android phone to an iPhone.

How to transfer contacts from Android to iPhone with the Move to iOS app

Apple has created the Move to iOS app to help you transfer your phone data from Android to a new iPhone. The process will copy all your data, including contacts, calendars, photos, and email accounts.

1. Install the Move to iOS app on your Android device.

2. Follow the setup process on your new iPhone until you reach the Apps & Data screen.

3. Choose Move Data from Android.

Screenshot of the Move to iOS app on iPhone.

The iPhone setup process lets you migrate data from Android. Dave Johnson/Insider

4. Open the Move to iOS app on your Android.

5. Tap Continue on both devices and agree to the terms and conditions in Move to iOS, then tap Next.

6. In the Move to iOS app, enter the code that's displayed on the iPhone.

Screenshot of the enter code screen from Move to iOS app on Android.

Your iPhone will give you a code to enter in the Move to iOS app on your Android. Dave Johnson/Insider

7. Follow the instructions to complete the transfer.

How to transfer contacts from Android to iPhone by syncing a Google account

This is a great option if you keep your Android contacts in a Google account. It works with both a new iPhone and one that's already set up. All you need to do is to add your Android's Google account information to the iPhone.

1. On the iPhone, open the Settings app.

2. Tap Mail and then Accounts

Screenshot of the Accounts screen on iOS with the “Add Account” button highlighted.

Add the Google account you used on your Android device to migrate contacts to your new phone. Kyle Wilson/Insider

3. Tap Add Account and then tap Google.

4. Follow the instructions to add your Google account to the iPhone. It'll automatically sync all your Google info, including contacts.

How to transfer contacts from Android to iPhone using a VCF file

This is a great option if some of your contacts aren't in a Google account so you can't just sync accounts, or if you just want to transfer only a few contacts. 

1. On your Android phone, open the Contacts app.

2. Tap the three dots at the top right of the screen to open the menu, and then tap Share.

Screenshot of Android Contacts app with the Share option highlighted.

The Share menu is available by tapping the three dots on the right side of the Contacts screen. Dave Johnson/Insider

3. Choose the contacts you want to transfer.

4. When you're done, tap Share.

Screenshot of Android Contacts app with contacts selected and the Share button highlighted.

Choose which contacts you want to send to your iPhone and then tap "Share." Dave Johnson/Insider

5. If you only selected one contact, you'll need to select VCF file. If you selected multiple contacts, VCF is your only choice.

6. Choose how you want to get the VCF file to your iPhone and send the file.

7. On the iPhone, open the VCF file and choose to add the contacts to your iPhone.

How to transfer contacts from Android to iPhone with a SIM card

You may be able to use your Android's SIM card as a transfer device to copy contacts as well. This is perhaps the least convenient solution, though, because it requires you to physically swap SIM cards around between the phones. 

1. On your Android phone, open the Contacts app.

2. Tap the three horizontal lines (also known as a hamburger menu).

3. Tap Manage contacts.

Screenshot of the Contacts app hamburger menu with the SIM card option highlighted.

You can manage your contacts by tapping the three horizontal lines on the left side of the screen. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. On the Manage contacts page, tap Import/export contacts.

5. Tap Export.

6. Choose where the contacts will be exported to — tap SIM card.

Screenshot of the Android Export contacts confirmation screen.

Choose to export the contacts to your SIM card. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

7. Choose which contacts you want to export. Tap All or tap contacts one at a time, and then tap Done.

8. Tap Export. You might need to confirm this selection.

9. Remove the SIM card from the Android phone and insert it in the iPhone.

10. On the iPhone, open the Settings app.

11. Tap Contacts.

12. Tap Import SIM Contacts.

Screenshot of the Import SIM Contacts option on iPhone.

Once you insert the SIM card in your iPhone, you can import the contact to iCloud or a Google account. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

13. Choose the account on which you want to store the contacts.

Dave Johnson

Freelance Writer

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

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