Android & iPhone

How to Transfer Contacts From Android to iPhone

Step-by-step methods to seamlessly sync and move all your phone contacts from an Android device to a new iPhone using Google Cloud, Move to iOS, or VCF export.

Written by Alex Morgan (Senior Editorial Director & Tech Lead) Published: June 18, 2026 Updated: August 12, 2026 6 min read

Quick Summary & Key Takeaways

Objective: Step-by-step methods to seamlessly sync and move all your phone contacts from an Android device to a new iPhone using Google Cloud, Move to iOS, or VCF export.
Estimated Time: Approximately 6 minutes following our step-by-step instructions.
Safety Recommendation: Ensure your device battery is above 30% and preserve any important files or passwords before modifying system settings.

Two modern smartphones placed side by side for data transfer — Syncing address book contacts between Android and iOS devices seamlessly.

Switching from Android to Apple's iPhone ecosystem is exciting, but ensuring you don't lose phone numbers, email addresses, or contact profile photos is a top priority.

Fortunately, transferring contacts does not require paying for third-party software. Here are the 3 fastest, most reliable ways to transfer contacts from Android to iPhone.

Method 1: Instant Sync via Google Account (Recommended)

If your contacts are already synced to your Google Account on Android, your iPhone can fetch them in under 30 seconds.

Step 1: Verify Contacts Sync on Android

On your Android phone, open Settings.
Tap Google (or Passwords & accounts > Google).
Tap Google Account sync (or Manage your Google Account).
Ensure the toggle next to Contacts is switched ON and recently synced.

Step 2: Add Google Account to iPhone

Turn on your iPhone and open Settings.
Scroll down and tap Contacts (or Mail > Accounts).
Tap Add Account and select Google.
Enter your Gmail address and password.
In the permissions screen, toggle Contacts to ON, then tap Save.
Open the Phone or Contacts app on your iPhone; all your numbers will populate instantly.

Method 2: Using the Official "Move to iOS" App (New iPhone Setup)

If your iPhone is brand new or recently factory reset:

During the initial iPhone setup, proceed until you reach the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen.
Select From Android.
On your Android phone, download and open the Move to iOS app from Google Play Store.
Enter the six-digit or ten-digit security code shown on your iPhone screen.
Check the box for Contacts (along with Messages, Photos, and WhatsApp if desired) and tap Continue.
Keep both phones connected to Wi-Fi until the transfer completes.

Method 3: Export via VCF File (Offline & Manual)

If you don't want to link a Google account on iPhone:

Open the Contacts app on your Android device.
Tap the Fix & manage or Settings menu.
Tap Export to file and save the contacts.vcf file to your device.
Share the VCF file to your iPhone via email, AirDrop, or WhatsApp.
On your iPhone, open the received VCF file and tap Add All [X] Contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will transferring contacts delete them from my old Android phone?

No. Syncing or copying contacts creates duplicate entries on your iPhone while leaving all original data untouched on your Android phone and Google Account.

Why are some contacts missing after syncing with Google?

Some phone numbers may have been saved locally to your Android device's internal SIM memory rather than Google Contacts. Open Android Contacts > Fix & Manage > Import from SIM to migrate them first.

Will transferring contacts via Google Account delete them from my old Android phone?

No. Cloud synchronization is non-destructive. Your contacts remain securely intact on your Android device and in your Google cloud storage while also streaming to your iPhone.

Can I save contacts to an iPhone SIM card?

No. Apple iOS does not support saving contacts directly onto SIM cards. iOS can only import legacy contacts from a SIM card into phone memory or iCloud.

What happens if I edit a contact on iPhone later—does it update on Google?

If you set your Default Account to 'Gmail' in iPhone Settings > Contacts, edits made on your iPhone will two-way sync back to your Google Contacts database automatically.

About the Author: Alex Morgan

Senior Editorial Director & Tech Lead

Alex is the Senior Technology Editor at AkTricky with over 10 years of experience diagnosing mobile operating systems, iOS features, and hardware issues. He specializes in practical everyday consumer technology.