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.
The iPhone setup process lets you migrate data from Android.
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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.
Your iPhone will give you a code to enter in the Move to iOS app on your Android.
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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
Add the Google account you used on your Android device to migrate contacts to your new phone.
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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.
The Share menu is available by tapping the three dots on the right side of the Contacts screen.
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3. Choose the contacts you want to transfer.
Quick tip: You can tap All or choose contacts one at a time.
4. When you’re done, tap Share.
Choose which contacts you want to send to your iPhone and then tap “Share.”
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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.
Quick tip: The easiest option for sending the file is probably email or text message.
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.
You can manage your contacts by tapping the three horizontal lines on the left side of the screen.
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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.
Choose to export the contacts to your SIM card.
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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.
Once you insert the SIM card in your iPhone, you can import the contact to iCloud or a Google account.
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13. Choose the account on which you want to store the contacts.