How to Copy Contacts From Android to iPhone

There are three practical ways to move contacts from Android to iPhone:

• use Apple’s Android-to-iPhone transfer during initial iPhone setup;
• sync the Google Account that already stores your contacts;
• export contacts as a VCF file and import them manually.

The best method depends on whether the iPhone is new and where the contacts are currently stored.

Check Where Your Android Contacts Are Stored

Before transferring anything, confirm which account owns the contacts.

Android contacts may be stored in:

• a Google Account;
• the phone itself;
• a SIM card;
• Samsung Account;
• Outlook or Exchange;
• another cloud service.

If the contacts already appear in Google Contacts online, you do not need to export them manually. You can simply add the same Google Account to the iPhone.

If some contacts are missing from Google Contacts, those entries may be stored only on the Android device, SIM, or another account.

Method 1: Transfer Contacts During iPhone Setup

This is the best option when the iPhone is new or has been erased.

Apple’s current Android migration process can transfer contacts along with other supported data.

On the iPhone

1. Turn on the iPhone.
2. Continue through setup.
3. On Transfer Your Apps & Data, tap From Android.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

On the Android phone

For most Android phones:

1. Install or open Move to iOS.
2. Tap Continue.
3. Accept the required permissions.
4. Enter the code shown on the iPhone.
5. Join the temporary network created by the iPhone if prompted.
6. Select Contacts.
7. Tap Continue.

Leave both phones alone until the loading bar on the iPhone finishes.

Apple also supports direct cable transfer with compatible USB-C devices.

On supported Android 17 devices and compatible current iPhone software, Apple may also offer Transfer without App, which pairs the phones directly during setup.

If your phone does not show that option, use Move to iOS.

Can You Use Move to iOS After Setup?

Not normally.

Apple’s Android migration flow is designed for the initial iPhone setup.

If the iPhone has already been configured, you have two better options:

• add the Google Account that contains the contacts;
• import a VCF file.

Do not erase a working iPhone just to move contacts unless you also need to migrate other Android data.

Method 2: Sync Google Contacts to iPhone

This is usually the easiest method when the iPhone is already set up.

First confirm that the Android contacts are actually saved to Google.

Open Google Contacts in a browser and sign in with the same Google Account used on the Android phone.

If the contacts are there, add that account to the iPhone.

On current iOS:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap Contacts.
4. Tap Contacts Accounts.
5. Tap Add Account.
6. Choose Google.
7. Sign in.
8. Turn on Contacts.

Open the Contacts app and give it time to sync.

Google confirms that contacts stored in the Google Account can sync directly to iPhone this way.

Important: Google Contacts Stay in Google

Adding a Google Account to iPhone does not automatically convert those contacts into iCloud contacts.

They remain managed by Google but appear normally in:

• Contacts;
• Phone;
• Messages;
• Mail;
• FaceTime.

That is perfectly fine if you want to continue using Google as your contact service.

Move Device or SIM Contacts Into Google First

Some Android phones store contacts only on the device or SIM.

Those contacts may not appear when you add your Google Account to the iPhone.

On Android, Google currently lets supported devices automatically save device and SIM contacts to a Google Account.

A common path is:

Settings > Google > All services > Backup & restore > Google Contacts sync

Look for the option to back up or sync device and SIM contacts.

The menu varies by manufacturer.

After enabling it, check Google Contacts online to confirm the contacts are actually there before relying on the sync.

Method 3: Transfer Contacts With a VCF File

A VCF or vCard file is useful when:

• the iPhone is already set up;
• the contacts are stored locally on Android;
• you do not want to keep a Google Account on the iPhone;
• only selected contacts need to move.

Export the VCF From Android

Using Google Contacts on Android:

1. Open Contacts.
2. Tap Organize.
3. Tap Export to file.
4. Select the account or contacts.
5. Save the .vcf file.

On Samsung and some other phones, the wording may instead be:

Contacts > Manage contacts > Import or export contacts > Export

Send the VCF to the iPhone

Transfer the file privately using:

• email;
• cloud storage;
• a computer;
• another trusted file-transfer method.

A VCF can contain names, phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, notes, and other private details, so do not upload it publicly.

Import the VCF on iPhone

1. Open the VCF file on the iPhone.
2. Review the contacts.
3. Choose the option to add or import them.
4. Open Contacts and verify the list.

Apple supports importing vCard contact files on iPhone.

Want the Contacts Stored in iCloud Instead?

If your Android contacts are already in Google but you want them permanently managed through iCloud, use a VCF transfer.

On a computer:

1. Open Google Contacts.
2. Export the contacts as a vCard.
3. Sign in to iCloud Contacts.
4. Import the vCard.
5. On the iPhone, make sure iCloud Contacts is enabled.

This creates actual iCloud contacts instead of simply displaying Google contacts on the iPhone.

Method 4: Import Contacts From a SIM Card

Use this only when the contacts are genuinely stored on a physical SIM.

Insert the SIM into the iPhone, then open:

Settings > Apps > Contacts > Import SIM Contacts

Choose the destination account if asked.

SIM transfer is limited because SIM cards may store less information than Google or VCF contacts.

You may lose fields such as:

• extra phone numbers;
• email addresses;
• photos;
• birthdays;
• notes.

An eSIM does not contain a traditional SIM contact list.

Contacts Are Not Showing on the iPhone

Start with the contact lists.

Open Contacts > Lists and make sure the relevant Google, iCloud, or imported contact list is visible.

Then check:

Settings > Apps > Contacts > Contacts Accounts

Open the relevant account and confirm Contacts is turned on.

Also verify that you signed in to the correct Google Account.

Many Android users have contacts split across more than one Google Account.

Only Some Contacts Transferred

Partial transfers usually mean the contacts came from more than one source.

For example:

• Google contacts transferred but device-only contacts did not;
• one Google Account synced but another did not;
• SIM contacts were never imported;
• work or school contacts belong to a managed account.

Go back to the Android phone and check each contact source separately.

If contacts were deleted before you started the transfer, see How to Recover Deleted Contacts on Android before exporting again.

Avoid Duplicate Contacts

Duplicates can appear when you combine:

• Move to iOS;
• Google sync;
• a VCF import;
• SIM import.

Choose one main transfer method first.

If duplicates appear afterward, use the merge or duplicate-management tools in the Contacts app rather than deleting contacts one by one without checking which account owns them.

Before You Reset the Android Phone

Open Contacts on the iPhone and verify:

• important family contacts;
• work contacts;
• contacts with several phone numbers;
• email addresses;
• contact photos where applicable.

Also check Contacts > Lists to make sure you are seeing every account.

Do not factory-reset, trade in, or give away the Android phone until you are satisfied that the contact list is complete.

If you ever need to move in the opposite direction, see How to Copy Contacts From iPhone to Android.

For a new iPhone, Apple’s Android transfer during setup is the cleanest choice. For an iPhone that is already configured, Google Contacts is usually the simplest option. Use a VCF when the contacts are local or when you want a permanent copy imported into iCloud.