How to Back Up Your Phone Contacts

Losing your contacts is stressful but preventable. Here is how to make sure they are always backed up.

In this guide (4 steps):

1.Back up contacts on iPhone
2.Back up contacts on Android
3.Export contacts as a file
4.Check your backup is working

Back up contacts on iPhone

~15s

Your contacts automatically sync to iCloud if it is turned on. Check: Settings, your name, iCloud, then make sure "Contacts" is toggled on (green). Once enabled, your contacts are safe in the cloud and will appear on any Apple device you sign into.

Back up contacts on Android

~15s

Your contacts automatically sync to your Google account. Check: Settings, Google, Settings for Google apps, Google Contacts sync, then make sure "Also sync device contacts" is turned on. Your contacts are now backed up to contacts.google.com.

Export contacts as a file

~15s

For an extra backup: on iPhone, go to icloud.com/contacts, select all contacts, click the gear icon, and "Export vCard." On Android, open the Contacts app, tap the three-line menu, Settings, Export. Save the .vcf file to your computer or email it to yourself.

Check your backup is working

~19s

Go to contacts.google.com (Android) or icloud.com/contacts (iPhone) on your computer. If you can see your contacts listed there, your backup is working. Do this check once every few months.

Quick Tip

If you switch from iPhone to Android (or vice versa), you can import your contacts using the .vcf file export method. Both platforms can read .vcf files.

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