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    Phone & Tablet
    Beginner
    4 min read 6 stepsMay 8, 2026Verified May 2026

    How to Import Contacts From Your Old Phone to a New Phone

    Move your phone numbers and contacts from your old phone to your new one without losing anyone.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Phone & Tablet
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    4 min read
    Steps
    6
    Topics covered
    contacts
    new phone
    transfer
    iphone
    android

    In this guide (6 steps):

    1. 1.Check what kind of phone you have
    2. 2.For two iPhones, use iCloud
    3. 3.For two Androids, use your Google account
    4. 4.For switching between iPhone and Android
    5. 5.Ask your carrier for help if needed
    6. 6.Double-check your contacts after the move
    1

    Check what kind of phone you have

    ~15s
    Find out if your old phone and new phone are both iPhones, both Androids, or one of each. The transfer method depends on the answer. iPhones are made by Apple. Androids are made by Samsung, Google, Motorola, and many other brands.
    2

    For two iPhones, use iCloud

    ~18s
    On your old iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, tap iCloud, then tap Contacts and turn the switch on. On your new iPhone, sign in with the same Apple ID and turn on Contacts in the same place. Wait a few minutes and your list will appear.
    3

    For two Androids, use your Google account

    ~15s
    On your old Android, open Settings, tap Accounts, and make sure Contacts sync is turned on for your Google account. On your new Android, sign in with that same Google account during setup. Your contacts will download automatically.
    4

    For switching between iPhone and Android

    ~18s
    If moving from Android to iPhone, download the free Move to iOS app on your old Android before setting up the new iPhone. If moving from iPhone to Android, the new Android will offer to copy from iPhone during the setup screens. Follow the on-screen prompts and keep both phones plugged in.
    5

    Ask your carrier for help if needed

    ~16s
    Take both phones to a Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile store. Bring the password to your old phone and your account information. A store associate can transfer everything in about 15 minutes, often at no extra charge if you bought the new phone from them.
    6

    Double-check your contacts after the move

    ~17s
    Open the Contacts or Phone app on your new phone and scroll through the list. Call one or two people to test that the numbers work. If anyone is missing, your old phone may still have them in a separate place like SIM card or email account.

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    Getting a new phone is exciting, but losing your contacts is one of the biggest worries for most people. The good news is that modern phones make it straightforward to bring all your phone numbers, names, and email addresses with you. The exact steps depend on whether you are moving between two iPhones, two Android phones, or switching from one type to the other.

    If both phones are iPhones, your contacts move automatically through iCloud. Sign in to the same Apple ID on the new phone, turn on Contacts in iCloud settings, and your list will appear within a few minutes. If both phones are Android, signing in with the same Google account does the same job. Your contacts are stored in your Google account online, not on the phone itself. So they follow you to any Android device.

    Moving from iPhone to Android, or Android to iPhone, takes one extra step. Apple offers a free app called Move to iOS for Android users switching to iPhone. Google has a built-in transfer tool when you set up a new Android phone next to your old iPhone. Both methods use a cable or Wi-Fi to copy contacts, photos, and other items in one go.

    If the phones are different brands or you cannot find a transfer tool, you can export your contacts to a file called a vCard (.vcf), email it to yourself, and open it on the new phone. Your phone carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) can also help at any store, often for free when you buy a new phone. Bring both phones and your account password, and a store associate will copy everything for you in about 15 minutes.

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    Official Resources

    Apple Support — iPhoneGoogle Help — AndroidSamsung Support

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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