# How do I transfer contacts to a new iPhone?

If both iPhones use the same Apple Account, turn on iCloud Contacts or use Quick Start during setup and the contacts in that account come across. If you are not using iCloud, export a vCard from the old phone and open that file on the new one.

By Aivana LLC. Updated 3 November 2026.

## What to do

Where the contacts live matters more than which cable you use. A phone can show iCloud, Gmail, and work contacts in one list while each account keeps its own copy.

1. **On a new phone that is still on the hello screen.** Quick Start, bringing the old iPhone close during setup, moves the device. After it finishes, open Contacts and check Lists. Account contacts only appear if that account was added.
2. **If both phones use the same Apple Account.** On each phone go to Settings, your name, iCloud, and turn Contacts on. If iOS asks about contacts that were only on the phone, read the choice before you tap. Merge keeps them. Don't keep them can leave them behind.
3. **If you do not want iCloud.** On the old phone, export each list as a vCard from Contacts. Send the file to the new phone. Tap the .vcf attachment in Mail or Messages to import it. Apple documents both the export and the import.
4. **Check every account, not just the total.** A Gmail contact does not move because iCloud is on. Add the Google or Exchange account on the new phone, or export that list as its own file.

## What not to do

- Do not erase the old phone the same hour you start. Wait until you have opened Contacts on the new phone and found the people you text every week.
- Do not import the same vCard twice if the names already appeared. You will get duplicates.
- Do not send the vCard to a public link or a group chat.

If an account list is empty on both phones, sign in on the web for that account (Google Contacts, or your workplace directory) before you assume the phone deleted anyone.

## Where Backup Contact Plus helps

Backup Contact Plus gives you an export and a restore when you want a file you keep, including a move that does not turn iCloud Contacts on. The iPhone can already export a list. The app is the dedicated path, not the only path.

## Other ways

### Quick Start or an iCloud backup of the whole phone

Best when you are setting the new iPhone up from the old one and you are fine using your Apple Account.

### A vCard, account by account

Best when the new phone is already set up, the Apple Accounts differ, or you do not use iCloud for contacts.

## Questions

### The new phone shows fewer people. What happened?

Open Lists. You are often looking at one account. The others are still on the old phone, or in Gmail, until you add that account or import its file.

### Can I move contacts to an Android phone this way?

A vCard is the file most Android phones can import. Export it on the iPhone, get the file onto the Android phone, and use that phone's import. iCloud will not follow you to Android.

### Do I have to reset the new iPhone to use Quick Start?

Quick Start is part of setup. If the new phone is already in use, export a vCard instead of erasing it.

### Will SIM contacts come along?

Not automatically. If you still have contacts on a SIM, import them from Settings, Apps, Contacts, Import SIM Contacts, on a phone that has that menu, and then export the list you want to keep.

## Sources

- Apple Support: Sync contacts across devices. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/sync-contacts-across-devices-iphdfe5a59f5/ios
- Apple Support: Export contacts on iPhone. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/export-contacts-iph075ddebf2/ios
- Apple Support: Import contacts on iPhone. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/import-contacts-iph356499f31/ios

## Related guides

- [How do I back up iPhone contacts without iCloud?](https://aivanaapps.com/apps/backup-contact-plus/guides/backup-contacts-without-icloud/)

App: https://aivanaapps.com/apps/backup-contact-plus/
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6748915534