You’ve decided to make the leap from Android to iOS, but moving doesn’t have to be stressful! If you don’t fancy manually adding each of your contacts to your new iPhone, this guide shows how to quickly and easily transfer your contacts from Android to iOS.
Good to know: you may also be interested in learning how to change the default account for contacts on Android and iPhone.
Method 1: Using Apple’s Official App
Apple offers the Move to iOS app for Android users who are ready to jump ship to the iOS camp. It allows you to transfer contacts, media, bookmarks, email accounts, messages, and more from your Android to your new iOS device over a private Wi-Fi network that is created automatically.
Note: the Move to iOS app is designed to aid in setting up your iPhone. If you’ve already completed the setup process, you’ll need to reset your iPhone, then run the Move to iOS app.
Go through the iOS Setup Assistant steps on your iPhone. Connect to your local Wi-Fi, set up a passcode, and accept Apple’s terms & conditions.
When you reach the Apps & Data screen, select the From Android option, then press Continue.
Download the Move to iOS app from the Google Play Store on your Android. Read the information about how the app works, then press Continue.
Read the Terms and Conditions, and tap the Agree button. Press Continue to allow app location permissions and notifications on the next couple of screens until you reach the Find Your Code screen.
There will be a one-time code on your iPhone screen. Enter this on your Android phone. This should initiate the pairing process between the two devices. In the next step, you’ll be able to select which files you’d like to transfer.
Keep following the onscreen instructions to complete the standard iPhone setup process. When your iPhone boots, you’ll have access to all of your contacts.
Tip: if you’re still not quite sure whether an iPhone is for you, check out this comparison between Android and iPhone,
Method 2: Sync Contact Data to Google Account
I, on the other hand, opted to sync my data via my Google account. Since I had been immersed in the Google ecosystem for years before purchasing an iPhone, it was the natural solution for me.
You can transfer your contacts by syncing this information with your Google account and then logging into the same Google account on your iPhone.
First, make sure your contacts are synced with your Google account. Launch the Settings application on your Android phone, and navigate to Google. Switch to the All services tab, and swipe to the Backup & restore section. Tap Backup.
Make sure the Back up by Google One option is on. You can also press the Back up now button to create a fresh backup.
Switch to your iPhone, and launch the Settings app. Tap Mail.
Select the Accounts option, the press Add Account.
Select Google and log in with your credentials. Use the same Google account you used to create the earlier backup.
After a few seconds, all of your contacts will be synced to your iPhone.
FYI: learn how to fix the “No SIM card detected” error if it pops up on your Android or iPhone.
Method 3: Using the SIM Card
On some phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy, you may have the option to save your contacts to your SIM card. This is not a widely available feature, as SIM cards have limited storage. Typically, a SIM card will hold between 250 and 500 contacts. If your contacts list is larger, you may want to consider a different option.
To transfer your contacts via your SIM card, open your Contacts app on your Android phone, and press the gear icon or three dots in the upper-right corner.
Depending on your phone model, select SIM card contacts or Manage contacts.
Press Export contacts, and select where to export the contacts by tapping on your SIM card.
To select the contacts you wish to export, remove the SIM card from your Android phone, and insert it into your iPhone. Open the Settings app, and select Contacts.
Press Import SIM Contacts.
Select where you want to import them to, such as Gmail.
Method 4: Make a VCF File
If you want to port over only a handful of contacts, or you don’t use Google/Gmail, this method would be ideal.
On your Android phone, open the Contacts app. Long-press on the contacts you wish to transfer. Press the Share icon in the upper-right corner.
Your phone will generate a VCF file that you can share with others via email or chat apps. I opted to send them to myself via WhatsApp.
Alternatively, if you wish to create a VCF file of all your contacts to be saved to your device, switch to the Organize tab in the Contacts app. Press Export to file toward the bottom.
Select a Google account, and press Export.
You’ll need to select where you want to save this VCF file on your device. I suggest opting for the Downloads folder. You can then send the file to yourself via email.
On the iPhone, open WhatsApp, and press on View all on the contacts card to view all the numbers.
Press the Add button for each contact to add them to your iPhone’s Contacts app.
Choose Create a new contact for each.
Method 5: Third-Party Apps
If you don’t like any of these methods, use one of these third-party apps to facilitate the contact transfer from your Android device to your iPhone:
Related: Learn how to unlock the eye-tracking feature on iPhones.
Now that you’ve transferred everything over to your new iPhone, learn how to share contacts with others from your iPhone. Then, take a well-deserved break, and try one of the best offline iPhone games you can play for free.
Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Alexandra Arici.
