Changing an ecosystem always causes mixed feelings: on the one hand, delight in the new Apple iPhone 13 and its flawless operation, on the other hand, the fear of losing important data when moving. This is especially true for the phone book, which is the link between you and business partners, friends or relatives. Fortunately, modern technologies allow data migration to be carried out as painlessly and quickly as possible.
There are several proven methods for transferring records, each of which has its own advantages and nuances. The specific method you choose depends on what stage of setup your new smartphone is at and what tools you have at hand. We will consider all options: from automatic synchronization via the cloud to manual transfer via a computer.
Preparing a contact database before migration
Before you begin active steps to transfer data, you need to audit your current address book on the device Android. It often happens that numbers are not stored in a single storage, but are scattered across different accounts or the local phone memory. This may result in some records simply not being found during synchronization.
Go to the Contacts application and open the display settings. Make sure that showing all contacts is turned on, and not just those saved on the SIM card or in the device memory. Critical important Merge duplicates, if any, so that the new phone does not create a chaos of duplicate names.
The ideal option is to link all entries to your Google account. This creates a secure cloud backup that can be accessed from any device. If your numbers are stored only in the phone's memory, export them to a file format .vcf before starting any manipulations with the firmware or resetting the settings.
⚠️ Attention: If you plan to use the Move to iOS app, make sure Wi-Fi is turned on on your Android device, even if you are not connected to a specific network. Without an active wireless communication module, data transfer will be impossible.
☑️ Preparing for data transfer
Method one: Synchronization via Google account
The most reliable and universal transfer method is to use Google cloud services. Since the vast majority of Android users already have synchronization set up, this process often takes only a few minutes and does not require installing third-party software.
First, make sure contact syncing is enabled on your old phone. Go to the Settings → Accounts → Google section and click on your email address. In the list of services, make sure that the switch next to “Contacts” is active. You can also click the “Synchronize” button to force the data to update.
After the data has gone to the cloud, pick up your new one iPhone 13. Go to Menu Settings, then scroll down to the "Contacts" section. Select Accounts and click Add Account. In the list of providers, select the Google logo and enter your login information.
After logging in, the system will ask what data you want to synchronize. Be sure to check the box next to “Contacts”. The phone book will now start downloading automatically to the Phone app on iOS. This method is especially convenient because any future changes on Android will also be reflected on the iPhone if you leave the account active.
If contacts don't appear immediately after you turn on sync, try restarting your iPhone or go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts and turn the sync switch for your Google account off and on again.
Method two: Official Move to iOS application
Apple has developed a special application Move to iOSthat allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, messages and Wi-Fi settings directly from Android to iPhone. This method is ideal if you have just taken your new smartphone out of the box and are at the initial setup stage.
Start the iPhone setup process to the “App and Data” stage. Select the "Transfer data from Android" option. A six or ten digit code will appear on the screen. At this time, on your Android device you need to download and launch the “Move to iOS” application from the store Google Play.
Enter the code displayed on the iPhone screen into the corresponding field on your Android smartphone. The devices will establish a temporary, secure Wi-Fi connection. On the content selection screen, check the “Contacts” box. You can also choose other data to transfer, but keep in mind that large amounts of files may slow down the process.
Wait for the progress bar to finish loading on iPhone, even if the process appears to complete earlier on Android. Do not disconnect or close applications. After the migration is complete, you can continue setting up your iOS device, and all your contacts will already be in place.
⚠️ Attention: If you receive an incoming call or SMS while transferring data to Android, the process may be interrupted. It is recommended to enable Do Not Disturb mode on both devices before starting the migration.
What to do if the code is not accepted?
If the Android application does not accept the code from the iPhone, try restarting both devices. Also make sure that mobile data is turned off on Android during the process, as it may conflict with the temporary Wi-Fi network created by the iPhone.
Method three: Transfer via SIM card
This method is considered “old school,” but it is still relevant in situations where there is no access to the Internet or cloud services. However, it has a significant drawback: the SIM card has limited memory and does not support storing additional fields such as addresses, emails, or contact photos.
On your Android device, open the Contacts app, go to the settings menu (usually the three dots in the corner) and select "Manage contacts" or "Import/export contacts." Click on the "Export to SIM" option. The system will warn you about the loss of some information during transfer - confirm the action.
After the export is completed, remove the SIM card from the Android smartphone and insert it into the slot iPhone 13. If you have devices with different SIM card formats, use an adapter or contact your telecom operator for a replacement card. On your iPhone, go to Settings → Contacts.
At the bottom of the screen, find the item “Import SIM contacts.” Click on it, and the system will prompt you to choose where to save the data: in iCloud, a Gmail account, or directly to the iPhone memory (“On my iPhone”). Select your preferred option and wait for the process to complete.
| Transfer method | Speed | Saving photos | Requires Internet | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Account | High | Yes | Yes | Low |
| Move to iOS | Medium | Yes | No (local) | Medium |
| SIM card | Low | No | No | Low |
| VCF file | High | Yes | No | Medium |
Method four: Import a VCF file manually
If the previous methods for some reason do not suit you, you can use the universal vCard format (.vcf). This file contains all information about contacts and can be transferred in any convenient way: via instant messenger, email or Bluetooth.
On your Android device, export contacts to a file. This is usually done through the menu Settings → Contact management → Import/export → Export to .vcf file. The system will offer to save the file to internal memory. Find this file through the file manager.
Send the resulting file to your new iPhone. The easiest way is to send it to yourself via email or Telegram/WhatsApp, which are installed on your new device. Open the file on your iPhone.
iOS will automatically recognize the vCard format and offer to add found contacts. You will see a list of all the records that are contained in the file. Click the "Add All Contacts" button in the top corner of the screen. The data will instantly appear in your phone book.
The VCF format is the most universal solution, as it allows you to transfer contacts even between devices of different generations and operating systems without losing structured data.
Solving common problems during transfer
Despite the simplicity of the described procedures, users sometimes encounter technical difficulties. One of the common problems is that contacts are duplicated after synchronization. This happens if you imported data from a SIM card and then turned on synchronization with Google, where these numbers were already present.
To avoid duplicates, always check the data source before importing. On iPhone, you can use the function to merge duplicates: go to the Contacts application, and if the system detects duplicate entries, it will offer a “Merge” button at the top of the list.
Another problem is the lack of photos for contacts after transfer. This is typical for the SIM card method since it does not store graphics data. In this case, you will have to add photos manually or repeat the procedure through the Google cloud service, which supports image synchronization.
If contacts are not displayed immediately after setting up your account, check your privacy settings. In the section Settings → Privacy and Security → Contacts make sure that the Phone application and other necessary services are allowed access to your address book.
⚠️ Attention: The settings menu interface may vary slightly depending on the iOS version and Android shells (MIUI, OneUI, ColorOS). If you do not find the menu item along the described path, use the search inside the phone settings.
Why did the contacts disappear after updating iOS?
Sometimes after a major system update, synchronization settings may get lost. Go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts, select your account and make sure the Contacts switch is green. If not, turn it on.
Optimizing the phone book on a new device
After successfully transferring data, it is recommended to take time to put your new iPhone phone book in order. The iOS operating system offers convenient tools for sorting and editing entries that will make using the device more comfortable.
You can customize the order in which contacts are displayed: by first name or last name. This is done in the menu Settings → Contacts → Display order. There you can also select the default name format, which is especially important for business communication.
Don't forget to check the correctness of the imported numbers. Sometimes, when transferred from older systems, the number may be written in international format without a plus or with extra zeros. Open several random contacts and make sure that the number format allows you to make calls and send messages to instant messengers.
Now that your phone book is in perfect order, you can fully use all the features iPhone 13. Integration with other Apple services, such as iMessage and FaceTime, will only be possible for those contacts that are registered in the Apple ecosystem, but the base for this has already been created.
Is it possible to transfer contacts if the iPhone is already set up?
Yes, this is possible. You don't need to reset your phone to factory settings. Just go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts and add your Google account or import a VCF file in any convenient way. The data will be pulled into the existing phone book.
What to do if contacts are not synchronized with Google?
Check your Internet connection and make sure you are entering the correct account password. Also visit contacts.google.com on your computer to see if your numbers are visible there. If they are not on the site, then the problem is on the side of the Android device and synchronization there.
How many contacts can be stored on a SIM card?
The capacity of a SIM card is limited and usually ranges from 250 to 500 entries, depending on the operator and card type. In addition, the SIM card cannot store more than one number per contact, as well as additional data such as email addresses.
Is it safe to use the Move to iOS application?
Yes, the application is developed by Apple itself and is available in the official Google Play store. Data transfer occurs over a secure local Wi-Fi channel; information is not transmitted through third-party servers on the Internet, which guarantees confidentiality.
Is it possible to transfer call history along with contacts?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to transfer call logs (call history) using standard iOS and Android tools. Data migration apps typically only transfer contacts, messages, photos, and settings. The call history will remain only on the old device.