Changing a mobile device often raises concerns about the safety of personal information, especially the phone book. Losing the numbers of friends, colleagues and emergency services is a scenario that any user wants to avoid. Fortunately, the ecosystem Android and proprietary solutions Samsung offer many reliable tools for seamless data migration. You don't need to manually rewrite hundreds of numbers or be afraid that the information will disappear during the setup process.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the current methods for transferring contacts between Samsung devices and other Android smartphones. We will consider both cloud solutions and local transfer methods without using the Internet. The specific method you choose depends on the condition of your old phone, account availability, and personal preference. Let's take a closer look at each option so you can choose the one that best suits your situation.
Synchronizing through a Google account is the most reliable method
Using Google cloud storage is the gold standard for Android users. This method ensures that your contacts will be safe even in the event of physical breakdown or loss of the device. Synchronization occurs automatically in the background, so you do not need to take unnecessary steps after the initial setup.
To get started, make sure you're signed in to your Google account on your old phone. Go to the device settings, find the section Accounts and archiving or simply Accounts. Select the Gmail profile you want and make sure the switch next to Contacts is turned on. After turning on, the system will immediately begin uploading data to the corporation’s servers.
On a new Samsung device, the recovery process takes a matter of minutes. When you turn on your phone for the first time, enter the same email address and password. The system will offer to restore data from a backup copy - agree with this offer. Contact will appear in the phone book immediately after synchronization is completed, even if you have not yet installed all applications.
This method is especially convenient in that it does not depend on the type of operating system of the old device. You can transfer data from an iPhone or feature phone by first synchronizing it with your Google account through the web interface or special applications.
Always check the sync.google.com/contacts address on your computer to make sure that all numbers are actually uploaded to the cloud before resetting the old phone.
Samsung Smart Switch proprietary application for migration
Samsung has developed its own powerful solution called Smart Switch, which is pre-installed on most of their modern devices. This app allows you to transfer not only your contacts, but also your messages, photos, screen settings, and even your home screen layout. The transfer process can be carried out either over a wireless network Wi-Fior via cable USB.
To get started, launch the application on both devices. On your new Samsung phone, select the "Receive data" mode, and on your old one, select "Send data". If the old device is also a Samsung, the system will prompt you to use a cable to speed up the process. If you use another brand of Android, the connection most often occurs via a wireless protocol.
Once the connection is established, you will be offered a list of categories to transfer. Select "Contacts" and press the transfer button. The speed of the process depends on the size of the phone book and the quality of the connection. Typically, transferring several thousand entries takes no more than a couple of minutes.
☑️ Preparing to work with Smart Switch
⚠️ Attention: When transferring data via cable, make sure that you use the original adapter
USB-Cor a high-quality adapter, since cheap cables may not support data transfer, providing only charging.
One of the main advantages of Smart Switch is the ability to transfer data from devices that do not support full Google synchronization, for example, from old BlackBerry or Windows Phone phones (if you have the appropriate adapters). This makes the tool a universal solution for complex migration.
Export and import via VCF file format
The method using file VCF (vCard) is universal and does not require a constant Internet connection at the time of transfer. You create a single file containing your entire phone book, which can then be transferred in any convenient way: via instant messenger, email or Bluetooth.
To create a file, open the Contacts application on your old phone. Click on the menu (usually three horizontal bars or dots) and select "Manage contacts" or "Settings". Find the option Import/export contacts and select "Export to .vcf file". The system will offer to save the file to the internal memory of the device.
After creating the file, transfer it to your new Samsung smartphone. This can be done via Quick Share (analogous to AirDrop for Android) by sending the file to yourself via Telegram or email. On the receiving device, simply open the received file - the system will automatically offer to import the found entries into the phone book.
This method is ideal if you want to make a local backup before selling the phone or if you do not have access to a Wi-Fi network. The VCF file is supported by almost all operating systems, including iOS and Windows, which makes it an excellent option for cross-platform transfer.
What to do if the file does not open?
If the system does not offer import when you click on the file, try opening it through the Contacts application manually by selecting the import option from the device memory and specifying the path to the downloaded file.
Transferring contacts via SIM card
Although this method is considered obsolete due to limitations in memory capacity and data format, it remains relevant for emergencies or when using very old push-button phones. The SIM card acts as a physical storage medium without requiring any network settings.
First you need to copy the data to the card. Go to the contacts application on your old device, select settings and press Copy from phone to SIM card. Please note that the SIM card has limited capacity and often does not support storing additional fields such as email addresses or photos of subscribers.
After copying, remove the SIM card and install it in your new Samsung smartphone. Go to the contacts application, select the import menu and specify the source SIM card. Select contacts to copy and confirm. The data will be transferred to the phone memory or Google account.
| Characteristics | SIM card | Google Account | VCF file |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts limit | Up to 250 (depending on the operator) | No restrictions | No restrictions |
| Saving photos | No | Yes | Yes |
| Add. fields (Email, Address) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Network dependence | No | Required Internet | No (for local transfer) |
Use this method only as a last resort when other options are not available. Remember that when transferring via SIM, you risk losing some of the important information about contacts, which simply will not fit into the memory cells of the card.
The SIM card is only suitable for basic name and phone numbers; for a full profile transfer, it is better to use cloud services or VCF files.
Transfer via Bluetooth and Quick Share
Technology Bluetooth allows you to transfer contacts one by one or in groups without using the Internet and cables. In modern Samsung smartphones, this function has evolved into a protocol Quick Sharethat works much faster and more stable than classic Bluetooth.
To send, open your contact list, press your finger on the desired number (or select several through the menu) and click the "Share" icon. From the list of available methods, select Bluetooth or Quick Share. The receiving device must confirm the request to receive the file.
This method is convenient for quickly transmitting several important numbers “here and now,” for example, when you met a friend and want to exchange data. However, for migrating an entire phone book of thousands of entries, it can be too slow and inconvenient due to the need to confirm each operation.
⚠️ Attention: When using classic Bluetooth, make sure that both devices are visible to others, as file transfer will not be possible in hidden mode. In Quick Share, visibility is adjusted automatically.
It is worth noting that when transferring via Bluetooth, contacts are sent as separate vCard files. On the receiving end, you may need to confirm the import for each file separately, if they are not combined into one archive in advance.
Troubleshooting problems and common errors during migration
Sometimes the data migration process may be interrupted or fail with an error. Most often this is due to insufficient memory on the device, outdated software or a conflict between Android versions. If you encounter a problem, the first thing to do is check whether there is free space in your phone memory.
Make sure that both devices have the latest version of synchronization applications. For Google, these are Google Play services, for Samsung - updating the application Smart Switch through the store Galaxy Store. Outdated software may not process new data formats correctly.
If contacts are displayed but without names (only numbers), check which storage they are linked to. Sometimes, after importing, recordings are saved to the SIM card memory instead of the Google account. Go to the contact display settings and make sure that the correct source is selected.
Why are duplicate contacts?
Duplicates often occur when several accounts are synchronized at the same time. Use the Merge Duplicates option in the contacts management menu to clear your list.
In rare cases, you may need to clear the Contacts app cache. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → Contacts → Memory and click the "Clear cache" button. This will not delete your numbers, but will clear temporary errors in the app.
⚠️ Attention: The settings menu interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the One UI shell and the model of your Samsung smartphone. If you don't find the item you need, use the search in the settings.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will contacts be deleted from the old phone after the transfer?
No, standard copying or synchronizing procedures do not delete data from the original device. Contacts remain on the old phone until you delete them yourself or perform a full reset.
Is it possible to transfer contacts if the old phone is broken and does not turn on?
If the phone does not turn on, software methods will not work. However, if you've previously used Google sync, your contacts are already saved in the cloud and are available on any device when you sign in. If the data was only on the SIM card, move it to the new phone.
How to transfer contacts from iPhone to Samsung?
The best way is to install the "Move to iOS" application on the iPhone to set up a new Samsung, or synchronize iPhone contacts with your Google account through iCloud settings, and then log into this account on Samsung.
Where they are stored contacts after import - in the phone memory or on the card?
By default, modern Samsung smartphones offer to save contacts in a Google account. This is the preferred option. Storing in the phone memory is risky if it breaks down, and on the SIM card due to capacity limitations.
What to do if contact names are displayed in hieroglyphs during import?
This is a VCF file encoding problem. Try opening the file on your computer in Notepad and saving it in UTF-8 encoding, or use the Smart Switch application, which automatically handles encodings of different regions correctly.