How to transfer contacts from iPhone to Android: all methods 2026

Moving from iPhone to a smartphone Android is always an exciting step, especially when it comes to the safety of important data. Contacts accumulated over the years become a major headache: how to transfer them quickly, without loss and without manually entering hundreds of names? Fortunately, in 2026 there is at least 5 reliable ways migration of contacts between ecosystems Apple and Google —from official tools to workarounds for complex cases.

In this article we will analyze each method in detail: from the simplest (synchronization via Google Account) to backup options for users who do not have access to iCloud or stable Internet. You'll learn how to avoid common mistakes - for example loss of contact photos when transferring via SIM card or duplicate entries when using third-party applications. And at the end you will find an FAQ with answers to the most frequently asked questions, including problems with the encoding of Cyrillic names.

It doesn’t matter whether you switch to a new one Samsung Galaxy S24, Google Pixel 8 or budget Xiaomi Redmi —the instructions below are suitable for any device on Android 10+ (and even for older versions with reservations). The main thing is to prepare both phones in advance and choose a method that suits your technical capabilities.

1. Transferring contacts via Google Account (the fastest way)

If you already have an account Google (for example, for Gmail or YouTube), this method will take no more than 5 minutes. The idea is simple: sync contacts from iPhone to Google Contacts, and then automatically transfer them to a new Android-smartphone. The advantage of this method is that all fields are saved (including photos, birthdays and notes), as well as the ability to edit later contacts from any device.

Here are step-by-step guide:

• 📱 On iPhone: Open Settings → Contacts → Accounts i click Add account. Select Google.
• 🔑 Enter your details Google Account (if you don’t have one - create here). Turn on the switch Contact.
• ☁️ Wait for synchronization to complete (may take up to 10 minutes depending on the number of contacts). You can check the progress in Settings → [Your name] → iCloud → Contacts —the green indicator should be lit there.
• 🤖 On Android: When you turn on the phone for the first time, the system will prompt you to log in Google Account —use the same one as on iPhone. Contacts will be loaded automatically. If the phone is already configured, go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Synchronization and enable Contact.

⚠️ Attention: If you use iCloud to store contacts, before synchronizing with Google disable it to avoid conflicts. Otherwise, duplicates or data loss during editing are possible.

Stable Wi-Fi connection on both devices

Enough free space in Google Account (1 contact ≈ 10–50 KB)

Disabled synchronizing contacts with iCloud (if used)

On Android, auto-sync is enabled in the account settings -->

This method is suitable for most users, but it has a limitation: the maximum number of contacts in a Google Account is 25,000. If you have more, you will have to use alternative methods (see section about vCard). It is also worth considering that Google can automatically merge duplicate contacts - this is convenient, but sometimes leads to the loss of some data (for example, if one person had two numbers in different records).

2. Exporting contacts via iCloud (for Apple users)

If you have actively used iCloud on iPhone, transferring through the service’s web interface will be the most reliable option. Unlike synchronization with Google, here you get full control over the data and can selectively export contacts (for example, only work or only with photos). The disadvantage of this method is that you need a computer or tablet to download the file.

How it works:

1. 🖥️ Open a browser on your computer and go to iCloud.com. Log in using your Apple ID.
2. 👥 Select section Contact. To export all records, click ⚙️ (gear) → Select all.
3. 📄 Click the same gear and select Export vCard.... The file with the extension .vcf will be downloaded to your computer.
4. 📲 Connect your smartphone to your computer and copy the file to the folder Android-smartphone to your computer and copy the file to a folder Downloads or Documents. Or send it to yourself by email or via Telegram.
5. 🤖 On Android open the file .vcf —the system will offer to import contacts into the phone book.

Advantages	Disadvantages
All fields are saved (photos, notes, custom labels)	Requires a computer or additional device
You can selectively export contact groups	File .vcf may not open on older versions of Android (below 8.0)
Works even without connecting the iPhone to the Internet (if iCloud was synchronized earlier)	With a large number of contacts (>10,000), import errors are possible

Important nuance: if you used multiple accounts on iPhone (for example, iCloud + Exchange), not all contacts may be in the exported file. To avoid this, make sure that synchronization is turned on for all sources before exporting. Also check that Settings → Contacts → Accounts synchronization is enabled for all sources. Also check that in iCloud all the necessary entries are displayed - sometimes they get “stuck” in local memory iPhone.

3. Transferring contacts via a SIM card (for devices without Internet)

This method seems archaic, but is still relevant in two cases: when you have no access to the Internet or when you need to transfer contacts to a Androiddevice without support for modern protocols (for example, to an old Samsung c Android 5.0). The disadvantages are obvious: the SIM card stores a limited number of contacts (usually up to 250) and does not save photos, email or additional fields.

Instructions:

• 📱 On iPhone: Go to Settings → Contacts → Import SIM contacts. If there is no item, then your model does not support export to SIM (relevant for iPhone 12 and newer - see spoiler below).
• 🔄 Select contacts to export (usually only phone numbers and names can be transferred). Confirm the action.
• 📶 Move the SIM card to Androidsmartphone.
• 🤖 On the new phone, open Contacts → Settings → Import/Export → Import from SIM card.

Why is there no export to SIM on new iPhones?

Starting from iPhone 12 (iOS 14+) Apple I have removed the function of exporting contacts to a SIM card. The official reason is “outdated storage format.” If you have a new model, use the alternative methods from this article.

⚠️ Attention: When transferred via a SIM card Cyrillic characters (Russian names) may appear as crappy names. This is due to the encoding UTF-8, which not all operators support correctly. To avoid the problem, before exporting, rename the contacts in Latin characters (for example, “Ivanov Ivan” → “Ivanov Ivan”).

If your Androidphone does not see the contacts on the SIM card, check:

• 🔌 Whether the SIM is inserted correctly (sometimes the device needs to be rebooted).
• 📱 Format compatibility: older phones may not read USIMcards (used in iPhone after 2018).
• 🔧 Import settings: some shells (for example, MIUI na Xiaomi) hide the import option in Advanced settings → System.

4. Using third-party applications (Move to iOS, Copy My Data)

For those who do not want to tinker with manual settings, there are specialized applications. The most popular are Move to iOS (from Apple) and Copy My Data (from Media Mushroom). The first one is intended for migrating data from Android to iPhone, but there is a workaround for reverse migration. The second is universal and works in both directions.

Move to iOS (reverse transfer):

Although the application does not officially support transfer from iPhone to Android, you can use it to create a backup copy of contacts in an intermediate format. To do this:

1. Install the application on iPhone application Move to iOS (yes, it is also in App Store!).
2. Follow the instructions until the backup stage, but do not complete the process.
3. The contact file will be saved in temporary storage Apple. It can be retrieved via iTunes (on Windows) or Finder (on Mac) as .vcf.

Copy My Data:

A simpler solution:

• 📱 Install Copy My Data on both phones (App Store and Google Play).
• 🔗 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
• 📲 On iPhone select To Android, on Android — From iOS.
• 👥 Check the box Contact and start the transfer.

Via Google Account

Via iCloud (.vcf file)

Via SIM card

Using a third-party application

Another way-->

⚠️ Attention: Applications like Copy My Data can request access to Contacts, Photos and Locations. Before installing, check reviews in App Store/Google Play - some analogues contain advertising or collect data. We recommend using only proven tools with a rating above 4.5.

The advantage of third-party applications is automatic comparison of fields (for example, work and personal numbers will not be mixed) and support for additional data like addresses or social networks. However, they also have disadvantages:

• 🚫 Not all applications work correctly with Cyrillic (the problem is relevant for Shaanxi, MobileTrans).
• 💰 Free versions often limit the number of transferred contacts (for example, up to 200).
• 🔄 With a large amount of data (500+ contacts), synchronization failures are possible.

5. Manual transfer via email (for a small number of contacts)

If If you have less than 50 contacts and don’t want to deal with the settings, you can use mailbox as an intermediary. The method is suitable for selective transfer (for example, only close friends or colleagues). The main advantage is that no additional apps are required, only access to email on both devices.

Algorithm actions:

1. 📱 On iPhone open the application Contact and select the desired entry.
2. 📤 Press Share contact (at the bottom of the screen) and select Mail.
3. ✉️ Send a letter to your email (for example, to Gmail).
4. 📲 On Android open the letter and download the attached file .vcf. When opened, the system will offer to add a contact to the phone book.

To speed up the process you can:

• 📋 Send contacts in batches 5-10 pieces (in iOS this is done by selecting several records and selecting Share).
• 🏷️ Add tags to the email subject (for example, “Work contacts”) to make sorting easier later.
• 🔍 Use email search using keywords (for example, “vcf”) to quickly find all sent contacts.

Please note: some email clients (for example, Yandex Mailmay block attachments .vcf as "suspicious" in this case. use Gmail or send files via Telegram (bot @SaveAsBot allows you to save contacts to the cloud).

6. Transferring contacts from a damaged iPhone (emergency situations)

What to do, if iPhone does not turn on, is broken or blocked, and contacts are not synchronized with iCloud? In such cases, backup to iTunes/Finder or specialized tools like iMazing (for Windows/macOS) will help.

Method 1: Restoring from an iTunes backup

If you have ever connected iPhone to a computer and made a backup:

1. 🖥️ Connect iPhone to your PC and open iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
2. 🔄 If the phone is not detected, put it in recovery mode (instructions depend on the model - for iPhone 8 and newer: Quick press + → Quick press – → Hold the side button).
3. 💾 Restore data from the last backup. Contacts will appear in iTunes in the section Information → Contacts.
4. 📤 Export them to a file .vcf via File → Export.

Method 2: apps for data extraction (iMazing, iExplorer)

If there is no backup, but the phone at least somehow reacts to the connection:

• 🛠️ Install iMazing (official website) or iExplorer.
• 📡 Connect iPhone to your computer. The app will scan the device even when it is turned off (if it is recognized as a drive).
• 👥 In the Data → Contacts section, select the required entries and export them to .vcf or .csv.

⚠️ Attention: apps like iMazing can cost between $30 and $50, but they often save data in critical situations. Before purchasing, check whether the app supports your model iPhone and version iOS (for example, iMazing works with iOS 5–17, but iOS 18+ may require an update).

If iPhone it is completely dead (does not respond to charging, is not detected by the computer), there is a last chance - contact the service center Apple with proof of ownership of the device. They can extract the data using professional equipment, but it will take time and cost $100–300.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

🔹 Why did contact photos disappear after the transfer?

Contact photos are stored separately from the main data and are not always transferred automatically. To save them:

• When using Google Contacts make sure that synchronization is turned on in the settings iPhone (in some versions Photos of contacts (in some versions iOS this is a separate switch).
• When exporting via .vcf photos will only be saved if the file was created via iCloud (and not via iTunes).
• Use third-party applications like My Contacts Backup (exports photos to a separate archive).

🔹 Is it possible to transfer contacts without a computer?

Yes, there are three ways without a PC:

1. Synchronization via Google Account (section 1 of this articles).
2. Using applications like Copy My Data (Section 4).
3. Sending contacts by email one at a time (Section 5).

If you do not have access to the Internet, it remains only SIM card (section 3), but with limitations.

🔹 Not all contacts were transferred. How to find lost ones?

Causes of data loss:

• 📵 The contacts were linked to another account (for example, Exchange or FacebookCheck all sources in Settings → Contacts → Accounts on iPhone.
• 🔄 Synchronization was interrupted. Try repeating the process, first disabling iCloud for contacts.
• 🗑️ The contacts were deleted earlier, but remained in Recent. IN iCloud yes. folder Deleted (stores records for 30 days).

To restore:

1. Check the archive in iCloud: iCloud.com → Contacts → Settings (⚙️) → Restore contacts.
2. Use the app Undeleter (for Android) or Dr.Fone (for iPhone) to scan your device for lost data.

🔹 How to transfer groups of contacts (for example, "Family", "Work")?

Contact groups are not transferred in all methods:

• ✅ Save: When exporting via iCloud (.vcf with groups) or synchronizing with Google Contacts (groups will become tags).
• ❌ Lost: When transferred via SIM card or mail.

To restore groups on Android:

1. Open Google Contacts in the browser: contacts.google.com.
2. Select the desired contacts → Manage labels → Create a label.
3. Name the label the same as the group on iPhone (for example, "Family").

🔹 After transferring, the contacts are duplicated. clear?

Duplicates occur if:

• You used several transfer methods (for example, both Google Accountand SIM card).
• On Android there were already contacts that matched the transferred ones.

How to remove duplicates:

1. 🧹 In Google Contacts click Duplicates → Merge (automatically will find and merge duplicate entries).
2. 📱 On Android open Contacts → Settings → Merge contacts.
3. 🛠️ Use applications like Duplicate Contacts (available in Google Play).

To avoid duplicates in the future, before transferring turn off contact synchronization with all accounts except the target one (for example, Google).