How to transfer contacts from Android to Android: step-by-step guide for beginners

Moving to a new smartphone is always an exciting time. Especially when it comes to saving important data, among which contacts occupy first place. Losing the phone numbers of friends, colleagues or relatives can result in serious inconvenience. Fortunately, Android offers several simple ways to transfer contacts, and you don't need technical knowledge or special apps.

Many users mistakenly think that this operation requires cables, computers, or complex settings. In fact, everything is much simpler: just choose a convenient method - through Google account, Bluetooth, SIM card or specialized applications. In this article we will analyze each option taking into account the characteristics of different manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, etc.)and also give advice on how to avoid common mistakes.

If you have never synchronized data before, don’t worry: the instructions are designed so that even a child can handle them. The main thing is to take your time and follow the steps. And if something goes wrong, at the end of the article you will find answers to frequently asked questions and solutions to common problems.

1. Preparing for the transfer: what needs to be done in advance

Before you start transferring contacts, make sure that both smartphones are ready for the procedure. This will save time and eliminate surprises.

On old phone check:

• 🔋 Battery charge - at least 30%. Data transfer may take up to 10–15 minutes, and discharging during the process will lead to failure.
• 📶 Internet connection (if you use Google account or cloud services). Wi-Fi is preferable to a mobile network.
• 📱 System updates. An outdated version Android may not support modern synchronization methods. Check in Settings → System → Software update.

On new phone:

• 🔑 Log in to your Google account (if you plan to use synchronization). This is the same account as on the old device!
• 📲 Install the necessary applications (for example, Mi Mover for Xiaomi or Smart Switch for Samsung), if you will transfer data through them.
• 🛡️ Disable ad blockers or VPNs —they can interfere with synchronization.

⚠️ Attention: If on your old phone contacts are saved only on SIM card, and not in the device memory, transfer them will take longer. You may have to manually copy numbers into the phone book.

It would be a good idea to make a backup copy of your contacts. To do this, go to Contacts → Settings → Import/Export → Export to device. The file will be saved in the format .vcf and can be restored to a new smartphone at any time.

2. Method 1: Synchronization via Google account (the most reliable)

This is a universal method that works on all Android smartphones, regardless of the manufacturer. The main condition is the presence of an active connection to the Internet and one Google account on both devices.

Step-by-step guide:

1. On on your old phone open Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Google.
2. Select your account and make sure the switch opposite "Contacts"** is turned on. If not, move it to the right.
3. Wait 5-10 minutes for the contacts to be uploaded to the cloud. You can check the synchronization status in the same menu.
4. On new phone log in to the same Google account and enable contact synchronization.
5. Open the application Contact —all numbers should appear automatically.

If contacts are not displayed, try:

• 🔄 Refresh the contact list (pull the screen down in the application Contact).
• 📱 Restart both phone.
• 🔧 Check if synchronization is disabled in your account settings.

⚠️ Attention: If on your old phone the contacts are saved on SIM card or in the device memory (not in Google account), they must first be exported to your account. To do this, in Contacts select Settings → Import/Export → Export to Google account.

Log in to one account on both phones|Enable contact synchronization|Wait for upload to the cloud to complete|Check the appearance of contacts on the new device-->

3. Method 2: Transfer via Bluetooth (without Internet)

If you do not have access to Wi-Fi or mobile data, Bluetooth will be an excellent alternative. This method is suitable for transferring a small number of contacts (up to 500–1000 pieces), since transferring large amounts of data can take a long time.

How to transfer contacts by Bluetooth:

1. On both phones, enable Bluetooth in the quick settings panel or via Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.
2. Make phones visible for other devices (the “Make visible” or “Search for devices” option).
3. On old phone open Contact, select Settings → Import/Export → Send contacts.
4. Select the desired contacts (or click “Select all”) and select Bluetooth.
5. Confirm receipt of the file on new phone and wait until the transfer is completed.
6. On the new device, open the received file .vcf and confirm the import.

Advantages of the method:

• 🌐 Does not require Internet.
• 🔒 Safe - data is transferred directly between devices.
• 📱 Works even on very old smartphones.

Disadvantages:

• ⏳ Slower than syncing via Google.
• 📵 May not work if the phones have different versions Bluetooth (for example, Bluetooth 4.0 i Bluetooth 5.2).

4. Method 3: Using a SIM card (for old phones)

This method is relevant for devices Released before 2015–2016, or if you want to transfer only main contacts (phone numbers without additional information like email or addresses Modern). data-i="156">(nano-SIM) have limited memory - usually up to 250 contacts. SIM cards (nano-SIM) have limited memory - usually up to 250 contacts.

Instructions:

1. On on your old phone open Contacts → Settings → Import/Export → Export to SIM card.
2. Select contacts to export (or click “Select all”) and confirm action.
3. Wait for copying to complete (may take 1-2 minutes).
4. Remove SIM card and insert it into new phone.
5. On the new device, go to Contacts → Settings → Import/Export → Import from SIM card.
6. Select a storage location (for example, Google account or phone memory) and confirm the import.

Method limitations:

• 📵 Only saved phone numbers and names —photos, email, addresses and notes will be lost.
• 🔢 The number of contacts is limited by the capacity SIM cards.
• 📱 On some phones (for example, iPhone or Huawei without Google Mobile Services) the import/export option to SIM may be missing.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using a dual-SIM phone, make sure to export contacts to that SIM card. which you then insert into the new device. Sometimes smartphones save data to the “wrong” SIM card.

5. Method 4: Special applications from manufacturers

Large brands like Samsung, Xiaomi or Huawei develop their own utilities for transferring data. They often work faster and more reliably than standard methods, especially if both phones are the same brand.

Popular applications:

Manufacturer	Application name	Features	Download link
Samsung	Smart Switch	Transfers contacts, messages, photos and applications. Works via Wi-Fi or cable.	Google Play / Galaxy Store
Xiaomi	Mi Mover	Supports data transfer between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO. Requires a QR code to connect.	Preinstalled on phones
Huawei	Phone Clone	Works without Google Mobile Services. Transfers contacts, calendars and notes.	AppGallery / Google Play
OPPO/Realme	Clone Phone	Supports data transfer from iPhone and other Androiddevices.	Google Play

Example of transfer via Smart Switch (Samsung):

1. Install Smart Switch on both phones (available in Google Play or Galaxy Store).
2. On new phone select Get data → Android.
3. On old phone select Send data → Wireless transfer.
4. Place the phones close to each other and wait for automatic connection.
5. Select "Contacts"** and confirm the transfer.

Advantages of proprietary utilities:

• 🚀 High speed —data is transferred directly via Wi-Fi.
• 📱 Support for additional data (photos of contacts, call history).
• 🔒 Minimum risk of data loss thanks to optimization for specific models.

⚠️ Attention: Some applications (for example, Mi Mover) require that both phones have same version of the app. If the transfer does not start, update the utility through the app store.

What to do if the application does not see the second phone?

1. Make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (if using wireless transfer).

2. Check if your antivirus or firewall is blocking the connection.

3. Restart the application on both phones.

4. If you are using a cable, try another USB connector or cable (preferably the original one).

6. Method 5: Manual export/import via VCF file

Format .vcf (vCard) is a universal standard for storing contacts. All modern smartphones support it, so this method is suitable if other methods do not work.

How to transfer contacts via .vcf:

1. On old phone open Contacts → Settings → Import/Export → Export to device.
2. Select format .vcf and confirm the export. The file will be saved in the internal memory (usually in the folder Downloads or Contacts).
3. Transfer the file to new phone in any convenient way:
   • 📎 By email (send to yourself mail).
   • ☁️ Through the cloud (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk).
   • 📱 By Bluetooth or via cable.

On the new phone, open the file .vcf (for example, via Files or Contact) and select Import.

Advantages of the method:

• 🌍 Works on any devices, including iPhone and Android.
• 📄 Saves all information about the contact (photo, email, addresses).
• 🔄 You can edit the file .vcf on your computer before importing.

Disadvantages:

• 📂 Requires manual control - it is easy to lose the file during transfer.
• 📵 If there are many contacts (thousands), the file may not open on some phones.

7. data-i="282">Even when following the instructions, users sometimes encounter problems. Let's look at the most common ones and how to solve them.

Even when following the instructions, users sometimes encounter problems. Let's look at the most common ones and ways to solve them.

Problem 1: Contacts are not synchronized via Google account.

• 🔍 Cause: Disabled synchronization or no Internet.
• ⚙️ Solution:
  1. Check your network connection.
  2. Go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Account synchronization and turn on the switch for "Contacts"**.
  3. Update Google Contacts to Play Market.

Problem 2: When transferred via Bluetooth contacts are duplicated.

• 🔍 Reason: The new phone already has some contacts, and they merge with the new ones.
• ⚙️ Solution: Before importing, delete old contacts or use the option "Merge duplicates"** in settings Contacts.

Problem 3: The transfer application (for example, Smart Switch) does not see the second phone.

• 🔍 Reason:
  • Different versions of the application.
  • Connection blocking antivirus.
  • Incompatibility of versions Android.
  • ⚙️ Solution:
    1. Update the application on both phones.
    2. Disable the antivirus or firewall.
    3. Try connecting via cable instead Wi-Fi.

Problem 4: After the transfer, photos of contacts disappeared.

• 🔍 Reason: Photos may not be transferred when exported to SIM card or via Bluetooth.
• ⚙️ Solution: Use .vcf-file or proprietary utilities (Smart Switch, Mi Mover), which save all information.

⚠️ Attention: If you you are using dual-SIM a phone and the contacts are saved on one of the SIM cards; after removing it, the numbers may disappear from the phone book. Always check where your contacts are stored (Settings → Contacts → Storage location).

8. Additional tips and recommendations

To make the transfer of contacts go smoothly, use these tips:

🔹 Check the contact storage format:

Go to Contacts → Settings → Storage location and make sure that they are saved in Google account or phone memory, not on SIM card. This will simplify the transfer and protect against data loss.

🔹 Use backup:

Before any manipulations with contacts, make a backup copy of them. To do this, export them to a file .vcf or synchronize with Google. This way you can restore your data if something goes wrong.

🔹 Update the software:

An outdated version Android may not support modern transfer methods. Check for updates in Settings → System → Software update.

🔹 Clear duplicates:

After transferring contacts, duplicate entries may appear on the new phone. Use the built-in duplicate merge feature (usually in Settings → Contacts → Manage contacts).

🔹 Check access rights:

If the transfer application (for example Smart Switch) requests access to contacts, files or location, allow them. Without this, the transfer will not be possible.

💡

If you often change phones, set up automatic synchronization of contacts with your Google account. This way they will always be at hand, even if the device breaks or is lost.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to transfer contacts? from Android to iPhone?
Yes, for this use:
• 🔹 Google account: Synchronize contacts with Google, then add this account to iPhone to Settings → Passwords and accounts.
• 🔹 VCF file: Export contacts to .vcf and send it to iPhone by email or via iCloud.
• 🔹 Move to iOS application (from Apple) - transfers contacts, messages and photos during the first setup iPhone.
Why after transfer some Are contacts displayed incorrectly (hieroglyphs, missing names)?
This is due to encoding incompatibility. Solutions:
• 🔹 Try a different transfer method (for example, through .vcf instead of Bluetooth).
• 🔹 Open the file .vcf on your computer in a text editor and check the encoding (should be UTF-8).
• 🔹 Update the application Contact on the new phone.
How to transfer contacts if the old phone is broken or does not turn on?
Options:
• 🔹 If the phone turns on, but the screen does not work, connect it to your computer via USB and copy the file .vcf from the folder Contacts.
• 🔹 If synchronization with Googlewas enabled, contacts will be automatically restored to the new phone after logging into your account.
• 🔹 Contact the service center - specialists can extract data from the damaged device.
Is it possible to transfer contacts without the Internet and Bluetooth?
Yes, there are several ways:
• 🔹 Via SIM card (limited to 250 contacts).
• 🔹 Via .vcf-file transferred via cable or on a flash drive (if the phone supports OTG).
• 🔹 Using proprietary utilities (for example, Smart Switch via a USB cable).
How to transfer contacts from Android to Android if both phones are from different manufacturers (for example, Samsung and Xiaomi)?

It is best to use:

• 🔹 Google account —a universal method.
• 🔹 VCF file —export contacts on one phone and import on another.
• 🔹 Phone Clone application (from Huawei) - works with most brands.

Branded utilities (Smart Switch, Mi Mover) may not support cross-brand transfer.