Transferring contacts from Android to Android via Google: step-by-step guide 2026

Moving to a new smartphone is always an exciting moment, especially when it comes to the safety of important data. Contacts accumulated over the years absolutely cannot be lost: these include business connections, personal numbers, and addresses. Fortunately, Google offers a reliable way to synchronize contacts between devices on Androidwhich works even if the phones are of different brands - Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei or Google Pixel.

In this article you will find unique step-by-step guide taking into account the latest updates to Google services (2026), which will help you transfer contacts without loss or duplicates. We will analyze not only the basic algorithm, but also the nuances: what to do if contacts do not synchronize, how to check the transfer is correct, and what settings may interfere with the process. No third-party applications - only built-in tools Android!

Why is a Google account the best method of transfer?

Among all methods of transferring contacts - from Bluetooth to SIM cards - synchronization via Google account stands out for several key advantages:

• 🔄 Automatic update: contacts are synchronized in the background with any change (adding, editing, deleting).
• ☁️ Cloud storage: data is not tied to the device - even if you lose your phone, the contacts will remain in your account.
• 📱 Cross-platform: works not only between Androiddevices, but also with iOS (via Google Contacts).
• 🔒 Security: data encryption and two-factor authentication (if enabled).

In addition Moreover, this method does not require physically connecting phones to each other (as when using a cable) and does not depend on the device model. For example, you can transfer contacts from an old one to a new one without additional manipulations. USB-OTG) and does not depend on the device model. For example, you can transfer contacts from the old Samsung Galaxy S10 to a new one Nothing Phone 2 without additional manipulations.

There are downside: if synchronization is disabled on the old phone or the contacts are saved only in the device memory (not in the account), you will have to export them first. More on this in the next section.

Preparing the old phone: checking and exporting contacts

Before you start transferring, make sure that all contacts are on the old phone linked to a Google account. To do this:

1. Open the application Contact (or People on some firmware).
2. Click on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Settings Settings → Contact management.
3. Check which account is listed as the main one for saving. If this Device or SIM card, contacts are not synchronized with Google!

If contacts are saved locally, they need to be transferred to your account:

Open the "Contacts" application|Go to "Settings" → "Import/Export"|Select "Export to device" (if contacts are on SIM) or "Copy to Google account"|Confirm the action and wait for completion-->

On some phones (for example Xiaomi or Realme) the path may differ: Contacts → ⋮ → Manage contacts → Import/Export → Copy contacts.

⚠️ Attention: If you have two accounts installed on your phone Google, make sure you export the contacts to the one you will use on the new device. By mixing up accounts, you risk losing data when changing your profile.

Step-by-step guide: synchronizing contacts via Google

When the contacts on the old phone are linked to Google account, all that remains is to enable synchronization on the new device. Follow this algorithm:

Step 1. Add a Google account to the new phone

If you have not logged in yet:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and archiving → Account management.
2. Click Add account and select Google.
3. Enter the login and password for the account that was used on the old phone.
4. Confirm access to contacts (permission Contact must be enabled).

Step 2. Enable contact synchronization

By default, synchronization may be disabled. To activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and archiving → Your Google account.
2. Tap on the line Account synchronization.
3. Find the item Contact and move the slider to the right (should turn blue).
4. Wait for synchronization to complete (may take from a few seconds to 5-10 minutes depending on the number of contacts).

How to speed up synchronization?

If contacts do not appear on a new phone for a long time, try:

1. Connect to a Wi-Fi network (synchronization via mobile data may be slow).

2. Manually update data: open the Contacts application → ⋮ → Synchronize.

3. Reboot both phones (sometimes it helps to reset frozen processes).

Step 3. Check the result

Open the application Contact on the new phone and make sure that:

• 📇 All names and numbers are in place (scroll the list to end).
• 📞 Numbers are displayed in the correct format (without extra characters).
• 👥 Contact groups (for example, "Family", "Work") are saved.

If some contacts are missing, go back to Step 2 and check if they are enabled Is synchronization for all groups (sometimes system contacts, for example, from WhatsApp or Telegram, are not copied automatically).

Table: Common problems and their solutions

Problem	Possible cause	Solution
Contacts do not appear on the new phone	Synchronization is disabled or not completed	Enable synchronization manually (see Step 2) and wait for the update
Not all contacts are displayed	Contacts are saved in another account (for example, Samsung or Huawei)	Export them to Google account (see section "Preparation")
Numbers are displayed without names	Data corruption during synchronization	Delete the Contacts application cache in Settings → Applications
Duplicate contacts	Synchronization with multiple accounts	Use the merge function (see advice above) or disable unnecessary accounts
Synchronization freezes	Weak Internet connection or server error Google	Connect to Wi-Fi or try again later

⚠️ Attention: If you use Google Contacts in a browser to edit contacts, changes may take up to 24 hours to sync. Don't panic if your edits don't appear right away - wait for the automatic update.

What to do if the contacts were on the SIM card?

Many users store contacts on the old fashioned way, especially if the phone does not support SIM card, especially if the phone does not support Google services (for example, some models Huawei without GMS). In this case, the transfer algorithm will be different:

1. Insert the SIM card into old phone.
2. Open Contacts → ⋮ → Manage contacts → Import/Export.
3. Select Import from SIM card and specify Google account as goal.
4. After import, remove the SIM and insert it into a new phone.
5. Repeat on the new device Step 2 from the main instructions (synchronization).

Please note: SIM cards they have a limit on the number of saved contacts (usually up to 250) and do not support additional fields (email, address, notes). If you have more contacts or need extended data, be sure to use a Google account.

How to transfer contacts from a phone without Google services (Huawei, Honor)?

On devices Huawei i Honor without Google Mobile Services (GMS) (for example, series Mate 40 or P50) standard synchronization via Google account is not available. Instead, use:

Method 1: Huawei Cloud

Analog Google Contacts from Huawei:

1. On the old phone: Settings → Huawei ID → Cloud → Backup.
2. Enable backup Contacts and wait for completion.
3. On the new phone, log in using the same one Huawei ID and restore the data.

Method 2: Export to file .vcf

Universal format for transfer:

1. Export contacts to file: Contacts → ⋮ → Import/Export → Export to storage.
2. Received file contacts.vcf transfer to a new phone (via Bluetooth, email or the cloud).
3. Import the file: Contacts → ⋮ → Import/Export → Import from file.

File .vcf support all modern smartphones, including iPhone and devices with Android s GMS.

Bonus: how to automate data transfer when changing phone

If you often change smartphones or want to insure against losing contacts, set up automatic backup:

• 🔄 Enable Auto-sync in settings Google account (path: Settings → Accounts → Google → Synchronization).
• 📲 Install the application Google Contacts —it offers advanced management functions (for example, restoring deleted contacts within 30 days).
• 🔒 Set up two-factor authentication for Google accountto protect data from unauthorized access.

With these settings, you will no longer have to manually transfer contacts - they will be automatically available on any device after authorization. And if you lose your phone, you will only need to log in. Google Contacts from your computer and export the data.

💡

Create a shortcut for Google Contacts on the home screen: open the browser, go to contacts.google.com, click ⋮ → "Add to home screen." This way you can quickly manage contacts without installing additional applications.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about transferring contacts

Is it possible to transfer contacts without the Internet?

Yes, but with restrictions. You can export contacts to a file .vcf on your old phone and transfer it to a new one via Bluetooth, USB cable or SD card. However, for full synchronization via Google the Internet is required.

Why did the photos disappear after transfer? contacts?

Contact photos are stored separately from your main data and may not sync automatically. To save them:

1. On your old phone, open a contact and save the photo to the gallery.
2. Transfer photos to your new phone (via Google Photos or cable).
3. Manually assign photos to contacts on the new device.

How to transfer contacts from Android to iPhone?

The algorithm is almost the same:

1. Synchronize contacts from Google account to Android.
2. On iPhone go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts → Add account → Google.
3. Enter account details and turn on synchronization of contacts.

Contacts will appear in the application Contact on iPhone in a few minutes.

What to do if the error "Failed to update contacts" occurs during synchronization?

This error is usually associated with:

• Unstable Internet connection (try connecting to a different network).
• Outdated version of the application Contact or Google Play Services (update them in Play Market).
• Conflict with other accounts (turn off synchronization for unnecessary profiles).

If the problem persists, clear the application cache Contact in the phone settings.

Is it possible to transfer call history along with contacts?

No, call history is not synchronized via Google account. To transfer it, use:

• Third-party applications (for example, Super Backup & Restore).
• Backup via Samsung Smart Switch (for devices Samsung).
• Manual export (on some phones the history is saved in files .xml or .db).