Buying a new smartphone from Apple, even if it is already legendary iPhone 5s, is always accompanied by the desire to start using it as quickly as possible. However, the main stumbling block for many users is the migration of personal information from an old device based on Android. The most valuable part of this data is the phone book, which contains the numbers of friends, colleagues and important services.
Fortunately, the ecosystems Google and Apple offer several convenient synchronization methods that do not require special cables or deep technical knowledge. In this article, we will analyze each method in detail, evaluate their pros and cons, and also give tips on eliminating possible problems during the transfer.
Regardless of whether you choose the method through the cloud, direct connection or a physical SIM card, our goal is to save all records without loss or duplication. Let's look at how to prepare your devices for this process and which method is right for you.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before starting any manipulations, it is critical to make sure that both smartphones are in working order and ready to exchange information. For iPhone 5s, which is a 2013 device, there are certain operating system version restrictions that must be taken into account.
Make sure that on your Android-smartphone, all contacts are saved in the account Google, and not just in the phone memory or on the SIM card. This guarantees their safety and accessibility from anywhere in the world. Check the list of entries via the web interface contacts.google.com.
⚠️ Attention: iPhone 5s does not support updates above iOS 12.5.7. Some modern data apps may require newer versions of iOS, so choose methods that are compatible with that version.
Also check the battery level on both devices. The syncing process, especially over Wi-Fi, can consume a significant amount of power. It is advisable that the charge is at least 50-60% on each gadget.
☑️ Ready for transfer
Method 1: Synchronization via Google account
This is the most reliable and universal method that works even if you have already activated yours iPhone. The essence of the method is to add your account Gmail to the settings of the new phone and allow synchronization of contacts.
First go to the settings of your Android device. Go to section Accounts or Users and accounts. Make sure that the switch opposite the item Contact is active. This will force a forced upload of all numbers to the cloud storage.
Now pick it up iPhone 5s. Open the menu Settings and scroll down to the item Contact (in older versions of iOS it may be called Mail, addresses, calendars). Click on Accounts, then select Add account.
Select logo from the list of proposed services Google. Enter your email address and password for the account where your numbers are stored. The system will ask for permission to access the data.
- 📱 Make sure that after entering the password, the switch
Contactis green. - 🔄 Wait until "Last updated: just now" appears in the account menu.
- 📂 Open the Phone or Contacts app on your iPhone and pull down the list to refresh.
If your contacts don't appear instantly, try restarting your device. Sometimes the sync service takes a few minutes to process a large volume of entries and display them in the interface. iOS.
If you have two-factor authentication enabled with Google, you may need to create a special "app password" in your Google Account security settings to sign in on your iPhone.
Method 2: Using the Move to iOS app
Official app from Apple called Move to iOS (Transfer to iOS) is the fastest way to transfer data, including contacts, messages and photos. However, there is an important caveat: this method only works during the initial setup of the device.
If your iPhone 5s has already been set up and you see a desktop with icons, you will have to perform a factory reset. To do this, go to Settings → General → Reset → Erase content and settings.
⚠️ Attention: Resetting the device will delete all the data that you have already written to the new iPhone. Use this method only if the phone is new or the data on it is not important.
Download the application Move to iOS from Google Play to your Android smartphone. Start the setup process on your iPhone until you get to the "Apps & Data" step. Select Transfer data from Android.
A six-digit or ten-digit code will appear on the iPhone screen. Enter this code in the appropriate field on your Android device. The devices will create a temporary secure Wi-Fi network for file transfer.
| Data type | Transfer speed | Reliability | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Instant | High | Reset iPhone |
| SMS messages | Medium | High | Reset iPhone |
| Photo and video | Low (depending on volume) | Medium | Stable Wi-Fi |
| System settings | Fast | High | Version compatibility |
After selecting the type of data to transfer, click "Continue" and do not touch the devices, even if Android reports that the process is complete, until the download indicator on the iPhone is completely full.
What to do if the transfer is interrupted?
If the process freezes or is interrupted, it is recommended to restart both devices, turn off Bluetooth on Android and try to start the procedure again. Make sure that the power saving mode is disabled on Android.
Method 3: Transfer via SIM card
This method is considered outdated, but it remains the only working option if you do not have access to the Internet or do not want to enter account passwords. It is ideal for small phone books.
The main limitation of this method is the capacity of the SIM card. Most modern cards can store from 250 to 500 contacts, often without the ability to store long names or additional numbers.
On your Android smartphone, open the application Contact. Click on the menu (three dots or bars) and select Import/export contacts. Next, select Export to SIM card.
Once the export is complete, carefully remove the SIM card tray. Insert the card into your iPhone 5s. Turn on the phone and go to Settings → Contacts.
- 📇 Find the item
Import contacts from SIMat the very bottom of the menu. - 💾 Select the account where you want to save the numbers (usually iCloud or local storage).
- ✅ Wait for the process to complete without removing the card from the slot.
After importing, it is recommended to check several entries. Often during this transfer, names are cut off and profile photos are lost. This is the price for the versatility of the method.
The method with a SIM card is best used as a backup option or for transferring the most important numbers when other methods are not available.
Method 4: Export via VCF file and mail
If you do not want to reset your iPhone, but synchronization with Google for some reason does not works, you can use manual export to a file format VCF (vCard).
Go to contacts on Android, select all entries or select the ones you need through the menu. Click "Share" or "Export". Select the option to send the file via email.
Send an email with an attached file contacts.vcf to the address you use on your iPhone. Open the Mail application on your iPhone, find this letter and click on the attachment.
The iOS system will automatically recognize the file format and offer to add all found contacts to the phone book. This method is convenient because you can preview the file on your computer and edit it if necessary.
However, if the phone book contains several thousand entries, the file may be too large for the mail service. In this case, it is better to split the export into several parts or use cloud storage.
Solving common problems and errors
In the process of data migration, users often encounter typical difficulties. Understanding the causes of these errors will help you avoid panic and quickly restore system functionality.
One of the most common problems is duplication of contacts. This happens when you import numbers from a SIM card and then enable sync with Google, which already has those numbers. To fix this, open the app Contact on your iPhone, click on the group in the upper left corner and select All iCloud or All Googleto see the source of the duplicates.
If contacts are displayed, but without names (only numbers), check the saving format. On Android, sometimes numbers are saved in international format (+7...), but the iPhone phone book is configured with a different display format. Try changing the display settings in the section Settings → Contacts → Number format.
⚠️ Attention: Android menu interfaces may differ depending on the phone model (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei) and shell version. Look for similar item names if an exact match is not found.
If the application Move to iOS gives a connection error, make sure that mobile data is turned off on Android during the transfer. Sometimes the phone tries to switch to the mobile network, breaking the connection with the iPhone's temporary network.
Final recommendations for organizing contacts
After a successful data transfer, take time to put things in order in the new phone book. iPhone 5s, despite its age, does an excellent job of managing contacts if they are structured correctly.
It is recommended to merge duplicates that may have occurred when using multiple transfer methods. The Contacts app on iOS has a “Link Contacts” feature that allows you to combine cards of the same person with different numbers into one entry.
Also, do not forget to set up a backup. Make sure that the Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud switch is turned on. This will protect your phone book from loss in the future, even if the phone itself fails. Contact included. This will protect your phone book from being lost in the future, even if the phone itself fails.
Regularly cleaning your phone book from outdated numbers and spam will help speed up your search and make using your smartphone more comfortable. Spend 10-15 minutes on this procedure immediately after the move.
Is it possible to transfer contacts if the iPhone is already set up and in use?
Yes, this is possible. Use the synchronization method via Google account (Method 1) or import the VCF file via email (Method 4). The method with the Move to iOS application requires a complete reset of the phone.
Why did contact photos disappear after the transfer?
When transferring via a SIM card, photos are not saved due to card format limitations. When synchronizing via Google, photos may be loaded with a delay. Make sure you have access to the Internet.
Is it safe to enter your Google passcode on iPhone 5s?
Yes, it is safe. You enter the data into the iOS system settings menu, which uses a secure connection to Apple and Google servers. Just make sure that you are in the official settings menu.
What to do if contacts are duplicated after import?
Go to the Contacts application, click "Groups" and uncheck the sources that have duplicates. To completely remove duplicates, you can use third-party cleaning applications or do it manually through the iCloud.com website.
Does the iPhone 5s support the latest versions of transfer applications?
iPhone 5s is limited to iOS 12. Most basic sync features work reliably, but some new app features may not be available. The method with a Google account works 100% correctly.