A Guide To Transferring Contacts From An Old Android To A New iPhone

Moving from an Android phone to an iPhone does not have to mean rebuilding your address book one person at a time. With the right method, you can transfer names, mobile numbers, email addresses and other contact details while keeping your old handset available as a safety net.

The best approach depends on whether the iPhone is brand new, whether your contacts are stored in Google, and how much information needs to move. Australian users should also check number porting, eSIM activation, privacy and backup settings before wiping the old device.

Check Where Your Contacts Are Stored

Start by finding out whether your contacts live in your Google account, on the Android handset, on a SIM card or across several locations. Open the Contacts app on Android and look for account labels such as Google, Device, Phone or SIM. The exact wording varies between Samsung, Google Pixel, Oppo and other brands.

Google-synchronised contacts are usually the easiest to move. On the Android device, open Contacts settings and confirm that contact syncing is enabled for the correct Google account. You can also sign in to Google Contacts in a browser to check that the names and numbers appear there. Remove duplicates before transferring them, as repeated entries can become difficult to sort out on the iPhone.

If the old handset was purchased second-hand, review its accounts and remove any previous owner’s information before copying your address book. Basic used-device checks are useful here because a phone may contain old accounts, saved passwords or unfamiliar applications. Keep your own Google password private, and do not hand an unlocked phone to an untrusted person for migration.

Use Move To iOS During Initial Setup

Apple’s Move to iOS app is usually the most complete option when the iPhone has not yet been configured. Download Move to iOS from Google Play on the Android phone, connect both devices to power, turn on Wi-Fi and place them close together. The Android phone may create a temporary private Wi-Fi connection for the transfer.

During iPhone setup, select the option to transfer data from Android. A code will appear on the iPhone; enter it in Move to iOS, choose the data categories you want and leave both phones alone until the progress bar finishes. Contacts can be transferred alongside calendars, message history, photos, videos, mail accounts and some other supported data.

The iPhone needs enough free storage for everything selected. A transfer can take much longer when it includes a large camera library, so users with limited time may select contacts, calendars and messages first, then move photos separately. Do not close the app, answer calls or switch networks during the process. If the iPhone has already been set up, Move to iOS generally requires erasing it and starting setup again, so back up anything already saved on it first.

Sync Google Contacts With The iPhone

If the iPhone is already in daily use, adding the Google account is normally simpler than resetting the device. On a current iPhone, open Settings, go to Apps, Contacts and Contacts Accounts, select Add Account, choose Google and sign in. On some iOS versions, Contacts may appear directly under Settings instead.

Turn on the Contacts switch and allow the iPhone to merge or retain the existing address book when prompted. Open the Contacts app and wait for synchronisation to finish. You can set the preferred account for new contacts in the same settings area, which prevents future entries from being split between iCloud and Google.

This method leaves the contacts managed by Google, while an iCloud backup can still protect contacts stored locally on the iPhone. If you want Apple to become the main home for the address book, export the Google contacts as a vCard, import them into iCloud Contacts and then enable iCloud Contacts on the iPhone. Check for duplicate entries after the import, particularly where a person has both a work and personal record.

Transfer Contacts Manually When Needed

A vCard file is a practical alternative when automatic transfer does not work. In Google Contacts, select the required contacts, choose Export and use the vCard format. Send the file to yourself by email or save it in cloud storage, then open it on the iPhone. iOS should offer to add the contact records. Large address books may be easier to handle in smaller groups.

SIM card transfer is possible, but it is an outdated and limited method. SIM cards may hold only names and one number, with no photos, email addresses, notes, labels or multiple phone numbers. If the information is stored on the SIM, insert it into the iPhone and use the Contacts settings option to import SIM contacts. Newer iPhones may require a physical SIM tray, while an eSIM cannot be used as a contact storage device.

Australian mobile numbers beginning with 04 will generally transfer as contact data without issue, but transferring your phone number between providers is a separate process called porting. If you are moving from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone to another Australian provider, arrange the port with the new provider and keep the old service active until the change is complete. An eSIM activation QR code affects service access, not the contacts saved in your address book.

Verify Privacy, Messaging And Business Details

After the transfer, search for several important people and check every field. Confirm mobile numbers, international prefixes, email addresses, birthdays, company names and notes. Make a test call and send a message to a few contacts. Also check that emergency contacts and favourites are correctly assigned.

WhatsApp, Signal and other messaging services use the phone’s contact permissions, but moving contacts does not automatically move every conversation or app account. WhatsApp has its own Android-to-iPhone migration process, and chat history may require following its specific instructions. Banking apps, authenticator apps and government services such as myGov may also need separate sign-in or verification on the new device.

Australians commonly use mobile banking, QR-code payments, delivery services and workplace messaging, so avoid factory-resetting the Android phone until these services work on the iPhone. Review app permissions and account access under Apple’s privacy settings. The Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles provide a useful reminder that personal information should be handled carefully, especially when a shop, repairer or workplace administrator is assisting with a transfer.

When using public Wi-Fi in a coworking space, hotel or airport, mobile data or a trusted private network is preferable for account sign-in. For organisations handling staff address books, guidance on secure guest Wi-Fi can help separate visitor traffic from business devices. A password manager, two-factor authentication and a screen lock add further protection during the changeover.

Keep the Android phone charged and stored safely for several days after the move. Once the iPhone has the correct contacts, photos, messages and accounts, sign out of Google and other services on the old phone, remove any eSIM or physical SIM, encrypt or erase the handset, and take it to an approved electronics recycling point if it will not be reused.

For a reliable changeover, prepare both phones, back up the address book, select the transfer method that matches your situation and verify important records before erasing anything. If the process becomes complicated, bring the devices and account details to a certified mobile support team for help with contacts, eSIM setup, apps and secure data handling.