If you previously used an Android phone and have switched to an iPhone, one of the first things you will wish to do is transfer contacts from the Android to the iPhone. If you’re trying to find out how to do so, you’ve come to the right place. In this article we show you four ways to move contacts from Android to iPhone. We recommend you try them in the order in which we lay them out: the easy way will work most times, and the thorough way is worth doing anyway. If they fail, SIM swap may have worked anyway, and if all else fails you can use an app. Also see: How to transfer music from iTunes to Android. You’ll also like: Best phones of 2015 and 26 phones you should be most excited about Let us know in the comments below if you have any success or any problems. And if you know a fifth way of moving contacts from Android to iPhone, let us know! (See also: How to delete photos from your iPhone in iOS 8.)
Transfer contacts from Android to iPhone: the quick and easy way
If you have been using your Android phone or tablet, you will have and use a Google account. The good news is that all of your contacts will already be associated with your Google account. Migrating contacts to your iPhone will be a cinch. Go to Settings on your Android phone and choose “Accounts and Sync” (or similar). Enter your Google account details and enable synchronisation. Your phone contacts and Google Contacts will now synchronise. Now open up your new iPhone. Go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and click Add Account. From there, choose Google. Now you’ll need to sign in to your Google account and made sure Contacts is enabled. You should now find that all of your Google contacts are in your iPhone. (See also: How to back up an iPhone.)
If that worked, find out how to go about transferring everything else including photos, music and apps here.
Transfer contacts from Android to iPhone: the thorough way
The above method will work in almost all cases. If it doesn’t work, or simply to make sure that process always works in future, consider doing the following: Open the Settings application on your iPhone Select Mail, Contacts, Calendars. Select Add Account… Select Other Select Add CardDAV Account
Fill out your account information in the following fields: Server: Enter “google.com” User Name: Enter your full Google Account or Google Apps email address. Password: Your Google Account or Google Apps password. (If you’ve enabled 2 Step verification, you’ll need to generate and enter an application specific password.) Description: Enter a description of the account (e.g. Personal Contacts). Select Next at the top of your screen. Make sure that the “Contacts” option is turned to ON. After you’ve completed setup, open the Contacts app on your device, and syncing will automatically begin between your iPhone and Google. Any time you set up any smartphone Google should hold the key to all of your contacts. (See also: Turn a song on your iPhone into a ringtone.)
Transfer contacts from Android to iPhone: swap SIMS
This works only if your Android phone takes a similar sized SIM to your iPhone, either a micro- or nano-SIM for later iPhone models. First save all contacts on the Android phone to its SIM. Next, insert the SIM into your iPhone, taking care not to mislay the iPhone’s SIM. Finally, go to Settings and choose “Mail, Contacts, Calendars” and tap “Import SIM Contacts”. When the operation has finished, you can put the iPhone’s SIM card back in. (See also: How to make and receive HD phone calls.)
Transfer contacts from Android to iPhone: use an app
You could try using Copy My Data, a free app for Android and iOS, to transfer your contacts if all else fails.
There are a couple of options with the Copy My Data app, one of which involves Google Drive and one that syncs via WiFi. Choose which you’d prefer and follow the onscreen instructions. The good news is that it’s quite easy and straightforward and shouldn’t take you long. Matt Egan is Global Editorial Director of IDG, publisher of Tech Advisor, and a passionate technology fan who writes on subjects as diverse as smartphones, internet security, social media and Windows.
