Thankfully, Google Contacts makes it easy to back up and transfer your phone numbers, regardless of platform. Here’s how to use it.
Move contacts from iPhone to Android
To move your contacts from an iPhone to Android you first need to export them from iCloud and import them to Google Contacts. The easiest way to do this is to export a vCard file from iPhone, which can then be uploaded to Google Contacts. We explain how to achieve this using a laptop or PC below, but if you have only your smartphone to hand you can also use an app such as MyContactsBackup to export and share contacts in a vCard format. This free app is available for both Android and iPhone.
Open your iPhone’s Settings menu and select your Apple accountSelect iCloud to enter iCloud settingsEnsure your contacts are synched with iCloud – the slider next to Contacts should be green
On a laptop or PC log into icloud.com with your Apple IDNavigate to Contacts and select all by pressing CMD+A on a Mac or Ctrl+A in WindowsClick Settings in the bottom left corner of the screen and choose ‘Export vCard…’ to download a .vcf file containing your contacts to your computer
On your laptop or PC now browse to contacts.google.comClick More in the lefthand menu to reveal an Import option – click thisIn the pop-up window select ‘Choose file’ and browse to the .vcf file you downloaded earlier (it will probably be in your Downloads folder)Click ‘Import’ to copy your iPhone contacts to your Google accountIf your Android phone is already logged into this Google account with Sync turned on they should now be available on your new phone
Move contacts from Android to iPhone
If you are signed into a Google account on an Android phone then your contacts should already be synched with Google Contacts. You can check this by opening the Settings menu and tapping Accounts, selecting your Google account, choosing Account sync, and ensuring the toggle next to Contacts is enabled. So all you need to do is get those phone numbers from Google Contacts to iCloud.
On your iPhone open the Settings app and select ‘Mail, Contacts, Calendars’Hit ‘Add Account’ on the right, and choose ‘Microsoft Exchange’ from the listEnter the email address associated with your Google ID, along with your username and password (leave Domain blank)Hit Done at the top right of the screen
In the Server field enter m.google.comEnable the toggle next to Contacts so it shows greenYour iPhone should now automatically sync contacts with your Gmail account
Move Contacts from Android to Android
By default your Android phone will be set up to sync contacts to your Google account, provided you are signed into an account on the device. You can check Sync is enabled in Settings > Accounts > your Google account > Account sync, then ensuring the toggle next to Contacts is enabled. When you sign into that Google account on a new Android phone your contacts should be waiting for you.
