How to Move Your Contacts to a New Android Phone

Getting a new phone is exciting, but you may be wondering how to bring all your names and phone numbers with you. If you need to transfer contacts to new Android phone, there are a few straightforward ways to do it.

The simplest method is usually to sync your contacts with your Google Account. You can also use a SIM card or export a contacts file if your contacts are not stored in Google. The menu names vary between Android phones, and Samsung uses some different labels, so this guide explains what to look for.

What you’ll need

• Your old and new Android phones, if you still have both.
• Access to the Google Account used on your old phone, if your contacts are synced with Google.
• A Wi-Fi connection for Google sync.
• Your SIM card or a contacts file, if you plan to use one of those methods.

Step 1: Check where your contacts are saved

Before moving anything, check whether your contacts are already linked to a Google Account. Contacts saved to Google can sync to another Android phone when you sign in with the same account.

1. On your old phone, open the Contacts app.
2. Tap a contact you want to keep.
3. Look for an account label or storage location, if shown. It may say Google, Phone, or SIM.
4. If you have more than one Google Account, check which account contains your contacts.

Some contacts may be saved in different places. For example, older entries might be stored on the phone or SIM card, while newer ones are saved to Google. Those contacts may need to be moved or copied separately.

Good to know: Contacts saved in your Google Account sync online. Contacts saved only on your phone or SIM card may not appear on the new phone just because you sign in to Google.

Step 2: Sync your contacts with Google

If your contacts are saved to a Google Account, make sure contact sync is enabled on the old phone.

1. Open Settings on your old Android phone.
2. Tap Passwords & accounts, Accounts, or Manage accounts, depending on your phone.
3. Select the Google Account that holds your contacts.
4. Tap Account sync or Sync account if shown.
5. Make sure Contacts is switched on.
6. If there is a menu button, you may be able to tap Sync now to start syncing manually.

On some phones, you can check sync from the Contacts app instead. Open Contacts, tap your profile picture or menu, and look for Contacts settings or an option to manage accounts.

On a Samsung Galaxy phone: Open Settings > Accounts and backup > Manage accounts, select your Google Account, and check that Sync account includes Contacts. The wording can differ slightly between One UI versions.

Tip: Keep the old phone connected to Wi-Fi for a few minutes after turning on sync. This gives it time to upload any contacts that have not synced yet.

Step 3: Add the same Google Account to your new phone

Once your contacts are synced, add that Google Account to your new Android phone.

1. Turn on your new phone and complete its initial setup, if you have not already done so.
2. Open Settings.
3. Tap Passwords & accounts, Accounts, or Manage accounts.
4. Choose Add account > Google if the account is not already listed.
5. Sign in with the same Google Account you used on the old phone.
6. If asked, follow the prompts to enable account sync.

Open the Contacts app on the new phone and give it a little time to sync. Your Google contacts should appear automatically. If they do not, check that Contacts sync is enabled for the account.

Careful: Make sure you sign in with the correct Google Account. If you use a different account, you may see a different set of contacts or none of the ones you expected.

Step 4: Move contacts saved only on your old phone

If some contacts are stored on the old phone rather than in Google, you can often move them by importing them into your Google Account.

1. On your old phone, open the Contacts app.
2. Open its menu or Contacts settings.
3. Look for Import/Export contacts, Manage contacts, or a similar option.
4. Choose Move contacts or Import if your phone offers it.
5. Select the phone storage location as the source and your Google Account as the destination, if those choices are available.
6. Follow the prompts to select and move the contacts.

The exact choices vary by phone and Contacts app. If you do not see a move option, look for Export instead and use the contacts-file method in the next step.

On Samsung Galaxy phones: Open Contacts, tap the menu, then look for Manage contacts > Move contacts. Select the contacts and choose your Google Account as the destination if that option is available.

Step 5: Use a contacts file if Google sync isn’t available

A contacts file is another way to move entries between phones. It is often called a VCF file, which is a file format designed to store contact details.

1. On your old phone, open the Contacts app.
2. Go to Contacts settings or Manage contacts.
3. Find Export or Export contacts.
4. Choose to save the contacts as a .vcf file, if offered.
5. Save the file somewhere you can access from the new phone, such as Google Drive, or transfer it using a trusted cable or file-sharing method.
6. On your new phone, open the Contacts app and look for Import or Import from file.
7. Select the VCF file and choose your Google Account as the destination if asked.

On a Samsung Galaxy phone, the route is commonly Contacts > Menu > Manage contacts > Import or export contacts. Select Export on the old phone and Import on the new one.

Step 6: Check that all your contacts arrived

Before you reset, trade in, or give away your old phone, check the new one carefully.

1. Open the Contacts app on your new phone.
2. Search for a few people you know are in your old contact list.
3. Check that their names and phone numbers are correct.
4. Look for important entries such as family members, doctors, and other frequently used contacts.
5. If some are missing, check the Google Account selected in Contacts and whether contact sync is switched on.

If you used a VCF file, check that the import completed and that the contacts were saved to the account you intended. Avoid deleting the old copy until you are confident the new phone has everything you need.

Troubleshooting: If your contacts don’t appear

Try these checks if the transfer does not seem complete:

• No contacts appear: Check that the new phone is signed in to the same Google Account used on the old phone.
• Only some contacts appear: Some may be saved to the old phone or SIM card rather than Google. Use the Contacts app’s move or export option to transfer those separately.
• Sync is not working: Check the Wi-Fi connection, make sure Contacts sync is on, and try Sync now if available.
• The menu names are different: Search Settings for “Accounts” or “Sync.” In the Contacts app, look for Manage contacts, Import, or Export.
• You have a Samsung phone: Samsung’s Manage contacts menu includes options that may be named differently from those on other Android phones.

Your contacts are ready on your new phone

Once you have checked that the important names and numbers are on your new Android phone, you can use it as normal. Keep the old phone and any exported contacts file until you are sure the transfer is complete.