Contacts are the least interesting migration problem and the one people most often get wrong, usually by using three methods at once and ending up with four copies of everyone.
Rule one: pick a single source of truth
Choose one of these and let the other phone read from it:
| Method | Works for | Cost | Duplicate risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google account sync | Android ↔ iPhone | Free | Low, if you disable other sources |
| iCloud contacts | iPhone → Android (via export) | Free | Medium |
| vCard file export/import | Anything → anything | Free | Low |
| Desktop transfer tool | Bulk, with other data | Paid | Low |
Route A: Google account (best for Android → iPhone)
- On the Android phone: Settings → Google → Backup, confirm contacts are syncing.
- On the iPhone: Settings → Apps → Contacts → Default account → set to Google, then Mail → Accounts → Add Account → Google, and enable Contacts.
- Wait for the sync, then open Contacts and confirm the count matches.
Because you set the default account to Google first, new contacts you create on the iPhone also land in Google — which keeps the source of truth single.
Route B: vCard file (best for iPhone → Android)
- On the iPhone, open iCloud.com → Contacts, select all, and choose Export vCard.
- Send the
.vcfto yourself, or save it to a cloud drive the Android phone can open. - On the Android phone, open the file and let the Contacts app import it.
The vCard format is the universal contact container. It carries names, numbers, emails, addresses, birthdays and notes — but not contact photos at full quality, and not linked social profiles.
Route C: iCloud export without a computer
If you have no computer handy, the iCloud web export works from a phone browser: request the desktop site, select all contacts, export. It is clumsy on a small screen but functional.
Route D: A desktop tool, when contacts are not the point
Tools like iReaShare Phone Transfer move contacts as part of a larger migration. If contacts are all you need, paying for one is unnecessary — use Google or a vCard.
Fixing the duplicates
Duplicates come from reading two sources. On Android, open Contacts → Manage contacts → Merge duplicates. On iPhone, Contacts shows "Possible duplicates" under the account list; merge there. If both phones still show duplicates after merging, you have a second account (often iCloud and Google, or a carrier backup) still enabled — turn one off.
FAQ
Do contacts transfer with photos?
Partly. Google contacts carry a thumbnail; vCards usually drop full-size photos. If contact photos matter, sync through the same account rather than exporting files.
What about WhatsApp contacts?
They are the phone's contacts, not a separate list. Fix the phone's contacts and WhatsApp follows.
Will labels and groups survive?
Google labels survive Google sync. They usually do not survive a vCard export/import across platforms.