Home > Android > Android How To

How To Transfer Contacts From Android To Android

Get those contact details on your new phone
Last Updated on July 15, 2024
how to transfer contacts from android to android
You can trust PC Guide: Our team of experts use a combination of independent consumer research, in-depth testing where appropriate - which will be flagged as such, and market analysis when recommending products, software and services. Find out how we test here.

Picked up a new Android handset? Everybody loves upgrade day, getting a shiny new handset to mess around with and show off is a great feeling. You’ve gone through your setup process and managed to copy your videos, pictures, and settings over from your old handset. Now let’s look at how to transfer contacts from Android to Android.

How to transfer contacts from Android to Android – Sync Your Google Account

Google Logo

In case you forgot to do it when setting up your new phone, syncing the same Google account that was on your old Android handset should also import your contact into your new handset. First, double-check that you’re all synced up on your old handset. If not, this isn’t going to work. The following steps have been recreated using Google Pixel 5 running Android 12, let’s get into it:

Navigate To Passwords And Accounts

Open up your app drawer and tap ‘Settings’. Next, scroll down to ‘Google’ and tap. You should now be in the Passwords and Accounts menu.

Set Contacts Backup To On

Tap ‘Account Sync’ in the Google menu. This will bring up all of your account backup toggles. Make sure Contacts is set to On and exit. Next, sign in to your Google account on your new device, your contacts should then appear.

How to transfer contacts from Android to Android – Manually Export/Import

Phonebook illustration

If for some reason you cannot access your Google account on your old handset, if your Google account isn’t pulling contacts through, you can import/export manually. Here’s how to do it:

Go To Contacts Settings

Open up your app drawer and tap the Contacts app. From here, tap the hamburger icon on the top left and select ‘Settings’.

Create a .VCF file

Under the ‘Manage Contacts’ heading, select export. Select which Google account you use on the device and tap ‘Export to .vcf file’. You will then need to send this over to your current Android device, repeat the steps but select ‘Import’ instead of export.

For all things Android, make sure to bookmark and visit our Android Hub!

Christian 'Reggie' Waits' is a contributor to PC Guide, having written a wide array of how to and buying guide content.