The easiest way to transfer contacts from Android to iPhone is to add your Google account on the iPhone and switch on Contacts: everything saved to Google appears within minutes. If you’re setting the iPhone up for the first time, Apple’s Move to iOS app does it for you along with photos and messages.
Method 1: Sync with your Google account
Most people miss this one, but it’s the quickest, and it works any time, even long after setup.
On the Android phone first: 1. Open Settings > Google > Backup (or Settings > Accounts) and make sure Contacts sync is on. 2. Open the Contacts app and check the contacts are saved to your Google account, not “Phone” or “SIM”.
On the iPhone: 1. Go to Settings > Apps > Contacts > Accounts (on older iOS: Settings > Contacts > Accounts). 2. Tap Add Account > Google and sign in. 3. Switch on Contacts.
Give it a few minutes on Wi-Fi. Bonus: any new number you save stays backed up to Google, so you’ll never lose them if the iPhone is lost or stolen.
Method 2: Move to iOS
If your iPhone is brand new or freshly reset, use Apple’s free Move to iOS app from the Play Store:
- During iPhone setup, choose Move Data from Android.
- Open Move to iOS on the Android phone and enter the code shown on the iPhone.
- Tick Contacts (and anything else you want) and wait.
Keep both phones plugged in and close together. Step-by-step help: how to use Move to iOS. Moving more than contacts? See transfer data from Android to iPhone.
Method 3: Export a VCF file
Good if you don’t want to use a Google account:
- On Android, open Contacts > Fix & manage > Export to file (names vary by brand; look for Import/Export). This saves a .vcf file.
- Send the file to yourself by email or copy it over with a computer.
- On the iPhone, open the file and tap Add All Contacts.
Contacts saved on the SIM card
Many Kenyans still keep numbers on their Safaricom or Airtel SIM. You have two options:
- Best: on Android, open Contacts and use Import from SIM to copy them into your Google account, then use Method 1.
- Direct: put the SIM in the iPhone and go to Settings > Apps > Contacts > Import SIM Contacts.
On a dual-SIM Android, check both SIMs: contacts are often split between them. Note that iPhones using only eSIM can’t read a physical SIM, so use the Google route.
Fix missing or duplicate contacts
- Missing: they were probably saved to “Phone” or the second SIM, not Google. Move them on Android, then sync again.
- Duplicates: on the iPhone, open Contacts; iOS shows a Duplicates Found banner that merges them in one tap.
- Already set up the iPhone? You don’t need to reset it. See Android to iPhone after setup.
Quick answers
Add your Google account in iPhone Settings and turn on Contacts, or use the Move to iOS app during setup.
Yes. Insert the SIM and use Settings > Apps > Contacts > Import SIM Contacts, or first copy them to Google on Android.
They were saved to the phone or a second SIM rather than your Google account. Move them to Google on the Android phone and sync again.
