How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone

Have you ever lost your iPhone? It might not be a pleasure. After buying a new iPhone, you’ll need to transfer all data and contacts. How do you do that using one tool? AltTunes is your friend. So, let’s uncover it!

Tap ‘Trust this computer’ on your device if your iPhone isn’t synced with your machine.  

How to transfer contacts with iCloud Sync

Using iCloud® Sync to transfer contacts to your new iPhone is simple. Just follow these steps:

1. Connect both phones to Wi-Fi.

2. Make sure you're signed in to the same Apple ID on both devices.

3. On both iPhones, open Settings > [your name] > iCloud, then tap the switch next to Contacts.

4. Wait for a message about merging contacts, then tap Merge.

How to transfer contacts with iCloud Backup

If iCloud Sync didn't work, or you don't have your old iPhone, you can transfer contacts from your iCloud account to your new iPhone. If you don't already have a backup in iCloud, you'll need to create one—here's how:

1. Connect your iPhone to your Wi-Fi network, then open Settings and tap [your name].

2. Tap iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now.

Stay connected to your Wi-Fi network until the process completes. To make sure the backup finished, tap Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. The time of the last successful backup should appear.

To transfer your contacts to your new phone from a backup:

1. Make sure your old iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi.

2. Open Settings, then tap [your name] > iCloud.

3. Make sure the switch next to Contacts is turned on.

4. Select iCloud Backup > Back Up Now.

5. Turn on your new iPhone and follow the setup steps.

6. Once you reach the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud backup.

7. Sign in with your Apple ID®, and select the backup you just made on your old iPhone.

8. Wait for your data to transfer from your old iPhone to your new one.

9. Finish the rest of the setup steps.

How to transfer contacts with AirDrop

AirDrop is amazingly convenient when it comes to transferring photos, videos – even contacts. There is just 1 caveat. You can only share contacts one by one. Transferring multiple contacts is a no-go. 

1. Swipe up on your device and enable AirDrop. Repeat for the other iPhone. 

2. Make sure Wi-Fi Connection is turned on for each device. 

3. Head over to the Contacts app. Tap on the contact in question and hit ‘Share’. 

4. Choose ‘AirDrop’ and select your new iPhone from the list that appears. 

5. You will see notification pop up on your target iPhone. Click ‘Accept’. 

That’s it. The new contact will show up in the Contacts app. But how do you AirDrop all your contacts? The answer is simple – you don’t. For this, it’s better to use iMazing or iCloud. 

How to transfer contacts with a SIM Card

Yes and no :) It’s a little more complicated. Let’s break down how this works in iPhones here. 

Let’s say you are switching from an Android smartphone to the iPhone. Probably, your existing card holds your contacts. In this case, simply insert your SIM into the iPhone & follow the exact instructions below:

1. Go to the Settings app > Contacts.

2. Select ‘Import SIM contacts’

3. Wait till the procedure is complete. Head to the Contacts app. Check if all contacts are available. 

iPhone lets you import existing contacts from SIM, but this doesn’t work in reverse. It doesn’t write any info inside your SIM. So if you are switching from an iPhone to a new iPhone, replacing SIM will not work. 

So why does Apple refuse to store data in SIM? There’s a simple reasoning behind this. Using iCloud & iTunes backups is more convenient. It also contradicts Apple’s philosophy. Removable objects like SIM cards or SD cards aren’t reliable in Apple’s eyes. They can be easily lost or damaged. So why risk it?

FAQ