Introduction
Getting a new phone is often a thrilling experience, but it can also become overwhelming when you're faced with the task of transferring data from your old device to the new one.
To make this transition smoother and more enjoyable, let's explore 6 simple methods to transfer contacts from your old Android device to your shiny new one.
Here are the six contact transfer methods that we tested and reviewed:
Use iPhone instead?
Check out our other article if you need to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone instead.
Transfer Contacts from Android to Android: Contact Transfer
First up, we have the quickest and easiest method we could find - the Contact Transfer software. This nifty app really packs a punch, allowing you to easily transfer your contacts between Android and Android, iPhone to iPhone, between the two platforms, or even back up contacts from your mobile to your PC!
The beauty of this method is that all transfers happen locally on your computer. So, you don't have to worry about uploading your contacts online or syncing them between accounts.
Contact Transfer is a Windows 10 / 11 app. Simply install the free Contact Transfer Android app on your phones to connect with the software. Let's get started...
- Download and install Contact Transfer on your PC, then launch it.
- Choose "Android" for both the Source and Destination of your transfer. Then click Continue.
- Get the Contact Transfer Android app from the Google Play Store on each of your Android devices.
- Ensure that both your PC and Android devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the Contact Transfer app on your Android device which has all your contacts that you want to copy. Tap "Scan Contact Transfer QR Code". This will open your device's camera. Hold up the camera to the QR code shown under "Source" on your PC.
- Once your source device is connected, you can repeat the same process by scanning the "Destination" QR code with the Android to which you want to transfer contacts.
- Now that your devices are connected, you can browse your contacts and select which ones you want to transfer. If you want to select all contacts from your source device, simply click the "All" checkbox.
- To copy your selected contacts from the source to the destination, click "Transfer"!
Summary (Contact Transfer):
✔ Wireless file transfer
✔ Secure local transfers
✔ User-friendly interface
✔ Device to Device
✔ Feature-rich software
Download Contact Transfer for Windows, and the accompanying app if you want to connect an Android device.
Backup and Restore Android Contacts: Droid Transfer
Our most powerful method comes next - Droid Transfer software. This option is for users who wish to have an all-in-one Android manager. Using Droid Transfer, you can wirelessly transfer contacts and music from Android to Android, as well as copy other media like Messages, Photos and Call Logs to your computer.
Droid Transfer on your PC connects to a free app "Transfer Companion" on your Android device. Then, you can transfer anything you like from Android to PC. Here's how to Transfer contacts from Android to Android:
- Download Droid Transfer on your PC and launch it.
- Get the free Transfer Companion App on both of your Android phones.
- Connect your Android phone to your PC over WiFi by scanning the QR code in Droid Transfer with the phone that contains your contacts.
- Click "Contacts" to view the Android contacts.
- Click "Backup & Restore", then "Backup".
- Choose to backup all contacts or select certain contacts, then hit "Backup".
- Once the backup is complete, connect your new Android phone to Droid Transfer on your PC as described in step 3.
- Click "Backup & Restore" again, then "Restore".
- Locate and select your saved contact backup file from step 6.
- Choose to restore all contacts, or select contacts, then hit "Restore".
Droid Transfer will then transfer contacts from the backup into your Contacts app on your new phone!
Watch the video to see how to transfer contacts from one Android to another with Droid Transfer:
You can even copy your Android contacts to your PC as vCard or CSV, or directly into Windows Contacts or Microsoft Outlook!
Find out how to copy Android contacts to PC >
Summary (Droid Transfer):
✔ Wired or Wireless file transfer
✔ Secure local transfers
✔ User-friendly interface
✔ Complete contact management tool
✔ Transfer of many different data types
✔ Locally stored data
✔ Feature-rich software
How to Sync Contacts from Android to Android: Google Account
One of the easiest ways to transfer your contacts from Android to Android is using your Google account. You can use Google's Cloud to upload your contacts (and other information like Calendars if you wish) and then you can access the information on any device with which you are signed into your Google account.
This is a great way to share information across multiple devices, however, if you prefer for your information not to be stored in the cloud, you may want to consider Method 1 instead.
Let's see how to sync contacts from Android to Android using your Google Account:
- Grab your old Android phone and open the Settings app.
- Tap Google > Settings for Google apps > Google Contacts sync.
Here, you'll see how many of your contacts are already syncing with your Google account, and how many are not yet synced.
- Tap Also sync device contacts > Automatically back up & sync device contacts.
- Toggle on Automatically back up & sync device contacts.
- Select the Google account to save your contacts to.
When you start up your new Android device and sign in with the same Google account, your contacts will be synced to your new Android phone.
Summary (Google Account):
✔ Quick and Easy
✔ Free
✔ Transfer of many different data types
✖ Requires internet connection
✖ Data must be stored in the cloud
✖ Unable to select individual contacts
How to Share Contacts using Nearby Share
If both Android devices use Android 6 or higher, you can copy contacts between them using the Nearby Share feature. This feature will already be available to use on your devices, so you don't need to download an extra app for this.
You'll first need to turn on Nearby Share on your Android devices. To do this, navigate through
Settings > Google > Devices and Sharing > Nearby Share, and tap to toggle Nearby Share ON.
Here you can also make changes to your Device visibility and how you'd like to share your contacts (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile data, etc.).
Now let's take a look at how to share contacts using Nearby Share...
- Open the contacts app on the Android containing your contacts.
- Tap the 3-dot icon to access contacts Settings.
- Tap Import/Export > Share contacts.
- Select the contacts you wish to copy or tap 'Select all'.
- Tap Share, then choose Nearby Share.
- Select the name of your destination Android device when it is found.
- You'll finally need to tap accept the file share on your destination device.
Summary (Nearby Share):
✔ Different wireless transfer types available
✔ Free
✔ Quick and Easy
Manually Export your Contacts and Import on a new Android
If you don't mind getting your hands a little dirty, you can back up your contacts on your current Android phone, and then restore them on your new Android phone.
The exact steps required for this method may vary, depending on which version of Android you are using, the app you use for Contacts and the make and model of your phone. However, you should be able to achieve this effect by following steps similar to the below:
- Launch the Contacts app on the Android containing your contacts.
- Open the menu (an icon with 3 dots, or 3 lines usually).
- Choose to Export your contacts. You may need to tap Settings before seeing an option to export.
- Your Contacts app will save all of your contacts as a VCF file on your phone.
- You'll now need to copy or move the VCF file to your new Android. You can do this by connecting your devices to a PC and copying the file to the new device, or by sharing the file using a cloud service like Google Drive.
- Once the VCF file is saved to your new Android, open the Contacts app, tap to open the menu, and find the Import option. Select the VCF file to import your contacts into the Contact app!
Summary (Manually Exporting and Importing):
✔ Local or Online transfers are possible
✔ Free
✘ Can be time consuming
Device-Specific apps
The final method I'd like to briefly talk about is device-specific apps. By this, I mean apps created by the manufacturer of a device to help you switch your device to it. For example, Samsung created the "Smart Switch" app to help users with a new Samsung device transfer their data from their old device.
Smart Switch offers a number of transfer options to suit any setup: device to device using Wi-Fi or USB, and from PC or Mac to your Android.
Depending on the make of your new Android device, there may be a device-specific app which could help you migrate your information to your new device.
Summary (Samsung Smart Switch):
✔ Direct device-to-device transfer
✔ Wired or Wireless transfer
✔ Free
✔ No need to store info online
✔ Transfer of many different data types
✖ Limited by device make
Conclusion
As you can see, transferring contacts from your old Android device to a new one can be a hassle-free process with the right method. We've explored six different methods, each with its own advantages and considerations.
Ultimately, the best method for you depends on your preferences regarding privacy, ease of use, and the specific features you require. If you are still unsure, take a look at our top picks below:
- All-rounder: For those who seek a comprehensive solution, Droid Transfer stands out. It allows both wired and wireless transfers, offers a user-friendly interface, and supports the transfer of various data types, making it a fantastic all-in-one Android manager.
- Cloud solution: Utilizing your Google account provides a quick and easy way to sync contacts between devices. While it's free and supports multiple data types, it requires an internet connection and stores data in the cloud, which might not be preferred by everyone.
- Full Control: Contact Transfer offers quick and easy wireless transfer, ensuring secure local transfers without the need for online syncing. You can choose exactly which contacts to transfer, so you can avoid copying duplicates and contacts you no longer need. It's a great choice for those who prioritize privacy and simplicity.
- Migrate to a brand new device: If you're switching from an old Android to a new device, many manufacturers offer their own transfer apps. These apps are great for transferring all your content to your new device without fuss.
Thanks for reading!
Extra: Transfer other files from Android to Android
So, you've mastered how to transfer contacts to a new device, but do you hunger for more? How do I transfer everything from Android to Android? Find out how to transfer photos, calendars, files, messages and music >
Publisher:Wide Angle Software
