How to Transfer Contacts From iPhone to iPhone? | 8 Effective Ways for Quick Sharing of Saved Numbers

iPhone has launched its new model with several advanced features and better functionality. If you are also planning to switch to a new iPhone, the most difficult task you may face is data transfer, especially your contacts on the old device. But this is no longer a big deal, as we have mentioned 8 useful ways to teach you how to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone. 

So, all the iPhone fanatics, consider the most suitable solution from this guide and save all the numbers to your new iPhone without trouble.  

AirDrop is the quickest way to share files in the iOS environment, just by connecting both devices to the same Wi-Fi. So, if you wonder how to share contacts on iPhone, you can simply AirDrop them as follows:

1. First, launch Control Center on both iPhones by swiping up from the bottom or down from the top-right corner, as per the model you are using. Here, tap and hold on to the wireless control box to open other features.

   

   Now, hit the AirDrop option.

   

3. From the permission dialogue box, select Everyone for 10 Minutes from them.

   

4. On your old phone, open the Contacts app >> locate the contact you want to share with the target iPhone >> tap the Share Contacts button.

   

5. Then, hit the Done button to confirm sharing.

   

6. After that, select the AirDrop option.

   

7. Select your new iPhone.

8. Finally, tap on the Accept option on your new iPhone to receive the contact. 

This will save the contact directly to your iPhone’s Contacts app. However, this is a suitable way to transfer a couple of contacts to a new iPhone. To share more contacts without manually sending every number, continue reading!

Share All Contacts at Once with AirDrop

If you want to transfer the whole list of contacts or some selected numbers, follow the given steps: 

1. Head to the Contacts app on your iPhone and go to Lists from the top of your display. 

   

   Tap and hold on All Contacts.

   

3. Now, hit the Export button.

   

4. Then, select the fields you want to include >> Done. 

   

   Hit the AirDrop option >> select your device to which you want to share the contacts. 

   

6. Finally, tap on the Accept button on the receiving iPhone and save them to your device. 

In case you want to create a new list to share the selected contacts, go to Lists >> Add List >> iCloud or Gmail >> name the new list >> select the list >> Add Contacts >> simply select the names you want to share >> Done. 

Also Read: Is AirDrop Not Working on iPhone, iPad, or Mac? Try These 14 Effective Troubleshooting Tips to Fix the Error

Have you backed up the contacts to the iCloud? If so, then you don’t have to stress about how can you transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone. You can easily login to iCloud for backup and sync and then restore them on a new iPhone. For this, follow the steps discussed ahead:

1. Use your old iPhone and navigate to Settings >> Apple ID.

   

   Now, head to the iCloud option. 

   

3. Tap on iCloud Backup.

   

4. Next, turn on iCloud backup by toggling the Back Up This iPhone option >> select Back Up Now.

   

   On your new iPhone, go to Settings >> General.

   

   Scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.

   

7. Hit the Erase All Content and Settings from the bottom. 

   

8. Next, tap on Erase iPhone. 

9. Set up your new iPhone >> head to the Apps & Data screen >> tap on Restore from iCloud Backup.

   

10.  Finally, select the backup you just created to restore. 

Please remember that receiving contacts through this method will reset your iPhone, clear all system data, if any, and replace it with the data available in the iCloud.

To sync iCloud with your new device, first, you need to ensure your contacts are backed up to iCloud from your old iPhone. The process for the same has been discussed above. Once you are done with it, continue with the process discussed below: 

1. Simply connect both iPhones to the same Wi-Fi and ensure they are signed in with the same Apple ID.

2. Now, head to Settings >> Apple ID on both devices. 

   

   Then, select the iCloud option.

   

4. Head to Contacts >> toggle the bar to turn on. 

   

5. Select Merge when it asks. 

   

Finally, wait for the contacts on the old iPhone to sync with the new one.

Note!

While backing up the data to the iCloud, make sure it has enough free storage available to contain a new backup effortlessly.

Also Read: iforgot.apple.com: Recover Your Apple ID from Any Trusted Device Without Hassle

In Apple’s iOS 17.1 update, you can also share your contact card with other iPhones, just by bringing the devices closer. All you have to do is:

1. Enable WiFi, Bluetooth, and AirDrop on both iPhones. 

2. Face the top of their screens to each other for a few centimeters and your contact card will appear on your screen. 

3. Now, either select the Receive Only (only to receive another person’s contact card) or Share (to exchange contact cards) option.

   

And you’re done. This is the easiest and fastest way to share your contact details with other iPhones. However, you can’t share other saved contacts on your device through NameDrop. 

You can also sync messages, contacts, and other files from iPhone to Mac using the iTunes or Finder software. And then transfer to the new iPhone. Consider the following procedure to do so:

1. Connect your old iPhone to a computer via a USB cable and visit iTunes. 

2. Choose the device and click on Info.

3. Check the Sync Contacts box by clicking on it.

   

4. Now, select Apply from the bottom right corner to sync contacts between your iPhone and the computer. 

   

5. Once it is done, unplug your old device and plug in the new iPhone. 

6. Again, choose the new device in iTunes and click on Info. 

7. Ensure you’ve checked the Sync Contacts box. 

8. Scroll down to the Advanced menu and hit the Contacts checkbox under the Replace information on this iPhone section. 

   

9. Finally, click on the Apply button to begin the syncing process. 

   

Once the process is finished, you can disconnect your iPhone from your Mac and access all the contacts on your new iPhone. 

You can also share contacts between iPhones via email or text message as vCard (a standard contact format). This method is also helpful if you worry about how to transfer contacts from an iPhone to a different phone. For this, you need to follow the given procedure:

1. First, head to the Contacts app of your iPhone >> Lists. 

   

2. Now, tap and hold on the list that you want to share.

   

3. Then, hit the Export option.

   

4. Select all the required fields and tap on the Done button.

   

   Scroll to Gmail and select it. 

   

6. Enter the email address you will use on the new iPhone and tap the Send icon from the top right corner. 

   

7. Next, navigate to the Mail app of your new iPhone and open the received email. 

8. Tap on the attached vCard to download it.

9. The contact will be opened in your Contact app. Select Create New Contact from there to save the number to your phone.

10.  Finally, make the required changes, if any, and hit the Done button. 

This method is preferable when you need to share the particular contact list or all contacts to other iOS devices. 

Also Read: Stuck on Update Requested on iPhone? Try These 9 Working Tips to Fix the Error

If you are the one who saves the contacts to the SIM, then here is the solution for how to share contacts to iPhone from your SIM card through the given process:

1. Insert your old SIM card into the new device and navigate to Settings >> Scroll down >> Apps.

   

   Now, select the Contacts app from the list.

   

3. There you will find the Import SIM Contacts option; tap on it.

   

4. Once the process is finished, the old iPhone contacts will be transferred to the new iPhone. 

Note!

This method is not applicable when you want to transfer contacts from an old iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to a new one. These devices don’t allow you to store contacts on the SIM card.

There are several third-party apps and software, such as AnyTrans, TouchCopy, Contact Transfer, etc., available for iPhone users to share contacts easily. Here, we’ll use AnyTrans to copy contacts to a new iPhone using a PC:

1. First, install and run AnyTrans software on your computer.

2. Now, connect both the iPhones to the system using USB cables.

3. Then, click on the Device Manager mode from the left side panel.

   

4. Select your source device >> click on More to open contacts. 

   

5. After that, select the Contacts from the left side panel and click on the numbers you want to share (hit Select All to transfer all the numbers or select the desired one individually).

   

6. Next, click on the To Device option from the top bar. 

   

7. Finally, select your target device and the sharing process will get completed within a few seconds. 

However, these are less preferred methods due to security concerns. So, use any such app only if other ways are not favorable to you. 

Also Read: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Disable Find My iPhone and Manage Location Settings

Final Words

That’s for today, guys! Now, you might be cleared with how to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone. Also, don’t forget to delete all contacts and reset them to erase all your data before discarding your old device. This will protect your personal data from threats and breaches.

So, now, just select any of the above-discussed methods as per your suitability and easily share all your contacts to a new iPhone. 

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