[2023] How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone in 7 Ways

Got a new iPhone 15, but do not know how to transfer contacts from the old iPhone to the new iPhone? This guide will show you 7 ways to transfer contacts from one iPhone to another with ease, all iPhone models supported.

Author Avatar Joy Taylor Last Updated: Nov. 27, 2023
AnyTrans – Full-way iOS Data Manager

Free download AnyTrans to quickly transfer your contacts from iPhone to iPhone (iPhone 15 series included) in just 1 click.

The new iPhone 15 has been released 2023, bringing plenty of excellent features with the brand new iOS 17. It’s awesome to upgrade to the new iPhone 15. When switched to a new iPhone, the first thing you may need to do is sync the important info especially contacts on your old iPhone to the new iPhone. And here in this guide, we will show you some ways to do the task.

Transfer Contacts to New iPhone

Transfer Contacts to New iPhone

Since transferring contacts with iCloud/iTunes will erase all existing data on iPhone, here we will not only show you how to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone via iTunes/iCloud but also share with you other quick ways to transfer contacts from one iPhone to another without wiping any data. Keep reading and choose one way that suits you most.

Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone 15 with iCloud Sync

iCloud is a great tool for iPhone users. It does not require you to operate through the computer, only need your Apple ID can easily realize the transfer contact from iPhone to iPhone desire! But first, you should ensure that your contacts are backed up to iCloud from your old iPhone. If not, you can, on your old iPhone, go to Settings > your username > iCloud > iCloud Backup > tap “Back up Now“.  Then follow the below steps to transfer contacts to new iPhone:

  1. Connect both of your iPhones to the Wi-Fi.
  2. Log in to the same Apple ID on your two iPhones.
  3. On both iPhones, go to Settings > Tap on your Apple ID > Click iCloud > Select Contacts.
  4. Tap on it to turn it on > Select Merge when it asks if you want to merge contacts.
  5. Wait for the contacts on the old iPhone syncing to the new iPhone.

Contacts will sync between iPhones as long as you log in with the same Apple ID on your iPhones and the Contacts syncing option is turned on.

How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone via iCloud Syncing

How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone via iCloud Syncing

Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone 15 without iCloud or iTunes

AnyTrans is a professional and easy-to-use iPhone data manager which helps you transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone without wiping any previous data. You can transfer data between iPhones without iCloud easily. Also, it enables you Get it to have a try after checking its top features:

  • No data erase and selective transfer  Unlike iCloud or iTunes, no data will be erased when transferring contacts. And you can preview and choose the contacts you want to transfer without full restore.
  • Preview and Transfer contacts between iPhones selectively or wholly – You can preview your contacts before transferring and select to copy or check the Select All option to transfer all contacts in 1 click.
  • Super fast transferring speed – You can transfer over 3000 contacts between iPhones within 32 SECONDS.
  • Support all iOS device models and iOS versions – AnyTrans supports the latest iPhone 15, as well as iOS 17.

Now, Free Download AnyTrans on your computer, and then follow the steps below to move contacts to your new iPhone 15,iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Free Download

Free Download

* 100% Clean & Safe

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Steps to Transfer Contacts to New iPhone from Old iPhone

Step 1. Run AnyTrans on your computer > Connect your two iPhones to the computer with USB cables.

Step 2. Click on the “Device Manager” mode > Choose your source device > Click on “More” to get contacts on your source iPhone.

Click More Tab under Device Manager of AnyTrans

Click More Tab under Device Manager of AnyTrans

Step 3. Select the contacts you want to transfer (you can click the “Select All” button to check all the contacts) > Click on the “To Device” button at the top-right corner to transfer the selected contacts to your target iPhone.

Select Contacts and Click To Device

Select Contacts and Click To Device

[Video Tutorial] Transfer Contacts between iPhones without iCloud

Here is a video tutorial that illustrates the method of transferring contacts from old iPhone to new iPhone with AnyTrans and other ways. You might have a better understanding of the steps after watching it.

Free Download

Free Download

* 100% Clean & Safe

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone via iCloud Backup

If you have backed up your contacts with iCloud, then you can transfer the contacts to your new iPhone by restoring them from the iCloud backup you made before.

  1. On your Old iPhone, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
  2. Turn on “iCloud Backup” if it is closed > Tap on Back Up Now.
  3. On your new iPhone, Settings  > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings > Erase iPhone.
  4. Set up your new iPhone until you access the Apps & Data screen and choose to Restore from iCloud.
  5. Select the backup you just created to restore.
Restore from iCloud Backup

Restore from iCloud Backup

How to Transfer iPhone Contacts to new iPhone with iTunes

  1. Connect your old iPhone to a computer and open iTunes.
  2. Choose your iPhone and click Info, and then select the Sync Contacts option.
  3. Click Apply to sync your iPhone as well as the contacts with your computer.
  4. After the sync, unplug your old iPhone and plug in your new iPhone.
  5. Choose your new iPhone in iTunes and click Info.
  6. Make sure that the Sync Contacts option is checked.
  7. Scroll down to the Advanced menu.
  8. Check Contacts under Replace information on this iPhone.
  9. Finally, click Apply to sync contacts to your new iPhone.
Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone with iTunes

Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone with iTunes

Some tutorials also advise you to restore your new iPhone with the old iPhone’s iTunes backup. But you must be clear that your contacts will be transferred to the new iPhone as well as all the other data on your old iPhone. This means all the existing data and files on the new iDevice will be replaced by the contents in the backup, and the contents in the backup you may not want to restore also will be transferred to your new iPhone.

If you want to keep all your contacts safe, please move to Method 1 to get the solution. Next, we will show you how to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone with iTunes.

Share Contacts from iPhone to iPhone Using AirDrop

AirDrop is a feature that lets iOS users share files wirelessly between Macs and iOS devices. So, you can AirDrop contacts to a new iPhone:

  1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen or swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen on iPhones to launch Control Center.
  2. Press and hold on to the wireless control box on the upper left side of the Control Center and tap AirDrop.
  3. Tap the AirDrop button to reveal the permissions: Receiving OffContacts Only, or Everyone.

    Turn on Airdrop

    Turn on Airdrop

  4. Open the Contacts app on your old iPhone.
  5. Find the contact that you want to transfer to the target iPhone. 
  6. Tap on the Share Contacts button and tap AirDrop.
  7. Choose your new iPhone > Hit the Accept button on your target iPhone to receive the shared contacts.

    AirDrop Contacts from iPhone to iPhone

    AirDrop Contacts from iPhone to iPhone

However, AirDrop only allows you to transfer one contact at a time. When you want to move all the contacts from iPhone to iPhone via AirDrop, there would be a lot of weary and tiresome duplication. To transfer all your contacts at a time from iPhone to iPhone quickly, jump to Method 1

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How to Move Contacts from iPhone to iPhone through the SIM Card

If you have stored your contacts in the SIM card on your old iPhone, then you can transfer contacts to your new iPhone by removing the SIM card from the old iPhone.

  1. Insert the SIM card into the new iPhone.
  2. Go to Settings, tap on Contacts.
  3. You will see the Import SIM Contacts option.
  4. After the process completes, the contacts on your old iPhone should be transferred to the new iPhone.
Import SIM Contacts

Import SIM Contacts

However, the iPhone iPad iPod touch don’t allow users to backup contacts to SIM, and contracts have to be stored in the iPhone’s memory. So, if there’s no contact on your SIM card, refer to the other ways in this article to move contacts to the new iPhone.

If you need to transfer contacts from iPhone to Mac/PC, from computer to iPhone, or from iPhone to iTunes, it also helps you make it easier.

Besides contacts, AnyTrans also supports transferring up to 25 types of data from iPhone to iPhone, like messages, photos, videos, music, voice memos, etc.

Sync Contacts to New iPhone with Phone to Phone Transfer Tool

Another way to transfer all contacts from your old iPhone to a new iPhone, PhoneTrans will be a perfect choice for you. PhoneTrans is a professional phone-to-phone transfer tool, which is designed to make iOS/iPadOS to iOS/iPadOS, Android to Android, between iPhone and Android transfer easier and faster.

  • With PhoneTrans, you can sync contacts to new iPhone with one click.
  • To make a smooth upgrade to a new iPhone, you can transfer more data to your new iPhone, including messages, photos, videos, music, notes, books, and more.
  • PhoneTrans will save a huge amount of data transfer time and precious phone storage with Quick Transfer mode.
  • Besides, you can transfer WhatsApp/Line/Viber data and other apps to your new iPhone.

Now, you can get the latest version of PhoneTrans on your computer and move all contacts to the new iPhone with ease:

Free Download

Free Download

* 100% Clean & Safe

Step 1. Open PhoneTrans and tap on Phone to Phone, then choose Quick Transfer mode and click Start Transfer button.

Choose Phone to Phone - Quick Transfer

Choose Phone to Phone – Quick Transfer

Step 2. Connect your old iPhone and new iPhone with USB cable. Confirm the source device and new device. Then click Transfer button to continue.

Confirm Your iPhones

Confirm Your iPhones

Step 3. All the data including calendar, voice memos, photos, etc. on the old iPhone will be listed here. Select contacts or other data to transfer now.

Select Contacts to New iPhone

Select Contacts to New iPhone

The Bottom Line

That’s all about how to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone. As you can see, if you prefer a quicker way to make it, then AnyTrans is a better choice, lets you just transfer all the needed contacts directly. It would also be the best answer to”how do I transfer my contacts from my old phone to my new one?”.

AnyTrans – Transfer Data to New iPhone 15

Free download AnyTrans to start moving data from your old iPhone to your new iPhone 15, including contacts, messages, photos, apps, etc.

Free Download100% Clean & Safe

Free Download100% Clean & Safe

Free Download* 100% Clean & Safe

Author Avatar
Joy Taylor Twitter Share Facebook Share

Senior writer of the iMobie team as well as an Apple fan, love to help more users solve various types of iOS & Android-related issues.

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