[2024] How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone in 7 Ways

The new iPhone 16 has been released 2024, bringing plenty of excellent features with the brand new iOS 18. It’s awesome to upgrade to the new iPhone 16. 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.

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 16 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.

Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone 15/16 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 16, as well as iOS 18.

Now, Free Download AnyTrans on your computer, and then follow the steps below to move contacts to your new iPhone 16.

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.

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.

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.

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.

10. Finally, click Apply to sync contacts to your new iPhone.

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 Off, Contacts Only, or Everyone.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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:

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

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.

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.

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?”.