How to Backup iPhone Contacts in 2024 [5 Easiest Ways]

Why Need to Backup iPhone Contacts?

Your contact list contains more than just names and phone numbers; it contains important details like emails, addresses and birthdays. But sometimes, unforeseen circumstances may arise, in this case, backing up iPhone contacts seems important. However, before discovering how to backup iPhone contacts, you should know the reasons why you need to backup iPhone contacts:

• Data Loss Prevention: Contacts can be lost due to accidental deletion, device damage, or software issues, so regular backups can avoid data loss.
• Device Changes: When upgrading to a new iPhone or switching to a different device, a backup help you easily transfer your contacts to the new device without any hassle.
• Sync Across Devices: With backups, you can sync contacts across multiple devices,
• ensuring your contact list is up to date and accessible from any of your Apple devices.
• Restore Options: Backups give you the flexibility to restore your contacts to a previous state if you need to, whether due to accidental deletion or data corruption.

Method 1. How to Backup iPhone Contacts to iTunes

iTunes is the default program for iPhone backup but it’s not the best option for contacts backup. Because it will backup the entire iPhone content, not just your contacts. If you just want to backup iPhone contacts only, you can refer to Method 2 to see how to backup iPhone contacts to computer.

Step 1. Download and install the latest iTunes on your computer > Connect your iPhone to computer via USB cable.

Step 2. Usually, iTunes will run automatically when you plug in your iPhone, if not, open iTunes by yourself.

Step 3. Click the Device tab > Select backup to This Computer > Click Back Up Now option to backup iPhone contacts to iTunes.

Then iTunes will start backing up your iPhone data and settings to computer. Please keep your iPhone connected until the process of backup iPhone contacts to PC is finished. However, you just cannot check the backup files on your computer. Besides, if you choose to restore iTunes backup, it will erase the existing content on your iPhone.

Method 2. How to Backup iPhone Contacts to Computer

If you just want to backup iPhone contacts to computer instead of the whole iPhone, then you can try this method. To achieve this goal, one iPhone data management tool named FoneTool is needed. You can enjoy the most comprehensive and simple iPhone contacts backup experience.

🌟Hot Features of FoneTool:
Preview and Selective: You can first preview and then select the contacts you want to transfer to the computer.
Easy to Use: With just a few clicks, any data you need to back up can be transferred to your computer without any difficulty.
Backup All iPhone Data: You can back up contact info, phone number, email, address, birthday, and other notes, photos, videos, music, etc. without compression.
No Need for the Internet: Even if you can't connect to the network now, it doesn't matter, FoneTool supports backing up and transferring iPhone data offline.

Download the best iPhone backup app on your computer and follow the steps below to learn how to backup iPhone contacts to your computer.

How to Backup iPhone Contacts to Computer/Flash Drive/External Hard Drive

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to computer with USB cable and launch FoneTool.

Step 2. Click Phone Backup option > Go to Selective Backup and click Get Started> Unselect the other data you do not need to backup.

Step 3. Preview and select the contacts you need and click the OK button.

Step 4. Select the backup path (It supports backing up iPhone to flash drive.) > Click the Start Backup button and it will start the transfer.

Besides contacts, it also can help you backup music, messages, photos, and videos. When performing the restore, unlike iTunes will erase the existing data, it will not ease any data but only restore the backup files to your device.

How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to Computer/Flash Drive/External Hard Drive

FoneTool also supports data transfer, if you want to manage your contacts on a computer, you can let it help you transfer contacts from iPhone to computer.

Step 1. Choose Phone Transfer > Go to iPhone to PC and click Start Transfer.

Step 2. Click the plus icon > Select the contacts you want to transfer.

Step 3. Click Start Transfer > Select a path to save your contacts > Choose the format (If you want export iPhone contacts to Excel, you should choose CSV.) > Click Transfer to make it.

Method 3. How to Backup iPhone Contacts to iCloud

There are two ways to backup iPhone contacts to iCloud: create a full iCloud backup & sync contacts to iCloud server. Connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi network and check the detailed steps on how to backup contacts on iPhone below.

Part 1. Create iCloud Backup

Go to Settings app > Tap your name > Choose iCloud > Select iCloud Backup > Turn it on > Tap Back Up Now. It will start backing up iPhone content to iCloud including your contacts.

Part 2. Sync Contacts to iCloud Server

If you do not want to backup all iPhone contents to iCloud, you can choose to backup contacts only by syncing to iCloud. Once you have turned on the Contacts Sync option, all your iPhone contacts will be backed up to iCloud server. In addition, all the contacts stored on other Apple devices that logged in the same Apple ID will also be merged to iCloud.

Go to Settings app> Tap your name > Choose iCloud > Tap the toggle next to Contacts.

Method 4. How to Backup iPhone Contacts to Outlook

You can also follow the steps to sync iPhone contacts to other mail, like Outlook, Exchange, etc. Let’s check how to backup iPhone contacts to cloud drive.

Step 1. Go to Settings > Scroll down and choose Accounts & Passwords.

Step 2. Tap Add Account > Tap Google (or other mail you prefer) > Enter the required information to add your Gmail account and click Next.

Step 3. Click Save when your account is verified.

Step 4. Turn on Contacts Sync > Click Save to confirm.

Method 5: How to Backup iPhone Contacts to Gmail

If you are using Google Gmail, you can choose to directly sync iPhone contacts to your Gmail. Here is a step-by-step guide to backing up your iPhone contacts to Gmail:

Step 1. Sign in to your Apple ID at icloud.com and access your contacts. If you are using Windows, press Ctrl + A; for Mac users, press CMD + A to select all contacts.

Step 2. After selecting all contacts, click the Settings icon at the bottom left corner > Then, select Export vCard.

★Tip:

If you are using a PC, the file will be saved on your computer; if you are using a mobile device, the file will be saved in your phone’s memory.

Step 3. Access Gmail on your PC and follow the prompts to select an older version > Scroll down the Ring Chat menu on the left to find Import Contacts.

Step 4. Click Import Contacts and select a file from your computer > Find the vCard file and select it > Once selected, click Import to complete the process.

Conclusion

Now you know 5 different methods to backup iPhone contacts. If you want to backup iPhone to computer, you can choose iTunes or FoneTool. If you have no computer at hand, then you can choose to backup iPhone contacts to iCloud or Gmail. By the way, FoneTool can also help you transfer contacts, photos, songs, videos, etc. between iPhone and computer. Donwload FoneTool and discover more!