Top 4 Ways to Backup Contacts on iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11, X, 8

Why Backing up iPhone Contacts Is Necessary?

Your contacts contain not only the name & phone number but more details including email, address, birthday, etc. You definitely never want to lose them. However, unexpected things always happen. What if you get your iPhone broken or even lost? You can always get a new iPhone but you may never be able to get all your contacts back. 

Fortunately, you can take a measure in advance to ensure the safety of your contacts: backup your iPhone contacts. Once you have a copy of the contacts, you can always choose to restore the contacts anytime you want.

Now let’s start to see how to backup contacts on new iPhone 14/14 Pro (Max)/14 Plus, iPhone 13/13 Pro (Max)/13 mini, iPhone 12/12 Pro (Max)/12 mini, iPhone 11/11 Pro (Max), iPhone SE 2020, iPhone X/XR/XS (Max), iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone 7/7 Plus, iPhone 6s/6s Plus.

• Method 1. Backup iPhone Contacts to iTunes

• Method 2. Backup iPhone Contacts to Computer

• Method 3. Backup iPhone Contacts to iCloud

• Method 4. Backup iPhone Contacts to Gmail/Outlook

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.

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

Steps 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 Stared > 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.

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

FoneTool also supports data transfer, if you want to manage your contacts on 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.

◆ 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.

◆ 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 Google/Outlook

If you are using Google Gmail, you can choose to directly sync iPhone contacts to your Gmail. 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.

Conclusion

Now you know 4 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!