How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone Using iCloud

This guide will tell you how to tranfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone with iCloud. Besides, an another easy way to sync contacts between two iPhones will alse be discussed.

Lena

By Lena / Updated on September 20, 2023

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After getting the new iPhone, you will want to transfer data from old iPhone to new iPhone, especially the contacts. You can store and manage your contact's information like phone numbers, and birthdays. You definitely want to keep all these on your new device. 

iCloud is the official cloud storage that helps users to backup and sync iPhone data including contacts. So how to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone using iCloud. Next, we will walk you through how to perform it step by step.

Note: Before we get started, it's worth mentioning that iCloud has some drawbacks. Some users reported that iCloud won't transfer all contacts and some encountered a transfer error. We also offer an alternative way (Part 2) to successfully transfer all contacts to a new iPhone.

Part 1. How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone using iCloud

There are two ways you can try to transfer copy from iPhone to iPhone using iCloud. You can turn on the iCloud sync to only sync contacts or restore from an iCloud backup that contains the contacts.

Preparation:

● Log in with the same Apple account on two devices. Or if you have another account on the targeted iPhone, refer to part 2. and it help you transfer Contacts from One Apple ID to Another.
● Connect the two iPhones to a stable Wi-Fi network.
● Plug in your iPhone if the battery is low.

Method 1. How to Sync Contacts from iPhone to iPhone via iCloud

Once you have turned on the Contacts in iCloud, all your iPhone contacts will be synced to iCloud server. If you turn on Contacts on other devices that are logged in with the same Apple ID, the contacts on that device will also be merged to iCloud. When you add or update a contact, iCloud makes the change everywhere.

On your old iPhone: Go to Settings > Tap [your anme] > iCloud > Turn on Contacts > When you're asked if you want to Merge or Cancel, tap Merge.

Enable Contacts Sync

On your new iPhone: Do the same above to turn on the Contacts in iCloud.

Wait for the contacts on old iPhone to sync to new iPhone. If there are lots of contacts that need to be synced to iCloud server, it may take a while to finish. You can go to the Contacts app and pull down from the top of the screen to refresh the contacts.

Method 2. How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone with iCloud Backup

You can also choose to restore a whole iCloud backup that contains the contacts. First backup your old iPhone with iCloud and then restore the backup on new iPhone. If you do not mind restoring all old iPhone contents and settings, see the steps below.

On your old iPhone: Go to Settings > Tap [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Turn on iCloud Backup > Tap Back Up Now.

Backup Now

Note: It may take a while to finish the backup since it will backup the whole device. If there is not enough iCloud storage space, the backup may fail. (5 GB free storage space)

On your new iPhone: Set up your new iPhone until you see the Apps & Data screen, choose Restore from iCloud Backup and follow the prompts to finish restoring the iPhone backup and copy your old contacts to the new phone.

Choose Restore from iCloud Backup

If you have already set up the device, you can go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings to erase your iPhone (iOS 15 and later: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings). Set up your new iPhone until you see the Apps & Data screen and choose Restore from iCloud Backup

Erase All Content and Settings

This is how to use iCloud to transfer Contacts to a new iPhone. It's easy when you have a new iPhone and need to transfer your contact information. Sometimes it's not the best choice in all conditions.

Drawbacks of iCloud sync
• It is not independent. iCloud will sync data between your devices. If you want to keep using both two iPhones, any changes on one device will be synced to another.
iPhone contacts may not sync to iCloud due to the Internet environment, iCloud Server status, etc.
• It can't transfer contacts to an iPhone using another Apple ID/iCloud account.

If the iCloud doesn't satisfy you, you can turn to the next part.

Part 2. An Easy Way to Transfer All or Selected Contacts from iPhone to iPhone

From the above, you know how to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone using iCloud. However, neither of the two methods would allow you to transfer selected contacts but all of them. So here comes another easier way to help you transfer needed iPhone contacts. That’s FoneTool.

It’s one professional iPhone data manager and also offers a way to help you transfer data between two iDevices. It helps you transfer all contacts to partially transfer contacts to a new iPhone. And you don't need to log in with the same Apple ID, it helps you transfer contacts from one Apple ID to another.

Two steps to complete the transfer:
① Transfer contacts from source iPhone to computer
② Transfer contacts from computer to target iPhone
You can select the contacts you want to transfer. Most of all, there is no need to reset the target iPhone and it will not erase any existing data on device.

It supports all models of iPhone from iPhone 4 to the latest iPhone 15 lineup and would be perfectly compatible with the latest iOS version. Download the tool on your PC and follow the steps below to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone.

Download Freeware Win 11/10/8.1/8/7
Secure Download

1. Launch FoneTool > Connect source iPhone that contains the contacts you want to transfer.

2. Click Phone Transfer and go to iPhone to PC > Click the plus icon and choose Contacts > Select the contacts you want to transfer and click OK to confirm.

Select Contacts

3. Click Start Transfer > Select the storage path and format (Select CSV if you want to export iPhone contacts to Excel.) > Click Transfer button to start transferring the contacts.

Transfer

4. Unplug the source iPhone and connect the target iPhone to computer > Click PC to iPhone option this time.

Transfer to iPhone

5. Click Contacts icon > Choose the contacts you exported before > Finally, click Start Transfer to complete the task.

Click Transfer

Note:
Besides selective transfer, FoneTool also supports full transfer. The iPhone to iPhone Transfer tool can help you transfer contacts, messages, photos, calendars, app data files, system settings, etc. with one click.

iPhone to iPhone Transfer

Conclusion

That’s all about how to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone using iCloud. You can choose to sync all iPhone contacts to new iPhone or restore the whole iCloud backup that includes the contacts. Or if you only want to transfer selected contacts, FoneTool is the way to go.

iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and later series support eSIM. If you want to convert SIM card to eSIM, it is recommended to backup iPhone contacts with FoneTool in advance. Just in case unexpected errors happen during the conversion.
Lena
Lena · Editor
Lena is an editor of AOMEI Technology, she covers backup & restore,hard disk & partitions management and cloud files transfer and so on for AOMEI. She enjoys helping people find solutions to their problems. She loves traveling, eating, reading and so on. She takes most of time with her family when she is not working.