Forum Discussion

Perez's avatar
Perez
Iron Contributor
Apr 23, 2026

How to transfer address book from android to iphone after setup without sim

Hello,

I need to move my address book from an Android phone to an iPhone, but I do not want to use a SIM card for the transfer. I am not very familiar with phone data transfer, so I am looking for a simple and safe method that a beginner can follow.

Is there an easy way to transfer address book from android to iphone without SIM after setup, maybe with a Google account, an app, or a computer? Clear steps would be very helpful because I do not want to lose any contact information.

Thanks for any advice.

8 Replies

  • Nobel_Baynes's avatar
    Nobel_Baynes
    Steel Contributor

    You can easily transfer address book from android to iphone after setup without sim using a Google sync.

  • Yhooum's avatar
    Yhooum
    Iron Contributor

    If you have a Samsung phone, you can download Smart Switch to transfer address book from android to iphone after setup, but it only works with Samsung devices; it won’t work with any others.

    Steps:

    1. Download and install the app from the App Store on your iPhone.
    2. Open the pre-installed app on your Samsung phone.
    3. Select ‘Send data’ → ‘Wireless mode’.
    4. Open the app on your iPhone, select ‘Receive data’ → ‘Android’.
    5. Connect the two phones via Wi-Fi, tick ‘Contacts’ on your Samsung phone, and start the transfer.

    Cons

    • This method is only supported on Samsung Android devices; it cannot be used on phones from other brands.
    • Data transfer relies on a direct Wi-Fi connection, which may result in interruptions or slower speeds if the network is unstable.
    • Apart from contacts, compatibility is limited for certain other data types when transferring between platforms.

    This method is optimized for Samsung devices, allowing you to quickly and securely transfer address book from android to iphone after setup.

    Notes

    • Please ensure that both phones are connected to the same stable Wi-Fi network to prevent the connection from being lost during the transfer.
    • Before starting the transfer, disable the auto-lock feature on both phones to prevent the connection from being interrupted if the devices go to sleep.
    • Do not use or close the app during the transfer, as this may result in data corruption or a failed transfer.

     

  • Lionelh's avatar
    Lionelh
    Copper Contributor

    To transfer address book from Android to iPhone without SIM, PlainApp is a free Android app that turns your phone into a self-hosted web server. Your data never leaves your local Wi-Fi network – no cloud, no accounts, no subscriptions.

    How it works for you to transfer address book from Android to iPhone without SIM:

    1. Install PlainApp on your Android phone
    2. Open the app – it starts a local web server
    3. On any computer or laptop connected to the same Wi-Fi network, open a web browser
    4. Enter the local address shown in PlainApp
    5. Navigate to the Contacts section – you can view, search, and manage all your contacts
    6. From there, you can export your contacts or view them on the computer

     

    To get the contacts to your iPhone:

    • Since PlainApp's web interface lets you access your contacts from any browser, you could:
    • View the contacts on your computer screen and manually add them (only practical for small contact lists)
    • Use the web interface to export contacts in a readable format

     

    Pros:

    • 100% local – your data never touches the internet
    • End-to-end encrypted (TLS + XChaCha20-Poly1305)
    • Completely free and ad-free – no purchases ever
    • No accounts required
    • Open-source
  • Rodrigoser's avatar
    Rodrigoser
    Copper Contributor

    Since your iPhone is already set up and you do not want to use a SIM card, the Google Account method is completely free, safe, and requires no cables, no extra software, and no technical experience.

    Here is why this method is perfect for a transfer address book from Android to iPhone without SIM:

    • No SIM card needed – The transfer happens over Wi-Fi using the cloud.
    • No erasing your iPhone – Unlike Apple's "Move to iOS" tool, this method works on an already‑set‑up iPhone.
    • No extra apps to install – Both Android and iPhone already support Google accounts natively.
    • Completely free – There are no hidden costs, trial versions, or "pro" upgrades.

     

    📱 Step‑by‑Step Guide to Transfer Address Book from Android to iPhone Without SIM

    Follow these simple steps exactly as written. The whole process takes about 2–3 minutes.

    On Your Android Phone

    1. Open Settings.
    2. Tap Accounts (or Accounts and Backup on some phones).
    3. Tap Google.
    4. Make sure the Google account you want to use is listed. If not, tap Add account and sign in.
    5. Tap the Google account name.
    6. On the sync screen, find Contacts and make sure the switch next to it is ON (blue or green).
    7. You should see a timestamp like "Just now" or a specific time. This confirms your contacts are saved to Google's servers.

     

    On Your iPhone

    1. Open Settings.
    2. Scroll down and tap Apps.
    3. Tap Mail (or on some iOS versions, tap Contacts directly).
    4. Tap Accounts.
    5. Tap Add Account.
    6. Select Google from the list.
    7. Sign in with the exact same Google account you used on your Android phone.
    8. When the permission screen appears, toggle the Contacts switch to ON (green).
    9. Tap Save in the top right corner.
  • Finneganfg's avatar
    Finneganfg
    Copper Contributor

    A VCF file (also called a vCard file) is a standard digital format for storing one or more contacts. Think of it as a digital business card collection. One VCF file can hold your entire address book. This method allows you to transfer address book from Android to iPhone without SIM using just a simple file.

    Follow these steps carefully if you want to transfer address book from Android to iPhone without SIM. The whole process takes about 3–5 minutes.

    On Your Android Phone (Exporting the VCF File)

    1. Open the Contacts app on your Android phone.

    2. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines or three dots) – usually in the top left or top right corner.

    3. Tap Manage contacts (or Settings on some phones).

    4. Tap Import/Export.

    5. Tap Export to .VCF file (or Export to storage or Export to .vcf).

    6. Choose where to save the file (internal storage is fine). The phone will create a file usually named contacts.vcf or 00001.vcf.

    7. Tap Save or OK.

     

    On Your iPhone 

    1. Locate the VCF file on your iPhone.

    2. Tap the file. Your iPhone will automatically recognize it as a contact file.

    3. A screen will appear showing all the contacts inside the file.

    4. Tap Add all contacts (or Add [number] contacts).

    5. Wait a few seconds for the import to finish.

    Open the Contacts app on your iPhone. All your Android contacts should now be there. That is how you transfer address book from Android to iPhone without SIM using a VCF file.

  • Thatcherw's avatar
    Thatcherw
    Iron Contributor

    Use Send Anywhere is a simple app for transferring files directly between phones, making it easy to transfer address book from android to iphone after setup.

    How to transfer contacts from an Android device to an iPhone

    Step 1: On both mobile phones

    • Download the app from Google Play and the App Store

    Step 2 : On your Android device

    • Open the app
    • Tap ‘Send’
    • Select a contact
    • Tap ‘Send’ → A 6-digit code will be displayed.

    Step 3 : On your iPhone

    • Open the app
    • Tap ‘Receive’
    • Enter the 6-digit code.
    • The contact will be transferred immediately.

    This method lets you quickly transfer address book from android to iphone after setup without needing a cloud account or computer.

    Cons

    • Transfer speeds are affected by the quality of the Wi-Fi or mobile network.
    • Advertisements appear occasionally, and there are file size limits.
    • In very rare cases, some custom fields may be lost when contacts are transferred via this app.
  • Josew's avatar
    Josew
    Silver Contributor

    Exporting a vCard file is a simple, offline solution to transfer address book from android to iphone after setup, without the need for a cloud account.

    Essentially, this involves saving your contacts as a single file and transferring them manually; with just a few taps, you can import all your contacts onto your iPhone.

    Usage Guide :  On your Android device, open the Contacts app, go to Settings, select Export, and save your contacts as a .vcf file.

    Next, send this file to your iPhone via email, cloud storage or a USB connection.

    Finally, open the .vcf file on your iPhone, tap ‘Add Contacts’ to complete the import.

    This is a reliable way to transfer address book from android to iphone after setup, without relying on synchronisation services.

    If you prefer not to use the cloud, you might consider using this method.

  • Sundarpic's avatar
    Sundarpic
    Iron Contributor

    Google, one of the most straightforward and reliable ways to transfer your address book from Android to iPhone. This method syncs your contacts to the cloud, making them available on your new iPhone without needing any cables or third-party apps.

    How to transfer address book from android to iphone with Google

    Step 1: Sync Android Contacts to Your Google Account

    First, ensure all your Android contacts are saved to your Google Account, not just on the phone's local storage.

    1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
    2. Tap on Accounts or Accounts and Backup (the exact name may vary by device).
    3. Select Manage Accounts and then tap your Google Account.
    4. Tap on Account Sync or Sync account.
    5. On the list of items, make sure the switch for Contacts is turned ON. This forces your phone to upload your current contacts to Google's servers.

    Step 2: Add Same Google Account to Your iPhone

    Now, you will add that same Google account to your iPhone. The iPhone will then automatically download the synced contacts.

    1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
    2. Scroll down and tap on Mail (or Apps > Mail on newer iOS versions).
    3. Tap Accounts, then tap Add Account
    4. Turn ON the toggle switch for Contacts

    Step 3: Access Your Contacts

    Your iPhone will now begin syncing your Google contacts. This usually takes just a few moments.

    Open the Contacts app on your iPhone. You should see your address book list populating. If you don't see them immediately, close the Contacts app, wait a minute, and reopen it, or simply restart your iPhone.