Copy Contacts from iPhone to Samsung S8 Plus

Moving contacts from an iPhone to a Samsung Galaxy S8+ is straightforward once you know the right method. This guide walks you through the most reliable ways to transfer your contacts, including using your Google account, a direct transfer app, or a vCard file. You don’t need any special cables or computer skills—just follow the steps below.

What You’ll Need

• Your iPhone with the contacts you want to transfer
• Your Samsung Galaxy S8+ (fully charged or plugged in)
• A stable Wi-Fi connection (for most methods)
• Your Google account credentials (if you don’t have one, create it for free at accounts.google.com)
• Optional: A USB cable and a computer if you prefer a manual method

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Using Your Google Account (Recommended)

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings. Scroll down and tap Mail (or Contacts if you’re on iOS 11 or earlier).
2. Tap Accounts. If you already have a Google account added, skip to step 4. If not, tap Add Account and choose Google.
3. Enter your Google account email and password. Follow the prompts to sign in. If you use two-factor authentication, verify it with your phone.
4. Enable Contacts sync. After signing in, you’ll see a list of items you can sync (Mail, Contacts, Calendars, etc.). Make sure the Contacts toggle is ON (green).
5. Wait for the sync to finish. This can take a few minutes if you have many contacts. To check, open the Contacts app on your iPhone and see if your Google contacts appear (if they didn’t before).
6. On your Samsung S8+, go to Settings. Tap Cloud and accounts (or Accounts and backup in newer Android versions).
7. Tap Accounts. Then tap Add account and select Google.
8. Sign in with the same Google account. Use the same email and password as on your iPhone.
9. Enable Contacts sync. During setup, you’ll be asked what to sync. Make sure Contacts is checked. If you skip this, go to Settings > Cloud and accounts > Accounts, tap your Google account, and turn on Contacts sync.
10. Wait for the sync. Your contacts will appear on the S8+ within a few minutes. Open the Contacts app to verify.

Method 2: Using Smart Switch (Direct Transfer)

1. On your Samsung S8+, download Smart Switch from the Google Play Store if it’s not pre-installed. It’s usually already on the phone.
2. On your iPhone, download the Smart Switch app from the App Store.
3. Connect both phones. You can use a USB cable with an adapter (Lightning to USB-C) or connect wirelessly. For wireless, both phones must be on the same Wi-Fi network.
4. Open Smart Switch on both phones. On the S8+, tap Receive data. On the iPhone, tap Send data.
5. Choose the connection type. Select Wireless or USB (if you have the cable).
6. Select Contacts. On the iPhone, you’ll see a list of data types. Make sure Contacts is selected. You can also transfer photos, messages, and more, but for this guide, just focus on contacts.
7. Tap Send on the iPhone. The transfer will start. It usually takes less than a minute for contacts.
8. When done, tap Done on both phones. Your contacts should now be on the S8+.

Method 3: Using a vCard File (Manual)

1. On your iPhone, open the Contacts app.
2. Tap a contact you want to export. If you want to export all contacts, you’ll need to do this one by one (or use iCloud on a computer).
3. Tap Share Contact. Scroll down and tap Share Contact.
4. Choose a method to send the vCard. You can email it to yourself, send it via AirDrop to a Mac, or save it to Files.
5. On your computer, go to iCloud.com. Sign in with your Apple ID, then click Contacts.
6. Select all contacts (click the gear icon and choose Select All).
7. Export vCard. Click the gear icon again and choose Export vCard. This downloads a .vcf file to your computer.
8. Transfer the .vcf file to your S8+. You can email it to yourself, put it on a microSD card, or use a USB cable.
9. On your S8+, open the .vcf file. Tap on it in your email or file manager. You’ll be prompted to import the contacts.
10. Confirm the import. The contacts will be added to your phone’s contact list.

Common Mistakes

• Not enabling Contacts sync on the iPhone. If you add your Google account but forget to turn on Contacts, nothing transfers.
• Using a different Google account on each phone. The accounts must be identical for sync to work.
• Turning off Wi-Fi during Smart Switch. Wireless transfer will fail or be interrupted.
• Importing a vCard file with duplicate contacts. If you already synced some contacts, you’ll end up with duplicates.
• Assuming iCloud contacts are on the phone. If your contacts are only in iCloud and not on the iPhone itself, the Google sync won’t see them. You need to sync iCloud to the iPhone first (Settings > your name > iCloud > Contacts).

Tips

• Back up your iPhone first. If anything goes wrong, you can restore.
• Check for duplicates after transfer. The S8+ has a built-in merge tool: open Contacts, tap the three-dot menu, then Manage contacts > Merge contacts.
• Use the Google account method for future changes. Once set up, any contact you add on one phone will appear on the other.
• If you have many contacts, use Smart Switch. It’s faster than syncing thousands of contacts one by one.
• Keep your iPhone and S8+ close together during wireless transfer. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct work best within a few feet.

Troubleshooting

Contacts don’t appear on the S8+ after Google sync

• Wait a few minutes—sync can be delayed.
• On the S8+, go to Settings > Cloud and accounts > Accounts, tap your Google account, and tap Sync now.
• Make sure Contacts is checked in the sync settings.
• Restart both phones.

Smart Switch fails to connect

• Ensure both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
• Try using a USB cable instead of wireless. You’ll need a Lightning-to-USB-C adapter or a Lightning-to-USB cable plus a USB-C OTG adapter.
• Restart the Smart Switch app on both phones.

vCard file won’t open on the S8+

• Make sure the file has a .vcf extension. If it’s .vcard, rename it.
• Try opening it with the Contacts app directly: open Contacts, tap the three-dot menu, then Import/Export > Import from storage.

Duplicates everywhere

• Use the merge tool as mentioned above.
• If you imported from both Google and vCard, delete one set first, then merge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my contacts transfer with photos?

Yes, if the contacts have photos assigned, they will transfer with the contact information when using Google sync or Smart Switch.

Can I transfer contacts without a Google account?

Yes, you can use Smart Switch or a vCard file. Both methods do not require a Google account.

How long does the transfer take?

Using Google sync, it can take a few minutes for a large contact list. Smart Switch typically takes under a minute for contacts only. vCard import is instant.

Will my contacts be deleted from my iPhone?

No. All methods are one-way copies—your iPhone contacts remain intact.

What if I have contacts on my SIM card?

On the S8+, go to Contacts > three-dot menu > Import/Export > Import from SIM to bring them in.

Can I transfer contacts using Bluetooth?

Yes, but it’s slow and only works one contact at a time. It’s not recommended for more than a few contacts.

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