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How to Transfer Contacts from Samsung to iPhone

Switching from Samsung Galaxy to iPhone? Transfer every contact in under 2 minutes. No Samsung Smart Switch needed — just a free 6-digit PIN.

Updated April 2026 · 2 min read · Free App

Samsung Galaxy phones are among the most popular Android devices worldwide, which means Samsung-to-iPhone is one of the most common switching scenarios. But Samsung and Apple are direct competitors, and neither company goes out of its way to make the transition smooth. Samsung's Smart Switch is designed to move data to Samsung phones, not away from them. And Apple's Move to iOS only works during the initial iPhone setup.

Samsung phones add an extra layer of complexity because contacts can be stored in three different places: your Samsung account, your Google account, or the phone's local storage. When you try to transfer to an iPhone using traditional methods like Google sync, only the Google-stored contacts come along. Contacts saved to your Samsung account or phone memory require separate steps to export — steps that most Samsung users do not even know about.

Transfer Contacts cuts through all of this. The app sees every contact on your Samsung phone no matter where it is stored — Samsung account, Google, SIM card, or local storage. Select the contacts you want, generate a 6-digit PIN, and enter it on your iPhone. Every contact transfers with full details. No Smart Switch, no Move to iOS restrictions, no missing contacts.

Step-by-Step: Transfer Contacts from Samsung to iPhone

1

Download Transfer Contacts on Your Samsung

Install the free Transfer Contacts app from the Google Play Store. It takes about 30 seconds to download and doesn't require creating an account.

2

Select the Contacts You Want to Transfer

Open Transfer Contacts and tap "Send". The app shows your entire contact list. Tap individual contacts to select them, or use "Select All" to grab everything.

Select Contacts
5 contacts
Select All
M
Mom
JS
John Smith
SW
Sarah Wilson
DM
Dr. Martinez
AC
Alex Chen
3

Tap "Send to Device" to Get Your PIN

After selecting your contacts, tap "Send to Device". The app generates a unique 6-digit PIN and a QR code. This PIN is valid for 60 minutes. Share it with the person (or device) receiving the contacts.

Your Transfer PIN
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8
2
7
1
5
Expires in 59:42
Share PIN or scan QR code
4

Download Transfer Contacts on Your iPhone

On the receiving iPhone, install the free Transfer Contacts app from the App Store.

5

Enter the 6-Digit PIN

Open Transfer Contacts on the iPhone and tap "Receive". Enter the 6-digit PIN shown on the sending phone. You can also scan the QR code if both phones are nearby.

Enter Transfer PIN

Enter the 6-digit PIN shown on the sender's device

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8
2
7
1
5
6

Done! Contacts Transferred

Your contacts appear instantly on the iPhone. All details are preserved — names, phone numbers, email addresses, birthdays, addresses, and notes. Open your Contacts app to verify everything is there.

Transfer Complete!
5 contacts received
M
Mom
JS
John Smith
SW
Sarah Wilson
DM
Dr. Martinez
AC
Alex Chen

Other Ways to Transfer Contacts from Samsung to iPhone

Here are the alternative methods and why Transfer Contacts is simpler.

Samsung Smart Switch

Pros

Can transfer many types of data from Samsung devices

Cons

Smart Switch is designed to transfer data TO Samsung, not from Samsung to iPhone. It does not support iPhone as a destination.

Move to iOS

Pros

Apple's official tool, handles multiple data types

Cons

Requires iPhone to be in initial setup mode. If you have already started using your iPhone, you need to erase everything to use it.

Sync Samsung Contacts to Google, then to iPhone

Pros

No extra app required once contacts are in Google

Cons

Contacts in Samsung account or local storage must be manually moved to Google first. Then you need to add Google to iPhone. Multi-step and easy to miss contacts.

How Transfer Contacts Compares

Transfer Contacts App
Under 2 min
Very Easy
Cross-Platform
100% Free
Samsung Smart Switch
Speed varies
Complex
Limited
Varies
Move to iOS
Speed varies
Complex
Limited
Varies
Sync Samsung Contacts to Google, then to iPhone
Speed varies
Complex
Limited
Varies

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this work with all Samsung Galaxy models?
Yes. Transfer Contacts works with every Samsung Galaxy phone — S series, A series, Note series, Z Fold, Z Flip, and all others running Android 6.0 or later.
Will it transfer contacts saved in my Samsung account?
Yes. Transfer Contacts accesses all contacts on your Samsung phone including those stored in your Samsung account, Google account, SIM card, and local phone storage.
Can I transfer contacts from Samsung to iPhone without erasing my iPhone?
Yes. Unlike Move to iOS, Transfer Contacts works on an iPhone that is already set up. No erase or factory reset needed.
I have a Samsung Galaxy with dual SIM. Will it transfer contacts from both SIMs?
Transfer Contacts accesses all contacts visible in your Samsung phone's address book, regardless of which SIM they are associated with.

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