Symptoms
- Contact list is empty or incomplete on the new phone
- Only some contacts transferred
- Contact photos or details are missing even though names show up
- Contacts app shows a different account than expected
Likely causes
- CommonContacts weren't synced to a cloud account (iCloud/Google) before switchingContacts stored only locally on the old phone won't automatically appear on a new one.
- CommonSigned into a different account on the new phoneContacts sync is tied to the specific account they were saved under.
- PossibleContact sync setting turned offSync must be actively enabled for the contacts app to pull from the cloud account.
- PossibleContacts saved to the SIM card rather than an accountOn some older setups, contacts saved to a SIM need to be manually imported on the new device.
- PossibleContacts synced but the sync hasn't fully completed yetA large contact list can take some time to fully sync onto a new device.
What to do
- Confirm you're signed into the same account (Apple ID or Google) that had your contacts synced.
- Go to account settings and confirm the contacts sync toggle is turned on.
- Give it some time and a stable Wi-Fi connection to fully sync, especially for large contact lists.
- Check if contacts are saved to the SIM card and use the phone's import option to bring them into the main contacts app.
- Check your account's contacts through a web browser to confirm they still exist there.
- Restart the phone and check again.
- Restore from a specific contacts backup if one exists separately from the general account sync.
When to call a pro
If contacts are confirmed missing from the cloud account itself with no backup, contact Apple or Google support to check for recovery options.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.