[Ultimate Guide] How to Share Contacts Between iPhones Easily

Learn how to share contacts between iPhones easily here. iCloud may not be enough for your transfer needs, this article will provide more proven methods to guide you to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone successfully

May

By May / Updated on February 27, 2024

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How do I transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud?

Contacts play a crucial role in your iPhone, enabling you to connect with friends and family through calls and texts. When you switch to a new iPhone, sharing contacts to iPhone is the top priority.  While the common advice online suggests using iCloud, this method may not be suitable, especially when iCloud storage is full.

Congratulations on finding here, this article will provide a comprehensive and effective tutorial on how to share contacts between iPhones. Whether you use iCloud or not, you can easily accomplish this task.

Share Contacts Between iPhones

Part 1. How to share contacts between iPhones without iCloud

Transferring contacts between iPhones is very simple, we will first introduce you 5 proven ways to transfer contacts from one iPhone to another without using iCloud. You can choose the appropriate method to operate according to your specific situation.

Method 1. Transfer contacts between iPhones with different Apple IDs

FoneTool is a convenient and efficient iOS transfer tool, you can transfer contacts from one iPhone to another without erasing any existing data in just a few clicks, and you don't need to enter each contact manually. This is the fastest, safest and easiest way to transfer data between iPhones.

FoneTool
Best Free iPhone Transfer Software
  • Transfer contacts to iPhone/Android without erasing data.
  • 1-Click transfer all data from one iPhone to another.
  • Quickly transfer photos, videos, etc between iPhone and PC.
  • Fully or selectively transfer and backup iPhone with ease.
  • Compatible with all iOS devices and the latest iOS 17.

Download and install free FoneTool on your computer, and follow the blow simple steps to learn how to share contacts between iPhones with different Apple IDs.

Step 1. Run FoneTool, and connect your old iPhone to PC using a USB cable  > Click Phone Transfer > Select the iPhone to PC > Start Transfer.

Choose iPhone to PC

Step 2. Click the “+” icon to add desired contacts to the transfer list > Click OK to go back to the iPhone to PC page > Click Start Transfer to begin the transfer.

Select Contacts to Start Transfer

🌟Tip: In the Transfer Settings, you can choose the save path and format. If you want to view contacts via Excel, you can choose to export iPhone contacts as a CSV file.

Step 3. Once the transfer is complete, disconnect your old iPhone and connect your new iPhone > Click Phone Transfer again > Choose the PC to iPhone mode.

Choose PC to iPhone

Step 4. Click the “+” icon to choose the contacts that were exported earlier > Tap OK > Click Start Transfer to begin transferring the contacts to your new iPhone.

Transfer Contacts to New iPhone

Method 2. Share contacts from iPhone to another wirelessly

Additionally, for users without a USB cable or access to a computer, the FoneTool app allows you to transfer contacts from your old iPhone to the new one without the need for a cable. Here's how it works:

Step 1. Simply scan the QR code to download and install the FoneTool app on both iPhones for free.

Download FoneTool app on iPhone

Step 2. Open the FoneTool app on both iPhones. Select Connect Device and establish a connection by tapping the other iPhone.

FoneTool app connect iPhones

Step 3. Choose the contacts you want to transfer and tap Send to share them with the targeted iPhone.

Send contacts to another iPhone

Method 3. Namedrop iPhone contacts to another in iOS 17

Apple's Namedrop, a by-product of AirDrop launched on iOS 17, is for contact sharing, and the whole process is simpler than using AirDrop. Just put your iPhone on the other person's iPhone, and you can easily get the other person's phone number and email address. Let's share contacts between iPhones by touching.

Step 1. On an iPhone running iOS 17 and later, open Settings > General > AirDrop, make sure the Bringing Devices Together switch is enabled.

Enable Bringing Devices Together

Step 2. Keep both iPhones within a few centimeters and wait for the contact card to appear on the full-screen view.

Step 3. Select the contact information fields you want to transfer and tap Done.

Step 4. Tap Share to send your contact, or select Receive Only to receive someone else's card.

Tap Receive Only

Method 4. Transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone via AirDrop

AirDrop is a handy feature that allows iOS users to wirelessly share files between devices, such as you can share contacts between iPhone and iPad seamlessly. Follow these simple steps to learn how to share all contacts between iPhones with AirDrop:

Step 1. On your old iPhone, access Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the screen or swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen.

Step 2. Press and hold the wireless control box in the upper left corner of the Control Center and select AirDrop > Tap the AirDrop button to configure permissions: Receiving Off, Contacts Only, or Everyone.

Turn on Airdrop on Old iPhone

Step 3. Open the Contacts app on your old iPhone > Locate and select the contact you wish to transfer.

Step 4. Tap the Share Contacts button > Choose AirDrop > Select your new iPhone from the AirDrop options > On your target iPhone, Tap Accept to receive the shared contacts.

AirDrop Contacts from iPhone to iPhone

⚠️Note: Airdrop only allows you to transfer one item between iPhones at a time, which can be time-consuming to transfer your entire contacts list.

Method 5. Sync iPhone contacts to new iPhone with iTunes

If you have a PC at hand, you can also make use of iTunes to transfer your contacts from one iPhone to another iPhone. So, how to share contacts between iPhones using iTunes? Follow the steps below to do that:

Step 1. Connect your old iPhone to your PC with a USB cable > Launch iTunes and click the device icon.

Step 2. Navigate to the Info tab > Choose to sync specific groups or all contacts under the Sync Contacts section > Click Apply to initiate the sync process.

Click Apply to Sync Contacts

Step 3. Once the sync is complete, disconnect your old iPhone and connect the new iPhone > Open iTunes to choose your new iPhone and go to the Info tab.

Step 4. Ensure that the Sync Contacts option is selected > Scroll down to the Advanced menu and check Contacts under Replace information on this iPhone >Finally, click Apply to sync the contacts from your computer to the new iPhone.

Sync Contacts to New iPhone

Part 2. How to share contacts between iPhone with iCloud

If you want to try to send contacts to another iPhone using iCloud, here are two ways.

Method 6. Transfer Contacts to New iPhone via iCloud Syncing

When you need to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone between Apple IDs, an official way is to use iCloud. Here is step-by-step guide:

Step 1. Ensure both iPhones are connected to Wi-Fi > Sign into the same Apple ID on the two devices.

Step 2. On both iPhones, access Settings > Tap Apple ID (your name) and then iCloud > Choose Contacts and toggle it on to enable syncing.

Enable Contacts Syncing

Step 3. If prompted, select the Merge option to merge contacts from both devices > Then, wait for the contacts from the old iPhone to sync and appear on the new iPhone.

By using the same Apple ID and turning on Contacts Sync, your contacts will sync easily between the two iPhones.

Method 7. Transfer all data including contacts to new iPhone via iCloud Backup

If you haven't set up a new iPhone yet, it is recommended to directly choose to restore all iCloud backup data including contacts to the new iPhone. Or, if you need to reset your iPhone, you can do so by erasing all data and settings on your device.

Step 1. Make sure both iPhones are logged in with the same Apple ID and have enough space in iCloud for backup.

Step 2. On the source iPhone, go tp Settings, tap [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup, and select Back Up Now.

enable iCloud backup

Step 3. When the backup is complete, go to your new iPhone to set it up.

Step 4. When you see the Apps & Data screen, select the Restore from iCloud Backup option. This will allow you to migrate everything on your old iPhone, including contacts, etc., to your new iPhone.

Restore contacts from iCloud backup

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, that’s all about how to share contacts between iPhones with or without the same Apple ID. There are 7 methods for you to transfer your iPhone contacts. Among them, FoneTool is the best option for you.

With FoneTool, you can transfer your iPhone data including contacts, photos, videos, and more to another iPhone, as far as transfer data from iPhone to PC, external hard drive. In addition, FoneTool can help you wipe your iPhone clean before selling it.