You can save yourself a lot of work when changing your cell phone. For example, contacts on Android can be easily transferred. That’s how it’s done.
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Android: Export, import and transfer contacts
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Export, import and transfer contacts locally via the download folder
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Export, import and transfer contacts with Google Drive
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Back up data with Android smartphone
Do you have a new Android smartphone but don’t want to back up all the data from your old device right away? Fortunately, you can transfer the contacts to the new device separately and without any problems and save yourself a lot of work.
Backup: The ultimate backup guide
With a backup or a data backup you can protect your pictures, documents and other important files with a backup copy. Netzwelt reveals in the ultimate backup guide how to create a data backup for Windows, OS X, Android and iOS.
If you have changed your smartphone and want to move all your created contacts to the new phone, you have two options. On the one hand, you can export your contacts on Android as a .vcf file and then import them again. You can also do this in general so that your contacts are saved externally.
As a second option, you can simply sync your Android contacts via your Google Drive account. In our following instructions we will show you the necessary steps for both ways.
Please note that the necessary steps for importing, exporting and transferring contacts vary slightly depending on the smartphone and the Android version installed. Nevertheless, you should be able to orientate yourself well using the steps we have shown.
Android: Export, import and transfer contacts
First of all, you need to access WhatsApp’s import and export function. To do this, proceed as follows:
Call up the export and import function
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Open your contact list and tap the three dot menu in the top right corner and select “Import/Export”. On some devices, you may have to tap “Manage Contacts” first.
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Export, import and transfer contacts locally via the download folder
If you want to transfer your contacts locally via the download folder, we will show you the necessary steps below.
Export the contacts
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If you have selected the “Downloads” folder under “Save as”, you save your contact file locally on your smartphone.
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To do this, you must give the file a name and then tap on “Save”.
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Wait a few seconds and your file will be exported.
Send the local file
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Go to the download folder on your smartphone if you want to transfer the file to another smartphone.
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Press and hold the file and tap the share icon in the top menu bar.
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Under “Share via” you can choose which service you want to use to send your contact file. For example, you can transfer the file to another smartphone via Bluetooth or email.
Import the contacts
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Call up the contact list again, open the menu at the top right, select “Import/Export” and tap on “Import from VCF file”.
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In the download folder that opens, tap on the contact file and after a few seconds your contacts will be imported or transferred to the new smartphone.
Export, import and transfer contacts with Google Drive
Another option is to transfer the contacts using Google Drive. This is also pretty simple and works like this:
Export the contacts
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If you have selected the Google Drive cloud as the storage location for “Save as”, you must first select a subfolder for the file. In our example we use “My Drive”.
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Tap on “Save” at the bottom right and you will see the progress of the upload in the top bar of your smartphone.
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The file is now available to you in Google Drive storage and you can access it from any Android smartphone by signing in with your Google account and having the Google Drive app installed.
Import the contacts
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Open the contact list again on your smartphone, tap on the menu at the top right and select “Import/Export”.
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Select “Import from VCF file” and tap on the previously exported contact file in your Google Drive tray.
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Wait a few seconds and your contacts will be imported or transferred to your new device.
Back up data with Android smartphone
If that’s not enough for you and you want to transfer even more data from your Android device to the successor, or if you just want to back up your data as a precautionary measure, you’ll find what you’re looking for in our instructions on the subject.
In another guide, we will also show you how to properly archive and restore WhatsApp chats. So you are on the safe side if your cell phone gives up the ghost or you lose it somewhere.
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