Export Contacts From Android

Because of this, contacts are crucial. In fact, many would say your contact list forms the backbone of almost everything you do on your Android. From sending messages to connecting with friends in a game, everything starts with your contact list. Therefore, if you want the most out of your mobile, you need to protect your numbers. However, even if you’re careful, things can go wrong. Indeed, in the list below, we’ve outlined just some of the situations that can cause your contacts to vanish:

• Your phone is lost or stolen – if you’ve not backed up your data to a remote location or another device, you’ll likely never see your contacts again.
• An update leads to a technical glitch – although it’s rare, system updates can sometimes corrupt data, including your address book.
• You crack your screen – even though a cracked screen won’t erase your contacts, it may temporarily stop you from seeing them. Therefore, you’ll need another device either permanently or as a stopgap until you fix the screen.
• You make a mistake – you might be super careful all the time, but accidents can happen. A slip of the finger or a clumsy moment… whatever it is, there’s always a chance you could accidentally delete a contact.

Those are just some of the reasons you need to learn how to export contacts from Android. However, in our opinion, the main reason should be peace of mind. With technology being what it is, you don’t have to gamble anymore. By using every option available, you can secure your contacts and feel safe in the knowledge that you’ve always got a backup. So, with this in mind, here’s how to export contacts from Android.

The first import/export strategy most Android users try is via Google contacts app. After downloading the app, you’ll be able to export names and numbers in the following way:

1. Open the Google contacts app.
2. Swipe across from the left to open the menu and then click on “settings”.
3. Scroll down until you see the “export” option. Tap this.
4. Select which connected Google account you’d like to export your Android contacts to. If you don’t have a connected account, you’ll need to make one and then sync it to your device.
5. Once you’ve selected an account, hit “export to .VCF file“.

When a file has been generated, you can save it to the default download folder or, for added security, save it to your Google Drive account. The latter option is recommended as it means the file containing your Android contacts is saved to a cloud server. This not only offers more protection but allows you to download the data onto any internet-enabled device.

Exporting Android contacts via the Google method is great, but what if you don’t want to use the company’s app? If that’s the case, you can use the provisions offered by the manufacturer of your device. For example, smartphones from Samsung such as the Galaxy have their own contact app. Within it, you’ll have the option to “manage contacts” in the settings menu.

From there, you can generate and save a .VCF file and save it to your phone’s internal storage. This could also be listed as “SD card”. Whatever the listing, save the file and you’ll have your contacts stored within the app and on your device (i.e. independent of the app). When you’ve saved the .VCF file, you’ll also be able to use the “share” option to send it to an online service. This could be your email or a cloud.

Most Android manufacturers will provide a similar service. If not, you could save your contacts to the phone’s SIM card. Although this is a more traditional method, SIM-to-SIM transfers are still valid. To save Android contacts to a SIM, go into the contacts app, tap “manage contacts” and then “import/export”. Finally, select SIM card from the list provided and your numbers should be saved.

The final way to export contacts from Android is, in our view, the best. Although on-phone options are great, they can sometimes be slightly limited in their flexibility. Indeed, if you take the SD storage method, you’ll only be able to import/export from/to compatible devices, i.e. you can’t put a Samsung SD card in an iPhone.

Fortunately, modern apps are capable of crossing the OS divide. One of the leading contact transfer apps on the market is Easy Backup. As its name suggests, this product simplifies the import/export process by giving you many options. Once you download Easy Backup for Android, you’ll be able to save your contacts to multiple mediums. This, in turn, allows you to move them to any and all devices. That, for us, is ideal and the best way to ensure your data is safe at all times.

What’s more, this service allows you to access your contacts anywhere the app is installed. By creating an Easy Backup account and saving your contacts to its cloud server, you can backup, restore and transfer data to any device. In fact, that’s our preferred method. Once you download the app, you will be able to use the “export” feature to move saved contacts to an email account, Dropbox or Google Drive.

However, for the sake of simplicity and speed, it’s better to use Easy Backup’s own cloud service. By cutting out external mediums (i.e. Dropbox, etc), the process is not only slicker but more stable. Of course, you can choose to use any or all of the transfer options available. But, in our opinion, the following steps are the best way to export contacts from Android.

To get ready to export your contacts, install Easy Backup on your device and create an account.

Make sure you allow the app to access your contacts after downloading it. Now you’re ready to export your Android contacts! To do so:
1. Open the app and select “backup now”.

You’ve now exported your contacts using Easy Backup. This means that you can restore these saved contacts whenever you want, or even transfer them to a new Android or even a to an iPhone hassle-free, using very simple steps:

2. Download Easy Backup on your new device and log in to your Easy Backup account, as above.

3. Select “My Backups”, choose the backup you want and “tap to download”.

Again, in three moves you’ll have pulled your contacts from Easy Backup’s cloud server and installed them on your new device! During this process, this handy app can also help you to export just some of your Android contacts, if you wish (for example, your SIM contacts), or even merge duplicates and clean up your contact list.

As long as you follow the steps above, exporting Android contacts and moving them to any other mobile will be a breeze.