# How to move contacts to a new iPhone without iCloud

Source: https://exportcontacts.com/guides/move-contacts-to-new-iphone-without-icloud/
Updated: 2026-11-14 · By the Contaxo team

> During setup, **Quick Start** can copy everything, contacts included, straight from your old iPhone. If the new iPhone is already set up, use **Transfer to New Phone** in **Contaxo** (scan a QR code, confirm, save) or send all contacts as one vCard file with AirDrop and tap **Add All Contacts**. None of these needs iCloud Contacts.

## What you need

- Your old and new iPhone
- For the QR method, Contaxo on the old iPhone and an internet connection on both

## Transfer with a QR code in Contaxo

1. **Start on the old iPhone.** Open Contaxo and tap **Transfer to New Phone** on the Home tab. A QR code appears.
2. **Scan with the new iPhone.** Point the new iPhone's Camera at the code. If Contaxo isn't installed, the App Store opens and the transfer continues after you install it.
3. **Confirm the code.** Both iPhones show the same short code. If it matches, tap **Yes, Same · Transfer** on the old iPhone.
4. **Save.** The new iPhone shows how many contacts are new. Tap **Save** to add them. Saving needs Contaxo Pro; the free vCard method is below.

## Pick the right method

| Your situation | Best method |
| --- | --- |
| New iPhone, still in setup | **Quick Start**, transfer directly from iPhone |
| You keep backups on a computer | Restore a **Finder or Apple Devices** backup during setup |
| New iPhone already set up | **Transfer to New Phone** in Contaxo |
| Free, any time | One **vCard file** sent with AirDrop |

## Method 1: Quick Start during setup

Turn on the new iPhone and put it next to the old one. Follow the prompts on the old iPhone, scan the animation, then choose to transfer directly from your iPhone. Everything on the phone is copied, including contacts saved on the iPhone. Both phones are busy until the transfer is done; a cable makes it faster.

## Method 2: A computer backup

Back up the old iPhone to a Mac with **Finder** or to a Windows PC with the **Apple Devices** app (or iTunes). During setup of the new iPhone, choose to restore from a Mac or PC and pick that backup.

## Method 3: Transfer to New Phone in Contaxo

The steps above. It works after setup, sends every contact the old iPhone shows, is end-to-end encrypted and skips people who are already on the new iPhone. See [Move your contacts to a new phone](https://exportcontacts.com/transfer/).

## Method 4: One vCard file with AirDrop (free)

1. On the old iPhone (iOS 17 or later), open **Contacts**, tap **Lists**, touch and hold **All Contacts** and tap **Export**. Or, in Contaxo, tap **Back Up Now**, then **Share backup**; backing up is free and so is your first share.
2. Send the file to the new iPhone with **AirDrop**.
3. On the new iPhone, tap the file and **Add All Contacts**.

If the new iPhone already had some contacts, run [Duplicates](https://exportcontacts.com/duplicates/) in Contaxo afterwards.

## Keep a copy for later

Whichever way you move, a backup file you keep yourself protects you from accidental deletions later. See [How to back up iPhone contacts without iCloud](https://exportcontacts.com/guides/back-up-iphone-contacts-without-icloud/).

## Frequently asked questions

### Where are my contacts stored if I don't use iCloud?

On the iPhone itself, or in another account such as Google, Outlook or Yahoo. Check in **Settings › Apps › Contacts › Default Account**. Contacts in Google or Outlook come back as soon as you add that account on the new iPhone.

### Does Quick Start need iCloud?

No. Choose to transfer directly from your old iPhone, and your data, contacts included, is copied from phone to phone. Keep the two iPhones close together until it finishes.

### My new iPhone is already set up. Do I have to erase it?

No. Contaxo's QR transfer and the vCard file both add contacts to an iPhone that is already in use. Only Quick Start and restoring a backup need the setup screens.

### Will contact photos come along?

Yes. Quick Start, a computer backup, Contaxo's transfer and a vCard file all keep contact photos.

## Related

- [How to move your contacts to a new phone](https://exportcontacts.com/transfer/)
- [How to back up and restore your contacts](https://exportcontacts.com/backup/)
- [How to back up your iPhone contacts without iCloud](https://exportcontacts.com/guides/back-up-iphone-contacts-without-icloud/)
- [How to export your contacts to a vCard (VCF) file](https://exportcontacts.com/to-vcf/)

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