How to Save and Transfer Your Contacts
As you prepare to transfer your phone number to our network, it is important to understand how your contacts are managed on your device.
Transferring your phone number only moves the routing of your calls and texts. It does not move the personal data, such as contacts, saved on your old SIM card.
Why Contacts Sometimes Go Missing
Occasionally, customers will report that their contacts disappeared after switching carriers. This almost always happens because those contacts were saved directly to the old carrier's SIM card (or eSIM) rather than to the device itself or a cloud provider.
When the old physical SIM is thrown away, or the old eSIM is deleted from the phone, any contacts saved exclusively on them are deleted as well.
How to Import and Save Your Contacts
Follow the instructions below for your device to ensure your contacts are safely backed up before you delete your old SIM.
Apple iPhone (iOS)
Part 1: Import Contacts from your old SIM
- Ensure your old carrier's SIM (or eSIM) is still active on your phone.
- Go to Settings → Apps → Contacts.
- Tap Import SIM Contacts.
- If asked, choose where you want to import your SIM contacts (e.g., iCloud or Gmail).
- Wait for the import to complete.
Part 2: Back up to iCloud (Recommended)
- Go to Settings and tap Your Name at the very top.
- Tap iCloud.
- Under "Saved to iCloud", tap See All.
- Ensure the toggle next to Contacts is turned ON.
Android Devices
Part 1: Import Contacts from your old SIM
- Ensure your old carrier's SIM (or eSIM) is still active on your phone.
- Open the Contacts app on your Android device.
- Tap Organize at the bottom of the screen (or the menu/settings icon depending on your device manufacturer).
- Tap Import from SIM
- On Pixel devices, tap Google Contacts sync settings. Then tap Also sync device and SIM contacts and toggle ON Sync device and SIM contacts automatically
- You can also tap Manage SIM to see contacts on your SIM and import them directly to your device
- On GrapheneOS devices, tap Import then SIM card
- On Pixel devices, tap Google Contacts sync settings. Then tap Also sync device and SIM contacts and toggle ON Sync device and SIM contacts automatically
- Select the account you want to save the contacts to, select the contacts, and tap Import.
Part 2: Back up to Google (Recommended)
- Go to your device Settings.
- Tap Passwords & accounts (or Users & accounts).
- Select your Google Account.
- Tap Account sync and ensure the toggle for Contacts is turned ON.
Verify Contacts and More Support
Once you have verified that your contacts are visible in your native Contacts app and safely backed up to the cloud, you can confidently delete your old carrier's eSIM profile or throw away your physical SIM.
If you need further assistance with contacts we recommend contacting your device manufacturer support, such as Apple Support, Samsung Support, or Pixel Support