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How to transfer WhatsApp contacts to a new phone

Last updated: July 2026

Getting a new phone shouldn't mean losing the numbers you only ever saved in WhatsApp. WhatsApp itself has no "export contacts" button — and it never shows the numbers of people you've chatted with but not saved. Tooly reads them from your own signed-in WhatsApp Web session and writes them to a file your new phone understands. Here are the two ways to do it.

Fastest route: export a vCard (.vcf) with Tooly, then open that file on your new phone — every contact and number is added to its address book in one step. Prefer everything to sync automatically across phones? Export a CSV into Google Contacts instead.

Two ways to move your contacts

Route A

vCard straight to the phone

Export a .vcf file and open it on the new phone. Nothing else needed — works offline, on iPhone and Android.

Best if you just want it done, once.
Route B

Via Google Contacts

Export a CSV, import it into Google Contacts, and it syncs to any phone you sign in on.

Best if you want contacts backed up and synced everywhere.

Route A — vCard to your new phone

  1. Install Tooly

    Add it from the Chrome Web Store — no sign-up, no paywall.

  2. Open WhatsApp Web & scan

    Sign in at web.whatsapp.com, open the Tooly side panel and hit Scan WhatsApp. Everything is read on your own computer — nothing is uploaded.

  3. Select your contacts

    Use the Contacts tab for your whole address book, or Groups to move just one group's members.

  4. Export a vCard (.vcf)

    Click Export and choose vCard (.vcf). It saves to Downloads instantly.

  5. Import on the new phone

    AirDrop/email the .vcf to the new phone and open it, or drop it into Google Contacts. Every name and number lands in the address book.

Tooly's export menu — vCard, CSV, Excel and JSON from a single scan
One scan, every format

vCard (.vcf) drops straight into a phone's address book; CSV is the one to pick for Google Contacts. Both come from the same Export menu — no need to scan again.

Route B — via Google Contacts

  1. Export a CSV

    Follow the same scan, then export CSV instead of vCard.

  2. Import into Google Contacts

    At contacts.google.com, choose Import and pick your CSV. See the full Google Contacts guide for the exact field mapping.

  3. Sign in on the new phone

    Add the same Google account to the new phone. Your contacts sync down automatically — and stay backed up for next time.

Which route should you pick?

If you just want the numbers on the new phone with the least fuss, Route A (vCard) is quickest. If you'd like a synced, backed-up copy that follows you to every future phone, Route B (Google Contacts) is worth the extra minute. Either way, Tooly does the hard part — turning WhatsApp's hidden contact list into a clean, importable file.

Frequently asked questions

Will the names come across, not just the numbers?

Yes — a vCard carries each contact's name and number, so your new phone shows proper names, not raw digits.

Does this work for both iPhone and Android?

Yes. A .vcf imports into both. Via Google Contacts it syncs automatically to whichever phone you sign in on.

Do I need my old phone during the transfer?

Only to keep WhatsApp Web signed in while you export. After that, import on the new phone anytime.

Does this move my chats too?

No — Tooly moves contacts and numbers, not messages. Use WhatsApp's own chat backup for history; Tooly makes sure the people and numbers come with you. See backing up your contacts.

Is it free?

Yes — exporting your full list to vCard or CSV is free and unlimited, no account. Premium only adds filters, de-duplication and presets.

Take your contacts with you

One scan becomes a vCard your new phone imports in seconds. Free, and entirely on your device.

Add Tooly to Chrome — free