Android 11: Transferring contacts - this is how the transfer works

If you have a new smartphone and want to transfer contacts as well as photos and videos, you don't have to type out each contact individually. Android 11 offers several options that allow you to conveniently and automatically transfer stored contacts to a new or different smartphone.

How to transfer your contacts on Android 11

To make full use of your Android smartphone, you need a Google account. Via the Google account you have, among other things, the possibility to backup and synchronize data. For the transfer to work, however, you have to activate the synchronization function in the Contacts app in advance. Only then will the contacts be stored in your Google account and can then be transferred.

1. On the old smartphone, first open the Contacts app.
2. Tap on "Accounts" and turn on the synchronization function. Wait until the data has been transferred to your Google account.
3. Then open the setting on the new smartphone and switch to the "Accounts" category.
4. Tap on the "Google" menu item and log in with your Google account.
5. Now select the newly added account and adjust the synchronization options so that the contacts are synchronized.
6. Finally tap on "Synchronize now" to transfer the contacts to the new smartphone.

Alternatively, you can also transfer your contacts with one of the various manufacturer apps. Samsung, for example, offers the Smart Switch Mobile app for the data transfer. Furthermore, you have the option to back up your address book using the export function of the Contacts app, for example as a VCF file. You can then store the file on a microSD card and thus transfer and import it to another smartphone.