Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock

How to transfer contacts from one smartphone to another

At some point you’re going to have to change phones and with it, transfer your contacts list. Here’s how.

WHILE GETTING A new phone is always fun, just to play around with nay new features and see how much faster it is, it also brings its own fair share of grievances.

One of which is having to transfer contacts, which can be a pain at the best of times. For the most part, however, you can avoid this through a number of ways. It just depends on what phone you have and where you’re transferring your numbers from.

Before you start

To make things as easy as possible, it’s best to save all your contacts on the cloud storage account of your old device. That means saving them onto iCloud, Gmail or Outlook. While not all transfers will be straightforward, this will at least make the process easier.

iOS

Probably the most straightforward of the three, transferring contacts from Android or Windows Phone is a matter of connecting these accounts together. All you have to do is go into settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars and select Add Account.

Then it’s just a matter of selecting either Google/Gmail or Outlook, entering in your account details and turning on contacts.

iPhone transfer contacts

Android 

Provided you have a Google/Gmail account, it’s a matter of syncing your old iPhone with your Google account. If your contacts list is massive, this may take a while, but you can check Contacts.Google.com to see if you have the entire list.

Once that’s done, it’s a matter of connecting your Android device to your Gmail account and it will sync automatically.

Importing Windows Phone contacts is a little different since you will have to do it from the desktop and not your phone. Log into Hotmail/Outlook and click on the drop-down button next to the Outlook logo at the top-left.

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft people The pop-down menu in Outlook.

Select people and click on manage. Select Export and save the list onto your computer. Once that’s done, log into Gmail, click on the drop-down menu located above the ‘compose’ button and select contacts.

Gmail

When you’re in the contacts page, click on the more button and select import. Upload your contacts file and when it’s finished, sync your Android phone with your Gmail account.

Windows Phone

Transferring your contacts from iPhone to Windows Phone is the least straightforward of the three since iCloud doesn’t allow you to download your contacts as a CSV (Excel) file.

Instead, what you need is an app that will turn your contact list into one. A good example would be My Contacts Backup which allows you to turn it into a CSV file.

Once you’ve done that, it’s a matter of importing them into Outlook.

As for Android, you can connect it up directly to your Google account, or follow the same instructions for transferring from Windows Phone to Android. The only difference is when you’re in Outlook People, you have to click on the manage button and select ‘Export for Outlook.com and other services.’

Feature phone to smartphone

While the very thought brings up images of having to type out each contact one by one, there are some methods that will make it easier.

The easiest way is to pair both devices via bluetooth, provided your old phone has it. You have to go into settings for each phone to pair them up but once you do, go into contacts on your feature phone and you should have the option to share them via Bluetooth.

The other is to connect up your phone to your computer and download your contacts file. Most feature phones come with third-party software (e.g.: Nokia Suite) which lets you do this so you can download it as a CSV file and transfer it through iCloud, Outlook or Gmail depending on what you use.

The other is to use a third-party service and transfer them that way. Some providers like Vodafone offer a contacts service which you can sign up to which is useful if you were say using webtexts and have some of your contacts saved there already.

Read: A third of people think coding is more important than learning Irish >

Read: Long-term gambles causes Google’s earnings to fall >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
18 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darren Bates
    Favourite Darren Bates
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 11:52 AM

    The belle of our city. Rest in Peace Philomena.

    844
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Russel Steapot
    Favourite Russel Steapot
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 1:09 PM

    She was such a lady. I spilt a full glass of red wine over her once and she just smiled and tootled off to the loo to wash it off. Not a word of complaint. Of course I was morto and everyone else was like fella do you even know who that is?!? She was so gracious, wouldn’t even let me pay her dry cleaning bill. RIP

    374
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aidan Kearney, Wicklow CCRO.Leinsterrugby
    Favourite Aidan Kearney, Wicklow CCRO.Leinsterrugby
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 11:54 AM

    What a wonderful woman, with her boy now. RIP

    649
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Means of escape
    Favourite Means of escape
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 9:23 PM

    @Aidan Kearney, Wicklow CCRO.Leinsterrugby: Reminds me of Bruce Springsteen’s mother who also truly believed in her boy .

    Thanks to both

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tommytukamomo
    Favourite tommytukamomo
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 12:01 PM

    Rest in peace beautiful Lady.

    365
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mjhint
    Favourite Mjhint
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 12:05 PM

    What an amazing woman. Goodnight madame.

    312
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Bolton
    Favourite Jimmy Bolton
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 12:08 PM

    An amazing lady. She gave us our finest Rock star. RIP Phylis

    323
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Yvonne Brock
    Favourite Yvonne Brock
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 12:03 PM

    R I P Philomena

    244
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Honeybee
    Favourite Honeybee
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 12:25 PM

    @David Gannon: Families are complicated, Phil’s son was adopted at birth and brought up bu loving parents which was not unusual in that time as Phil was a struggling musician and the baby’s mother , a young single lady not in a position to meet the baby’s needs. Do not rush to judgement, Phil’s mam had already known her own hardship raising Phil and sometimes giving a child for adoption is the most unselfish thing. Phil’s son is a gifted artist and successful sculptor in his own right and Phil would be very proud of him, following his success in finding his birth family, he was acknowledged as Phil’s son. This is not the forum,time or place to intrude in to this man’s grief, he has just lost his nan.

    208
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Risen
    Favourite The Risen
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 1:05 PM

    An amazing woman. My brothers were visiting Phils grave and she invited them over to her home for a cup of tea and to see his memorabilia. Such a kind and wonderful person.

    215
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Gordon
    Favourite Tony Gordon
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 1:42 PM

    I’ve been a wild wild rover
    Sailed all over the sea
    But this thing that makes me wonder
    Has made a fool of me

    For it took me from my childhood
    Underneath the stars and skies
    And I still hear the wind
    Whistling through the wild wood, whispering goodbye

    It’s home boys home
    She’s home boys home
    No matter
    Where I roam

    If you see my mother
    Please give her all of my love
    For she has a heart of gold there
    As good as God above

    If you see my mother
    Tell her I’m keeping fine
    Tell her that I love her
    And I’ll try and write sometime

    Philomena by Phil Lynott

    145
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Means of escape
    Favourite Means of escape
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 2:57 PM

    @Tony Gordon: From up on the hill my eyes are filled with the beauty down below
    Need to look no farther than down in the harbor I remember long ago
    Young guys with stars on their eyes I remember it well and the road ends weep and the salty breeze leads me into their spell theirs a boundless ocean in constant motion deep and wide
    Coming going waving and flowing oh sister the moon is its sky
    Oh I can’t be on I can still look upon it soaking in the view and the fishing boats are arrive on safe at Howth and Phil pal so are you

    -Old Pal
    By Brush Shiels(overlooked and underrated classic)

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darren Dowling
    Favourite Darren Dowling
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 12:25 PM

    Legend of a woman. RIP Philomena

    137
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute WoodlandBard
    Favourite WoodlandBard
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 12:51 PM

    The hidden Thin Lizzy member, rock n’ roll woman, lovely woman. Thanks for keeping Phil alive. RIP.

    123
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Helena Mulcahy
    Favourite Helena Mulcahy
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 12:30 PM

    @Darren Bates: I’m well aware that having children out of wedlock isn’t a taboo any more. Don’t get too hung up on it. My point was that she had two other children and gave both up for adoption. As a mother, I couldn’t imagine how any woman can bring herself to giving up her children not once, but twice!! And I read her book about Phil as well as articles about her on the net, so I know what I’m talking about. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, you don’t have to agree with it!

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Bardon
    Favourite Michael Bardon
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 12:54 PM

    @Donnachaín Ní Uallacháin: Very well said who are we to judge

    104
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Bardon
    Favourite Michael Bardon
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 12:59 PM

    @Helena Mulcahy: Are you blaming her for having children out of wedlock when no contraception was freely available.

    54
    See 8 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tooler doogan
    Favourite tooler doogan
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 1:32 PM

    @Helena Mulcahy: jesus i dont think now is the time for that!

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liz Gallagher
    Favourite Liz Gallagher
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 1:36 PM

    @Helena Mulcahy: Personally I think the hardest thing a mother can do is decide to give up her baby for adoption, so I think she was really brave to do that, because she was clearly doing it in the best interests of the children. I know because I adopted both of my children and am eternally grateful to their birth parents for giving me the opportunity to raise their children. She seemed like a wonderful woman. May she rest in peace.

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JC
    Favourite JC
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 1:44 PM

    @Helena Mulcahy: ah you read articles on the net – expert so

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean
    Favourite Sean
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 2:29 PM

    @Helena Mulcahy: whether we disagree or agree with you is not relevant. It is simply neither the time nor the place for expressing your opinion I’m afraid. Haven’t you heard that you should never speak ill of the dead because they can’t defend themselves!

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute G.M Lockjoy
    Favourite G.M Lockjoy
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 11:32 PM

    @Helena Mulcahy: you’re a witch

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Oonaghx
    Favourite Oonaghx
    Report
    Jun 13th 2019, 12:45 AM

    @Helena Mulcahy: I totally agree with you, it’s amusing how others have say now is not the time to express opinions, as they express theirs!

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gus Sheridan
    Favourite Gus Sheridan
    Report
    Jun 13th 2019, 7:36 AM

    @Helena Mulcahy: who the hell are you to judge anyone?

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Ivers
    Favourite Michael Ivers
    Report
    Jun 13th 2019, 6:21 PM

    @Helena Mulcahy: you could keep your opinion for a different page ya tit, this is a tribute page to one of the nicest people i ever met, would be sure to leave you in the shadows. dont bother replying to me

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry O Toole
    Favourite Barry O Toole
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 12:55 PM

    Sad news a lovely lady together again

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maro Wright
    Favourite Maro Wright
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 12:54 PM

    Rest In Peace

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ted hagan
    Favourite ted hagan
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 1:26 PM

    A mum in a million with wonderful devotion to son Phil. RIP Philomena.

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Noctor
    Favourite Tom Noctor
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 2:23 PM

    A lovely lady. I met her a few times and she was always full of stories about Phil. She’s with him now, may she rest in peace.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tooler doogan
    Favourite tooler doogan
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 1:29 PM

    Can the so called journalist not call the lady by her full name instead of “Lynott”, very disrespectful, shabby writing but thats the journal.
    RIP Philomena

    69
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Leonard
    Favourite Declan Leonard
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 1:32 PM

    Gutted to here this. A truly remarkable woman that gave us one of the most talented irish music hero’s. Had the pleasure of meeting her at the exhibition in Stephen’s green in Phil’s memory. I very interesting woman that took great pleasure in her sons legacy. Rip

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seàn Mc
    Favourite Seàn Mc
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 1:15 PM

    Great woman, may she rest in peace

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute paul kelly
    Favourite paul kelly
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 2:38 PM

    My dad used to drive Phil this his practice sessions when they both lived in cadogan road Fairview and always spoke highly of “Phil’s ma” RIP

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Fahy
    Favourite Martin Fahy
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 1:16 PM

    Amazing lady, very sad news

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adam Gibson
    Favourite Adam Gibson
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 1:26 PM

    Back together at last RIP

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Corcoran
    Favourite David Corcoran
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 4:00 PM

    Very sad to hear of her passing she was a remarkable woman together again with Phil may she rest in peace

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute M
    Favourite M
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 1:32 PM

    Nice lady. Rip.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jun Stone
    Favourite Jun Stone
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 7:04 PM

    My sister dated Philo back in the day, said he was a lovely genuine lad, Dublin back then (80’s)…

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Biddulph
    Favourite Alan Biddulph
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 2:09 PM

    RIP, great woman.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Toon Army
    Favourite Toon Army
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 6:37 PM

    Very sad. What an amazing person. Nearly always showed up at the annual vibe and added her unique warmth.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Oonaghx
    Favourite Oonaghx
    Report
    Jun 13th 2019, 12:39 AM

    She had 3 children, each of them named some variation of Philomena, she gave each of them away. They didn’t know about each other until adulthood, by then the brilliant Thin Lizzy front man had passed!

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liz Gallagher
    Favourite Liz Gallagher
    Report
    Jun 13th 2019, 7:34 AM

    @Oonaghx: and? What has this got to do with her passing?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Therése Martin Farrell
    Favourite Therése Martin Farrell
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 2:43 PM

    Lovely lady who I had the pleasure of knowing, rip P x

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian Phillip Creaner
    Favourite Ian Phillip Creaner
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 8:15 PM

    Ní bheidh a leithéid ann aríst. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Meaney
    Favourite Sean Meaney
    Report
    Jun 13th 2019, 9:45 AM

    It’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking to see so many lovely tributes being paid to Philomena on her passing, she touched so many people in so many ways, we all have wonderful stories to tell. It was a great privilege to have known Philomena and shared so many stories which will be passed on for many years. Her commitment to keeping Phil’s legacy alive is both remarkable and courageous. RIP

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cat K.
    Favourite Cat K.
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 9:02 PM

    Rip

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emmett Currie
    Favourite Emmett Currie
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 8:09 PM

    RIP

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Des Decourcy
    Favourite Des Decourcy
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 6:11 PM

    Rip philomena Lynott

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donwon999
    Favourite Donwon999
    Report
    Jun 12th 2019, 7:10 PM

    Bless

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Ivers
    Favourite Michael Ivers
    Report
    Jun 13th 2019, 6:15 PM

    Very sad to hear of your passing, i had great affection for you.,Had the Honor of meeting you one night some years ago,being a huge Lizzy fan, i’ll always remember it, the conversation, the hug, the kiss, you were a real lady and you did Phil proud in keeping his legacy alive. R.I.P. Philomena, the sun goes down….. again.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Staker Wallace
    Favourite Staker Wallace
    Report
    Oct 3rd 2023, 6:31 AM

    @:

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Means of escape
    Favourite Means of escape
    Report
    Jun 13th 2019, 8:39 PM

    Hetfield not only going to see Lynott sculpture but giving it a less speaks volumes about the high regard of the late star .

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Higgins
    Favourite Brian Higgins
    Report
    Jun 13th 2019, 3:57 PM

    Can also attest to Philomena’s generous nature, inviting my Mom for tea and a look at memorabilia when she visited Phil’s grave.
    Rest easy sweet Lady.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds