Swap Contacts between Android and iPhone through WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a very popular cross-platform messenger. It has different versions for various mobile phone systems, such as WhatsApp for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone and Nokia. Except being a mobile messaging app, WhatsApp can also help users send text, video, images, audio and other files for free. In this guide, we will reveal a hidden feature of WhatsApp – transfer contacts between different mobile phones. It is cross-platform, straightforward. We will demonstrate how you can transfer contacts from Android to iPhone or transfer contacts from iPhone to Android using WhatsApp. Except that, you can use it to swap contacts between more mobile phones or mobile OS.

Transfer Contacts from Android to iPhone through WhatsApp

Make sure you have downloaded WhatsApp on both your Android phone and iPhone. Open the Contacts app on Android phone, then you should see all contacts on your mobile. Press the menu button which is at the left side of your home button, this will bring up a menu with options to allow you manage contacts, contacts groups, display setting and so on. Here we need to find the Import/Export option which we can use to transfer our contacts.
Note: Unlike an iPhone, different Android based mobile phones may have different settings.

import export contacts on android phone

When you tap on this Import & Export item, you will be taken to a new page with more detailed import, export and share options.

export and share contacts on android phone
transfer contacts through whatsapp on android

Here we may find various options to backup Android contacts, such as Export to USB storage, Export to SD card, Share namecard via, etc. Choose “Share visible contacts”, “Share namecard via”, or the share item in any other names on your phone. You can then select any or all contacts on your Android phone. Confirm the selection, you will get a dialogue to choose how to share the selected contacts. If the WhatsApp for mobile has installed on your Android phone, you should find it from this share list. See below screenshot.

Tap on WhatsApp, you will then be taken to select contact from your WhatsApp. Select any WhatsApp contact, the selected contacts on your Android phone will be sent to your WhatsApp contact who is using an iPhone. He or she can then run WhatsApp on iPhone to receive, view and save the contacts transfer from your Android phone.

Transfer Contacts from iPhone to Android through WhatsApp

To send contacts from iPhone to Android through WhatsApp works differently. Tap to run WhatsApp on iPhone, select the contact you like to share your phone contact with. In the chat or conversation window, you can find a upward arrow, see below screenshot.

send files in whatsapp on iPhone

Click this upload or arrow button, you will be open a new pop up dialogue like below. In this share option list, you can choose to upload or send photos, videos, contacts, etc.

share contacts through whatsapp on iphone

Choose Share Contact, you will then pull up the Contacts list on your iPhone, select the contact from this list to send it to your WhatsApp contact. On the Android phone, the recipient can receive, view and add the contact in VCF file directly.