At first, I think it’s trivial. But from time to time, I have been asked:
I bought a new iPhone. How can I import SIM card contacts from my old phone to the new iPhone?
You may know the answer. But for iPhone new comer, this quick tip is for you to start using your brand new iPhone.
Simply go to “Settings” -> “Mail, Contacts, Calendar”, you can find an option called “Import SIM Contacts”. Then tap on it and iPhone will import all SIM contacts to your contacts list.
Can’t find this option in Settings? You may be using an stone age iPhone with older version of firmware (Prior to firmware 2.0). For user with older version of iPhone, I’ll recommend you to upgrade to the latest firmware version. You can just upgrade it by using iTunes.
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
And viceversa? how can I export the contacts from my Iphone to my SIM?
@Ernest, from what I know, you cannot export contacts from iPhone to SIM.
I tried your suggestion, but nothing happens. All I have is the default contacts on my iphone. Everything still remains on my SIM card when I put it back on my old phone, so I’m not sure what’s the problem. I even tried to take out the SIM card and put it back in, but no success. Any ideas?
i am also having this problem. anyone with an answer of how to fix this would be great as it would save me having to do this manually and save me hours!! thanks
I’m having the same problem! Surely there is an app for this?
Same problem here. I think it may be because the iphone is “locked” and only accepts sim cards from my telco – my old sim is from another company.
Does anyone know any way around this without unlocking the iphone?
i have the same problem here. I can’t import the contact from my sim card. I tried the “import sim contacts” under the setting but it didn’t work. Is there other solution? the syncing doesnt work either.
Same problem “import sim contacts” is not working. Ok I had it jailbroken and unlocked the sim but i did reset the phone and tried with original sim card and nothing…
pleas help us out hear someone
My phone: iphone 3GS 32 GB
Same problem, brand new iphone but the ‘import sim contacts’ does nothing. Simon your arrogance about how ‘easy’ it is does nobody any favours – clearly a lot of us are having trouble with this and have searched for answers as a result. You don’t seem to have answered anyone who has said ‘yes that’s all well and good but it won’t work’.
P.S. Is it ‘trivial’ to have to re-enter 300+ contacts manually from your old phone to your new iphone? Feel free to come and do it for me.
WENT INTO MY SETTINGS. CLICKED ON IMPORT SIM CONTACTS BUT NOTHING HAPPENED????? WOT SHALL I DO????????
FAIL
@Jase, do you have any special character in your contact? It seems like iPhone does not import contact with special characters.
I just had the same dilemma described above, but then I checked the sim card on my older phone and found that it had only 2 entries saved on it. Under the address book on the older phone (and believe me, it’s old!), I found an option for copy, and that led to an option to copy all entries to the sim card. After doing that I was able to import the entries to my iphone. This may not apply to everyone here, but perhaps it will help some.