How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to Mac with or Without iCloud

Updated on May 30, 2024 | by Woodward

Quick Navigation:

Way 1. Import Contacts from iPhone to Mac without iCloud via Qiling MobiMover
Way 2. Sync iPhone Contacts from iPhone to Mac with iCloud
Way 3. Import Contacts from iPhone to Mac via iTunes/Finder
Way 4. Get Contacts from iPhone to Mac Using AirDrop
Way 5. Transfer Contacts from iPhone to Mac via Gmail
The Bottom Line

"How do I transfer my contacts from iPhone to Mac?"

Your iPhone stores some important contacts of your families, friends, colleagues, or business partners. To prevent such important information from losing, you may need to make a copy of them on a computer, be it a Mac or PC. Thus, you can find them back when data loss happens.

Since the ways to get iPhone contacts to PC have been detailed already, we'd like to show you how to import contacts from iPhone to Mac in five ways. If you have the same question to ask, you will get it solved after reading this article.

Way 1. Import Contacts from iPhone to Mac without iCloud via Qiling MobiMover

When it comes to syncing contacts from iPhone to mac, iCloud always comes into your mind first. However, sometimes you don't want to use iCloud due to iCloud not working or its space limit (You only get 5GB of free storage). Then, how to import contacts from iPhone to Mac without iCloud? The easiest way is to use Qiling MobiMover - the iOS data transfer software. With it, you can:

Transfer files from iPhone/iPad to computer
Copy files from computer to iPhone/iPad
Transfer data from one iPhone/iPad to another
Batch convert HEIC pictures to JPG

Except for contacts, Qiling MobiMover also supports photos, videos, music, ringtones, messages, books, and more. Therefore, whether you want to sync contacts from iPhone to Mac without iCloud or transfer photos from one iPhone to another will help.

To import contacts from iPhone to Mac without iCloud:

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Step 1. Launch Qiling MobiMover for Mac on your computer > Connect your iPhone to your Mac > Unlock your iPhone and click "Trust" in the prompt asking for your permission > Choose "Phone to Mac" option > Click "Next" to move on.

Step 2. Check 'Contacts" > Click the default storage path to set a custom path where you want to store these contacts > Click "Transfer" to start transferring from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac.

Step 3. When the transfer process has finished, you can go to view the contacts on your Mac. (Depending on your settings, the contacts will be saved as an HTML, CSV, or VCF file on your Mac.)

Way 2. Sync iPhone Contacts from iPhone to Mac with iCloud

One of the easiest ways to transfer iPhone contacts to Mac should be using iCloud - Apple's cloud storage solution that allows you to access your contacts, calendars, photos, and more from all of your devices, be it a PC, Mac, another iOS device, or even a web. To use iCloud's sync capability, you need to set up iCloud on your iPhone. Here are the steps.

To sync all iPhone contacts to mac via the iCloud application:

Step 1. On your iPhone: Go to "Settings" > [your name] > "iCloud" and enable "Contacts."

Step 2. On your Mac: Click the Apple menu > Choose "System Preferences" > Enable "iCloud" and sign in with the same Apple ID on your iPhone.

Step 3. Check "Contacts" and click "Manage." Then the contacts will be imported to Mac. When it's finished, you can check the items on the Contacts app on your Mac.

How to get contacts from iPhone to Mac with iCloud

To transfer specific iPhone contacts to mac via the iCloud website:

Step 1. Enable iCloud Contacts on your iPhone.

Step 2. Visit iCloud.com on your Mac and sign in with the same Apple ID you use on your iOS device.

Step 3. Choose "Contacts" among the options.

Step 4. Select the contacts you'd like to sync from your iPhone to your Mac and go to "Settings" > "Export vCard."

How to export iPhone contacts

Note: Problems might arise while syncing iPhone contacts with mac due to an unstable network connection, insufficient iCloud storage, improper iCloud settings, etc. If you're faced with problems, learn how to fix iPhone contacts not syncing with the proven tips.

Way 3. Import Contacts from iPhone to Mac via iTunes/Finder

iTunes or Finder is another option to sync contacts from iPhone to Mac. On macOS Mojave and earlier, you can sync contacts from iPhone to Mac with iTunes. But starting from macOS Catalina, iTunes is replaced by Finder, so you need some different steps to sync iPhone contacts with a Mac using Finder. Whether you're using iTunes or Finder, here are the steps.

To sync contacts from iPhone to Mac with iTunes:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac via a USB cable.

Step 2. Open iTunes on your Mac.

Step 3. Click "Info" in the sidebar.

Step 4. Tick the box next to "Sync Contacts."

Step 5. Click "Apply" to start syncing.

Sync contacts from iPhone to Mac

To sync contacts from iPhone to Mac with Finder:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac and launch Finder.

Step 2. From the left sidebar, click on your iPhone name.

Step 3. Click on trust both in the Finder window and on your iPhone.

Step 4. Click on "Info," and tick the box next to "Sync contacts onto [your iPhone's name], then click "Apply."

Sync iPhone Conacts via Finder

Way 4. Get Contacts from iPhone to Mac Using AirDrop

AirDrop is a pre-installed application on Apple devices. You can use it to share contacts, photos, videos, notes, and more between two devices: iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Mac. With AirDrop, you don't need to install any software or USB cable.

Now, make sure both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth work properly on your devices, and follow the steps below to transfer contacts from iPhone to Mac using AirDrop.

Notes: AirDrop only allows you to sync contacts one by one. If you intend to export multiple contacts from your iPhone to your Mac, you will need to repeat the operations many times. In that case, you'd better use Qiling MobiMover to help you transfer multiple items at once.

To get iPhone contacts to Mac:

Step 1. Make sure your devices are within both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range.

Step 2. Turn on AirDrop on your iPhone.

Swipe up/down from the bottom/top of your iPhone screen to open "Control Center."
Click to enable "Bluetooth" and "Wi-Fi," and then turn on "AirDrop."

Turn on AirDrop on iPhone

Step 3. Turn on AirDrop on Mac.

Go to "Finder" > "Go" > "AirDrop".
In the AirDrop window, set your Mac to be discovered by "Contacts Only" or "Everyone."

Step 4. Send contacts from iPhone to Mac.

Open the "Phone" app and click "Contacts."
Tap the contact you want to transfer and choose "Share Contact."
In the prompt, choose "AirDrop" > [your Mac's name].
On the Mac, click "Accept" to receive the item.

Afterward, you can check the contact in Contacts on your Mac.

How to transfer contacts from iPhone to Mac with AirDrop

Way 5. Transfer Contacts from iPhone to Mac via Gmail

The last workable way to transfer contacts on your iPhone to Mac is to sync iPhone contacts to Gmail and then export contacts from Google Contacts to your Mac. As you can see, this method is not straightforward, but it does work to help you sync contacts from iPhone to Mac.

To transfer contacts from iPhone to Mac :

Step 1. Go to the "Settings" app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Scroll down to choose "Passwords & Accounts."

Step 3. Click "Add Account" and tap on "Google."

Step 4. Enter the information required to add your Gmail account and click "Next."

Step 5. Once your account is successfully verified, click "Save."

Step 6. Turn on "Contacts" to sync your iPhone contacts to Gmail, then choose "Save" again.

Step 7. Go to Google Contacts and sign in with the account you use on your iPhone.

Step 8. Select the contacts you want to import to your Mac and choose "Export."

Step 9. In the new window, check "Selected contacts" and set it to export the contacts in the format you want. Then click "Export" to export your iPhone contacts to Mac.

How to sync contacts from iPhone to Mac with Gmail

The Bottom Line

All five ways will help you sync contacts from iPhone to Mac. Whether you want to import contacts from iPhone to Mac without iCloud or get iPhone contacts to Mac wirelessly, you can find the corresponding solution. Apply the one best suited to your needs to transfer contacts from your iPhone to the Mac with a few simple clicks.