How to Get Your Phone Numbers From One Phone to Another

Transferring personal information, such as contacts, from one phone to another can be done in a variety of ways.

Buying a new cellphone doesn't mean that you have to give up all of your personal information stored in the old phone, or spend hours reprogramming dozens of phone numbers of contacts into the new phone. The process can be simplified if the old and new phone use a compatible Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, which acts as the "brain" of the phone. Another method of getting phone numbers from one phone to another is to download the information from the old phone to the new one by using a data cable and a computer.

Things You'll Need

• Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card
• Data cable

Instructions

1. Switch the SIM card from the old cellphone to the new phone. Remove the back cover of the phone and locate the SIM card slot. It is underneath the battery in many phone models. The SIM card stores all of your personal information on the phone, including contact lists and photos. Gently remove the SIM card from the slot, taking care to not bend it. Place the SIM card into the slot on the new cellphone. Ensure that the metal contacts on the card align properly with the contacts in the SIM card slot. Replace the back cover of the phone. Turn on the new phone. The information from the old phone should appear on the new phone.

2. Arrange for the cellphone provider to "port" the information from your old phone to the new one. This method can be used when the two phones do not use compatible SIM cards; the type of SIM card used can vary by provider, or one phone uses newer technology that requires your personal information to be "translated" into a format compatible with the new phone's SIM card. This service should be performed by professionals to ensure that the information is transferred properly.

3. Transfer data from the old phone by using a data cable to download information, such as a list of contacts and phone numbers, to a computer. Connect the data cable to the phone's port, typically USB, and a computer. Select the information to be transferred to the new phone. Copy the information to the computer and back it up by saving it in a file or on the computer's desktop. Connect the data cable to the new phone. Download the information from the computer into the new phone's memory. The information now will be accessible on the new phone.

Tips & Warnings

• When connecting a cellphone to a computer with a data cable, the computer typically will automatically attempt to open a connection with the phone. Some phones come with a CD of drivers that are needed for the process. If you don't have the CD, the drivers should be available on the phone manufacturer's website.

• Another option to transfer data is to use a flash drive that can be connected to the phone's port. Copy the information you want to transfer to the drive, unplug it from the phone, then connect it to the new phone and download the information.

• Users who aren't technologically savvy should let the cellphone provider handle an information transfer, since a mistake in the process could cause the phone information to be lost.

References

• Dumb Little Man: Back Up Your Cell Phone Contacts
• FCC: Keeping Your Telephone Number