{"id":17903,"date":"2011-03-20T23:05:13","date_gmt":"2011-03-20T17:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=17903"},"modified":"2026-10-07T14:11:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T08:41:39","slug":"transfer-blackberry-contacts-to-android-smartphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/03\/transfer-blackberry-contacts-to-android-smartphone\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Transfer BlackBerry Contacts to Android (Methods That Still Work)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Found an old BlackBerry in a drawer and want its contacts on your Android phone? In 2011 I moved from a BlackBerry Curve to a Samsung Galaxy Ace and learned that the easiest way to <strong>transfer BlackBerry contacts to Android<\/strong> was to sync them to my Google account first. That Google Sync app is long gone, and BlackBerry shut down its legacy services in January 2022. Here are the ways that still work in 2026.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-63481\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/blackberry-contacts-to-android.webp\" alt=\"Transfer BlackBerry contacts to an Android phone\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/blackberry-contacts-to-android.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/blackberry-contacts-to-android-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/blackberry-contacts-to-android-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/blackberry-contacts-to-android-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/blackberry-contacts-to-android-768x403.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> First check whether your contacts are already in your Google account at contacts.google.com; if you ever synced the BlackBerry, they will appear on Android as soon as you sign in. Otherwise, send contacts as vCards over Bluetooth, copy them to the SIM card where the phone supports it, or export a backup with BlackBerry Desktop Software (older BlackBerry OS) or BlackBerry Link (BlackBerry 10) and import the .vcf or .csv file into Google Contacts.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af00ae75ecba\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af00ae75ecba\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/03\/transfer-blackberry-contacts-to-android-smartphone\/#Method_1_Check_Google_Contacts_first\" >Method 1: Check Google Contacts first<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/03\/transfer-blackberry-contacts-to-android-smartphone\/#Method_2_Send_contacts_by_Bluetooth\" >Method 2: Send contacts by Bluetooth<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/03\/transfer-blackberry-contacts-to-android-smartphone\/#Method_3_Export_a_backup_on_a_computer\" >Method 3: Export a backup on a computer<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/03\/transfer-blackberry-contacts-to-android-smartphone\/#Method_4_Copy_contacts_to_the_SIM_card\" >Method 4: Copy contacts to the SIM card<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/03\/transfer-blackberry-contacts-to-android-smartphone\/#Moving_contacts_between_any_phones_today\" >Moving contacts between any phones today<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/03\/transfer-blackberry-contacts-to-android-smartphone\/#Save_every_new_contact_to_Google\" >Save every new contact to Google<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/03\/transfer-blackberry-contacts-to-android-smartphone\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/03\/transfer-blackberry-contacts-to-android-smartphone\/#Do_BlackBerry_phones_still_work\" >Do BlackBerry phones still work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/03\/transfer-blackberry-contacts-to-android-smartphone\/#What_happened_to_Google_Sync_for_BlackBerry\" >What happened to Google Sync for BlackBerry?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/03\/transfer-blackberry-contacts-to-android-smartphone\/#Can_I_recover_contacts_from_a_BlackBerry_backup_file\" >Can I recover contacts from a BlackBerry backup file?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_1_Check_Google_Contacts_first\"><\/span>Method 1: Check Google Contacts first<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Many BlackBerry users synced contacts to Gmail years ago. Open <a href=\"https:\/\/contacts.google.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Contacts<\/a> on a computer and sign in with the account you used then. If your contacts are there, simply sign in with that account on your Android phone and they appear in minutes. That is exactly how my transfer worked in 2011.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_2_Send_contacts_by_Bluetooth\"><\/span>Method 2: Send contacts by Bluetooth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Pair the BlackBerry and the Android phone over Bluetooth.<\/li>\n<li>On the BlackBerry, open Contacts, select a contact (or several on BlackBerry 10) and choose Send Contact Card, then Bluetooth.<\/li>\n<li>Accept the file on Android and open it to add the contact.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This is slow for hundreds of contacts but needs no internet or computer.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_3_Export_a_backup_on_a_computer\"><\/span>Method 3: Export a backup on a computer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>BlackBerry OS 7 and earlier:<\/strong> BlackBerry Desktop Software could sync contacts with Outlook or export them. From Outlook, export to a CSV file.<\/li>\n<li><strong>BlackBerry 10:<\/strong> BlackBerry Link synced contacts with Outlook or the Mac Contacts app, which can export vCards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Then go to Google Contacts on a computer, choose <strong>Import<\/strong>, select the .csv or .vcf file, and the contacts sync to your Android phone. These programs are no longer supported, so you may need an older Windows PC.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_4_Copy_contacts_to_the_SIM_card\"><\/span>Method 4: Copy contacts to the SIM card<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Some BlackBerry models let you copy contacts to the SIM. I could not find an easy way on my Curve, which stored everything in phone memory, but if your model supports it, put the SIM in the Android phone and import from SIM in the Contacts app. SIM cards store only names and one number each, so details may be lost.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Moving_contacts_between_any_phones_today\"><\/span>Moving contacts between any phones today<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Android to Android:<\/strong> sign in with the same Google account, or use the phone maker&#8217;s transfer app.<\/li>\n<li><strong>iPhone to Android:<\/strong> use the &#8220;Switch to Android&#8221; app from Google, or sync iCloud contacts to Google.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Any phone:<\/strong> export a .vcf file and import it in Google Contacts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Save_every_new_contact_to_Google\"><\/span>Save every new contact to Google<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The best lesson from my switch still holds: when Android asks where to save a new contact, choose your Google account, not the phone or SIM. Then a lost or broken phone never takes your contacts with it. For more privacy and security on Google, see how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2015\/11\/secure-google-email-account\/\">secure your Google email account<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_BlackBerry_phones_still_work\"><\/span>Do BlackBerry phones still work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10 devices lost their data services in January 2022, so they cannot reliably sync or browse, but you can still open contacts on the phone itself.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happened_to_Google_Sync_for_BlackBerry\"><\/span>What happened to Google Sync for BlackBerry?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Google retired Google Sync for BlackBerry years ago. Use one of the methods above instead.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_recover_contacts_from_a_BlackBerry_backup_file\"><\/span>Can I recover contacts from a BlackBerry backup file?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>BlackBerry .ipd and .bbb backups need the old desktop software or third-party converters to read. Try the software on an older PC before buying converters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Found an old BlackBerry in a drawer and want its contacts on your Android phone? In 2011 I moved from&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":63481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[204,49],"class_list":["post-17903","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gadgets","tag-android","tag-tutorials"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17903","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17903"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17903\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63482,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17903\/revisions\/63482"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17903"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17903"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}