Thanks to the development of smartphones, people don't have to spend time remembering the cell numbers anymore. When having an incoming call, the phone users just need a few taps to save the numbers in their contacts. This is convenient, but it also brings troubles. For example, the iPhone users always find that the contacts keep getting lost after an iOS update, or a simply wrong tap.

The loss of contacts is an annoying problem because very few iPhone users will remember the numbers. So how to back up iPhone contacts to Mac computer before losing them is a very smart choice. When it comes to backing up iPhone contacts, Windows users will find it very easy to be done. How about Mac users? In fact, iPhone users can transfer contacts from iPhone to Mac computer with three simple methods, which will be shown in the following guidance.

Method 1. Mac Contacts App

People are able to transfer contacts from iPhone to Mac computer with the Mac Contacts App. The following guidance will show you how to do it:

  1. Start iTunes, and go to "iTunes > Preferences > Devices", and check "Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from syncing automatically".
  2. Plug iPhone into computer via USB, and iTunes will launch. If not, you need to manually start it on your computer.
  3. iTunes will recognize your iPhone, and display the iPhone icon at the upper right corner.
  4. Click the iPhone icon, and choose "Info" in the Summary Panel. Select "Contacts" and choose "Sync Contacts from Mac Contacts".
  5. Click "Apply" at the right bottom, and iTunes will start syncing your iPhone contacts to Mac computer. After the sync, you will get the contacts in your Mac Contacts app.

Most iPhone users are familiar with iTunes, so they will also be familiar with the sync of iTunes. iTunes will erase the non-purchased items during the sync, to which iPhone users should pay attention.

Method 2. iPhone Transfer Software

I would like to introduce Leawo iTransfer for Mac if you don't know how to transfer contacts from iPhone to Mac computer. This software is used for transferring files among iOS devices, iTunes and Mac computers, and it will help users get rid of the sync of iTunes. The following guidance will show you how to backup iPhone contacts to Mac. You are allowed to free download the software to have a try, note that the trial version has limited transfer times.

Download Windows Version
Download Mac Version

Tips: Leawo iTransfer only works with iTunes installed on your PC.

1. Run Leawo iTransfer and connect iPhone to computer with the USB cable. The software will automatically detect the libraries of the iPhone, and display the libraries in the left sidebar.
Connect iPhone to Export Contacts

2. Choose "Contacts" library in the sidebar and the contacts will show up in the right part of the window. Check the contacts and click the "Export" button at the top of the window, and choose the file type you want to save on your computer. Then a window will pop up, and you need to name the exported file before the software starts backing up contacts.
Select iPhone Contacts to Back up

When the transfer is finished, you will get the contacts in the target folder. The contacts will be saved in vCard files, and iPhone users are able to import them into iPhone again with Leawo iTransfer for Mac.

Method 3. iPhone Data Recovery Software

Many iPhone data recovery programs can be found on the Internet. Leawo iOS Data Recovery for Mac is regarded as one of the best among them. This software is used for recovering deleted files from iOS devices and iTunes backups. Also it help users backup important files to Windows/Mac computers. The following tutorial will show you how to back up iPhone contacts to Mac computer. You can free download the software to have a try, but the trial version will stop at the preview window.

Download Windows Version
Download Mac Version

1. Run Leawo iOS Data Recovery for Mac on your computer, and you will see two recovery modes in the main interface. One is "Recover from iOS Device", and the other is "Recover from iTunes Backup". Choose the former mode and connect iPhone to computer with the USB cable. The software will recognize and analyze your iPhone.
Choose Recovery Mode

2. After the analysis, this software will start to scan the contents in your iPhone. It will list 12 categories in the left sidebar, and allows users to choose when the scan is done. Choose "Contacts" after the scan, and the contents will be shown in the right part. Check the contacts and click the "Recover" button at the right bottom.
Preview and Select Contacts

3. After clicking the recover button, you will see a pop-up dialog. Click "Open" in the dialog to choose a folder on your computer to save the exported contacts. Then click "Go" to start backing up iPhone contacts to Mac computer.
Choose Target Folder

When exporting process is done, you will get the exported contacts in the target folder. The contacts will be saved in vCard files, a CSV file and an HTML file.

These three methods are all helpful for you if you really have no idea about how to transfer contacts from iPhone to Mac computer for backup, and they can bring convenience to all users when they come up with the loss of contacts in their iPhone. Check them out if you are interested.