How to Move Your Photos From iPhone to Android

The fastest way to transfer photos is through Google Photos, which works on both phones

Install Google Photos on your iPhone, upload your photos to your Google account, then sign into the same Google account on your Android phone and download them. This takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many photos you have and your internet speed. Google Photos stores them in the cloud, so you can access them from either phone afterward.

If you have only a few photos, you can also email them to yourself, use AirDrop to send them to a computer and then move them to Android, or use a cable to transfer files directly. The method you choose depends on how many photos you're moving and whether you want to keep them backed up.

Key Takeaways

Google Photos is the simplest method because it works on both iPhone and Android without needing a computer or cable.
You can transfer photos through iCloud to a computer, then move them to Android using a USB cable or cloud storage.
For a small number of photos, emailing them to yourself or using a third-party app like Dropbox or OneDrive takes just a few minutes.
Once photos are on Android, you can delete them from your iPhone to free up storage space.

Using Google Photos to move photos between phones

Open the App Store on your iPhone and search for Google Photos. Install it, then open the app and sign in with your Google account. If you don't have one, create it for free at google.com. Tap the profile icon in the top right, go to Photos settings, and turn on "Backup and sync." This uploads all your photos to Google's servers.

On your Android phone, open Google Play Store and install Google Photos if it's not already there. Sign in with the same Google account. Your photos will appear in the library within a few minutes to a few hours, depending on how many you're uploading. You can then download them to your Android phone's storage by opening each photo, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Download," or by going to settings and turning on "Device folders" to save them automatically.

Google Photos keeps your photos in the cloud even after you delete them from your phone, so you won't lose them. You can turn off backup on your iPhone once the transfer is done to stop using iPhone storage for the upload.

Transferring photos through iCloud and a computer

If you prefer not to use Google Photos, you can download your photos to a computer first. On your iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select iCloud, then Photos. Turn on iCloud Photos if it's not already on. On a Mac, open Finder, click on your iPhone in the sidebar, and drag your photos to a folder on your computer. On Windows, download iCloud for Windows from apple.com, sign in, and your photos will sync to a folder you can access.

Once your photos are on the computer, connect your Android phone with a USB cable. On Windows, your Android phone will appear as a removable drive. Open it and create a new folder called "DCIM" if it doesn't exist, then drag your photos into it. On Mac, you'll need Android File Transfer, a free tool from google.com/android/filetransfer. Download it, open it, and drag photos into the same DCIM folder on your Android phone.

Using cloud storage apps like Dropbox or OneDrive

Dropbox, OneDrive, and similar services work on both iPhone and Android. Install the app on your iPhone, sign in or create a free account, and upload your photos to a folder. Then install the same app on your Android phone, sign in with the same account, and download the photos to your phone's storage.

These apps are useful if you already use them for other files, or if you want to share photos with someone else. Most offer free storage between 2 and 15 gigabytes, which is enough for hundreds of photos. If you have thousands of photos, you may need to pay for extra storage or use Google Photos, which offers more free space for compressed photos.

Emailing photos for small transfers

If you're moving fewer than 10 photos, the simplest method is to email them to yourself. Open the Photos app on your iPhone, select the photos you want, tap Share, and choose Mail. Type your email address, then send. On your Android phone, open your email, download the photos, and they'll save to your phone's gallery.

Email has a size limit — usually 25 megabytes per message — so this works best for a handful of photos. If you try to send too many at once, the email will fail. You can send multiple emails if needed, but Google Photos or a cloud storage app is faster for anything more than a few photos.

What to do after your photos are on Android

Once your photos are safely on your Android phone, you can delete them from your iPhone to free up storage. Open the Photos app on your iPhone, go to Settings, and check how much storage photos are using. If you've backed them up to Google Photos or another service, deleting them from your iPhone won't delete them from the cloud.

If you're switching to Android permanently, you may also want to turn off iCloud Photos on your iPhone so it stops trying to upload new photos. Go to Settings, tap your name, select iCloud, then Photos, and turn off iCloud Photos. This prevents confusion if you use the iPhone again later.

Transferring photos with a USB cable directly

You can also connect your iPhone to a computer with a USB cable, download photos using Photos app (Mac) or iCloud (Windows), then connect your Android phone and move those files to the DCIM folder. This method doesn't require any apps or accounts, but it's slower than cloud services because you're limited by cable speed and the time it takes to physically move files.

This approach works well if you don't want to create new accounts or upload to the cloud. It's also useful if your internet is slow or unreliable. The downside is that you need a computer and two cables, and you have to do the transfer in two steps instead of one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my photos lose quality when I transfer them?

Google Photos compresses photos slightly if you choose "Storage saver" mode, but the difference is usually invisible on a phone screen. If you select "Original quality," photos stay exactly as they are, but you'll use more of your free storage. Other methods like USB cable transfer or email don't change quality at all.

Can I transfer photos if I don't have a Google account?

Yes. You can use iCloud to a computer, then move files to Android with a USB cable. You can also use Dropbox, OneDrive, or another cloud service. Email also works for small numbers of photos. Google Photos is just the fastest option because it's designed to work on both phones.

How long does it take to transfer thousands of photos?

Google Photos can take several hours to upload thousands of photos, depending on your internet speed. A USB cable transfer is usually faster for large batches because it doesn't depend on your connection. Plan for at least 30 minutes to an hour for a few thousand photos using any method.

What if I only want to transfer some photos, not all of them?

With Google Photos, you can create a separate album and upload only the photos you want. With a USB cable or email, you can select individual photos before transferring. Cloud storage apps let you choose which folders to sync, so you can upload only what you need.

Do I need to keep the photos on my iPhone after transferring them?

No. Once they're on your Android phone and backed up to Google Photos or another service, you can delete them from your iPhone. If you delete them from your iPhone but keep them in Google Photos, you can still see them on any device where you're signed into that account.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.