How to transfer your Android data to iPhone

Apple's Move to iOS app is the fastest way to transfer your contacts, messages, photos, videos, mail accounts, calendars, and browsing history from Android to a new iPhone. You run the app on your Android phone during iPhone setup, and it moves the data over a Wi-Fi connection without using your phone number or Apple ID password. The transfer usually takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much data you have.

If you already set up your iPhone without transferring data, you can still move most things over — it just takes longer and requires doing it piece by piece. Some data, like text messages and call history, cannot be recovered after you've finished iPhone setup, so transferring during setup is worth the time if you have an Android phone still in hand.

Key Takeaways

  • Use Apple's Move to iOS app during initial iPhone setup to transfer contacts, photos, videos, mail, calendars, and browsing history in one go.
  • Both phones need Wi-Fi, and your Android phone must stay connected until the transfer finishes — do not unplug it or close the app.
  • Text messages and call history from Android do not transfer to iPhone through any built-in method and cannot be recovered later.
  • If you already finished iPhone setup, you can still move photos, contacts, and mail accounts manually, but it takes longer.

What you need before you start

Have your new iPhone and your Android phone both charged to at least 50 percent. Make sure both are connected to the same Wi-Fi network — not a guest network or a network that requires a login page. If your Wi-Fi is unstable, move both phones closer to the router or consider using a mobile hotspot from another device to create a stable connection.

On your Android phone, check that you have enough free storage space for the transfer to work smoothly. If your phone is nearly full, delete old photos or videos you do not need, or move them to cloud storage first. You do not need an Apple ID set up yet — the Move to iOS app will prompt you to create one or sign in during the process.

Transferring data during iPhone setup

When you turn on your new iPhone for the first time, you will see a series of setup screens. Swipe through until you reach the screen that says "Apps & Data." Tap "Move Data from Android." Your iPhone will display a 6-digit or 10-digit code on the screen.

On your Android phone, open the Google Play Store and search for "Move to iOS." Download and open the official Apple app. Tap "Continue," read the terms, and tap "Agree." When prompted, enter the code from your iPhone screen. The app will then show you a list of content it can transfer: contacts, message history, photos and videos, web bookmarks, mail accounts, and calendars. Select what you want to move, then tap "Continue."

The transfer will begin over Wi-Fi. Leave both phones plugged in and on the same network until you see a completion message on your iPhone. Do not close the Move to iOS app on Android or turn off either phone. Depending on the amount of data, this can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. Once finished, your iPhone will continue with setup, and you can unplug both phones.

What transfers and what does not

The Move to iOS app transfers contacts, calendars, email accounts, web bookmarks, photos, and videos. It also moves your default browser and search engine settings. Google Photos, Google Drive files, and other cloud-based content do not transfer directly — you will need to download those apps on your iPhone and sign in with your Google account to access them.

Text messages, call history, and Android-specific apps do not transfer. If you have apps you want on iPhone, you will need to download them from the App Store after setup. Some apps may not have an iPhone version, or the iPhone version may work differently. Your SMS and MMS messages stay on your Android phone — there is no way to move them to iPhone after the fact.

If you use Google services like Gmail, Google Calendar, or Google Contacts, those accounts will transfer, but you can also add them manually to iPhone afterward if needed. Two-factor authentication settings and saved passwords do not transfer; you will need to set those up again on your iPhone.

If you already finished iPhone setup

If you completed iPhone setup without using Move to iOS, you can still transfer some data manually. Open Settings on your iPhone, tap "Passwords & Security," then "Password Options," and turn on "AutoFill Passwords." Then go to Settings > Passwords & Security > AutoFill Passwords and add your Google account to fill in saved passwords and usernames.

For contacts, open the Contacts app on your iPhone and tap "Groups" at the top left. If you have a Google account set up, your Android contacts should appear. If not, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts and add your Google account, then turn on Contacts syncing. For photos and videos, use Google Photos or another cloud service: upload them from Android, then download the app on iPhone and sign in.

Email accounts can be added by going to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account and selecting your email provider. Calendars work the same way — add your Google account in Settings > Calendar > Accounts. This method is slower than using Move to iOS during setup, and you will lose text messages and call history permanently.

Troubleshooting common transfer problems

If the transfer stops or fails, the most common cause is a weak or interrupted Wi-Fi connection. Restart both phones, reconnect to Wi-Fi, and try again. Make sure you are using the same network on both phones — some routers broadcast two networks (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), and the phones need to be on the same one.

If the Move to iOS app crashes on Android, force-close it, restart your Android phone, and try again. If your iPhone gets stuck on the "Move Data from Android" screen, restart it and begin setup over. You can restart setup as many times as needed without losing data.

If some contacts or photos did not transfer, check that both phones stayed connected throughout the process. Large photo libraries sometimes transfer incompletely if the connection drops. You can always add missing items manually afterward or re-run the transfer by restarting iPhone setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer text messages from Android to iPhone?

No. Text messages and call history do not transfer through Move to iOS or any other built-in method. Once you switch to iPhone, your Android text messages remain on your Android phone only. If you need to keep them, take screenshots or export them to a file on your Android phone before switching.

Do I need an Apple ID before I start the transfer?

No. The Move to iOS app will prompt you to create an Apple ID or sign in during setup. You can create one on the spot if you do not have one already. If you prefer to set up an Apple ID beforehand, you can, but it is not required.

What happens to my Android phone after the transfer?

Your Android phone is not affected by the transfer. All your data stays on it. You can keep using it, sell it, or give it away. If you plan to sell or give it away, factory reset it first to erase your personal information.

Can I transfer data from Android to iPhone if I do not have Wi-Fi?

No. Move to iOS requires a Wi-Fi connection and will not work over cellular data. If you do not have access to Wi-Fi, you can transfer data manually after setup by adding your Google account to your iPhone and downloading your photos and files through cloud services.

How long does the transfer take?

Most transfers take 30 minutes to an hour. The time depends on how much data you are moving and how fast your Wi-Fi is. Large photo libraries or slow connections can take longer. Keep both phones plugged in and do not interrupt the process.