The fastest way to move your data is Apple's Move to iOS app, which transfers photos, messages, contacts, and calendars directly over WiFi during setup

When you first turn on a new iPhone, the setup screen offers a "Move Data from Android" option. Tap it, then download the Move to iOS app on your Android phone from the Google Play Store. The app creates a temporary connection between the two phones and copies your photos, message history, contacts, calendar events, free apps, and some settings. The transfer happens in the background while you finish setting up your iPhone — you do not have to sit and watch it.

This method works best if you are setting up a brand-new iPhone for the first time. If you have already finished setup on the iPhone, you can still use Move to iOS, but you will have to erase the iPhone and start over, which means losing anything you have already added to it.

The transfer does not move paid apps, banking apps, or apps that require authentication — you will need to download those separately and log back in. Text messages transfer only if both phones use the default messaging app (Messages on iPhone, Google Messages on Android). If you use WhatsApp, Telegram, or another third-party app, those messages stay on Android.

Key Takeaways

  • Move to iOS is the official tool from Apple and transfers photos, contacts, calendars, and message history over WiFi without a computer.
  • The transfer works only during initial iPhone setup, or if you erase the iPhone and start fresh.
  • Paid apps, banking apps, and third-party messaging apps do not transfer and must be downloaded and set up again on the iPhone.
  • If Move to iOS fails or you have already finished setup, you can manually transfer photos through Google Photos or your computer instead.
  • Email accounts set up on Android will need to be added to the iPhone separately, but your email history usually syncs automatically once you log in.

What Move to iOS actually transfers and what it does not

Move to iOS copies your contacts, calendar events, photos, and videos stored on the Android phone itself. It also transfers free apps that are available in the App Store — if you had a free version of an app on Android, it will download the free version on iPhone. Text messages transfer only if you used Google Messages (the default Android messaging app) or Samsung Messages.

The app does not transfer paid apps, even if you bought them on Android. You will need to buy them again on the App Store, though some developers offer discounts or free upgrades if you own the Android version. Banking apps, investment apps, and any app that requires two-factor authentication will not transfer — you have to download them fresh and log in again.

Photos and videos stored only in cloud services like Google Photos or OneDrive do not need to transfer; they are already in the cloud and you can access them on iPhone by logging into the same account. The same is true for Gmail, Google Calendar, and other Google services — they sync automatically once you add your Google account to the iPhone.

Setting up Move to iOS step by step

Start the process on your new iPhone during the initial setup. When you see the "Apps & Data" screen, select "Move Data from Android." The iPhone will display a code on the screen.

On your Android phone, open the Google Play Store and search for "Move to iOS." Download and open the official app made by Apple. Tap "Continue," then "Agree" to the terms. When prompted, enter the code from your iPhone screen. The two phones will connect over WiFi.

Select what you want to transfer: contacts, message history, photos and videos, calendar events, and free apps. Tap "Next" and let the transfer run. Do not disconnect either phone or close the app until it finishes — this usually takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have. Once it completes, finish setting up your iPhone normally.

If Move to iOS fails or you cannot use it

If the two phones will not connect, make sure both are on the same WiFi network and close any other apps running in the background. Restart both phones and try again. If the transfer starts but gets interrupted, you can run Move to iOS again — it will pick up where it left off for most data types.

If you have already completed iPhone setup and do not want to erase it, you can transfer photos manually through Google Photos. On your Android phone, open Google Photos and make sure all your photos are backed up to your Google account. On your iPhone, download Google Photos from the App Store, log in with the same account, and your photos will appear. This method does not transfer messages or contacts, but it is faster than erasing the iPhone.

For contacts, you can export them from Android as a file and import them on iPhone. On Android, open Contacts, tap the menu, select "Settings," then "Export" or "Backup." Save the file to Google Drive or email it to yourself. On iPhone, open the file and select "Add All Contacts." This works for most contact apps but the exact steps vary by phone manufacturer.

Transferring email accounts and passwords

Email accounts do not transfer through Move to iOS. You will need to add them to the iPhone manually. On your iPhone, go to Settings, tap "Mail," then "Accounts," then "Add Account." Select the email provider (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or "Other") and enter your login information. Most email services let you use an app password instead of your main password for security — check the email provider's website for instructions.

Once you add an email account to iPhone, the mail app will sync your inbox, sent mail, and folders automatically. Older emails usually download in the background over the next few hours or days. You will not lose any email history — it stays on the email provider's servers.

Passwords stored in Android's password manager do not transfer to iPhone. You will need to set up iCloud Keychain on your iPhone (Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Keychain) and manually enter passwords as you log into apps, or use a third-party password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden that works on both platforms.

Transferring photos, videos, and files manually

If you prefer not to use Move to iOS or need to transfer data after setup is complete, Google Photos is the most straightforward option. On Android, open Google Photos, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, and make sure "Backup & sync" is turned on. This uploads all your photos and videos to your Google account. On iPhone, download Google Photos, log in, and your entire library appears.

For files and documents, Google Drive works the same way. Any files you have in Google Drive on Android will be accessible on iPhone through the Google Drive app. OneDrive, Dropbox, and other cloud storage services work identically — log in on iPhone and your files are there.

If you have videos or files stored only on the Android phone's internal storage and not in the cloud, connect the Android phone to a computer with a USB cable, copy the files to the computer, then connect the iPhone and copy them to the iPhone's storage using a tool like Image Capture (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows). This is slower than cloud transfer but works for large files or when internet is slow.

Apps you will need to download again on iPhone

Paid apps do not transfer, so budget time to download them again on the App Store. Some developers offer a way to restore your purchase if you use the same Apple ID email address you used to buy the app on Android — open the app on iPhone and look for a "Restore" or "Restore Purchase" button. This does not refund your money, but it unlocks the full version without paying twice.

Banking apps, investment apps, and apps that use biometric login (fingerprint or face recognition) must be downloaded fresh. Log in with your username and password, set up two-factor authentication if required, and enable biometric login in the app's settings. Do this as soon as possible after switching to iPhone so you do not lose access to your accounts.

Some Android apps do not have an iPhone version at all. Before you switch, check the App Store to see if your most-used apps are available. If a critical app is iOS-only or Android-only, that is worth knowing before you commit to the switch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Move to iOS if I already set up my iPhone?

Yes, but you will have to erase the iPhone and start setup over. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, then turn on the iPhone and select "Move Data from Android" at the setup screen. This erases anything you added to the iPhone after the initial setup, so back up anything important first.

Will my text messages transfer if I use WhatsApp or Telegram?

No. Move to iOS only transfers messages from Google Messages or Samsung Messages. For WhatsApp, Telegram, or other messaging apps, you will need to download the app on iPhone, log in, and your message history will sync from the app's servers. Some apps let you export your chat history before switching.

Do I need a computer to transfer my data?

No. Move to iOS works over WiFi between the two phones. If you want to transfer files or photos manually, you can use cloud storage like Google Drive or Google Photos instead of a computer. A computer is only necessary if you have files stored only on the Android phone's internal storage and nowhere else.

What happens to my Google account and Gmail after I switch to iPhone?

Your Google account stays active and your Gmail inbox stays the same. Add your Google account to the iPhone in Settings > Mail > Accounts, and your email will sync automatically. Photos and files in Google Photos and Google Drive will also appear on iPhone once you log in to those apps.

Will my contacts transfer if I use a Samsung phone?

Yes. Move to iOS transfers contacts from Samsung phones the same way it does from other Android phones. If you have contacts synced to a Samsung account, you can also add that account to iPhone in Settings > Contacts > Accounts, and they will sync that way too.