The fastest way to move your Samsung data to iPhone

Apple's Move to iOS app is the simplest route. You install it on your Samsung phone, sign in with your Apple ID, and it transfers your contacts, calendar events, photos, videos, text messages, mail accounts, and some app data directly to your new iPhone over Wi-Fi. The transfer happens in the background while you set up your iPhone, and you don't need a computer.

If Move to iOS doesn't work for your situation — because you're keeping your Samsung phone, or because you have older Android software — you can transfer data manually through iCloud, Google services, or by connecting both phones to a computer. Each method handles different types of data, so your choice depends on what you need to move and whether you're setting up a new iPhone or adding data to one you already use.

Key Takeaways

  • Move to iOS is the built-in tool designed for this transfer and works during iPhone setup without needing a computer or third-party apps.
  • The transfer works best when your Samsung phone is on Android 5 or newer and your iPhone is brand new or in setup mode.
  • Photos, contacts, and messages transfer reliably through Move to iOS, but some apps and app data may not carry over.
  • If you're keeping your Samsung phone or setting up an iPhone you've already used, manual methods through Google or iCloud work better than Move to iOS.

Using Move to iOS during iPhone setup

When you turn on a new iPhone for the first time, you'll see a screen that says "Apps & Data." Choose "Migrate Data from Android." Your iPhone will display a code on the screen.

On your Samsung phone, open the Google Play Store, search for "Move to iOS," and install the app. Open it, tap "Continue," and agree to the terms. When prompted, enter the code from your iPhone. The two phones will connect over Wi-Fi, and you'll select what to transfer: contacts, calendar, photos, videos, text messages, and mail accounts. The process can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour depending on how much data you have.

Leave both phones plugged in and close to each other during the transfer. Don't use either phone until it finishes. When it's done, your iPhone will complete its setup, and your Samsung data will be on your new device.

What Move to iOS does and doesn't transfer

Move to iOS reliably moves contacts, calendar events, photos, videos, text messages, and email accounts. It also transfers some app data for apps that exist on both Android and iOS — though this depends on whether the app developer built that feature in.

It does not transfer apps themselves. After the transfer finishes, you'll need to download apps from the App Store manually. Some apps you had on Samsung won't exist on iOS, and some iOS apps won't have equivalents on Android. Move to iOS also doesn't transfer Samsung-specific features like Samsung Health data, Samsung Notes, or Samsung Pay information — you'll need to handle those separately if the data matters to you.

Text messages from third-party apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal won't transfer through Move to iOS. You'll need to export those conversations from each app individually or use the app's own backup feature.

Manual transfer if Move to iOS won't work

Move to iOS requires your iPhone to be in setup mode, which means it works only on a brand-new iPhone or one that's been erased. If you're adding data to an iPhone you've already set up and used, or if you want to keep your Samsung phone active, use manual methods instead.

For contacts: On your Samsung, open Contacts, tap the menu (three lines), select "Settings," then "Export." Choose to export to a file or to your Google account. If you export to Google, sign into that same Google account on your iPhone, and your contacts will sync automatically. If you export a file, email it to yourself and import it on your iPhone through the Contacts app.

For photos and videos: Use Google Photos. Install it on your Samsung, upload your photos, then sign into the same Google account on your iPhone and download the Google Photos app. Your photos will be there. Alternatively, connect your Samsung to a computer with a USB cable, copy the photos to your computer, then connect your iPhone and import them through your computer's file manager or through the Photos app on your Mac or PC.

For calendar and email: Add your email account to your iPhone's Settings under Mail. Your calendar and email will sync automatically if your email provider supports it (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and most corporate email do). If you use Samsung Calendar with a Samsung account, you'll need to export that calendar as a file and import it into Apple Calendar on your iPhone.

Transferring data through Google services

Google services work across both Android and iOS, so they're reliable for ongoing sync. If you use Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Contacts, and Google Drive on your Samsung, signing into the same Google account on your iPhone will bring all of that data over automatically.

Open Settings on your iPhone, tap "Mail," then "Accounts," then "Add Account." Choose Google, sign in with your Google account, and toggle on Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and Notes. Your data will sync within a few minutes. This method works whether your iPhone is new or already in use, and it keeps your data synced going forward — changes you make on your iPhone will appear on your Samsung, and vice versa.

Google Photos, Google Drive, and Google Keep also sync across devices. If you've been using these apps on your Samsung, install them on your iPhone and sign in with the same account.

Using iCloud for contacts, calendars, and photos

If you prefer to use Apple's ecosystem, you can move some data through iCloud. This works best if you're starting fresh with your iPhone or if you want to consolidate data into iCloud.

On your Samsung, go to iCloud.com in a web browser, sign in with your Apple ID, and upload contacts and calendar events manually, or use a CSV file if you exported them from Samsung. For photos, you can upload them to iCloud.com or use the iCloud for Windows app if you have a Windows computer. On your iPhone, sign into iCloud in Settings, and your data will sync.

This method is slower than using Google services because it requires manual steps, but it's useful if you want everything in iCloud from the start. Keep in mind that iCloud storage is limited — you get 5 GB free, and photos and backups count toward that limit.

Transferring Samsung-specific data

Some data is tied to Samsung apps and services, which don't exist on iPhone. Samsung Health, Samsung Notes, Samsung Pay, and Samsung Cloud don't have direct equivalents on iOS.

For Samsung Health data, you can export your health and fitness information as a file and import it into Apple Health or a third-party fitness app. Open Samsung Health, tap the menu, look for "Export," and save the file. Then use a health app on your iPhone that accepts imports.

For Samsung Notes, open the app, select your notes, and export them as text or PDF files. Email them to yourself and open them on your iPhone, or store them in a cloud service like Google Drive or iCloud.

Samsung Pay information doesn't transfer — you'll need to set up Apple Pay on your iPhone separately and add your payment cards again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Move to iOS if my iPhone isn't brand new?

No. Move to iOS only works during the initial iPhone setup. If your iPhone is already set up and in use, you'll need to erase it completely and start over, or use manual transfer methods instead. Manual methods are usually faster if you're adding data to an existing iPhone.

Will my text messages transfer to iPhone?

SMS and MMS text messages will transfer through Move to iOS. Messages from apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal won't transfer — you'll need to export them from each app individually or use the app's backup feature. Check each app's settings for an export or backup option.

What if my Samsung phone is too old to run Move to iOS?

Move to iOS requires Android 5 or newer. If your Samsung is older, use manual methods: export contacts to a file, upload photos to Google Photos or iCloud, and add your email account to your iPhone. This takes longer but works on any Android version.

Do I need Wi-Fi for the transfer?

Yes. Move to iOS requires both phones to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Manual transfers through Google or iCloud also need internet, though you can do them at different times. Make sure your Wi-Fi is stable before starting Move to iOS — a dropped connection will interrupt the transfer.

Can I transfer apps from Samsung to iPhone?

No. Apps don't transfer between Android and iOS because they're built differently. You'll need to download apps individually from the App Store. Some apps you had on Samsung may not exist on iOS, and you may find iOS alternatives that work differently. Check the App Store for the apps you need.