What you're moving and where it goes

When you leave iPhone, your data doesn't stay behind — you move your photos, contacts, messages, apps, and settings to either an Android phone or another iPhone. The method depends on which device you're switching to. If you're staying in Apple's ecosystem, the process is built into iOS setup. If you're moving to Android, you'll use Google's migration tool or do it piece by piece through iCloud and third-party apps.

The goal is the same either way: nothing gets lost, and you don't pay to re-download apps you already own. Some data transfers instantly; some takes a few minutes. A few things — like iMessage threads and some app data — may not transfer perfectly, and that's worth knowing before you start.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone to iPhone uses Apple's built-in migration during setup, which moves everything including apps, photos, and settings in one step.
  • iPhone to Android uses Google's Move to Android app, which handles contacts, photos, messages, and calendar data, though some app purchases won't transfer.
  • Before you start, back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer so you have a copy if something goes wrong.
  • Some data like iMessage history and app-specific settings may not transfer perfectly, so check your most-used apps after the move.
  • Sign out of your Apple ID on the old phone before you finish, or you may lock yourself out of the new device.

iPhone to iPhone: Using Apple's built-in transfer

If you're moving to a new iPhone, Apple's setup process handles the transfer automatically. When you turn on the new phone, you'll see a screen that says "Quick Start" and an option to transfer from another iPhone. Hold the new phone near your old one, and they'll communicate wirelessly. You'll enter your Apple ID password once, and the transfer begins.

This method moves your apps, photos, messages, contacts, calendar events, settings, and even your home screen layout. It typically takes 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much data you have and your internet speed. Your phone will need to stay plugged in and near Wi-Fi during the transfer. Once it's done, your new iPhone looks and works exactly like the old one.

If Quick Start doesn't work — for example, if your old phone is too old to support it — you can restore from an iCloud backup instead. Go to Settings on the old phone, tap your name, then iCloud, then Backup. Tap "Back Up Now" and wait for it to finish. On the new phone, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" during setup and sign in with your Apple ID.

iPhone to Android: Using Google's Move to Android app

Google's Move to Android app is designed specifically to move your data from iPhone to an Android phone. Download it from the App Store on your iPhone before you get the Android device. The app transfers your contacts, calendar events, photos, messages, and some app data. It does not transfer apps themselves — you'll need to download those from Google Play — but it does move your Google account settings and preferences.

When you set up your new Android phone, you'll see a prompt to transfer data from an iPhone. Open Move to Android on your iPhone, follow the on-screen steps, and the two phones will connect. The transfer usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. Your photos and messages go to your Google account, so they're available on the Android phone as soon as you sign in.

Apps you bought on iPhone won't transfer to Android because the two stores are separate. You'll need to download them again from Google Play. Many apps are free on both platforms, and some developers let you restore purchases by signing in with your account. Check your most-used apps after the transfer to see which ones need to be re-downloaded or re-purchased.

What doesn't transfer and why

iMessage threads and some encrypted messages may not move perfectly between platforms. iMessage is Apple's system, so those conversations stay in Apple's servers. When you move to Android, they appear as regular text messages if they were backed up, but the formatting and some metadata are lost. If you need to keep those conversations, take screenshots before you switch.

App-specific data — like your progress in a game, custom settings in a photo editor, or saved preferences in a banking app — depends on whether the app developer built that into your account. If you sign into the app on the new phone with the same account, some of it may restore. Others won't. Test your most-used apps in the first few days to see what stuck and what didn't.

Passwords stored in iPhone's keychain don't transfer automatically. If you use iCloud Keychain, you can access those passwords on Android through iCloud.com, but you'll need to enter them manually into apps. If you use a password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden, those sync across devices automatically — you just sign in on the new phone.

Backing up before you transfer

Before you start any transfer, back up your iPhone. This gives you a safety net if something goes wrong. The easiest way is iCloud: go to Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then Backup, and tap "Back Up Now." This takes a few minutes and stores everything on Apple's servers. You can also back up to a Mac or Windows computer using Finder or iTunes, which gives you a local copy you control.

A backup is not the same as a transfer. A backup is a snapshot of your phone at one moment. A transfer moves that data to a new device and sets it up to work. If the transfer fails, you can restore from the backup and try again. If you don't have a backup and something goes wrong, you may lose photos or messages.

Signing out of your Apple ID

After the transfer is complete, sign out of your Apple ID on the old iPhone. Go to Settings, tap your name, scroll down, and tap "Sign Out." You'll be asked whether to keep or delete data on the phone. If you're selling or giving away the old phone, choose "Delete" so the new owner can't access your accounts. If you're keeping it, you can choose to keep the data.

If you don't sign out, the old phone may still be linked to your Apple ID. This can cause problems if someone else uses it, and it can also interfere with the new phone's setup. It takes less than a minute and prevents headaches later.

Transferring specific data manually

If you want to move only certain things — like photos or contacts — you can do it without a full transfer. Photos can be downloaded from iCloud.com and uploaded to Google Photos. Contacts can be exported from iPhone as a file and imported into Android's contacts app. Calendar events can be exported from Apple Calendar and imported into Google Calendar.

This approach takes longer than an automatic transfer, but it gives you control over what moves and what stays behind. It's useful if you're keeping your iPhone and just want to sync certain data to an Android device, or if you want to clean up old data before switching.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer data if my old iPhone won't turn on?

If the phone won't power on, you can't use Quick Start or Move to Android. Your only option is to restore from an iCloud backup on the new phone, which requires that you backed up before the phone stopped working. If you didn't back up, the data on that phone is not recoverable through a transfer.

Will my apps work on the new phone after the transfer?

Apps transfer to a new iPhone automatically. On Android, apps don't transfer — you download them from Google Play. Some are free, some cost money again, and some may not be available on Android at all. Check Google Play for your most-used apps before you switch so you know what to expect.

How long does a full transfer take?

iPhone to iPhone usually takes 30 minutes to a few hours. iPhone to Android with Move to Android takes 15 to 30 minutes. The time depends on how much data you have, your internet speed, and whether both phones stay connected. Keep both phones plugged in and near Wi-Fi for the fastest transfer.

What happens to my text messages during the transfer?

Regular SMS and MMS messages transfer to both iPhone and Android. iMessages (Apple's encrypted messages) transfer to a new iPhone but appear as regular texts on Android. If you need to keep iMessage conversations, take screenshots before you switch, because the formatting won't carry over.

Do I need to pay for apps again on the new phone?

On a new iPhone, apps you bought transfer automatically and you don't pay again. On Android, apps don't transfer from iPhone, so you'll need to download them from Google Play. Many apps are free on both platforms. Paid apps may cost money again, though some developers offer discounts or free versions on Android.