The fastest way to transfer your Android data to iPhone

Apple's Move to iOS app is the simplest path. You install it on your Android phone, sign in with your Apple ID on the new iPhone during setup, and the app transfers your contacts, calendar events, photos, videos, mail accounts, and text messages automatically. The transfer happens over Wi-Fi and takes anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have.

If you've already finished setting up your iPhone, you can still use Move to iOS — just erase the iPhone and start the setup process again. This is worth doing if you have a lot of photos or messages you don't want to lose or recreate by hand.

The catch: Move to iOS doesn't transfer apps themselves, only the data associated with them. You'll need to download your apps fresh from the App Store. It also doesn't move files stored in cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox — those stay where they are, and you access them through their iPhone apps instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple's Move to iOS app transfers contacts, photos, videos, messages, and calendar events over Wi-Fi during iPhone setup.
  • Apps don't transfer — you download them fresh from the App Store, but your data inside those apps usually comes over.
  • If you've already set up your iPhone, you can erase it and run setup again to use Move to iOS.
  • Cloud-based files in Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox stay in those services and don't transfer to iPhone storage.
  • Some Android apps have no iPhone equivalent, so research before you switch if you rely on specific tools.

What Move to iOS actually transfers and what it doesn't

Transfers: Contacts, calendar events, photos and videos from your Camera Roll, text messages (SMS and MMS), Gmail and other email accounts, browser bookmarks, and device settings like wallpaper and display preferences.

Does not transfer: Apps themselves (you download these from the App Store), files stored in Google Drive or other cloud services, WhatsApp or Telegram message history (these apps have their own backup systems), banking or financial app data, game progress (unless the game uses its own cloud save), and any files stored only on your Android phone's internal storage that aren't in the Camera Roll or a synced email account.

Some apps sync their data through your Google account instead of storing it locally. Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts all fall into this category — they'll show up on your iPhone automatically once you sign in with your Google account in Settings, even without Move to iOS.

Step-by-step: Using Move to iOS during initial setup

On your Android phone: Open the Google Play Store, search for "Move to iOS," and install the official app from Apple. You don't need an Apple ID yet.

On your new iPhone: Power it on and follow the setup screens. When you reach "Apps & Data," tap "Migrate Data from Android." The iPhone will show a code on the screen.

Back on Android: Open Move to iOS, tap "Continue," read the terms, and tap "Agree." Select your Wi-Fi network and enter the password. When prompted, enter the code from your iPhone screen. The app will then show you what it's about to transfer — you can deselect anything you don't want.

Let it finish: Keep both phones on Wi-Fi and plugged in. Don't use either phone during the transfer. Once it's done, the iPhone will continue with setup, and you can start downloading apps from the App Store.

Transferring data if you've already set up your iPhone

If you've already completed iPhone setup, you can still use Move to iOS, but it requires erasing your iPhone first. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This wipes everything and returns you to the setup screen where you can choose "Migrate Data from Android."

This is worth doing if you have hundreds of photos or messages you want to keep. If you only need a few things, it's faster to transfer them manually — take screenshots of important messages, download photos through email or cloud storage, or manually re-enter contacts you actually use regularly.

Before you erase, make sure you've backed up anything you added to the iPhone since you set it up. If you signed in with an Apple ID, your photos and notes are already in iCloud, so they'll come back after the transfer completes.

Manual transfer for specific items

Photos: Email them to yourself, upload them to Google Photos or OneDrive, or use a cloud storage service. On iPhone, download the app and save the photos to your Camera Roll.

Contacts: Export them from your Android phone as a .vcf file (usually through Contacts app settings or Google Contacts), email the file to yourself, and open it on iPhone — it will prompt you to add them to your contacts.

Text messages: Screenshot important conversations or use a third-party backup app on Android before you switch. There's no built-in way to transfer SMS history between Android and iPhone after the fact.

Files: Move them to Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox on Android, then download the app on iPhone and access them there. iPhone doesn't have a traditional file system like Android, so cloud storage is the standard approach.

Apps and accounts: What you need to know

Download your apps fresh from the App Store. Most apps that exist on both Android and iPhone are free or the same price, but some are exclusive to one platform. Check the App Store before you switch if you use specialized apps — not everything has an iPhone version.

Sign in with your existing accounts inside each app. If you use Gmail, Google Drive, Spotify, or any other service, your data is already in the cloud. Open the app on iPhone, sign in with your username and password, and your data appears. This is why Move to iOS doesn't need to transfer app data — the apps themselves handle it.

Some apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal have their own backup systems. Open them on iPhone and follow their restore prompts — they'll ask if you want to restore from a previous backup. You may need to have completed a backup on Android before you switched.

Troubleshooting common transfer problems

Move to iOS gets stuck or times out: Make sure both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network and stay connected. If it keeps failing, restart both phones, forget the Wi-Fi network on both devices, and try again. If you're on a public or corporate network, it may block the connection — try a personal hotspot instead.

Some contacts or messages didn't transfer: Check if they're synced to your Google account on Android. Open Settings > Accounts > Google and make sure Contacts and Gmail are toggled on. Then sign in with that Google account on iPhone — the missing items should appear.

Photos transferred but are blurry or low quality: Move to iOS compresses large files to save time. The originals are still on your Android phone. If you need full-resolution versions, upload them to Google Photos on Android first, then download them on iPhone.

You can't find an app on the App Store: It may not have an iPhone version, or it may be region-locked. Search for alternatives in the App Store, or check the developer's website to see if they offer an iPhone app under a different name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer data without using Move to iOS?

Yes. You can manually transfer contacts, photos, and files through email, cloud storage, or by exporting them as files. This takes longer but works if Move to iOS fails or if you only need specific items. Google account sign-in also brings over Gmail, Calendar, and Contacts automatically.

Will my text message history transfer?

Move to iOS transfers SMS and MMS messages, but not messages from apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal. Those apps have separate backup systems — check the app's settings on Android to create a backup before you switch, then restore it on iPhone.

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

Your Google account stays active and synced. Sign in on iPhone in Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account, and your Gmail, Calendar, Contacts, and Google Drive all work normally. You can use Google services on iPhone just like you did on Android.

Do I need to erase my Android phone after transferring to iPhone?

No, but it's a good idea for security. If you're selling or giving away the Android phone, go to Settings > System > Reset Options > Erase All Data to wipe it completely. If you're keeping it, you can leave it as is.

Can I transfer data from iPhone to Android later if I change my mind?

There's no official tool like Move to iOS for going the other direction. You'd need to manually export contacts, back up photos to cloud storage, and re-download apps. Most of your data in cloud services (Gmail, Google Drive, etc.) is already accessible on Android, so the switch back is easier than the initial move.