How to move your Samsung data to iPhone
Apple's Move to iOS app is the fastest way to transfer your photos, messages, contacts, calendars, and email accounts from a Samsung phone to an iPhone. The app moves data wirelessly during setup, before you finish configuring your new iPhone. If you've already set up your iPhone, you can still transfer some data manually, but you'll lose the one-step convenience and may need to re-enter passwords.
The process takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have. You'll need both phones, a Wi-Fi network, and your Samsung password. Some data—like text message threads and call history—transfers cleanly; other things like third-party app data may not move over and will need to be re-downloaded from the App Store.
Key Takeaways
- Use Apple's Move to iOS app during iPhone setup for the smoothest transfer of photos, contacts, calendars, email, and messages.
- The transfer happens over Wi-Fi and requires both phones to stay connected until the process finishes.
- Some data like app settings and game progress won't transfer and must be re-downloaded or reconfigured on iPhone.
- If you've already set up your iPhone, you can still move photos and contacts manually, but text messages and call history cannot be recovered after setup is complete.
- Two-factor authentication codes and banking apps will need to be re-added to your iPhone with new passwords.
What data actually transfers during setup
Move to iOS brings over your contacts, calendar events, email accounts, text messages, photos, and videos. It also transfers your wallpaper, display settings, and accessibility preferences. The app will attempt to re-install apps you had on Samsung, but only if they exist in the Apple App Store—some Android-exclusive apps won't be available.
Data that does not transfer includes app settings and saved game progress, banking and payment apps (which need to be re-added for security), two-factor authentication codes, and voicemail. Your Samsung's default apps and widgets won't carry over because iOS works differently. Passwords for email accounts transfer, but passwords for individual apps and websites do not—you'll need to re-enter those or use your iPhone's password manager.
Setting up the transfer during iPhone setup
When you turn on a new iPhone for the first time, you'll see the "Apps & Data" screen. Tap "Migrate Data from Android". This launches a code on your iPhone that you'll scan with your Samsung phone. Download the Move to iOS app from the Google Play Store on your Samsung, open it, and follow the prompts to sign in with your Samsung account.
Once both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, select the data you want to move. You can deselect categories if you don't want everything transferred. The process runs in the background while you continue setting up your iPhone. Don't disconnect either phone or close the app until the transfer shows as complete on both devices—this usually takes 10 to 30 minutes.
After the transfer finishes, your iPhone will restart and you'll see your Samsung data in the appropriate apps. Sign into your Apple ID when prompted, and your iPhone will download any apps from the App Store that you had on Samsung.
Transferring data after iPhone setup is complete
If you've already finished setting up your iPhone, you can still move photos and contacts, but the process is manual and slower. For photos, connect your Samsung to a computer, copy the photos to a folder, then import them to your iPhone using a Mac or Windows PC and iTunes or Finder. Alternatively, upload photos to Google Photos on your Samsung, then download the Google Photos app on your iPhone and save them to your camera roll.
For contacts, export them from your Samsung's Contacts app as a .vcf file, email the file to yourself, and open it on your iPhone to import them. Text messages and call history cannot be recovered after initial setup, so if those matter to you, consider factory-resetting your iPhone and starting over with Move to iOS.
Re-adding apps and accounts after transfer
After the transfer completes, you'll need to re-download apps from the App Store. Move to iOS attempts this automatically, but some apps may not install if they're not available on iOS or if there were errors during transfer. Open the App Store, search for each app, and install them manually. Your app data usually won't transfer—you may need to log back into each app and reconfigure settings.
Email accounts transfer their login credentials, but you should verify they're working by opening Mail and checking that messages load. Banking apps, payment apps like Venmo, and two-factor authentication apps must be re-added from scratch for security reasons. Go to each app's website or your bank's website to re-authenticate and set up two-factor authentication again on your iPhone.
Troubleshooting common transfer problems
If the transfer stalls or fails, the most common cause is a weak Wi-Fi connection or one phone disconnecting. Restart both phones, make sure they're on the same Wi-Fi network, and try again. If Move to iOS crashes on your Samsung, uninstall it, restart your Samsung, and re-download it from the Play Store.
If some photos or contacts didn't transfer, check that they were actually stored on your Samsung and not just in a cloud service. Photos in Google Photos or Samsung Cloud may not move over—you'll need to download them separately. For contacts, verify they were saved to your Samsung's local contacts and not just to a Google account; if they're in Google Contacts, sign into Google on your iPhone and they'll appear automatically.
If you see an error code during transfer, note the exact code and restart the process. Most errors clear on the second attempt. If your iPhone gets stuck on the "Migrate Data" screen, force-restart it by holding the power button and volume-down button for 10 seconds, then try setup again.
Deciding between Move to iOS and manual transfer
Use Move to iOS if you're setting up a new iPhone for the first time—it's the fastest and most reliable method. Use manual transfer if you've already set up your iPhone and only need to move a few photos or contacts, or if Move to iOS failed and you want to try a different approach.
Cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox can also move data, but they're slower than Move to iOS and require you to upload and download separately. They're useful if you want to keep a backup on your Samsung while transferring, or if you're moving data to multiple devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer text messages from Samsung to iPhone?
Yes, but only during initial iPhone setup using Move to iOS. The app transfers your entire message history, including group chats. If you've already set up your iPhone, text messages cannot be recovered—you'll need to factory-reset your iPhone and start over with Move to iOS to get them back.
Will my Samsung apps work on iPhone?
Only if they're available in the Apple App Store. Move to iOS attempts to re-install your apps automatically, but Android-exclusive apps won't have an iOS version. You'll need to search the App Store for equivalents or similar apps that do the same thing.
Do I need to keep my Samsung phone after the transfer?
No. Once the transfer completes and you've verified everything arrived on your iPhone, you can factory-reset your Samsung or keep it as a backup. Some people keep their old phone for a few days to double-check that important data moved over correctly.
What happens to my Samsung account after I transfer?
Your Samsung account remains on your Samsung phone. Move to iOS only copies data to your iPhone—it doesn't delete anything from your Samsung. If you want to erase your Samsung, you'll need to factory-reset it separately.
Can I transfer data from iPhone to Samsung using the same method?
No. Move to iOS only works in one direction: Samsung to iPhone. If you need to go the other way, you'll have to use manual methods like Google Drive, Google Contacts, or exporting photos to a computer.