The fastest way to transfer your Android data to iPhone

Apple's Move to iOS app is the quickest route for most people. You install it on your Android phone, sign in with your Apple ID on the new iPhone, and the app transfers your contacts, calendar events, photos, videos, text messages, mail accounts, and some app data automatically. The transfer happens over Wi-Fi and usually takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much data you have.

If you don't have the Move to iOS app yet, you can find it free in the Google Play Store. The process requires both phones to be on the same Wi-Fi network and plugged in or charged to at least 50 percent. You'll need your Apple ID password ready, and you should not use either phone during the transfer.

For data that Move to iOS doesn't handle — like notes, voice memos, or files stored in cloud services — you'll need a second step. That usually means signing into those services on your iPhone afterward or using iCloud, Google Drive, or OneDrive to sync what's left.

Key Takeaways

  • Move to iOS transfers contacts, photos, videos, messages, and mail accounts directly from Android to iPhone over Wi-Fi in one session.
  • Both phones need to be on the same network, charged to at least 50 percent, and unused during the transfer, which typically takes 30 minutes to an hour.
  • Apps themselves don't transfer — you'll need to download their iPhone versions from the App Store, though some app data may come over.
  • Cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, and iCloud can handle files, notes, and other data that Move to iOS doesn't cover.
  • If Move to iOS fails or you prefer manual transfer, you can move data piece by piece through iCloud, email, or cloud storage.

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

Move to iOS brings over your contacts, calendar, photos, videos, text messages, mail accounts, and bookmarks. It also attempts to transfer some app data, though this depends on whether the app developer has set that up. Your text message history comes through as well, which is helpful if you want to keep those conversations.

What doesn't transfer: the apps themselves. You'll need to download each app's iPhone version from the App Store. If an app exists only on Android, you won't find it on iPhone, and you'll need to find an equivalent. Your Android phone's settings, home screen layout, and system preferences don't carry over either — you'll set those up fresh on the iPhone.

Files stored only on your Android phone (not in a cloud service) won't transfer unless you move them to Google Drive, OneDrive, or another cloud service first. Same with notes in Android's Notes app or voice memos — you should back those up to a cloud service before you start the transfer process.

Step-by-step: using Move to iOS

Start on your Android phone. Open the Google Play Store, search for "Move to iOS," and install the app made by Apple. Open it and tap "Continue," then read through the terms and tap "Agree."

On your new iPhone, go through the initial setup. When you reach the "Apps & Data" screen, tap "Migrate Data from Android." This will show you a code. Go back to your Android phone's Move to iOS app, tap "Continue," and enter that code when prompted.

Both phones will now connect to the same Wi-Fi network. On your Android phone, select what you want to transfer — contacts, messages, photos, videos, mail accounts, and bookmarks are usually all checked by default. Tap "Continue" and let the transfer run. Don't use either phone until it's done. Your iPhone will restart when the transfer is complete.

After the transfer finishes, you can delete the Move to iOS app from your Android phone. Then sign into the App Store on your iPhone and download the apps you use regularly. You may need to sign into mail accounts, social media apps, and other services individually.

Manual transfer if Move to iOS doesn't work

If Move to iOS fails — usually because the phones can't stay connected to the same network — you can move data manually. For contacts, export them from your Android phone as a .vcf file, email the file to yourself, and import it into iPhone's Contacts app. For photos and videos, upload them to Google Photos, OneDrive, or iCloud, then download them on your iPhone.

Text messages are harder to move manually. If you need them, some third-party apps like SMS Backup+ can back them up to Gmail, and then you can view them there. Most people don't bother with this step and accept that old text threads won't carry over.

Calendar events can be exported from Google Calendar or your Android phone's calendar app and imported into iPhone's Calendar. Mail accounts are easiest — just add them in iPhone's Mail settings using your email address and password. Bookmarks from Chrome can be synced if you sign into Chrome on your iPhone, though Safari bookmarks require manual export and import.

Handling apps that exist on both platforms

Most popular apps — Gmail, Instagram, Slack, Spotify, banking apps — have both Android and iPhone versions. After the transfer, open the App Store on your iPhone and search for each app you used on Android. Download the iPhone version and sign in with the same account you used on Android.

Some apps will restore your settings and data automatically when you sign in. Others start fresh, and you'll need to reconfigure them. Check the app's settings to see if there's a "restore" or "import" option. For apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, you may need to re-verify your phone number or re-scan a QR code.

Apps that don't have an iPhone version are a problem you'll have to solve by finding an alternative. Search the App Store for similar functionality — for example, if you used a specific Android note-taking app, look for its iPhone equivalent or use Apple's Notes app instead.

Moving files and documents to your iPhone

If you have files stored on your Android phone — PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets — the easiest path is to move them to a cloud service first. Upload them to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or iCloud Drive from your Android phone, then access them on your iPhone through the same service's app or through Files.

For photos and videos, Google Photos is reliable. Upload them on Android, sign into Google Photos on your iPhone, and they'll be there. You can also use OneDrive or iCloud Photos if you prefer those services. This also gives you a backup in case something goes wrong during the transfer.

Documents in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides sync automatically across devices if you're signed into your Google account. Same with Microsoft 365 if you use Word, Excel, or PowerPoint online. These don't need special handling — just sign in on your iPhone and your work is there.

What to do after the transfer is complete

Once Move to iOS finishes and your new iPhone is set up, spend time downloading your regular apps and signing into accounts. Start with the apps you use daily — email, messaging, banking, social media — and work through the rest over the next few days. You don't need to do it all at once.

Check your mail accounts to make sure they're syncing properly. Open your photos and make sure they came through. Test your calendar to confirm events are there. If something didn't transfer, you now know what to move manually or re-download.

You can keep your Android phone as a backup for a few days in case you realize you forgot something. After that, you can factory reset it or keep it as a spare device. Make sure you've moved or backed up anything important before you wipe it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer my text messages from Android to iPhone?

Move to iOS transfers text messages automatically, but only SMS and MMS. Messages from apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Facebook Messenger don't transfer — you'll need to download those apps on iPhone and sign back in. Your message history in those apps usually stays on their servers, so you can access it after you sign in.

What if I don't have Wi-Fi available during the transfer?

Move to iOS requires Wi-Fi to work. If you don't have access to a network both phones can join, you'll need to use a manual transfer method instead — uploading photos to Google Photos, exporting contacts as a file, and signing into cloud services individually. This takes longer but works without Wi-Fi.

Do my app passwords transfer over?

No. You'll need to sign into each app individually on your iPhone. Some apps remember your login and make it quick; others require you to enter your password again. If you've forgotten passwords, use the "Forgot Password" option on each app before you start the transfer so you're ready to sign in on iPhone.

Can I transfer data from iPhone to Android using the same method?

No. Move to iOS only works from Android to iPhone. If you're going the other direction, you'll need to use cloud services like Google Drive, Google Photos, and Gmail to move your data manually. Apple doesn't provide a tool for iPhone-to-Android transfers.

What happens to my Android phone after the transfer?

Your Android phone still has all its data after the transfer — Move to iOS copies, it doesn't delete. You can keep using it as a backup device, sell it, or give it away. If you're selling or giving it away, do a factory reset first to erase all your personal data.