Apple's Move to iOS app is the fastest way to transfer your Android data
The Move to iOS app, made by Apple and available free on Google Play, transfers your contacts, calendar events, photos, videos, mail accounts, and text messages from an Android phone to a new iPhone during setup. It works over Wi-Fi and does not require a computer. The transfer happens before you finish setting up your new iPhone, so you start with your data already in place.
The process takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have. You'll need both phones, a Wi-Fi network, and a power outlet nearby for your new iPhone. The app works with any Android phone running Android 4.0 or later and any iPhone model.
Key Takeaways
- Move to iOS transfers contacts, photos, videos, mail accounts, calendar events, and text messages directly from Android to iPhone without a computer.
- You must start the transfer during iPhone setup, before you finish signing in to your Apple ID for the first time.
- Some apps and data types—like banking apps, fitness data, and game progress—do not transfer automatically and must be downloaded fresh from the App Store.
- If you've already finished setting up your iPhone, you can still transfer photos and videos through Google Photos or manually through a computer.
- Third-party apps like Google Drive and OneDrive can back up specific data types before you switch phones.
How to use Move to iOS during initial iPhone setup
When you turn on your new iPhone for the first time, you'll see a screen that says "Apps & Data." Tap "Migrate Data from Android." The iPhone will display a 6-digit or 10-digit code on the screen.
On your Android phone, open Google Play and search for "Move to iOS." Download and open the app. Tap "Continue," then "Agree" to the terms. When prompted, enter the code from your iPhone screen. The two phones will connect over Wi-Fi, and you'll select which data to transfer. Tap "Continue" on your Android phone and wait for the transfer to finish. Do not disconnect either phone or close the app until you see a completion message.
After the transfer finishes, tap "Continue" on your iPhone to complete setup. Your contacts, photos, videos, calendar events, mail accounts, and text messages will now be on your iPhone. The Move to iOS app will then delete itself from your Android phone automatically.
What data transfers and what does not
Move to iOS transfers these items: contacts, calendar events, photos and videos from your camera roll, Gmail and other mail accounts (the account settings, not the email history), text messages, and device settings like wallpaper and display preferences.
These items do not transfer: apps themselves (you'll need to download them again from the App Store), app data and login information (you'll need to sign back into each app), text message threads from third-party apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, banking and payment app data, fitness and health app data, game progress and saved games, and photos or videos stored only in cloud services like Google Photos or Google Drive.
For apps you want to keep, write down which ones you use before you switch. When you open the App Store on your iPhone, most of your previously purchased apps will be available to download again at no cost under the "Purchased" tab.
Transferring data if you've already finished iPhone setup
If you've already completed the iPhone setup process, Move to iOS will not work. You can still transfer photos and videos by using Google Photos. On your Android phone, open Google Photos, tap your profile icon, go to Settings, and turn on "Backup & sync." On your iPhone, download Google Photos from the App Store and sign in with the same Google account. Your photos and videos will appear in the app.
For contacts, sign into your Google account on your iPhone by going to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account > Google. Select which contacts to sync. For calendar events, add your Google account the same way and enable Calendar in the sync options. Email will sync automatically once you add the account.
Text messages cannot be recovered after setup is complete. If you need to preserve them, take screenshots of important conversations on your Android phone before switching.
Using Google Drive and OneDrive to back up before switching
If you want to transfer specific files or data before you get your iPhone, you can use cloud storage services. On your Android phone, open Google Drive or OneDrive and upload documents, photos, or other files you want to keep. On your iPhone, download the same app and sign in with the same account to access your files.
Google Drive and OneDrive do not transfer app data, login credentials, or text messages. They work best for documents, spreadsheets, photos, and other files you've manually saved. This method is useful if you want to transfer data gradually or if you're not ready to switch phones yet.
Transferring data through a computer
If you have a Windows or Mac computer, you can connect your Android phone via USB cable and copy files to your computer, then connect your iPhone and copy those files to it. This method works for photos, videos, documents, and music files, but not for contacts, calendar events, or text messages.
On Windows, connect your Android phone and open File Explorer. Your phone will appear as a device. Open the folder and copy photos or videos to a folder on your computer. Then connect your iPhone, open iTunes or Finder (on Mac), and drag those files into the Photos section. On Mac, connect your Android phone and use Android File Transfer (a free app from Google) to access your phone's files the same way.
This method is slower than Move to iOS and requires a computer, but it works if you've already set up your iPhone or if you want to be selective about which files you transfer.
What to do with apps that have account-specific data
Apps like banking apps, email clients, social media apps, and fitness trackers store your login information and personal data on their own servers, not on your phone. When you download these apps on your iPhone, you'll sign in with the same username and password, and your data will appear automatically.
Before you switch phones, make sure you know the passwords or recovery methods for important apps. If you use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or LastPass, your passwords will sync across devices if you're signed into the same account. For apps without cloud sync—like games with saved progress—you may lose your data unless the app has a built-in backup or cloud save feature. Check the app's settings on your Android phone to see if it offers backup options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer data from Android to iPhone if I don't have Wi-Fi?
Move to iOS requires Wi-Fi to work. If you don't have Wi-Fi at home, you can use a mobile hotspot from another phone, a public Wi-Fi network, or a friend's Wi-Fi. Make sure the connection is stable and both phones stay connected until the transfer finishes.
Will my text messages transfer to iMessage?
Move to iOS transfers your text messages to the Messages app on iPhone, but they remain as SMS or MMS messages, not iMessages. iMessage is a separate protocol that only works between Apple devices. Your text message history will be there, but future messages from Android contacts will still arrive as SMS unless they switch to iPhone.
What happens to my Google account after I switch to iPhone?
Your Google account stays active and unchanged. You can sign into Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, and other Google services on your iPhone using the same username and password. Move to iOS transfers your Gmail account settings so you can access your email immediately on iPhone.
Can I transfer data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone using Move to iOS?
No. Move to iOS only works when transferring from Android to iPhone. To transfer data between two iPhones, use iCloud backup or the "Migrate Data" option during setup, which copies data from your old iPhone wirelessly.
What if the transfer fails or gets interrupted?
If the transfer stops, restart both phones and try again. Make sure both phones are plugged in and stay close to each other during the transfer. If it fails a second time, you can manually transfer photos through Google Photos, contacts through your Google account, and email through Gmail. You'll need to download apps again and sign back into them individually.