The fastest way to transfer everything is to use your phone's built-in transfer tool while you still have both phones
Most phones come with a transfer feature that moves your contacts, photos, messages, and app data from your old phone to your new one in a single process. On iPhones, this is called Quick Start. On Android phones, it's called Smart Switch (Samsung) or Setup & Restore (Google Pixel). You run this tool during the initial setup of your new phone, and it walks you through connecting the two devices and choosing what to move.
The transfer usually takes 15 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have. You'll need both phones powered on and close to each other — typically within a few feet. If you're switching between iPhone and Android, or if your old phone is no longer working, you'll need to use a different method, which we cover below.
Key Takeaways
- Use your phone's built-in transfer tool (Quick Start for iPhone, Smart Switch for Samsung, Setup & Restore for Google Pixel) if both phones are working and you have them at the same time.
- Your phone number stays with your carrier and transfers automatically when you activate your new phone on their network — you don't move it yourself.
- Cloud backups (iCloud for iPhone, Google Drive for Android) let you restore data even if your old phone is broken or unavailable.
- Some apps and data won't transfer automatically; you may need to log back into apps individually or re-download them from your app store.
- Contact your carrier before activating your new phone to confirm they have your account details and can transfer your number without interruption.
How your phone number moves to the new phone
Your phone number belongs to your carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or whoever you pay for service), not to the phone itself. When you activate your new phone on your carrier's network, your number transfers automatically — you don't have to do anything to "move" it. The carrier simply links your number to the new phone's SIM card or eSIM (embedded SIM, which is built into the phone).
Before you activate the new phone, call your carrier and tell them you're switching devices. They'll confirm your account and make sure everything is ready. This usually takes five minutes. When you turn on the new phone and connect to your carrier's network, your number will be active within a few minutes to a few hours. During this time, calls and texts to your old number may not reach you, but they'll come through once the transfer is complete.
If you're switching carriers at the same time, you'll need a porting authorization code (also called a transfer PIN or account PIN) from your old carrier. Your new carrier will ask for this code when you sign up. The process takes one to three business days, and during that time you may lose service briefly.
Transferring data if both phones are available
If you have both your old phone and new phone in your hands, use the built-in transfer tool. Here's how it works for each type:
For iPhone to iPhone: During setup of your new iPhone, you'll see a "Quick Start" screen. Hold your old iPhone next to the new one. Your old phone will show a viewfinder; point it at the animation on the new phone's screen. Once they connect, choose what to transfer (contacts, photos, messages, app data, settings) and wait for the process to finish. You'll need to enter your Apple ID password and agree to restore your apps.
For Android to Android (Samsung): On your new Samsung phone, open Settings, go to Accounts and Backup, and select Smart Switch. Choose "Receive data" and select your old phone from the list. Follow the prompts to connect the phones via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Select what you want to move and let it run.
For Android to Android (Google Pixel): During setup, you'll see a "Set up with another Android phone" option. Tap it, then tap "Copy your data" on your old phone. Scan the QR code shown on your new phone with your old phone's camera. Choose what to transfer and wait for completion.
For iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: Built-in tools don't work across operating systems. Use a cloud backup instead (see the next section) or transfer contacts manually through your email or a service like Google Contacts.
Transferring data using cloud backups
If your old phone is broken, lost, or you don't have it with you, a cloud backup is your best option. Cloud backups store your data on a company's servers (not on your phone), so you can download it to any new phone anytime.
For iPhone: iCloud automatically backs up your phone daily if you're connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in. To restore from an iCloud backup on your new iPhone, during setup tap "Restore from iCloud Backup," sign in with your Apple ID, and choose which backup to restore. This takes 15 minutes to an hour depending on backup size.
For Android: Google automatically backs up contacts, photos, messages, and app data to Google Drive if you're signed into a Google account. On your new Android phone, sign in with the same Google account during setup. You'll be asked whether to restore from backup — tap yes. The restore happens in the background over the next few hours.
Cloud backups restore most of your data, but some apps and settings may not transfer. You'll likely need to log back into apps like banking, email, and social media individually. Also, if you haven't backed up recently, you'll lose data created after the last backup date.
What doesn't transfer automatically
Some things won't move to your new phone even with a full transfer or backup. Text messages from some carriers may not transfer if you switch to a different carrier. Voicemail is carrier-specific and won't transfer; you'll need to set it up again on your new phone. Some banking apps and apps with security features won't restore automatically because they need you to log in again for security reasons.
Photos and videos usually transfer, but if you use a third-party photo app (not your phone's built-in Photos app), you may need to download the app again and log in. Messages from apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal require you to reinstall the app and log in; some apps let you restore chat history if you've backed it up within the app itself.
After your transfer is complete, spend 10 minutes opening your most-used apps and confirming they work. If an app won't open or says you're not logged in, reinstall it from your app store and sign in again.
Transferring data manually if automatic methods don't work
If you can't use a built-in transfer tool or cloud backup, you can move data piece by piece. For contacts, export them from your old phone as a file (usually a .vcf or .csv file) and email it to yourself, then import it on your new phone. Most phones have an import contacts option in the Contacts app.
For photos and videos, connect your old phone to a computer with a USB cable, copy the photos to a folder, then connect your new phone and copy them back. Alternatively, upload photos to Google Photos or iCloud, then download them on your new phone. This is slower than a direct transfer but works if your old phone is partially broken.
For messages, take screenshots of important conversations or use an app like SMS Backup+ (Android) to export messages as files. There's no universal way to transfer text messages between phones, so if they're important, save them before you switch.
What to do after your new phone is set up
Once your data is on your new phone and your number is active, take these steps to make sure everything works. Test your phone number by having someone call or text you. Check that your email accounts are signed in and receiving messages. Open your banking app and confirm you can log in (you may need to verify your identity). Check your photos to make sure they transferred completely.
If you're keeping your old phone, back it up one more time, then consider whether to sell it, recycle it, or keep it as a backup. If you're recycling it, erase all data first: on iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings; on Android, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data. This removes your personal information so it can't be recovered if someone else gets the phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my apps transfer to my new phone?
Most apps will reinstall automatically if you're using the same operating system (iPhone to iPhone or Android to Android) and you're signed into the same account. However, you'll need to log into each app individually. Some apps with strict security features won't restore automatically and must be downloaded fresh from the app store.
What if my old phone won't turn on?
Use a cloud backup if you set one up before the phone stopped working. If you didn't have a backup, you can still recover some data: contacts and photos may be stored in your email account or cloud storage. Contact your carrier about recovering text messages if they're important. Going forward, turn on automatic backups so you don't lose data again.
Can I transfer my data to a phone on a different carrier?
Yes. Your data (contacts, photos, messages, apps) transfers the same way regardless of carrier. Your phone number transfers separately through your carrier's porting process. Data transfer and carrier switching are two different steps that happen at the same time but don't affect each other.
How long does the whole process take?
If both phones are working and you use the built-in transfer tool, the data transfer takes 15 minutes to an hour. Your phone number becomes active within a few minutes to a few hours after you activate the new phone. If you're switching carriers, add one to three business days for the number to port over.
Do I need to do anything special if I'm switching from iPhone to Android?
You can't use Quick Start or Smart Switch across operating systems. Instead, use Google Drive to back up your iPhone data before you switch, then restore it on your new Android phone. Contacts, photos, and calendar events will transfer. Messages and some app data won't transfer automatically, so you'll need to log into those apps individually on your Android phone.