The fastest way depends on what kind of phone you're switching to
If you're moving from an iPhone to another iPhone, or from an Android phone to another Android phone, your apps transfer almost automatically through your existing account. If you're switching between iPhone and Android, you'll need to download your apps fresh on the new phone, but your login information and some data often move over. The method you use takes between a few minutes and a few hours depending on your internet speed and how many apps you have.
The key is that your apps aren't really stored on your old phone — they're stored in your account with Apple or Google. Your phone just holds a copy. When you sign into that same account on your new phone, the apps come back.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone to iPhone: sign into your Apple ID on the new phone and choose to restore from your old phone's backup, and most apps download automatically.
- Android to Android: sign into your Google account on the new phone, and apps begin downloading immediately without any extra steps.
- iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: download each app individually from the App Store or Google Play, but your usernames and passwords may transfer through your phone's password manager.
- Apps that use subscriptions or in-app purchases stay tied to your Apple ID or Google account, so you keep access to them on the new phone.
- Some apps store data locally on your phone rather than in the cloud, so you may lose game progress or notes if you don't back them up separately first.
Moving apps from iPhone to iPhone
When you set up a new iPhone, you'll be asked whether you want to restore from a backup or set up as new. Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" or "Restore from Mac or PC" if you have a computer backup. This restores your apps, settings, photos, and messages all at once.
If you've already set up the new iPhone without restoring a backup, you can still get your apps back. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select iCloud, then Photos. Make sure iCloud Photos is on. Then go to the App Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, scroll down to "Purchased," and you'll see all the apps you've ever downloaded on any iPhone linked to your Apple ID. Tap the cloud icon next to any app to download it again.
Apps you bought or subscribed to through Apple will work immediately on the new phone. Apps that require a login — like email, social media, or banking apps — will ask for your password the first time you open them.
Moving apps from Android to Android
Android makes this the simplest transfer of all. When you first turn on your new Android phone, it will ask you to sign into your Google account. Once you do, your phone automatically begins downloading every app that was on your old phone. You don't have to do anything else — just let it run while plugged in and on Wi-Fi.
The download can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on how many apps you have and your internet speed. You can use the phone while this happens, but it will go faster if you leave it alone.
Your Google account also stores your login information for most apps through Google's password manager. When you open an app that needs a login, it will often fill in your username and password automatically. If it doesn't, you can manually enter them.
Switching from iPhone to Android
Apple and Google don't sync apps between their stores, so you'll need to download your apps again on Android. The good news is that most popular apps exist on both platforms — Gmail, Facebook, Spotify, banking apps, and so on. Open Google Play on your new Android phone and search for each app you used on your iPhone.
Before you switch, write down which apps you use regularly, or take a screenshot of your iPhone's home screen so you remember what to download. You can also look at your iPhone's App Store purchase history: go to Settings, tap your name, select Media & Purchases, then Purchased, and sort by "Not on This iPhone" to see everything you've bought.
Your passwords may transfer through Google's password manager if you were using it on your iPhone, but not all apps support this. You may need to log in manually to some apps the first time you open them on Android. Apps that store data only on your phone — like notes apps, some games, or fitness trackers — won't automatically move that data over. Check whether the app has a backup or export feature before you leave your iPhone.
Switching from Android to iPhone
Like switching from iPhone to Android, you'll download your apps fresh from the App Store. Search for each app you used on Android and download it. Many apps are free or have a free version, but some require payment — you may need to buy them again if they're paid apps rather than free-to-download apps with in-app purchases.
Apple has a tool called "Move to iOS" that transfers some data like contacts, messages, and photos, but it doesn't transfer apps themselves. Use it during setup if you want to move that data, but plan to download your apps separately from the App Store.
Your passwords stored in Android's password manager won't automatically move to iPhone, but if you've been using Google's password manager, you can set it up on iPhone and access those passwords there. Otherwise, you'll need to log into each app manually or use iCloud Keychain to store passwords as you go.
Apps with subscriptions and in-app purchases
If you've paid for an app or subscribed to something through it, that purchase stays tied to your Apple ID or Google account. You don't pay again when you download it on a new phone — you just sign in with the same account and the app recognizes that you've already paid.
Subscriptions work the same way. If you're paying monthly for a fitness app or a news service, that subscription follows your account to the new phone. You can cancel or manage subscriptions in Settings on iPhone (under your name, then Subscriptions) or in Google Play on Android (tap your profile, then Subscriptions).
Apps that don't transfer automatically
Some apps store information only on your phone, not in the cloud. Games often save progress locally, and some note-taking or journaling apps do the same. Before you switch phones, check whether these apps have a backup, export, or cloud sync feature. Many games let you link to a Facebook account or game account that will restore your progress on a new phone.
If an app doesn't have a built-in backup, you may lose that data when you switch. Take screenshots of anything important, or look for an export option — some apps let you email yourself a backup file or save it to cloud storage like Google Drive or iCloud.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to download all my apps again, or can I just transfer them?
iPhone to iPhone and Android to Android transfer automatically through your account. iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone requires downloading each app fresh from the App Store or Google Play, though your login information often transfers through your password manager.
Will I lose my game progress or app data when I switch phones?
It depends on the app. Apps that save data to the cloud — like email, social media, or cloud-synced notes — keep your data. Apps that save only to your phone, like many games, will lose that data unless the app has a backup feature or you export it manually before switching.
Do I have to pay for apps again on a new phone?
No. Paid apps and subscriptions stay tied to your Apple ID or Google account. When you download them on a new phone using the same account, you have access without paying again. You only pay once per app, ever.
What if an app isn't available on the new phone's app store?
Some apps are only available on iPhone or only on Android. If an app you used isn't available on your new phone's store, look for an alternative app that does the same thing. Many popular apps exist on both platforms, but smaller or older apps may not.
How long does it take to transfer all my apps?
Automatic transfers on iPhone or Android take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on how many apps you have and your internet speed. Manual downloads on a new platform take as long as it takes you to search for and download each app — usually 15 to 30 minutes if you have 20 or fewer apps.