How to Transfer Data to Your New Phone

The fastest way depends on what phone you're switching from and to

If you're moving from an iPhone to another iPhone, use iCloud or a wired connection through a computer. If you're moving from Android to Android, use Google Account sync or Samsung Smart Switch. If you're switching between iPhone and Android, you'll need to move data in pieces — contacts and photos through cloud services, apps by downloading them fresh on the new phone. The method you choose affects how long the transfer takes, whether you keep your app settings, and whether you need a computer.

Before you pick a method, charge both phones to at least 50 percent battery and connect to Wi-Fi. Back up your old phone first, even if you're using a transfer tool — this protects you if something goes wrong during the move.

Key Takeaways

iPhone to iPhone transfers work fastest through iCloud or a USB-C cable connected to a Mac or PC, and both preserve your app settings and data.
Android to Android transfers use your Google Account or manufacturer tools like Samsung Smart Switch, and sync most data automatically once you sign in.
iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone requires moving contacts, photos, and calendar through cloud services because the operating systems don't share a direct transfer method.
Apps must be downloaded fresh on your new phone regardless of the transfer method, but your login credentials and settings often transfer automatically if you sign in with the same account.
Text messages don't transfer between iPhone and Android unless you back them up before switching phones.

iPhone to iPhone: iCloud or cable transfer

The easiest route is iCloud, Apple's cloud backup service. On your old iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and turn on iCloud Backup. Then tap "Back Up Now" and wait for the backup to finish — this can take 15 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have. On your new iPhone, during setup, select "Restore from iCloud Backup" and sign in with the same Apple ID. Choose the backup you just created, and your photos, messages, contacts, calendar, app data, and settings will transfer automatically.

If you want to transfer without waiting for iCloud or if you don't have enough iCloud storage, use a USB-C cable (or Lightning cable on older iPhones). Connect your old iPhone to a Mac or PC, open Finder on Mac or iTunes on Windows, select your phone, and click "Back Up Now." Then connect your new iPhone, select it in Finder or iTunes, and choose "Restore from Backup." Pick the backup you just created. This method is faster than iCloud and doesn't use your cloud storage, but requires a computer.

Both methods preserve your app settings, passwords saved in iCloud Keychain, and home screen layout. Apps themselves download from the App Store automatically once you sign in with your Apple ID, so you don't have to reinstall them manually.

Android to Android: Google Account or Smart Switch

The simplest method is to sign into your Google Account on your new Android phone. During setup, enter the email and password for the Google Account you use on your old phone. Android will automatically sync your contacts, calendar, Gmail, Google Photos, and app data. Most of your apps will also download from Google Play automatically if they're available in your region.

If you want to transfer more data at once — including text messages, call logs, and device settings — use Samsung Smart Switch (if you own a Samsung phone) or your phone manufacturer's equivalent tool. On your old phone, download the Smart Switch app from Google Play, open it, and select "Send Data." On your new phone, open Smart Switch, select "Receive Data," and choose "Wireless" or "USB Cable" depending on whether you want to transfer over Wi-Fi or through a physical connection. Select what you want to transfer (photos, messages, contacts, apps, settings) and start the process. This usually takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you're moving.

Google Account sync happens in the background after setup, so you don't have to do anything else. Smart Switch is faster if you're transferring a large amount of data at once and preserves more of your phone's original settings than Google Account sync alone.

iPhone to Android: Move contacts, photos, and calendar separately

There's no direct transfer tool between iOS and Android, so you'll move your data through cloud services. Start with contacts: on your iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, turn on Contacts, then open iCloud.com on a computer, sign in, select Contacts, and export them as a .vcf file. On your Android phone, open Contacts, tap the menu, select "Import," and choose the .vcf file. Alternatively, if you use Gmail, add your Gmail account to your iPhone's Mail settings, and your iPhone contacts will sync to Google Contacts automatically.

For photos and videos, use Google Photos. On your iPhone, download Google Photos from the App Store, sign in with your Google Account, and turn on "Backup and Sync." Your photos will upload to Google Photos. On your Android phone, download Google Photos, sign in with the same account, and your photos will appear automatically. This can take hours if you have thousands of photos, so start it before bed or while you're not using your phone.

For calendar, add your Google Account to your iPhone's Calendar settings (Settings > Calendar > Accounts > Add Account > Google). Your iPhone calendar will sync to Google Calendar. On Android, your calendar will appear automatically once you sign in with the same Google Account.

Text messages don't transfer between iPhone and Android. You can use a third-party app like SMS Backup+ on Android to back up messages to Gmail, but this requires setting it up on your old phone before you switch. If you haven't already done this, you'll lose your message history.

Android to iPhone: Move contacts, photos, and calendar separately

Like switching from iPhone to Android, there's no single transfer tool. Start with contacts: on your Android phone, open Contacts, tap the menu, select "Settings," then "Export Contacts," and save them as a .vcf file to Google Drive or email them to yourself. On your iPhone, open the email or Google Drive, download the .vcf file, and tap "Add All Contacts." Alternatively, if your Android phone uses a Samsung account or another manufacturer account, sign into that account on your iPhone if the manufacturer offers an iOS app.

For photos and videos, use Google Photos on both phones. On your Android phone, download Google Photos if you haven't already, sign in, and turn on "Backup and Sync." On your iPhone, download Google Photos, sign in with the same account, and your photos will appear. This works the same way as moving from iPhone to Android.

For calendar, export your calendar from your Android phone to Google Calendar (this is usually automatic if you use a Google Account on Android). On your iPhone, add your Google Account to Settings > Calendar > Accounts > Add Account > Google. Your calendar will sync automatically.

Apps must be downloaded fresh from the App Store on your iPhone. Some apps may not be available on iOS if the developer hasn't built an iOS version. Sign into each app with your username and password, and your settings and data will sync if the app uses cloud backup.

What to do before you transfer anything

Back up your old phone first, even if you're using a transfer method. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap "Back Up Now." On Android, go to Settings > Google > Manage Your Google Account > Backup and make sure "Backup to Google One" is turned on. This ensures you have a copy of your data if something goes wrong during the transfer.

Charge both phones to at least 50 percent battery before you start. Transfers can take a long time, and a dead phone in the middle of the process can corrupt your data or leave you without access to either device. Keep both phones plugged in during the transfer if possible.

Connect to Wi-Fi on both phones. Transfers use a lot of data, and Wi-Fi is faster and more reliable than cellular. Make sure you're on the same Wi-Fi network if you're using a wireless transfer method like Google Account sync or Smart Switch.

Sign out of your old phone's accounts after the transfer is complete. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out. On Android, go to Settings > Accounts, select each account, and tap "Remove Account." This prevents anyone who gets your old phone from accessing your email, photos, or other data.

What happens to apps during a transfer

Apps themselves don't transfer directly — they download fresh from the App Store or Google Play on your new phone. However, your login credentials and in-app settings often transfer automatically if you sign into the app with the same account you used on your old phone. For example, if you sign into Spotify with your email address on your new phone, your playlists and settings will appear automatically.

Some apps store data locally on your phone rather than in the cloud, so that data won't transfer. Games are the most common example — if a game saves progress only to your phone's storage, you'll lose that progress when you switch phones. Check the app's settings to see if it offers cloud save or backup options before you switch.

Paid apps you bought on iPhone won't transfer to Android and vice versa. You'll need to buy them again on your new phone, or look for free alternatives. Free apps download automatically during most transfer methods, but you may need to download some paid apps manually from the App Store or Google Play.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a phone transfer usually take?

iCloud and cable transfers between iPhones take 15 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have. Google Account sync on Android happens in the background and can take several hours. Google Photos uploads can take much longer if you have thousands of photos. Plan for at least an hour and preferably several hours to be safe.

Will I lose my text messages if I switch from iPhone to Android?

Yes, unless you set up SMS Backup+ or a similar app on your iPhone before you switch. iOS and Android don't share a direct message transfer method. If you haven't already backed up your messages, you'll lose them when you switch phones.

Do I need a computer to transfer data to my new phone?

No. iCloud transfers between iPhones, Google Account sync on Android, and Google Photos all work wirelessly. You only need a computer if you want to use a cable transfer on iPhone or if you need to export and import contacts as a .vcf file.

What if my new phone is a different brand than my old one?

Use cloud services to move your data. Google Photos, Google Calendar, and Gmail work on both iPhone and Android. Contacts can be exported as a .vcf file and imported on any phone. Apps must be downloaded fresh from the App Store or Google Play.

Can I transfer data from my old phone after I've already set up my new phone?

Yes. You can add accounts, download apps, and sync photos and calendar at any time after setup. The only limitation is text messages — those need to be backed up before you stop using your old phone.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.