The fastest way depends on what 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 phone's built-in transfer tool will move most of your data automatically — contacts, photos, messages, app data, and settings. The process takes 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much you have stored. If you're switching between iPhone and Android, or if you want to move only specific things, you'll need to use a combination of cloud services and manual steps instead.

The key difference is that iPhone uses iCloud and Android uses Google Account to back up and restore your data. Both systems work well within their own ecosystem, but crossing between them requires more planning because the two platforms don't share the same backup format.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone-to-iPhone and Android-to-Android transfers happen through your phone's setup screen and take 30 minutes to a few hours with no extra apps needed.
  • iPhone-to-Android or Android-to-iPhone transfers require you to back up to the cloud first, then restore on the new phone, and some apps may not transfer.
  • Your contacts, photos, email, and calendar sync through Google Account (Android) or iCloud (iPhone) automatically if you sign in during setup.
  • Apps from the App Store or Google Play Store will reinstall on your new phone if you sign in with the same account, but their data may not transfer if the app doesn't support cloud sync.
  • Text messages, call history, and some app data often don't transfer between iPhone and Android, so you may need to screenshot or export important conversations first.

iPhone to iPhone: using Quick Start

Place your old iPhone and new iPhone next to each other. Turn on the new iPhone and follow the setup screens until you see "Quick Start." Your old iPhone will detect the new one automatically. Tap "Continue" on the old phone, then point the new phone's camera at the animation on the old phone's screen to pair them.

Choose whether to restore from iCloud or from the old phone directly. If you restore directly from the old phone, the transfer happens over Wi-Fi and doesn't require iCloud space — this is faster if both phones are on the same network. If you restore from iCloud, your data comes from your most recent backup, which is useful if your old phone is damaged or you want to start fresh. Either way, sign in with your Apple ID when prompted, and your contacts, photos, messages, app data, and settings will restore automatically.

The transfer can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have. Keep both phones plugged in and on the same Wi-Fi network until the process finishes. Your apps will download in the background after setup completes, so you can start using the new phone while that happens.

Android to Android: using Google Account

Turn on your new Android phone and sign in with the same Google Account you used on your old phone. During setup, you'll see a screen asking whether to restore from backup. Tap "Restore" and choose your old phone from the list. Android will restore your contacts, calendar, Gmail, photos (if they're backed up to Google Photos), app data, and some settings.

Apps will reinstall automatically from Google Play Store over the next few hours. If an app doesn't reinstall on its own, you can open Google Play Store, go to "My apps and games," find the app, and tap "Install." Text messages and call history usually don't restore automatically — you'll need to use a separate tool like Google Messages or Samsung Smart Switch if your old phone is a Samsung.

Make sure your old phone's data is backed up to your Google Account before you start. On your old phone, go to Settings, then search for "Backup" or "Google Account," and tap "Back up now" to ensure everything is current. This backup stays on Google's servers, so you can restore it to your new phone even after you've stopped using the old one.

iPhone to Android: what transfers and what doesn't

Contacts, email, and calendar will transfer if you set up your Gmail account (or other email account) on both phones. Photos transfer if they're backed up to Google Photos on your iPhone — open Google Photos on your iPhone, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, and turn on "Backup and sync." Messages, call history, and iMessage threads do not transfer to Android, so screenshot or export any conversations you need to keep.

Apps from the App Store won't transfer because they don't exist on Google Play Store. You'll need to find the Android equivalent and download it manually. Some apps (like Spotify, Slack, or banking apps) have versions on both platforms and will sync your data if you sign in with the same account. Others (like Apple's built-in apps) have no Android equivalent. Make a list of your most-used apps on your iPhone before you switch, then search for them on Google Play Store to see what's available.

To move your photos, open Google Photos on your iPhone before you switch, turn on backup, and wait for all photos to upload. Then sign into Google Photos on your new Android phone with the same account and your photos will appear. For contacts, add your Gmail account to your iPhone's Settings, then go to Contacts and export them to that Gmail account. On your Android phone, sign in with the same Gmail account during setup and your contacts will restore.

Android to iPhone: what transfers and what doesn't

Use Apple's "Move to iOS" app on your old Android phone to transfer contacts, messages, photos, videos, web bookmarks, mail accounts, and some app data. Download "Move to iOS" from Google Play Store, open it on your Android phone, and follow the prompts. You'll need both phones on the same Wi-Fi network. The app will give you a code to enter on your new iPhone during setup — this pairs the phones and starts the transfer.

Apps from Google Play Store won't transfer because they don't exist on the App Store. You'll need to find the iOS equivalent and download it manually. Like switching from iPhone to Android, some apps (Spotify, Slack, banking apps) have versions on both platforms and will sync your data if you sign in. Others don't have an iOS version at all. Check the App Store for your most-used apps before you switch.

Text messages and call history from your Android phone will not transfer to iPhone. If you need to keep them, screenshot important conversations or export them to a file before you switch. Photos and videos transfer through "Move to iOS" if they're stored on your phone's internal storage. If they're on Google Photos, sign into Google Photos on your new iPhone and they'll appear there instead.

What to do if an app's data doesn't transfer

Some apps store their data only on your phone and don't back it up to the cloud. If you switch phones and the app doesn't transfer your data, you've lost it — there's no way to recover it after the fact. To avoid this, check your most-used apps before you switch and see whether they offer cloud backup or sync.

Open each app, look for a Settings or Account section, and see if there's an option to back up to the cloud or sign in with an account. Apps like Slack, Spotify, Gmail, and most banking apps do this automatically. Apps like games, note-taking apps, or fitness trackers may not. If an app doesn't offer cloud backup, take screenshots of anything important, or export the data if the app has an export option. Some apps let you email yourself a backup file — check the app's settings or help section.

After you've set up your new phone and reinstalled the app, sign in with the same account you used on your old phone. If the app supports cloud sync, your data will restore automatically. If it doesn't, you'll start fresh in that app.

Transferring specific things manually

If you don't want to transfer everything, or if you're keeping your old phone, you can move individual items through cloud services. Photos go through Google Photos (Android and iPhone), iCloud Photos (iPhone only), or OneDrive (all phones). Contacts sync through Gmail, Outlook, or your phone's built-in contact app if you've linked it to an account. Email and calendar sync automatically when you sign in with your email account on the new phone.

Text messages can be exported from some phones using built-in tools or third-party apps, but the process varies by phone model and operating system. Samsung phones have a built-in backup tool called Smart Switch. iPhone doesn't have a built-in export tool for messages, but you can use third-party apps from the App Store. For important conversations, the simplest method is to screenshot them or use your phone's screen recording feature.

Passwords stored in your phone's password manager will sync if you're using Google Password Manager (Android), iCloud Keychain (iPhone), or a third-party manager like Bitwarden or 1Password. Sign in with the same account on your new phone and your passwords will appear. If you're using your phone's built-in password manager and switching between iPhone and Android, you'll need to manually enter your passwords on the new phone or use a third-party manager that works on both platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to back up my old phone before transferring to a new one?

Not if you're using Quick Start (iPhone) or Google Account restore (Android) — these methods pull from your existing backup automatically. But it's a good idea to make sure your backup is current before you start. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap "Back Up Now." On Android, go to Settings, search for "Backup," and tap "Back up now."

Can I transfer my text messages to a new phone?

iPhone-to-iPhone and Android-to-Android transfers include text messages automatically. iPhone-to-Android and Android-to-iPhone transfers do not — messages stay on your old phone. If you need to keep them, screenshot important conversations or use a third-party app like SMS Backup+ (Android) or a similar tool before you switch.

What happens to my apps if I switch from iPhone to Android?

Apps from the App Store don't exist on Google Play Store, so they won't transfer. You'll need to find the Android version of each app and download it manually. Many popular apps (Spotify, Slack, Gmail, banking apps) have Android versions that will sync your data if you sign in with the same account. Some apps, like Apple's built-in apps, have no Android equivalent.

Will my photos transfer if I switch phones?

Photos transfer automatically if they're backed up to iCloud (iPhone) or Google Photos (Android). If you're switching between iPhone and Android, make sure your photos are in Google Photos on your iPhone before you switch, then sign into Google Photos on your Android phone. Photos stored only on your phone's internal storage will transfer if you use Quick Start (iPhone) or Google Account restore (Android).

How long does a phone transfer take?

Quick Start (iPhone) and Google Account restore (Android) usually take 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much data you have. Apps download in the background after setup, so you can use your new phone while that happens. Keep both phones plugged in and on Wi-Fi until the transfer finishes.