How to transfer data from Android to iPhone (even after setup)

Switching from a Galaxy, Pixel or other Android phone to an iPhone is easier than it used to be. Apple’s free Move to iOS app copies most of what matters in one go, and your Google account fills most of the gaps. The key is timing: the smoothest transfer happens during iPhone setup, so read the checklist below before you turn the new iPhone on.

Before you start

• Plug both phones into power and keep them close together.
• Connect the Android phone to Wi-Fi.
• Make sure the iPhone has more free space than the data you are moving.
• Update Chrome and WhatsApp on the Android phone if you want to move them.
• Turn off Wi-Fi features that switch to mobile data on their own, such as Smart Network Switch on Samsung or Switch to mobile data automatically. They can break the connection between the phones.
• Back up the Android phone to Google first, in case anything goes wrong. See how to back up an Android phone.

What Move to iOS transfers, and what it does not

• Moves: contacts, message history, camera photos and videos, photo albums, files and folders, mail accounts, calendars, web bookmarks, some display and accessibility settings, WhatsApp chats and media, and a list of free apps that are also on the App Store.
• Does not move: music, books and PDFs, which you copy separately; paid apps, which you buy again; app data for most apps; saved passwords; and authenticator codes.

Move to iOS failed or got stuck?

• Transfer interrupted: the Android phone lost the iPhone’s Wi-Fi network. Turn on airplane mode on the Android phone, then turn Wi-Fi back on, and disable Smart Network Switch or similar features.
• Code not accepted: the code expires. Go back on the iPhone to get a new one.
• Not enough space: the iPhone needs more free storage than the data you are moving. Leave out large videos and move them later with Google Photos.
• Stuck at one minute remaining: large video files can take a long time. Wait, and do not use either phone.

If it keeps failing, reset the iPhone, restart both phones, and try again with fewer items selected. You can move photos and files afterwards with the free methods above.

Passwords, authenticator codes and music

• Passwords: install Chrome on the iPhone and sign in, then turn on Chrome under Settings › General › AutoFill & Passwords. Your Google Password Manager passwords then fill in apps and Safari too.
• Authenticator codes: Google Authenticator can sync to your Google account or export accounts by QR code. Set it up on the iPhone before you reset the Android phone, or you may lock yourself out of accounts.
• Music: Spotify, YouTube Music and Apple Music keep your library in the cloud. Music files stored on the phone need to be copied to a computer and added to the Apple Music app.
• Samsung Notes and other brand apps: these are not on iPhone. Export notes, or sync them to a service that works on both, before you switch.

Your phone number and eSIM

Most US iPhones use eSIM only. Many carriers let you move your line during setup, or through their app, or you can ask the carrier to issue an eSIM for the new iPhone. See how to transfer an eSIM to a new iPhone. If your Android phone was bought from the carrier, you do not need it unlocked to move your number to an iPhone on the same carrier.

Texting Android friends from your iPhone

Messages with other iPhone users go over iMessage as blue bubbles. Messages with Android users go as green bubbles, using RCS on iOS 18 and later where your carrier supports it, which brings typing indicators, read receipts and better quality photos, or SMS otherwise. Check that RCS is on in Settings › Apps › Messages › RCS Messaging. See why some messages are green and others blue.

Android habits on an iPhone

• Back button: swipe right from the left edge of the screen to go back in most apps.
• Quick settings: swipe down from the top-right corner for Control Center; swipe down from the top-left or middle for notifications.
• Default apps: you can choose Chrome and Gmail as defaults in Settings › Apps, on each app’s page.
• Find My: turn it on in Settings › [your name] › Find My so a lost iPhone can be located and locked.
• Google apps: Google Maps, Photos, Drive, Gmail and Keep all work on iPhone with the same account.

Watches, earbuds and other accessories

Check your accessories before you switch. Current Galaxy Watch and most Wear OS watches do not work with iPhone, so plan for an Apple Watch if a smartwatch matters to you. Galaxy Buds and most other Bluetooth earbuds pair with an iPhone like any headset, though some features that need the Samsung app are lost. See how to connect Samsung earbuds to an iPhone. USB-C chargers and cables from your Android phone work with iPhone 15 and later.

What to do with your old Android phone

Keep it for a week or two in case something did not come across. Then sign out of your Google account, remove the screen lock, and factory reset it so the next owner is not blocked by Factory Reset Protection. Apple’s trade-in program accepts many Android phones for credit toward the iPhone, and carriers and resale sites take them too. A working Galaxy or Pixel from the last few years still has real value, so compare Apple’s offer with your carrier and a resale site before you decide. Remove the SIM card if it has one, and take off any case or screen protector you want to keep. If the phone is cracked or does not turn on, it can still be recycled for free at many electronics stores.