What you can move from Android to iPhone

Apple's Move to iOS app transfers contacts, message history, photos, videos, web bookmarks, email accounts, and calendars from an Android phone to a new iPhone during setup. The app does not transfer apps themselves — you read those separately from the App Store — but it does move your login information for many services so you can sign back in quickly.

Some data types move more completely than others. Text messages transfer as readable conversations. Photos and videos copy at their original resolution. Email accounts transfer as account settings, not as stored messages (those stay on your Android phone unless you read them separately). Contacts include phone numbers, email addresses, and notes you added.

Data that does not transfer through Move to iOS includes app data (game progress, app settings, saved files within apps), text message threads from messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, call history, and some third-party calendar or contact information stored only in specific apps.

Key Takeaways

  • Move to iOS is Apple's official app that runs during iPhone setup and transfers contacts, messages, photos, videos, bookmarks, email accounts, and calendars from Android.
  • Apps do not transfer — you must read them again from the App Store, though your login credentials often move so you can sign in when ready.
  • The transfer happens over Wi-Fi and requires both phones to be plugged in and close to each other, usually taking 30 minutes to several hours depending on data size.
  • Data stored only within Android apps (like chat history in WhatsApp or game saves) does not move and must be backed up separately before switching phones.
  • You can also transfer data manually after setup by signing into cloud services like Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos on your new iPhone.

How to use Move to iOS during iPhone setup

When you turn on a new iPhone for the first time, the setup screen offers "Migrate Data from Android" as an option. Tap that choice. The iPhone will display a six-digit or ten-digit code on the screen.

On your Android phone, read the Move to iOS app from the Google Play Store. Open it, tap "Continue," and agree to the terms. The app will ask for permission to access your contacts, photos, and other data — grant those permissions. When prompted, enter the code shown on your iPhone screen.

Both phones will connect over Wi-Fi. Do not disconnect either phone, close the app, or use the phones for other tasks during the transfer. Plug both phones into power. The transfer usually takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have. When it finishes, the iPhone will say so on screen, and you can continue setting up your new phone.

What happens to your Android phone after the transfer

Your Android phone keeps all its original data. The Move to iOS app only copies information to your iPhone — it does not delete anything from Android. You can keep using your Android phone, factory reset it, sell it, or recycle it, but the data remains until you actively delete it.

If you plan to sell or give away your Android phone, you should factory reset it after confirming the transfer worked on your iPhone. This erases all personal data from the Android device. The steps vary by manufacturer, but usually you go to Settings, then System, then Reset Options, then Erase All Data.

Transferring data that Move to iOS does not handle

For data stored inside apps — like WhatsApp conversations, Telegram messages, game progress, or banking app settings — you must use each app's own backup feature. WhatsApp, for example, backs up to Google Drive on Android. When you install WhatsApp on iPhone and sign in with the same phone number, you can restore from that Google Drive backup.

Check each app you use regularly to see if it offers backup or export options. Many social media apps, note-taking apps, and fitness apps let you back up data to the cloud or export it as a file. Some apps do not support cross-platform transfer at all, meaning data saved only in the Android version cannot move to iPhone.

For photos and videos stored in Google Photos, you do not need to do anything special — sign into Google Photos on your iPhone and your library appears there. The same applies to Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts if you use those services. Any data synced to your Google account transfers automatically when you sign in on iPhone.

Manual transfer if Move to iOS does not work

If Move to iOS fails, freezes, or you did not use it during setup, you can transfer data manually afterward. Sign into your Google account on the iPhone in Settings under Mail, Contacts, Calendars. Your Google Contacts and Google Calendar will sync to the iPhone. Install Google Photos and sign in to see your photo library.

For email, add your Gmail account (or any email account you used on Android) through Settings, Mail, Accounts, Add Account. Choose the email provider and enter your login information. The iPhone will read your recent messages and sync going forward.

Photos and videos stored in Google Photos will appear in the iPhone's Photos app if you enable the Google Photos sync option. Photos stored only on your Android phone's local storage must be uploaded to Google Photos, Google Drive, or another cloud service on the Android phone first, then downloaded on iPhone.

Transferring specific data types

Contacts: Move to iOS transfers all contacts. If some contacts are missing, they may be stored only in a specific app (like LinkedIn or Facebook). You can export contacts from those apps as a file and import them into iPhone's Contacts app, though the process varies by app.

Messages: Text messages transfer through Move to iOS. Messages from WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and other messaging apps do not transfer — use each app's backup feature. WhatsApp backs up to Google Drive on Android; when you install WhatsApp on iPhone with the same phone number, you can restore the backup.

Photos and videos: Move to iOS copies photos and videos from your Android phone's camera roll and any folders you choose. Photos in Google Photos transfer when you sign into Google Photos on iPhone. Screenshots and photos in other apps may not transfer unless you back them up separately.

Bookmarks: Move to iOS transfers bookmarks from Chrome and the default Android browser. Bookmarks saved only in other apps do not transfer. You can export bookmarks from most browsers as an HTML file and import them into Safari on iPhone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer data from Android to iPhone without Move to iOS?

Yes. You can sign into your Google account, Gmail, Google Photos, and other cloud services on iPhone after setup, and that data will sync. For apps with their own backup systems like WhatsApp, you can restore from those backups. Move to iOS is faster for a large transfer, but manual setup works if you prefer or if Move to iOS fails.

Will my app data and game progress transfer to iPhone?

App data does not transfer through Move to iOS. Some apps back up progress to the cloud — if you sign into the same account on iPhone, your progress may restore. Check each app's settings for backup or cloud save options. Many games and productivity apps support this, but not all.

How long does the transfer take?

Transfer time depends on how much data you have. Small transfers (a few hundred photos, basic contacts) take 30 minutes to an hour. Large transfers (thousands of photos, years of messages) can take several hours. Both phones must stay plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi the entire time.

What if I already set up my iPhone without using Move to iOS?

You can still transfer data manually. Sign into your Google account in iPhone Settings to sync contacts and calendar. Install Google Photos and Gmail to access those services. For app-specific data, use each app's backup or export feature. You cannot use Move to iOS after initial setup.

Do I need to keep my Android phone during the transfer?

Yes, both phones must be present and connected during the Move to iOS transfer. You cannot transfer data if your Android phone is not available. If you no longer have access to it, you can only recover data that was backed up to cloud services like Google Photos or Gmail.