The fastest way to move your apps depends on what phone you're switching to

If you're moving to a new phone with the same operating system — iPhone to iPhone, or Android to Android — your apps will transfer automatically when you sign in with your existing account. If you're switching between systems (iPhone to Android or vice versa), you'll need to read each app fresh from the new phone's app store, but your login credentials and most of your data will follow you if you've backed up your account information beforehand.

The method you use matters because it determines whether your app settings, saved games, photos within apps, and login information come with you. A full account backup is the most reliable route; a manual transfer takes longer but gives you control over which apps you actually want on your new device.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone to iPhone: sign in with your Apple ID during setup and your apps read automatically from iCloud.
  • Android to Android: sign in with your Google account during setup and your apps restore from Google Play automatically.
  • iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: read each app individually from the new phone's app store, then sign in with your existing usernames and passwords.
  • Back up your old phone before you start, so your app data (saved games, preferences, login info) transfers even if the app itself needs to be downloaded fresh.
  • Some apps don't transfer between systems because they're exclusive to one platform, so check your must-have apps before you switch.

Moving from iPhone to iPhone

When you set up a new iPhone, Apple walks you through signing in with your Apple ID. During this process, you'll see a screen asking whether you want to restore from an iCloud backup or set up as new. Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" and select the backup from your old iPhone. This restores your apps, app data, photos, messages, and settings all at once.

If you've already set up your new iPhone without restoring a backup, you can still get your apps back. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups, and check that your old iPhone's backup is there. Then open the App Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, scroll down to "Purchased," and you'll see every app you've ever downloaded to any iPhone linked to your Apple ID. Tap the cloud icon next to any app to read it again.

The restore-from-backup method is faster and more complete because it brings back your app data — your game progress, saved passwords, notification settings — not just the apps themselves. The manual read method is useful if you want to skip apps you no longer use.

Moving from Android to Android

During Android setup on your new phone, you'll be asked to sign in with your Google account. Use the same Google account you used on your old Android phone. Once you sign in, Google Play will automatically restore all the apps that were on your old phone. This usually takes a few minutes to an hour depending on how many apps you had and your internet speed.

If you've already finished setup without signing in with your Google account, open the Play Store app, tap your profile icon in the top right, go to "Manage apps & device," then tap the "Manage" tab. Scroll to find apps you want to restore and tap the read icon next to each one. You can also go to Settings > Accounts > Google, add your Google account if it's not there, then go to Settings > System > Backup and make sure "Back up to Google One" is turned on.

Google backs up your app data separately from the apps themselves. When you sign in with your Google account, both the apps and their data (login info, game saves, preferences) restore together. This is why signing in during initial setup is the smoothest path.

Switching from iPhone to Android

There's no automatic transfer when you move between operating systems. You'll need to read each app individually from Google Play on your new Android phone. Start by making a list of the apps you actually use — open your iPhone's App Library or home screen and note the names. Then on your Android phone, open Google Play, search for each app by name, and tap "Install."

Before you switch phones, sign out of your accounts on your iPhone apps, or at least write down your usernames. When you open each app on your Android phone, you'll sign back in with the same credentials. Many apps store your data in the cloud (your email, photos, messages, game progress), so signing back in brings all of that with you automatically.

Some apps exist only on iPhone or only on Android. Check whether your must-have apps are available on Google Play before you commit to the switch. You can do this by searching for them on Google Play's website from your computer, or by asking in the app's support community whether an Android version exists.

Switching from Android to iPhone

Like switching to Android, moving to iPhone requires downloading apps individually from the App Store. Make a list of the apps you use on your Android phone, then on your new iPhone, open the App Store, search for each app, and tap "Get" to read it. You'll need to use Face ID or Touch ID to confirm each read (or enter your Apple ID password).

Sign into each app with your existing username and password. Your data will sync from the cloud if the app stores it there — which most apps do for email, photos, messages, and game progress. Some Android apps have iPhone versions with slightly different names, so if you can't find an app by searching its exact name, try searching for what it does instead (for example, search "note-taking app" if you can't find the exact app name).

Before you leave Android, back up any photos or documents that live only in Android-specific apps. Google Photos, Google Drive, and Gmail all work on iPhone, so if your data is in those services, it will be there when you sign in on iPhone.

Backing up your phone before you switch

A backup is a copy of everything on your phone stored somewhere safe — either in the cloud or on a computer. Creating a backup before you switch phones means your app data, photos, messages, and settings can move to your new phone even if something goes wrong during the transfer.

On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap "Back Up Now." This sends a copy of your phone to Apple's servers. On Android, go to Settings > System > Backup and turn on "Back up to Google One" (or "Back up to Google" depending on your phone model), then tap "Back up now." Both backups happen automatically after that, usually once a day when your phone is plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi.

If you're switching between iPhone and Android, also back up any photos or documents to a service both phones can access — Google Photos, OneDrive, or Dropbox. This ensures you don't lose anything that's specific to one operating system.

What to do if an app won't transfer

Some apps straightforward don't exist on both iPhone and Android. If an app you need is only available on your old phone's system, you have a few options: look for a web version you can access from any phone's browser, find a similar app on your new phone's app store, or contact the app's developer to ask if they plan to release a version for your new system.

If an app is available on both systems but won't read on your new phone, the most common reasons are: your new phone's operating system is too old (update it in Settings), the app requires a paid purchase you haven't made on this account, or your new phone doesn't have enough storage space. Check your phone's available storage in Settings, and delete files or apps you don't need to free up space.

If you paid for an app on iPhone, you'll need to pay for it again on Android, and vice versa — app purchases don't transfer between systems. Free versions of paid apps usually exist, so search for the app name plus "free" if cost is a concern.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my passwords and login information transfer to my new phone?

If you're staying on the same operating system (iPhone to iPhone or Android to Android) and you restore from a backup, your saved passwords will transfer. If you're switching systems, you'll need to sign back into each app manually, but your account data in the cloud will be there — you just need to remember your username and password. Consider writing down your most important passwords before you switch.

How long does it take for all my apps to transfer?

If you restore from a backup on the same operating system, the process usually takes 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how many apps you have and your internet speed. If you're downloading apps individually on a new system, it depends on how many apps you use — downloading 20 apps might take 10 to 15 minutes, while 100 apps could take an hour or more.

Can I transfer apps from my old phone to my new phone without using the cloud?

Not directly. Both iPhone and Android require you to read apps from their official app stores (App Store or Google Play). You can't move app files from one phone to another the way you might move files on a computer. The cloud backup method is the fastest way to restore everything at once.

What happens to my app data if I don't back up before switching?

If an app stores its data in the cloud (which most do), your data will still be there when you sign back in on your new phone. If an app only stores data locally on your phone, that data will be lost. To be safe, back up your phone before you switch, and check any apps you use frequently to see where they store your information.

Do I need to delete apps from my old phone before I switch?

No. Deleting apps from your old phone won't affect whether they transfer to your new phone. You can keep your old phone as is, or wipe it later if you're selling it or giving it away. If you're keeping your old phone, you can leave the apps on it or delete them to free up space.