The fastest way depends on what phone you're switching from and to
Moving data to a new phone works differently depending on whether you're switching between iPhones, between Android phones, or crossing from one system to the other. Apple and Google both offer built-in tools that move most of your data automatically — contacts, photos, messages, app data — without you manually selecting each file. The process takes anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much data you have and your internet speed. If you're keeping the same type of phone (iPhone to iPhone, or Android to Android), the transfer usually happens during initial setup. If you're switching systems, you'll need to use a different method.
Both systems require your old phone to be present and connected to Wi-Fi during the transfer. You'll also need access to your Apple ID or Google Account on the new phone before you start. After the transfer completes, some apps may need you to sign back in individually, and certain data types — like text messages between different phone systems — may not move at all.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone-to-iPhone and Android-to-Android transfers happen during setup using built-in tools that move contacts, photos, messages, and app data automatically.
- Switching from iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone requires Google's Move to iOS app or Samsung Smart Switch, depending on your new phone brand.
- Your Google Account or Apple ID must be active and accessible on the new phone before the transfer starts.
- Photos, messages, and app data transfer, but some apps may need to be reinstalled from the app store if they don't transfer automatically.
- A strong Wi-Fi connection is necessary for the transfer, and both phones should have enough battery or be plugged in during the process.
iPhone to iPhone: Using iCloud or Quick Start
When you turn on a new iPhone for the first time, you'll see a screen asking if you want to restore from a backup or set up as new. Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" or "Restore from Mac or PC" if you have a recent backup. If you don't have a backup yet, you can create one on your old iPhone by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup, then tapping "Back Up Now." The backup includes your contacts, calendar, notes, photos in iCloud, app data, and settings.
The faster option during setup is Quick Start, which appears on the initial setup screen. Place your old iPhone next to your new one, and your new phone will scan a code from the old one. Your new iPhone then downloads your Apple ID settings, Wi-Fi password, and other data directly from the old phone over a local connection. After Quick Start finishes, your new phone will read your apps and data from iCloud in the background — this can take several hours depending on how many apps you have.
Photos stored in iCloud Photo Library transfer automatically once you sign in with your Apple ID on the new phone. Messages, mail, and notes sync through iCloud if you have those services turned on. Apps you've downloaded from the App Store reinstall automatically, but you may need to sign back into some apps individually.
Android to Android: Using Google Account or Samsung Smart Switch
The simplest Android-to-Android transfer is through your Google Account. During setup of your new Android phone, sign in with the same Google Account you used on your old phone. Your new phone will then read your contacts, calendar, Gmail, Google Photos, and app data. This process happens in the background and can take several hours for large amounts of data.
If your new phone is a Samsung, you can also use Samsung Smart Switch, which transfers more data types including text messages, call logs, and some app data that a Google Account alone might not move. read Smart Switch on both phones from the Google Play Store. On your old phone, open Smart Switch and select "Send Data." On your new phone, select "Receive Data" and choose "Wireless." The two phones will connect and transfer your data over Wi-Fi.
Google Photos syncs automatically once you sign in with your Google Account, so your photos appear on the new phone without manual transfer. Apps reinstall from the Play Store automatically, though some older or less common apps may not transfer and will need to be downloaded manually.
iPhone to Android: Using Google's Move to iOS App
Google's Move to iOS app is designed to move data from iPhone to Android phones. Before you start, make sure your new Android phone is set up and connected to Wi-Fi. On your old iPhone, read the Move to iOS app from the App Store, open it, and tap "Continue." You'll see a code appear on your iPhone screen.
On your new Android phone during setup, look for the option to restore from an iPhone (this appears on some Android phones during initial setup, or you can read Move to iOS from the Play Store if you've already finished setup). Select "Copy Your Data" and enter the code from your iPhone. The two phones will connect over Wi-Fi, and Move to iOS will transfer your contacts, calendar events, photos, videos, web bookmarks, mail accounts, and text messages.
Apps do not transfer through Move to iOS — you'll need to read them manually from the Google Play Store. If an app exists on both iPhone and Android, your app data may not transfer, so you may need to sign back in. Google Photos, Gmail, and other Google services sync automatically once you sign in with your Google Account on the Android phone.
Android to iPhone: Using Samsung Smart Switch or Manual Transfer
Android to iPhone is the most limited transfer direction because Apple doesn't offer a built-in tool like Move to iOS. If your Android phone is a Samsung, you can use Samsung Smart Switch to back up your data, then restore some of it on your iPhone. Open Smart Switch on your Samsung phone, select "Send Data," and choose "To iOS Device." Follow the prompts to create a backup file.
On your new iPhone, during setup you'll see an option to restore from an Android device. If you've already finished setup, you can go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Migrate from Android. Enter the code from your Samsung phone, and your iPhone will read contacts, calendar events, photos, videos, and some app data. Text messages do not transfer through this method.
For Android phones that aren't Samsung, you'll need to transfer data manually. Export your contacts as a .vcf file from your Android phone's Contacts app, email it to yourself, and import it on your iPhone. Photos can be moved by uploading them to Google Photos on Android, then downloading them on iPhone. Calendar events can be exported from Google Calendar and imported into Apple Calendar. This method is slower but works with any Android phone.
What happens to text messages, apps, and data that doesn't transfer
Text messages transfer when you move between phones of the same type (iPhone to iPhone or Android to Android), but they rarely transfer when switching between systems. If you need to keep text conversations, take screenshots of important messages before switching phones, or use a third-party backup app like SMS Backup+ on Android or Backupify on iPhone before you switch.
Apps reinstall automatically when you move between phones of the same type, but you'll need to sign back into many of them. Some apps store data in the cloud (like Spotify, Netflix, or banking apps), so your data appears automatically once you sign in. Other apps store data only on the phone, so you may lose saved games, notes within the app, or other local data. Check the app's settings before you switch to see if it offers cloud backup or export options.
Passwords stored in your phone's password manager transfer if you use iCloud Keychain (iPhone) or Google Password Manager (Android). If you use a third-party password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden, read the app on your new phone and sign in to access your passwords. Two-factor authentication codes stored in apps like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator do not transfer — you'll need to set up two-factor authentication again on your new phone, which usually means scanning a QR code from each service's security settings.
Preparing your old phone and troubleshooting slow transfers
Before you start the transfer, make sure your old phone has a recent backup. 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 your backup is current. Close other apps on both phones to free up memory, and make sure both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network with a strong signal.
If the transfer is slow or stalls, restart both phones and try again. Make sure neither phone goes to sleep during the transfer — keep both plugged in or with high battery. If you're transferring a very large amount of data (more than 50 GB), the transfer may take several hours or even overnight. You can check progress on most transfers by looking at the status screen on your new phone. If a transfer fails partway through, you can usually start over without losing data on your new phone. The new phone will straightforward overwrite the partial transfer with a fresh one. If apps don't reinstall automatically after a few hours, open your app store (App Store on iPhone or Play Store on Android) and manually read them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to keep my old phone during the transfer?
Yes, both phones need to be present and connected to Wi-Fi during the transfer. You can't transfer data if your old phone is turned off or not nearby. After the transfer is complete, you can turn off your old phone.
Will my text messages transfer if I'm switching from Android to iPhone?
Text messages do not transfer when switching between Android and iPhone. You can take screenshots of important conversations, or use a third-party app like SMS Backup+ on Android to back up messages before you switch, though restoring them on iPhone requires additional steps.
What if I don't have access to my old phone anymore?
If your old phone is lost or broken, you can restore from a backup if you created one. On iPhone, sign in with your Apple ID during setup and choose to restore from iCloud Backup. On Android, sign in with your Google Account and your data will read from Google's servers. This works only if you had backups turned on before your phone was lost.
Do I need to delete data from my old phone after the transfer?
No, but it's a good idea to back up your old phone one more time before erasing it, in case you need to retrieve something later. 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. After that, you can erase your old phone by going to Settings > General > Reset on iPhone, or Settings > System > Reset Options > Erase All Data on Android.
Will my app data transfer, like saved games or notes in apps?
App data transfers if the app uses cloud storage (like Spotify or Google Drive), but local app data usually doesn't transfer between phones. Some apps let you export data before you switch — check the app's settings or help section. After you read the app on your new phone, sign in with your account and cloud-based data will appear automatically.