How to Transfer Your Data to a New Phone

The fastest way depends on what phone you're switching from and to

Moving your data to a new phone takes between 15 minutes and two hours depending on how much you have and which phones you're using. If you're switching between two iPhones, Apple's built-in tools handle most of it automatically. If you're moving from Android to iPhone or vice versa, you'll use a different method and may need to reinstall some apps. The process works best when both phones are charged, connected to the same Wi-Fi network, and you have your passwords ready.

The three main routes are: wireless transfer using your phone's built-in setup, a cable connection, or cloud backup and restore. Each has trade-offs in speed and what data transfers. Wireless is fastest for most people but requires both phones present. Cable is more reliable for large amounts of data. Cloud backup works if one phone is broken or you're transferring months later, but takes longer.

Key Takeaways

iPhone to iPhone: Use Quick Start during setup, which transfers most data wirelessly in under an hour.
Android to Android: Use Google's built-in backup, which restores apps, settings, and photos automatically when you sign in.
iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: Use the manufacturer's migration app (Samsung Smart Switch or Apple's Move to iOS), which handles contacts, photos, and messages but may require reinstalling some apps.
If your old phone is broken or unavailable, restore from a cloud backup (iCloud for iPhone, Google Drive for Android) instead of wireless transfer.
Text messages, banking apps, and two-factor authentication codes often require manual setup or don't transfer at all — plan for 15 to 30 minutes of manual work after the main transfer.

iPhone to iPhone: Using Quick Start

Quick Start is Apple's wireless transfer tool and works only between two iPhones. Turn on your new iPhone and hold it near your old one. Your old phone will show a setup screen asking if you want to transfer data — tap "Continue." Your new phone will display an animation; hold your old phone above it and center the animation in the camera frame. This pairs the phones wirelessly.

After pairing, your new phone asks which data to transfer. Choose "Transfer from iPhone" and enter your Apple ID password. The transfer then runs in the background — you can use your new phone while it completes. Most data (contacts, photos, calendar, notes, app data) transfers automatically. Apps themselves read from the App Store, so you need an internet connection. The whole process usually takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on how much data you have.

If Quick Start fails or your old phone is unavailable, restore from an iCloud backup instead. On your new iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset, then choose "Restore from iCloud Backup." Sign in with your Apple ID and choose which backup to restore. This takes longer (one to three hours for large backups) but works even if your old phone is broken or in another country.

Android to Android: Using Google's Built-in Backup

Android phones back up to Google Drive automatically if you're signed into a Google account. When you set up your new Android phone, sign in with the same Google account you used on your old phone. During setup, Android asks which backup to restore — select your old phone's backup. Your new phone then downloads contacts, calendar, photos, app data, and settings automatically.

Apps read from the Google Play Store in the background, so this process requires Wi-Fi and takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on how many apps you have. You can use your new phone while apps are still downloading. Some apps (particularly banking and security apps) may ask you to sign in again or re-enter passwords — this is normal and a security feature.

If you don't remember which Google account you used, check your old phone's Settings > Accounts or Settings > Google. If your old phone is broken, you can still restore from Google Drive on your new phone as long as you remember your Google account password. Go to Settings > Accounts > Google, sign in, and choose which data to restore.

Switching between iPhone and Android: Using Migration Apps

Moving from Android to iPhone requires Apple's "Move to iOS" app. On your old Android phone, read Move to iOS from the Google Play Store. On your new iPhone, during setup, tap "Migrate Data from Android" instead of "Set Up Manually." Your iPhone displays a code. Open Move to iOS on your Android phone, enter the code, and choose what to transfer: contacts, message history, photos, videos, mail accounts, and calendar.

The transfer happens wirelessly and usually takes 15 to 45 minutes. Apps don't transfer — you'll need to read them from the App Store on your new iPhone. Some apps (like banking apps) may not be available on iOS, so check the App Store before you switch if you rely on specific Android-only apps.

Moving from iPhone to Android uses Samsung Smart Switch (for Samsung phones) or a similar app from your phone's manufacturer. read the app on your new Android phone, then on your iPhone go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset and choose "Prepare for Transfer." Your iPhone displays a code. Enter it in Smart Switch on your Android phone and choose what to transfer. The process is similar to Move to iOS and takes 15 to 45 minutes.

Using a Cable Connection for Faster, More Reliable Transfer

A wired connection transfers data faster than wireless and works better if you have a weak Wi-Fi signal or a very large amount of data. For iPhone to iPhone, use a USB-C to USB-C cable (or Lightning to USB-C on older iPhones). Connect both phones, and your new iPhone will prompt you to transfer data. Choose "Transfer from iPhone" and follow the same steps as Quick Start — the only difference is the cable connection, which is faster.

For Android to Android, most phones don't support direct cable transfer. Instead, connect your old phone to a computer, copy files to a folder, then connect your new phone and copy them back. This works for photos and documents but not for app data or settings. Google's cloud backup (described above) is faster and more complete.

Cable transfer is most useful when you have hundreds of photos or videos and a slow internet connection. It typically cuts transfer time in half compared to wireless, but requires you to stay in one place while both phones are connected.

What Doesn't Transfer and What You'll Need to Set Up Manually

Text messages transfer on iPhone-to-iPhone and Android-to-Android transfers, but not when switching between the two platforms. If you need your old text messages on a new iPhone from Android, you'll need to use a third-party app or service — this is a limitation of how the two systems work. Most people don't transfer old messages and straightforward start fresh.

Two-factor authentication codes don't transfer automatically. If you use an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator), you'll need to set it up again on your new phone. Before you switch, write down which accounts use two-factor authentication so you remember to re-enable it. Some apps let you save backup codes — save these before you switch.

Banking apps, payment apps, and security apps usually require you to sign in again on your new phone, even if they transferred. This is intentional — these apps verify your identity before letting you access accounts. Plan for 15 to 30 minutes after the main transfer to sign back into these apps and re-enter any saved payment methods or security settings.

Troubleshooting Common Transfer Problems

If the transfer stops or fails partway through, the most common cause is a weak Wi-Fi connection. Move both phones closer to your router and try again. If Wi-Fi keeps dropping, use a cable connection instead or wait until you have a stronger signal.

If apps aren't downloading on your new phone after transfer, check that you're signed into the correct app store account (Apple ID for iPhone, Google account for Android). Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iTunes & App Stores (iPhone) or Settings > Accounts > Google (Android) and verify you're signed in. If you're signed in but apps still won't read, restart your new phone and try again.

If you see a message that your backup is too large for your new phone's storage, you can choose to transfer only certain types of data (photos, contacts, calendar) and skip others. You can also delete old photos or videos from your old phone before transferring to reduce the backup size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer data if my old phone is broken?

Yes, if you have a backup. For iPhone, restore from iCloud by signing into your Apple ID on the new phone. For Android, restore from Google Drive using the same Google account. If you don't have a backup and the phone won't turn on, you'll lose data that wasn't backed up — this is why regular backups matter.

How long does the transfer take?

Wireless transfer usually takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on how much data you have and your Wi-Fi speed. Cable transfer is faster (15 to 60 minutes). Cloud restore from a backup can take one to three hours for large backups. Plan for extra time if you have hundreds of apps or thousands of photos.

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

For Quick Start and wireless Android transfer, yes — both phones need to be present and connected to Wi-Fi. For cable transfer, yes. For cloud restore, no — you can restore from a backup anytime, even months later. If your old phone is broken, cloud restore is your only option.

Will my passwords transfer?

Passwords stored in your phone's password manager (iCloud Keychain for iPhone, Google Password Manager for Android) transfer automatically. Passwords saved within individual apps usually don't transfer — you'll need to sign in again. Banking apps and security apps always require you to sign in again for safety.

What if I want to transfer only some data, not everything?

During setup, most phones let you choose which types of data to transfer (photos, contacts, apps, settings). You can uncheck categories you don't want. For more control, use cloud backup and restore instead of wireless transfer — this gives you more options for what to include.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.