How to Transfer Your Data From an Old Phone to a New Phone

The fastest way depends on what kind of phones you have

If you're moving from an iPhone to an iPhone, or from an Android to an Android, your phone's built-in transfer tool will move most of your data automatically — contacts, photos, messages, apps, and settings. If you're switching between systems (iPhone to Android or vice versa), you'll need to use a different method, and some data won't transfer at all. The process takes anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much data you have and which method you use.

Start by charging both phones fully before you begin. You'll also want to make sure you know your passwords — especially for your email account, since that's often the master key to recovering your other accounts on the new phone.

Key Takeaways

iPhone to iPhone: use iCloud or the Quick Start feature to transfer everything in one process.
Android to Android: use Google Account sync or Samsung Smart Switch (if you have a Samsung phone) to move contacts, photos, and apps automatically.
iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: you'll need to transfer contacts and photos separately using Google Drive, iCloud, or email, since the systems don't have a direct bridge.
Some data like banking apps, two-factor authentication codes, and certain game progress may not transfer and will need to be set up manually on your new phone.
Keep your old phone powered on and nearby during the transfer process in case you need to verify information or retrieve something you missed.

Moving from iPhone to iPhone using Quick Start

Quick Start is Apple's built-in transfer tool and it's the easiest route if both phones are iPhones. Turn on your new iPhone and place it next to your old one. Your old iPhone will detect the new one and ask if you want to set it up. Tap "Continue" and hold your old iPhone above the new one — the camera will scan a pattern on the new phone's screen to confirm the connection.

After that, you'll enter your Apple ID password on the new phone. The transfer will then copy your Apple ID settings, iCloud data (including photos, contacts, and calendar), app list, and system settings. This process can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on your data size and internet connection. Keep both phones plugged in and close together until it finishes.

If Quick Start doesn't work (older iPhones or connection issues), you can restore from an iCloud backup instead. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud on your old phone and tap "iCloud Backup" to create a manual backup. Then on your new iPhone, during setup, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" and sign in with your Apple ID.

Moving from Android to Android using Google Account sync

The easiest Android-to-Android transfer uses your Google Account. On your old Android phone, go to Settings > Accounts > Google and make sure you're signed in with the Google Account you want to use. Then go back to Settings and look for "Backup" or "System" > "Backup" (the exact path varies by manufacturer). Tap "Back up now" to create a backup of your contacts, calendar, photos in Google Photos, and app data.

On your new Android phone, during the initial setup, you'll be asked to sign in with a Google Account. Use the same account you backed up from. The phone will automatically restore your contacts, calendar, Gmail, and the list of apps you had installed. It will then read those apps from Google Play. This usually takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how many apps you have.

If your old phone is a Samsung, you can also use Samsung Smart Switch, which transfers more data including text messages and call logs. read Smart Switch on both phones, open it, select "Send data" on the old phone and "Receive data" on the new one, then follow the prompts. Both phones need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

Switching from iPhone to Android

There's no single tool that moves everything from iPhone to Android, so you'll transfer data in pieces. Start with contacts: on your iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, tap "Contacts," and make sure it's turned on. Then go to iCloud.com on a computer, sign in, open Contacts, select all contacts (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A), and export them as a vCard file. Email this file to yourself, then on your new Android phone, open the email, read the vCard, and import it into your Contacts app.

For photos and videos, use Google Photos. Install Google Photos on your iPhone, sign in with a Google Account, and let it back up your photo library. Then on your Android phone, sign in with the same Google Account and your photos will appear in Google Photos. You can also read them to your phone's storage if you want them in your gallery app.

For text messages, the transfer is harder — Android and iPhone don't have a direct bridge. You can use a third-party app like Samsung Smart Switch (which works on some Android phones even if you're not buying a Samsung) or manually forward important conversations. For everything else (email, calendar, notes), just sign into those accounts on your new Android phone and the data will sync automatically.

Switching from Android to iPhone

Apple provides a tool called Move to iOS that handles the transfer from Android to iPhone. Before you start, on your Android phone, read the Move to iOS app from Google Play. On your new iPhone, during setup, tap "Migrate Data from Android" instead of "Set Up Manually." A code will appear on your iPhone screen.

Open Move to iOS on your Android phone, tap "Continue," agree to the terms, 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 the list of free apps you had (paid apps won't transfer, but you can read them again from the App Store). This takes 30 minutes to an hour depending on data size.

Keep both phones plugged in and on the same Wi-Fi network until the transfer completes. Text messages won't transfer — you'll need to use a third-party app or manually save important conversations before you switch. After the transfer finishes, you can set up your email, banking apps, and any other accounts by signing in on your new iPhone.

What doesn't transfer and what you need to set up manually

Some apps and data won't move automatically no matter which method you use. Banking apps, investment apps, and payment apps like Venmo or PayPal usually require you to read them fresh and sign in again — this is intentional for security. Two-factor authentication codes (the ones that appear in an authenticator app) won't transfer; you'll need to set up those accounts again on your new phone, which usually means going to the account's security settings and re-scanning the QR code.

Game progress sometimes transfers if the game is linked to a Google Account or Apple ID, but not always — check the game's settings before you switch. Voicemail, call history, and text messages may not transfer completely depending on your phone and carrier. Some carrier-specific apps (like your phone company's bill-pay app) may need to be downloaded and set up again.

Before you switch, write down any passwords you don't have saved in your phone's password manager, take screenshots of important two-factor setup codes, and note which apps are critical so you remember to read them on your new phone. After the transfer is done, spend 15 minutes checking that your email, calendar, and photos are all there, and that you can sign into your most-used apps.

Using a computer if your phones won't connect

If your phones can't connect wirelessly (old phone won't turn on, no Wi-Fi available, or the transfer tool isn't working), you can transfer data through a computer. On a Mac, plug in your old iPhone and open Finder, then click the phone name in the sidebar. Click "General" and select "Back up now." Then plug in your new iPhone, and during setup, choose "Restore from this backup."

On Windows with an iPhone, use iTunes (or the Music app on Windows 11). Plug in your old iPhone, right-click the device, and select "Back up." Then plug in your new iPhone and restore from that backup during setup. For Android phones, you can export contacts as a CSV file, email it to yourself, and import it on your new phone. Photos can be transferred by connecting your old Android phone to a computer, copying the DCIM folder (where photos are stored), and then copying those files to your new phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer data if my old phone won't turn on?

If your old phone won't power on, you can't use wireless transfer tools. If you have a computer backup (iCloud, Google Drive, or iTunes), you can restore from that on your new phone. Otherwise, you'll need to manually re-enter contacts and read photos from cloud storage if you have them backed up there.

Will my text messages transfer?

Text messages transfer automatically when you move between the same type of phone (iPhone to iPhone or Android to Android). When switching between systems, text messages don't transfer — you'll need to use a third-party app, take screenshots of important conversations, or accept that you'll lose them.

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

It's a good idea to keep your old phone powered on for a few days after the transfer in case you realize something didn't come over and need to retrieve it. After that, you can back it up one more time, then erase it and recycle it or sell it.

What if some of my apps don't show up on the new phone?

Paid apps won't automatically transfer — you'll need to read them again from the App Store or Google Play, but you won't be charged twice. Some older apps may no longer be available in the app store. Check your app store's "Purchased" or "My Apps" section to see what you had before, and read what you still need.

How do I transfer my banking apps and passwords?

Banking apps and password managers don't transfer automatically for security reasons. read them fresh on your new phone and sign in with your username and password. If you use a password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden, sign in to that app and it will sync your passwords. For two-factor authentication, you'll need to set up those codes again in your authenticator app.

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.