The fastest way depends on what phone you're switching from and to
Moving to a new phone means transferring your contacts, photos, messages, apps, and settings. The method you use depends on whether you're staying within the same operating system — iPhone to iPhone, Android to Android — or switching between them. Built-in transfer tools handle most of the work automatically, but some data types require extra steps or third-party apps.
The easiest transfers happen when both phones are the same brand. Apple's Quick Start and Google's built-in transfer both work wirelessly and take 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have. Switching between iPhone and Android is slower and requires more manual work, though Google and Apple have created tools to make it less painful than it used to be.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone to iPhone transfers use Quick Start, which copies apps, photos, messages, and settings wirelessly by holding the phones near each other.
- Android to Android transfers use Google's built-in transfer tool, which backs up your data to Google Account and restores it on the new phone.
- Switching from iPhone to Android requires Google's Move to Android app, which transfers contacts, photos, and some messages but not iMessage or Apple-specific apps.
- Switching from Android to iPhone requires iCloud setup and manual transfer of some data types, since Apple does not offer a dedicated Android-to-iPhone tool.
- Some data — like banking apps, two-factor authentication codes, and subscription services — may require you to sign in again on the new phone for security reasons.
iPhone to iPhone: Using Quick Start
Quick Start is Apple's built-in transfer method and works wirelessly between any two iPhones running iOS 12.4 or later. Turn on your new iPhone and hold it next to your old one. Your old phone will detect the new one and ask if you want to set it up. Tap "Continue" and scan the animation on the new phone's screen with your old phone's camera.
After authentication, your old iPhone begins backing up data to the new one. This includes your Apple ID, iCloud settings, Face ID or Touch ID, home screen layout, app data, messages, photos, and most settings. The transfer happens over a local wireless connection, so both phones need to stay close and plugged in. Depending on how much data you have, this can take 30 minutes to several hours.
If Quick Start fails or you prefer not to use it, you can 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 select which backup to restore. This method is slower than Quick Start but works if your phones cannot connect wirelessly.
Android to Android: Using Google's Transfer Tool
Android phones use Google Account to back up and restore data. On your old Android phone, go to Settings > Accounts > Google and make sure your Google Account is signed in and syncing. Open Settings > System > Backup and confirm that "Back up to Google One" is turned on. This backs up your contacts, calendar, photos (if you use Google Photos), app data, and some settings to Google's servers.
On your new Android phone, sign in with the same Google Account during setup. The phone will ask if you want to restore from your previous device. Select "Yes" and choose which backup to restore. Google will read your contacts, apps, photos, messages (if backed up), and settings. This process can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have and your internet speed.
Some apps and data may not transfer automatically. Banking apps, two-factor authentication apps, and subscription services often require you to sign in again for security. Messages from SMS or third-party apps like WhatsApp may need to be transferred separately using those apps' own backup features. Check your most-used apps after the transfer completes to see which ones need re-authentication.
iPhone to Android: Using Google's Move to Android App
Apple does not offer an official tool to move data from iPhone to Android, but Google's Move to Android app handles the most important data types. read Move to Android from the App Store on your iPhone. Open the app and follow the prompts to select what you want to transfer: contacts, calendar events, photos, and videos. The app does not transfer messages, email, or app data.
During setup on your new Android phone, you will be asked if you want to restore from another device. Choose "iPhone" and follow the prompts. The app creates a temporary connection between your iPhone and Android phone to transfer the selected data. Keep both phones close and plugged in during this process. Contacts and calendar events will sync to your Google Account, and photos and videos will read to your Google Photos library.
Messages, email, and app-specific data require manual transfer. For text messages, you may need to use a third-party app like SMS Backup+ or wait to receive messages on your new number. Email accounts can be added manually in your Android email app by entering your email address and password. Apps you used on iPhone may have Android versions available in Google Play Store, but you will need to sign in and set them up separately.
Android to iPhone: Manual Setup and iCloud Backup
Apple does not have a dedicated tool to transfer data from Android to iPhone, so the process is more manual. Before you switch, back up your Android phone's data. Use Google Takeout (takeout.google.com) to read your contacts, calendar, photos, and other data as files. You can also use your Android phone's built-in backup tool to save data to Google Drive.
On your new iPhone, sign in with your Apple ID during setup. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and turn on the data types you want to sync: Contacts, Calendar, Photos, Mail, and Notes. Then manually import your Android data. For contacts, read them as a .vcf file from Google Takeout and email them to yourself, then open the file on your iPhone to import them. For photos, read them from Google Photos or Google Drive and save them to your iPhone's Photos app.
Messages and email require separate setup. Add your email account to the Mail app by going to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account and entering your email address and password. Text messages from Android do not transfer to iPhone, so you will lose your SMS history. Apps you used on Android may have iPhone versions in the App Store, but you will need to read and sign into them separately. Two-factor authentication apps must be set up again on your iPhone.
What Transfers and What Doesn't
| Data Type | iPhone to iPhone | Android to Android | iPhone to Android | Android to iPhone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Manual import |
| Photos and videos | Yes | Yes (if backed up) | Yes | Manual read |
| Text messages | Yes | Yes (if backed up) | No | No |
| Apps | Yes | Yes | No (must read Android versions) | No (must read iPhone versions) |
| App data and settings | Yes | Partial | No | No |
| Calendar events | Yes | Yes | Yes | Manual import |
| Email accounts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Manual setup |
| Two-factor authentication apps | No (must set up again) | No (must set up again) | No (must set up again) | No (must set up again) |
Common problems and how to fix them
Transfer stops or fails partway through: Make sure both phones stay close together and plugged in. Restart both phones and try again. If you are using a wireless transfer, move closer to your Wi-Fi router. If the problem persists, use a cloud backup method instead — iCloud for iPhone, Google Account for Android.
Apps don't transfer or won't open: Some apps are not available in all regions or may have been removed from the app store. You will need to read them again from the App Store or Google Play Store. If an app was paid, you usually do not have to pay again if you use the same account. If an app requires a subscription, sign in with your account to restore access.
Messages or photos are missing: Check whether your old phone had backup turned on. For iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and confirm it was on. For Android, go to Settings > Accounts > Google > Backup and confirm it was enabled. If backup was off, those messages or photos may not have been saved. You can try using a data recovery service, but this is expensive and not always successful.
You cannot sign into apps on the new phone: Some apps require you to sign in again for security reasons. Use the "Forgot Password" option to reset your password if you do not remember it. For apps with two-factor authentication, you may need to use a backup code or contact the app's support team to regain access. Set up two-factor authentication apps on your new phone before you delete them from your old one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer data if my old phone is broken or won't turn on?
If your old phone is completely broken, you can only recover data that was backed up to the cloud. Check your iCloud account (for iPhone) or Google Account (for Android) to see what was backed up. If you have a recent backup, you can restore it to your new phone. If no backup exists, data stored only on the phone cannot be recovered.
Do I need to keep my old phone after the transfer?
You should keep your old phone for at least a few days to make sure the transfer worked and all your data arrived. Check that your contacts, photos, and important apps are on the new phone. Once you confirm everything is there, you can erase the old phone. To erase it, go to Settings > General > Reset on iPhone or Settings > System > Reset Options on Android, then choose "Erase All Data."
What if I want to transfer only some data, not everything?
Most built-in transfer tools move everything at once. If you want to transfer selectively, use cloud backup instead. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and turn off the data types you do not want to sync. On Android, go to Settings > Accounts > Google and uncheck the items you do not want to back up. Then restore from backup on your new phone.
Will my phone number transfer to the new phone?
Your phone number is tied to your SIM card and carrier account, not to the phone itself. When you set up your new phone with your carrier, they will transfer your number to the new SIM card. This is separate from data transfer. Contact your carrier to confirm your number will be moved before you set up your new phone.
Can I transfer data over a cellular connection, or do I need Wi-Fi?
Wireless transfers like Quick Start and Google's transfer tool work best over Wi-Fi because they use a lot of data. If you use cellular, you may hit your data limit quickly, especially if you have a large photo library. Cloud backup methods like iCloud and Google Account can use either Wi-Fi or cellular, but Wi-Fi is faster and safer for large transfers.