Switching from Android to iPhone used to feel risky. You worried about lost photos, missing chats, broken apps, and that vague fear that something important would disappear forever. In 2025, the process is far more stable, but it still rewards preparation.
In terms of the setup process, Apple’s system does most of the work for you. You have the Move to iOS app and iCloud backup, and along with fast cable transfers, your data can move over in less than an hour.
Apple’s Official Move to iOS Tool
Apple’s Move to iOS app is the easiest and safest way to move your data over. It’s free, official, and already built into iPhone setup, no cables or complex settings needed.
| Step | How To | Where | What Happens Next |
| 1. Install the App | Download Move to iOS from the Google Play Store. | On your Android phone. | This is Apple’s official migration tool, no cables or extra accounts needed. |
| 2. Begin Setup on iPhone | Power on your iPhone and start the setup process. | On your new iPhone. | When you reach the “Apps & Data” screen, tap “Move Data from Android.” |
| 3. Connect the Phones | Open Move to iOS on Android and enter the 6-digit code shown on your iPhone. | On both devices. | The phones will create a secure Wi-Fi connection automatically. |
| 4. Select Data to Transfer | Choose from contacts, messages, photos, videos, calendars, and mail accounts. | On your Android device. | Check only what you need: large video files may increase transfer time. |
| 5. Let the Transfer Run | Keep both phones unlocked, close together, and plugged in. | On both devices. | The process may take 10 minutes to an hour, depending on data size. Avoid multitasking or switching apps. |
| 6. Finish Setup & Install Apps | Once the transfer completes, tap Continue Setup on your iPhone. | On your iPhone. | You’ll see prompts to download iOS versions of the free apps you had on Android. Paid apps will need to be re-downloaded separately. |
What Moves, What Does Not
To make planning easier, here is a quick view of what transfers out of the box and what requires extra steps.
| Data Type | Moves Automatically With Move to iOS |
| Contacts | Yes |
| Calendars | Yes |
| SMS and MMS messages | Yes |
| Photos and videos (camera roll) | Yes |
| Mail accounts | Yes |
| Web bookmarks | Yes |
| Free Android apps with iOS versions | Prompted to install |
| Paid apps | No |
| WhatsApp chats | Not via basic transfer |
| Signal, Telegram chats | Not via basic transfer |
| Music files stored locally | No |
| Passwords and authenticator codes | No by default |
| Wallpapers, ringtones, notification settings | No |
Prep before the transfer
Keep both phones fully charged and plugged in
Transfers can take 30 minutes or more. A dying battery is one of the most common reasons a transfer stops mid-way.
Make sure Android screen timeout is extended
On Android devices, setting screen timeout to the maximum or “never” helps keep the Move to iOS app active and prevents the phone from going to sleep during transfer. This simple step can save you from interrupted transfers.
Remove the SIM card from Android before transfer
Incoming calls and texts can disrupt the connection between the phones during transfer. Taking out the SIM helps keep the process calm and stable.
How to handle “what does not transfer” categories
Passwords and passkeys
- If you use a password manager, install it on iPhone and sign in.
- If you stored passwords in Chrome on Android, install Chrome on iPhone and sign in, then consider moving to iCloud Keychain later if you want everything native.
- Passkeys can be the tricky part if they were saved in Google Password Manager. In many cases you will keep using Google’s manager inside Chrome on iPhone, or you will recreate passkeys over time as you log back in.
Authenticator apps and 2FA codes
This is where most people get locked out.
- If you use Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, or Authy, follow that app’s transfer or cloud sync method before wiping the Android.
- Plan for a few accounts that will still require re-setup (banking apps are famous for this).
Paid apps and game progress
- Paid apps usually need to be purchased again if there is no cross-platform entitlement.
- Game progress depends on whether the game uses its own login and cloud save. If it is tied to Google Play Games only, you may lose it unless the developer supports a cross-platform account.
Local music and downloads
Your guide is right here: local MP3 libraries usually need a computer bridge (Finder on macOS, iTunes on Windows) or a cloud upload approach.
Apple also provides a manual transfer guide for contacts, photos, music, and documents if you cannot use Move to iOS.Apple Support
Messaging: WhatsApp, Signal
- WhatsApp transfer from Android to iPhone works reliably now, but timing matters.
- You must do it during iPhone setup. If you finish setup without transferring WhatsApp, you usually need to reset the iPhone to try again. This catches a lot of people off guard.
- Make sure WhatsApp is updated on Android and that your phone number is active during transfer.
Signal
Signal uses its own device-to-device transfer process. It is usually simple and reliable. Follow the in-app instructions and verify chats before wiping the Android.
SMS, iMessage, and RCS in 2025
- One of the biggest improvements for switchers is RCS support on iPhone (on supported carriers and iOS versions).
- This means better media quality and more modern features when texting Android users. It does not change how old messages transfer, but it makes daily messaging feel far less broken than it used to.
- Carrier support still matters. If RCS is unavailable, Messages may fall back to SMS or MMS.
Photos and files: choosing the least painful approach
If you already use Google Photos
This is often the easiest path.
- Install Google Photos on iPhone
- Sign in
- Let your library load
You can keep using Google Photos, or slowly transition to iCloud Photos if you prefer Apple’s ecosystem. There is no rush.
If you have scattered files and SD cards
Move to iOS usually handles the camera roll well, but not always every folder.
For complex libraries:
- Copy files to a computer, then import to the iPhone
- Or upload folders to Google Drive and download them later
This takes longer, but it avoids missing data.
eSIM and carrier setup
More people use eSIM in 2025, and this can surprise switchers.
If your Android uses:
- A physical SIM, you can usually move it directly
- An eSIM, you may need your carrier to reissue it for iPhone
Do this early if you rely on SMS-based two-factor authentication for banking or work accounts.
Speed, Storage, and Cloud Limits
- Speed: Media-heavy phones can take an hour or more. Keep both devices on and connect to the same network, and avoid using the phones during the transfer.
- Storage: iPhone will stop a transfer if it runs out of space. Check your Android storage settings before you start. Delete anything you do not need.
- Cloud limits: Install the iOS versions of Google apps, sign in, and your data reappears.
If a transfer fails, restart both phones, turn off VPNs, close background apps, and try again. Cable transfers are a good fallback if Wi-Fi is crowded.
Troubleshooting that Actually Works
“Cannot connect”
- Toggle Airplane Mode on both phones
- Turn Wi-Fi back on
- Restart both devices
- Disable VPNs on Android
- Move closer together
“Stuck at 1%”
- Wait a few minutes (it can be real)
- If it does not move, restart both devices
- Try again with fewer categories (transfer photos later via Google Photos)
- Switch to a cable connection if possible Apple
“Not enough iPhone storage”
- Deselect videos and move them later
- Use Google Photos for media-heavy libraries
- Upgrade iCloud storage only if you plan to use iCloud Photos long-term
“WhatsApp transfer option not showing”
- Confirm iPhone is new or reset, because WhatsApp’s Move to iOS flow requires that pairing stage WhatsApp Help Center
- Update WhatsApp on Android
- Start again from the iPhone setup stage
A simple step-by-step checklist
- Back up Android (Google backup, Google Photos, WhatsApp status checked)
- Update Android and update Move to iOS
- Charge both phones (aim for 80%+) and keep them on power
- Confirm iPhone has enough free storage
- Start iPhone setup and choose “Move from Android” Apple Support
- Connect and transfer (use a cable if Wi-Fi is slow) Apple
- Finish iPhone setup and let matched free apps download
- Install Google Photos and verify photos and videos
- Do WhatsApp transfer during setup, or reset and retry if you missed the window WhatsApp Help Center
- Set up password manager and authenticator apps before wiping Android
- Review app permissions, notifications, and Focus settings
Privacy and Clean Up: The Safe Way to Retire your Android
Do this in order:
- Open Photos, Messages, Contacts, and WhatsApp on iPhone and spot check
- Confirm you can log into your key accounts (email, banking, social, work tools)
- Turn off backups and sign out of Google on the Android
- Factory reset the Android
- Update trusted devices in your 2FA settings for Google and banking apps
After Transfer: What to Do
Verify contacts transferred fully
Check that every important contact appears on the iPhone and that no entries are missing or duplicated.
Open and check message threads
Some messages may appear grouped differently on the iPhone, even when transferred. Check that critical conversations made it over.
Check accessibility and display settings
Sometimes preferences you rely on (text size, dark mode, display zoom) may need manual adjustment even if Move to iOS moved them.
Final thoughts
Apple’s tools have improved. Cloud services are more mature. On the other hand, phones are now storing more sensitive information than they did in the past, ranging from passkeys to banking apps to two-factor authenticator codes. As such, it just takes one careless transfer to lock you out of your accounts or spend several hours troubleshooting.
Consider this movement a process and not just a single touch.
Verify before erasing. Take your time with passwords and authentication. If you do that, the switch feels routine instead of stressful, and you start using your new phone without that lingering worry that something important went missing.
