How to Transfer Data Between iPhone and Android

Tap your situation to see how to transfer your data.

Android β†’ iPhone

Install Apple's "Move to iOS" app on your Android device, then follow the prompts during your new iPhone's setup process to bring over contacts, photos, messages, and more.

iPhone β†’ Android

Google's "Switch to Android" tool, or a manufacturer-specific app such as Samsung Smart Switch, can move your data across.

Moving between phones on the same OS

Between two iPhones, restoring from an iCloud backup, or between two Android phones, restoring from your Google account backup, brings back most of your data just by signing in on the new device.

What might not carry over

Some messaging app chat histories, certain apps' login sessions, and paid apps themselves may not transfer automatically, so it is worth checking each app's own backup and restore feature separately.

The part people worry about most when switching phones

Data transfer is usually the biggest source of anxiety when getting a new phone. Fortunately, both Apple and Google provide official tools specifically built to move data across different operating systems, so the process is generally easier than people expect.

Don't forget your messaging app chat history

Standard phone data transfer tools typically move contacts, photos, and native text messages, but they often don't carry over chat history from third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or similar services. Almost every major messaging app has its own built-in backup and restore feature, usually tucked into its settings menu, so it is worth backing up each app you actually use before you switch phones, rather than assuming the phone-level transfer covers everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if my internet connection drops during the transfer?

Most transfer tools support resuming an interrupted transfer, but it is still safer to do any important transfer over a stable Wi-Fi connection rather than risking an interruption.

Does my old phone still keep its data after I transfer it?

A standard data transfer copies your data rather than moving it, so your old phone typically keeps everything as well β€” meaning you should wipe it separately before selling, trading in, or recycling it.