TL;DR: The easiest way to transfer data from Android to iPhone is during the iPhone’s first setup: pick From Android on the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen, then use Apple’s free Move to iOS app (or, on a compatible Android 17 phone, the new Transfer without App option). It moves contacts, messages, photos, calendars, call history and WhatsApp chats. If your iPhone is already set up, you either erase it and start again or move things manually through Google’s apps and a computer.
Last updated: November 13, 2026. Steps checked against Apple Support and WhatsApp Help Center pages.
Switching from Android to iPhone used to mean a weekend of exporting contacts and emailing photos to yourself. It’s much less painful now. Apple’s own tools handle most of the job in one go, and since this fall some Android 17 phones can do it without installing anything. The catch is timing: almost every automatic method only works while the iPhone is still in setup.
Below is how to transfer data from Android to iPhone, the method that fits your situation, and what still has to be moved by hand.
Which method should you use?
Use the built-in setup transfer if your iPhone is new or freshly erased; it’s free and moves the most data. Use the manual route only if you’ve already set up the iPhone and don’t want to wipe it.
| Your situation | Best method | What it moves |
|---|---|---|
| New iPhone, Android 17 phone that supports it | Transfer without App (during setup) | Photos, contacts, calendars, call history, messages, plus eSIM |
| New iPhone, any other Android (6.0 or later) | Move to iOS app (during setup) | Contacts, messages, photos, videos, calendars, bookmarks, mail accounts, WhatsApp and more |
| iPhone already set up, happy to erase it | Erase iPhone, then Move to iOS | Same as above, but wipes what’s on the iPhone now |
| iPhone already set up, no erasing | Manual: Google account, Google Photos, computer | Mail, contacts, calendars, photos, files, music |
| Just your phone number | eSIM transfer from Settings | Your line only |
Sources: Apple Support: Move from Android to iPhone or iPad, Apple Support: Move content manually.
Before you start: a 5-minute checklist
A little prep stops most failed transfers. Apple’s Move to iOS guide lists these requirements:
- Plug both phones into power and keep them next to each other.
- Turn on Wi-Fi on the Android phone. You can also connect the two phones with a USB-C cable for a faster transfer.
- Check storage. Everything you’re moving, including anything on a microSD card, has to fit on the iPhone. A 128 GB iPhone won’t take 180 GB of videos.
- Update Chrome on Android if you want your Chrome bookmarks to come across.
- Back up the Android phone first, just in case. Our guide on how to back up an Android phone walks through Google One and computer backups.
How to transfer data from Android to iPhone with Move to iOS
Move to iOS is Apple’s free Android app, and it’s the standard way to move data during iPhone setup. It works over a temporary Wi-Fi link (or a cable) between the two phones, so you don’t need a computer or a cloud account.
- Start setting up the iPhone. Turn it on, follow the prompts, and on the Quick Start screen tap Set Up Without Another Apple Device. You may be asked to activate your eSIM here.
- Pick Android. On the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen, tap From Android, then Transfer with App.
- Open Move to iOS on Android. If it isn’t installed, tap the QR code button on the iPhone and scan it with the Android camera to open Google Play. Accept the terms and allow the location and notification permissions it asks for.
- Enter the code. Tap Continue on the iPhone and wait for a six- or ten-digit code, then type it on the Android phone. Apple says you can ignore any “weak internet connection” warning on Android.
- Join the temporary network. The iPhone creates its own Wi-Fi network; tap Connect on Android when asked.
- Choose what to move and tap Continue.
- Leave both phones alone until the loading bar on the iPhone finishes, even if Android says it’s done. Then tap Done on Android and finish setup on the iPhone.
If you can’t get Move to iOS from Google Play, Apple offers a direct APK download for Android 6.0 and later, plus older builds for Android 5.0, 4.4 and earlier.
What Move to iOS transfers (and what it doesn’t)
Per Apple, Move to iOS moves contacts, message history, SMS, camera photos and videos, photo albums, files and folders, accessibility and display settings, web bookmarks, mail accounts, WhatsApp messages and media, Voice Memos, call history and calendars. Some free apps that exist on both stores are matched so you can download them from the App Store.
It does not move music, books or PDFs; Apple says those have to be moved manually. Paid apps don’t carry over either, since Google Play purchases aren’t valid on the App Store.
The new option: Transfer without App on Android 17
If your Android phone runs a compatible version of Android 17, you can skip Move to iOS entirely. Apple added a Transfer without App path to its support page, and it can bring your eSIM across in the same step.
- On the iPhone’s Transfer Your Apps & Data screen, tap From Android, then Transfer without App.
- Put the Android phone next to the iPhone and tap Continue.
- Scan the QR code on the iPhone with the Android camera.
- On Android, pick what to move: photos, contacts, calendars, call history or messages.
- Tap Continue on the iPhone when the data is done.
- To move your eSIM, select the number on Android and tap Transfer, then finish setup.
Can’t scan the code? On the iPhone tap Other Options. On Android go to Settings > Google Services > All Services > Pair with iPhone or iPad > Copy Data and enter the session ID and pairing code shown on the iPhone.
One honest caveat: Apple says support depends on your phone maker, so “Android 17” alone doesn’t guarantee the option appears. If you don’t see it, Move to iOS still works.
How to move your phone number (eSIM) from Android to iPhone
On supported carriers you can move your eSIM directly from Android to iPhone, during setup or later in Settings. Otherwise your carrier activates it for you.
Apple’s eSIM transfer page lists the requirements:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| iPhone | iPhone 11 or later on iOS 26 or later |
| Android | Compatible phone on Android 16 or later (check with the maker) |
| US carriers | AT&T, Cricket, FirstNet, T-Mobile, Verizon, Xfinity Mobile |
| UK carriers | EE |
| Connection | Both phones on Wi-Fi with Bluetooth on |
After setup, go to Settings > Set Up Cellular > Transfer from Android (or Cellular > Add eSIM > Transfer from Android if the iPhone already has a SIM), scan the QR code with the Android phone, select the number and tap Transfer. The SIM on the Android phone stops working once the move completes. If you’re on Vodafone, O2, Three or another carrier not on the list, use your carrier’s app or call them. Our eSIM transfer guide covers carrier activation in more detail.
How to transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone
WhatsApp chats move with Move to iOS, during iPhone setup only. Pick WhatsApp on the Transfer Data screen and follow the prompts.
The WhatsApp Help Center sets these rules:
- Android 5 or later, iPhone on iOS 15.5 or later, and the latest WhatsApp on both.
- Same phone number on both phones. You can’t transfer to a different number.
- The iPhone must be factory new or reset.
- Call history, your display name and media from WhatsApp Channels don’t transfer.
- WhatsApp Business chats can’t be moved from Android to iPhone this way.
Once Move to iOS finishes, install WhatsApp from the App Store, sign in with the same number and tap Start. Don’t activate WhatsApp on the iPhone before the transfer; WhatsApp says old and new history can’t be merged.
How to transfer data from Android to iPhone after setup
If you’ve already set up the iPhone, Move to iOS won’t run. Apple’s advice is blunt: erase the iPhone and start over, or move content manually.
Option 1: Erase and redo setup. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. This wipes anything you’ve added to the iPhone, so only do it if you haven’t put much on it yet.
Option 2: Move things manually, with no reset. Apple’s manual transfer guide and Google’s apps cover most of it:
| Data | How to move it without resetting |
|---|---|
| Gmail, contacts, calendars | Add your Google account in iPhone Settings and turn on Mail, Contacts and Calendars |
| Photos and videos | Install Google Photos on the iPhone, or copy the DCIM folder to a computer and sync it with Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app (Windows) |
| Music | Sign in to your streaming app, or sync files from a computer |
| Documents | Sign in to Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive on the iPhone |
| Books and PDFs | Sign in to Kindle or Play Books, or sync ePub/PDF files into Books |
| Apps | Re-download from the App Store |
| SMS history and WhatsApp | No official route without erasing the iPhone |
That last row is the real trade-off. If old texts or WhatsApp history matter to you, erasing and using Move to iOS is the only official way to bring them.
Wired or wireless: which is faster?
Both work; Apple says a USB-C cable gives a faster transfer. Wireless is fine for most people, and nothing needs to be bought, since Move to iOS is free. If you’re moving a large photo library, a cable or a Google Photos sync done ahead of time can save a long wait.
If the transfer fails or gets stuck
Most failures come from the Android phone dropping the iPhone’s temporary Wi-Fi network. Apple’s fixes:
- Keep Move to iOS on screen the whole time. Switching apps or taking a call on Android breaks the transfer.
- Turn off Wi-Fi helpers such as Smart Network Switch, and forget saved Wi-Fi networks on Android.
- Turn off mobile data on Android.
- Restart both phones and try again.
- If the iPhone ran out of space partway, erase it and retry with less content. Our guide to freeing up iCloud storage helps if you plan to back up the new phone straight away.
After you switch: three quick checks
Once you’re on the iPhone, a few things are worth doing in the first week:
- Check the battery and confirm the phone is genuine with our guide to iPhone battery health.
- Set up spam filtering; see how to stop spam texts on iPhone.
- Keep the Android phone until you’ve confirmed photos, contacts and chats arrived. Apple and WhatsApp both note the data stays on Android unless you wipe it.
Still picking a model? Our iPhone 18 Pro vs 17 Pro comparison and iPhone Duo verdict can help.
FAQ
Can I transfer data from Android to iPhone after setup?
Not with Move to iOS. Apple says you have to erase the iPhone and start setup again, or move content manually through your Google account, Google Photos, cloud apps and a computer. Text messages and WhatsApp history can’t be moved officially without erasing.
Is Move to iOS free?
Yes. Move to iOS is a free Apple app on Google Play, and Apple also offers it as a direct APK download for phones without Google Play.
Do I need Move to iOS on Android 17?
Not always. If your Android 17 phone supports it, you can choose Transfer without App during iPhone setup and scan a QR code instead. Support depends on the phone maker, so if the option doesn’t appear, use Move to iOS.
Can I transfer data from Android to iPhone with a cable?
Yes. Apple says you can connect the two phones with a USB-C cable for a faster transfer. You may need to change the USB settings on Android when you plug in.
Will WhatsApp chats transfer from Android to iPhone?
Yes, through Move to iOS during setup, as long as you keep the same phone number and the iPhone is new or reset. Call history, display name and Channel media don’t transfer, and WhatsApp Business chats aren’t supported.
Do my apps transfer from Android to iPhone?
Some free apps that exist on both stores are matched so you can download them from the App Store. App data and paid purchases don’t carry over, so plan to sign in again and repurchase where needed.
