How to Transfer Everything to a New Phone (iPhone and Android)

A new phone should feel exciting, not stressful. But most people have heard a horror story: the photos that didn’t come across, the group chat history that vanished, or worse, the two-factor codes that stayed on a phone that was already traded in.

The built-in transfer tools from Apple and Google move most of your data automatically now. The trouble is the handful of things they don’t move. This guide covers the main transfer methods and, more importantly, the checklist of items you need to handle yourself so nothing gets left behind.

Before you start: the 5-minute prep

Do these steps on your old phone before you power on the new one:

1. Back up your old phone. A fresh iCloud, Google or computer backup is your safety net. See our guide on how to back up your phone.
2. Update the software on the old phone if an update is available. Transfer tools work best when both phones run recent versions.
3. Charge both phones and keep them plugged in during the transfer. Google says a transfer can take from a few minutes to a few hours.
4. Check storage. Make sure the new phone has at least as much space as you’re using. If you’re tight on space, our guide to freeing up iPhone storage can help you trim first.
5. Know your passwords, especially your Apple Account or Google Account password, and your phone’s passcode.

Which transfer method to use

iPhone to iPhone: Quick Start

Turn on the new iPhone and place it next to your old one. The Quick Start screen appears on your old iPhone and offers to set up the new one with your Apple Account. Follow the prompts to transfer directly from your old phone or restore from an iCloud backup. Keep the phones close together and plugged in until it finishes.

Android to iPhone: Move to iOS

During iPhone setup, choose to transfer data From Android. Apple’s process has you install the Move to iOS app on your Android phone, enter a code shown on the iPhone, and connect to a temporary Wi-Fi network the iPhone creates. You then choose what to copy. Apple lists contacts, message history, photos and videos, files, bookmarks, mail accounts, WhatsApp data, call history and calendars, plus some free apps available on both stores. Apple warns that using another app or taking a call on the Android phone mid-transfer can stop the transfer, so leave it alone until it’s done. Apple has also announced newer app-free transfer options for compatible devices running the latest software.

iPhone to Android: cable or Switch to Android

Google recommends using a cable because it transfers the most data types. During Android setup, choose to copy from an iPhone, connect the phones (you may need an adapter) and pick your data. Without a cable, the Switch to Android app on the iPhone works wirelessly but moves fewer data types. Google lists iCloud-only photos, Health data, passwords and paid apps among items that don’t transfer automatically.

Important: before you move your number, turn off iMessage and FaceTime on the iPhone (Settings, Apps, Messages). If you no longer have the iPhone, Apple offers an online page to deregister your number. Skipping this step is the most common reason people miss texts from iPhone users after switching.

Android to Android

New Android phones offer to copy apps and data from your old phone during setup, by cable or wirelessly. Samsung phones also include Smart Switch, and other manufacturers have their own transfer apps.

Key takeaway: The built-in tools move most of your data, but two-factor codes, chat apps with their own backups and your eSIM usually need separate steps. Handle those before you wipe the old phone.

The things that get left behind

Two-factor authentication codes

This is the item that causes the most lockouts. If you use an authenticator app, your codes may live only on the old phone.

• Google Authenticator: Google says codes sync automatically when you’re signed in to your Google Account in the app. If you use it without an account, use Transfer accounts, Export accounts on the old phone and scan the QR code with the new phone.
• Other authenticator apps: Most offer cloud backup or an export feature. Turn it on and confirm it works before switching.
• Text message codes: These follow your phone number, so they’ll work once your number is active on the new phone.
• Passkeys and passwords: Passkeys and saved passwords sync through iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager when you sign in with the same account, but not between platforms automatically. A cross-platform password manager makes switching much easier. Learn more in our guide to passkeys.

Before wiping the old phone, sign in to 2 or 3 important accounts on the new phone, such as email and banking, using the new authenticator.

Chat apps with their own backups

WhatsApp, Signal and other secure messaging apps often manage their own chat history. Apple’s and Google’s transfer tools support moving WhatsApp in some cases, but check each app’s own transfer or backup settings before switching.

Your eSIM or SIM

If you use a physical SIM, move the card. If you use an eSIM:

• iPhone to iPhone: Apple’s eSIM Quick Transfer moves your number during setup or later from Settings, Cellular, if your carrier supports it. Apple says both iPhones need the same Apple Account, Bluetooth turned on and iOS 18.4 or later.
• Android to iPhone or other moves: Some carriers and manufacturers support direct eSIM transfer between platforms. Otherwise, use your carrier’s app or contact the carrier to move your number.

Other items to check

• Photos stored only in the cloud. iCloud-only photos don’t move to Android automatically. Apple offers a separate service to copy photos to Google Photos, or download them first.
• Music, books and PDFs when moving to iPhone, which Apple says you’ll need to move manually.
• Wallet cards and transit passes. Re-add cards on the new phone and confirm with your bank.
• Smartwatch pairing. Unpair your watch from the old phone first, which on Apple Watch creates a backup.
• Paid apps. Purchases don’t move between Apple and Google stores.

Where to start: a step-by-step plan

1. Back up the old phone and confirm the backup completed.
2. Set up authenticator backups or exports, and save recovery codes for key accounts.
3. If leaving iPhone, turn off iMessage and FaceTime.
4. Turn on the new phone and use the built-in transfer method from the table above.
5. Move your SIM or transfer your eSIM.
6. Open each important app: email, banking, messaging, work tools. Sign in and confirm your data is there.
7. Re-add payment cards and pair your watch and earbuds.
8. Keep the old phone for at least a week before you wipe it, in case something is missing.

Wiping your old phone safely

Once you’ve confirmed everything works, sign out and erase the old device before selling or recycling it.

• iPhone: Sign out of your Apple Account (which turns off Find My and Activation Lock), then go to Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings.
• Android: Remove your Google Account, then use factory reset in Settings. Removing the account first avoids factory reset protection issues for the next owner.

Remove the old phone from your accounts’ trusted device lists too. For any technical terms you run into, check our glossary.

Conclusion

Transferring to a new phone is mostly automatic now, but the last 10% takes planning. Back up first, let Apple’s or Google’s tools do the heavy lifting, then handle two-factor codes, chat histories and your eSIM on purpose. Keep the old phone until you’re sure, and you’ll make the switch without losing a thing.

Sources

• Apple Support: Move from Android to iPhone or iPad — Move to iOS steps, what transfers and what must be moved manually
• Android Help: Copy apps and data from an iPhone or iPad to a new Android device — cable vs wireless transfer, iMessage step and excluded data
• Apple Support: Deregister iMessage on your iPhone or online — turning off iMessage when switching to Android
• Apple Support: Set up eSIM on iPhone — eSIM Quick Transfer requirements
• Google Account Help: Get verification codes with Google Authenticator — syncing and exporting authenticator codes