Apple provides two setup-time paths for moving supported content from Android to a new iPhone. Most Android phones use the Move to iOS app, while compatible Android 17 or later devices can use Apple’s newer app-free transfer option. Both approaches work best during initial iPhone setup, before you finish configuring the device.
Prepare both phones
Connect both devices to power and Wi-Fi, and make sure the iPhone has enough storage for the content you plan to move. Install Move to iOS on the Android phone. If the iPhone has already been fully set up, using Move to iOS for a complete migration can require erasing it and starting setup again.
Transfer without the Move to iOS app on a compatible Android phone
If the Android phone runs a compatible version of Android 17 or later and the manufacturer supports Apple’s app-free transfer, choose From Android on the iPhone’s Transfer Your Apps & Data screen and then choose Transfer without App. Place the phones near each other and use the Android camera to scan the QR code shown by the iPhone.
Choose the supported data you want to copy on the Android phone and let the transfer finish before continuing setup. If QR scanning is unavailable, Apple also provides an Other Options route that uses pairing details shown on the iPhone. If the Android phone does not support this newer method, use Move to iOS instead.
Transfer Android data with Move to iOS
- Begin setting up the new iPhone and continue until you reach the screen for transferring apps and data.
- Choose the option to move data from Android.
- Open Move to iOS on the Android phone and follow its prompts.
- Enter or use the code shown by the iPhone when requested.
- Choose the content you want to transfer.
- Keep both phones nearby and connected until the iPhone indicates that the transfer is finished.
Do not judge progress only by what the Android phone shows. Let the iPhone complete its transfer process before moving on.
What can move
Move to iOS can transfer many common categories of information, but not every app or every type of local data moves identically. Some apps need to be downloaded again from the App Store, and you may need to sign in again.
Music, specialized app files, authentication apps, and content stored outside the supported migration categories may require separate steps. Confirm important data before wiping or trading in the Android phone.
Move your phone number separately
Your data migration and your cellular-service transfer are related but separate tasks. A physical SIM may be moved when the devices and carrier support it. For eSIM, supported carriers and devices can offer direct transfer options, while other cases require carrier activation or a QR code.
If Move to iOS fails
Keep the Android phone on the transfer screen, avoid switching apps, and turn off settings that automatically change Wi-Fi networks if they interrupt the connection. Restart both devices and try again if the transfer stops.
For a large photo or video library, confirm that the iPhone has enough storage. You can also move certain cloud-based content separately after setup.
What should you check after the transfer?
Open Contacts, Photos, Messages, Calendar, and Files and compare important information with the Android phone. Sign in to essential apps and make sure authentication tools work before wiping the old device. A migration can be “finished” while some cloud content is still downloading in the background.
Do not trade in the Android phone too quickly
Keep the old phone until you have confirmed your phone number, two-factor authentication, photos, messages, and any local files that matter. Factory-reset it only after the iPhone is working as expected and you have another copy of anything irreplaceable.
Matthew Roberts created this site to help his friends and family with questions that they might have about how to change the settings on their iPhones. It now serves as an archive of iPhone how-to guides to help anyone that stumbles upon this website.