Confused.com

How to transfer data from Android to iPhone

3 min read | Published 09/05/2024

If you’re switching from Android to iPhone, you’ll probably want to take your data with you. This could include photos, music, contacts, videos, books, messages and apps.

transfer data from android to iphone

This guide will show you where to find the tools for the job, making your Android to iPhone transfer as seamless as possible.

Preparing to transfer your Android data to iPhone

Before you start moving data from your Android device to your new iPhone, make sure you’ve got the following:

Time. Transferring data to a new phone can take anything from 10 minutes to over an hour.
Battery life. It’s a good idea to plug in both devices asand you’ll need them both turned on. It’s good to have at least 75% charge.
A good internet connection. You’ll be moving data wirelessly and a strong signal makes that process faster and more efficient.

Other tips to make your Android to iPhone data transfer simple

Start the transfer process before you’ve set up your iPhone. If you’ve already set it up, you’ll need to erase it and start again or transfer your content manually.
Make sure there’s enough storage space on your iPhone for all the data you want to transfer.
Find out how much data is stored on your Android device by going to Battery & Device Care > Storage or straight to Storage, depending on the make and model. Tap for more information. And don’t forget to factor in any extra data you might have stored on an external microSD card.
To transfer Google Chrome bookmarks, make sure you’ve got the latest version of Chrome on your Android phone.

Three ways to transfer data from Android to iPhone

There are 3 main ways to transfer data from Android to iPhone: Using the Move to iOS app, the most seamless and efficient option Transferring your data manually Using iCloud, Apple’s cloud storage solution

1. Using the Move to IOS app

This option doesn’t include transferring music, books or PDFs. These need to be moved manually.

Turn on your iPhone and place it near your Android device.
Follow the on-screen set-up instructions.
When you reach Transfer Your Apps & Data, tap From Android.
On your Android device, download and install Move to iOS from the Google Play Store.
Tap Continue. You’ll need to agree to certain terms and permissions.
On your iPhone, when you see the Move from Android screen, tap Continue. A 6 or 10-digit code will appear.
When asked to Enter One-Time Code on your Android device, enter this code.
Your iPhone will create a temporary Wi-Fi network. When asked, tap Connect to join it on your Android device.
On your Android device, select the content you want to transfer. Tap Continue.
Leave both handsets plugged in until the loading bar on your iPhone finishes.
Tap Done on your Android device.
Tap Continue on your iPhone to finish set-up.

2. Transferring data manually from Android to iPhone

This is the best option if you’ve already set up your iPhone or can’t use the Move to iOS app. Depending on the kind of content you’re moving, you may need to use your computer. If you’re using a Mac, install Android File Transfer first to access the relevant files.

Transferring mail, contacts and calendars from Android to iPhone

Email accounts from the main providers can be added automatically. This includes iCloud, Google, Microsoft Exchange and Yahoo.

Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts.
Select your email provider.
Enter email address and password.
Tap Next to wait for verification and Save to finish. For more details, visit Apple Support.

Transferring photos and videos from Android to iPhone

There’s more than one way of doing this. One option is to use your computer.

Connect your Android device to your computer and find your photos and videos. Usually, they’re in DCIM > Camera.
Drag the photos and videos you want to move from your Android device to a folder on your computer.
Disconnect your Android device from your computer and connect your iPhone. On a Mac running iOS Catalina or later (2019 onwards), open Finder. With older operating systems, open iTunes. On a PC, open the Apple Devices app.
On your computer, sync your photos and videos to your iPhone. You’ll find them in Photos > Albums.

Transferring apps from Android to iPhone

Install apps from the Apple App Store. You should be able to find iPhone versions of all your chosen Android apps.

Transferring music from Android to iPhone

If you stream music through an app - for example, Spotify, Tidal or SoundCloud - you should be able to install the iPhone equivalent in the App Store.

To transfer music files from Android to iPhone:

Connect your Android device to your computer and find your music files - usually in Music.
Drag the songs you want to transfer into a folder on your computer.
Disconnect your Android device.
On a Mac, either open Music or iTunes > Songs, for older operating systems.
On a PC, open the Apple Devices app.
Drag your chosen songs from your computer to Songs, the iTunes library or the Music section in the Apple Devices app.
Connect your iPhone. Then in Finder, iTunes or the Apple Devices app, select your iPhone and click Music.
Click Sync. You can choose to sync your entire music library or selected songs/artists. Your music will be saved in the Music app.

Transferring books and PDFs from Android to iPhone

Either import books and PDFs to your iPhone or access them through apps, including Kindle or Google Play Books. You’ll find the most popular apps in the App Store.

Connect your Android device to your computer and find your books and PDFs. They’re usually in Documents.
Drag the books and PDFs you want to move into a folder on your computer.
Disconnect your Android device and connect your iPhone.
On a PC, drag the books and PDFs into the Apple Devices app. On a Mac, open Finder or iTunes, for older operating systems. Sync your books and PDFs. They’ll be saved in Books > Library.

Documents

Google Drive, Dropbox and the Microsoft One Drive can all be downloaded from the App Store. This includes the Apple apps Pages, Number and Keynote, which work with different file types, including Microsoft Office documents.

Connect your Android device to your computer and find your documents. They’re usually in Documents.
Drag the documents you want to move into a folder on your computer.
On a Mac, open either Finder or iTunes for older operating systems. On a PC, open the Apple Devices app.
Click Sync.

Your iPhone has a Files app so you can keep and manage all your documents in one place. If you can’t find it, swipe left on the homescreen until you reach the App Library search.

2. Transferring data from Android to iPhone using iCloud

Go to iCloud.com to upload data from your Android smartphone. You can then access your content from any Apple device. You’ll need to login with your Apple ID. You can create this when you set up your iPhone, or later in the App Store. Find out more about creating new Apple IDs.

Got a problem transferring your data?

There are several reasons why your Android data may not transfer to your new iPhone. For example, if you:

get a phone call during the process
open another app before it’s finished - you need to keep the Move to iOS app on screen the whole time

In both cases, you’ll need to start again.

If your data doesn’t transfer for other reasons:

Make sure there’s enough storage space on the iPhone.
Turn off apps or settings on your Android device that might affect the Wi-Fi connection, including Smart Network Switch. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and forget each known network.
Restart both handsets and start again.
On your Android device, turn off your mobile data connection. If you need help with your data transfer, visit Apple Support.

Pros and cons of switching from Android to iPhone

The advantages of iPhones

Seamless content sharing between devices in the Apple ecosystem, including Mac computers, iPads and Apple Watches.
More frequent software updates. New releases are also delivered to all devices at the same time, whereas Android updates are sent out in batches.
The Apple store is a one-stop shop for every iPhone owner. Enhanced privacy controls e.g. app tracking notifications for third-party apps.
iPhones are less likely to come with unnecessary pre-installed software, known as bloatware or PUA (potentially unwanted applications).
You get a wider choice of accessories, in physical stores and online. Find an iPhone deal

The advantages of Android devices

A wider choice of makes, models and prices. You even have a choice of foldable handsets, specialist devices for gamers and smartphones for designers.
All Android devices come with a universal USB-C port.
Cameras can have much better zoom capabilities
Easy file sharing. When it’s connected to a PC, you can drag and drop files off or onto your handset.
There’s more scope for personalisation, including the option to replace pre-installed apps with third-party alternatives.
Expandable storage in the form of a microSD card is still available with some Android devices. It’s usually cheaper than buying a phone with more storage.
Some Android phones still have headphone jacks, so you can plug in wired headphones.

Ready to make to move to iPhone? Check out our latest mobile phone deals.