Getting a new phone is exciting until you realize you need to move everything over from your old one. Photos, contacts, messages, apps, settings, passwords, two-factor authentication codes. The list is long, and the fear of losing something important makes the whole process stressful.
The good news is that both Apple and Google have made this significantly easier in recent years. The bad news is that cross-platform moves (iPhone to Android or vice versa) still require some extra steps.
This guide covers every scenario so you can move everything without losing a single photo or contact.
Before You Start: The Pre-Transfer Checklist
Take these steps before you touch your new phone. Skipping them is how people lose data.
Back up your old phone completely. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, tap iCloud Backup, and tap Back Up Now.
On Android, go to Settings, System, Backup, and make sure backup is turned on. Then tap Back up now.
Make sure both phones are charged above 50%. A dead battery mid-transfer can corrupt your data. Better yet, keep both plugged in during the process.
Know your passwords. You will need your Apple ID password or Google account password. You will also need your phone's lock screen PIN or passcode.
Write them down if you are not 100% certain.
Update your old phone's software. The transfer tools work best when both phones are running the latest operating system. Mismatched versions can cause compatibility issues.
Disable two-factor authentication apps temporarily. Apps like Google Authenticator do not transfer automatically on all setups. Export your codes or switch to a cloud-synced authenticator like Authy before the move.
iPhone to iPhone
Apple makes this the easiest transfer scenario by far.
Their Quick Start feature handles almost everything wirelessly.
Turn on your new iPhone and place it next to your old one. A popup will appear on your old iPhone asking if you want to set up the new device. Tap Continue and follow the prompts. You will point your old phone's camera at a swirling animation on the new phone to pair them.
Choose Transfer from iPhone when prompted. This copies everything directly from your old phone to your new one, including apps, photos, messages, settings, and even your home screen layout. The process takes anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour depending on how much data you have.
Alternatively, you can restore from an iCloud backup during setup. This is useful if your old phone is already wiped or broken.
The backup includes everything except apps themselves (they re-download from the App Store), your Apple Pay cards (you will need to re-add them), and your Face ID or Touch ID data.
Android to Android
Google's built-in transfer tool handles most of the heavy lifting. During the setup of your new Android phone, you will be asked if you want to copy data from another device.
Connect the two phones with a USB-C cable if possible.
This is the fastest method and transfers the most data. If you do not have a cable, you can use wireless transfer over Wi-Fi, which works but takes longer.
Google's tool copies your apps, photos, contacts, messages, call history, device settings, and wallpaper. Some manufacturer-specific apps and settings may not transfer, particularly if you are switching between brands (for example, Samsung to Pixel).
After the transfer, check that your messaging apps have their history intact.
WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram each have their own backup and restore processes that you need to handle separately. WhatsApp in particular requires you to back up to Google Drive from the old phone and restore on the new one.
iPhone to Android
This is the trickiest move, but it has gotten much better. Google's Switch to Android app (available on the iPhone App Store) walks you through the entire process.
Install Switch to Android on your old iPhone.
Open it and follow the prompts to connect to your new Android phone using a cable or Wi-Fi. The app transfers your contacts, photos, videos, calendar events, and messages.
There are some things that will not transfer. iMessage is the big one. Before switching, go to Settings on your iPhone, tap Messages, and turn off iMessage. Also turn off FaceTime. If you skip this step, text messages from other iPhone users may continue going to your Apple ID instead of your phone number for a while.
Your apps will not transfer directly. The Switch to Android tool will suggest Android equivalents from the Play Store, and many apps you used on iPhone have identical Android versions.
You will need to download and sign into each one individually.
Android to iPhone
Apple's Move to iOS app handles this transfer. Download it from the Google Play Store on your old Android phone before starting setup on your new iPhone.
During iPhone setup, select Move Data from Android when prompted. The iPhone will display a code that you enter into the Move to iOS app on your Android.
The two phones connect over a private Wi-Fi network and begin transferring.
Move to iOS transfers contacts, message history, photos, videos, web bookmarks, email accounts, and calendars. It will also suggest equivalent iOS apps for the Android apps you had installed.
Like the reverse move, some things need manual attention. WhatsApp has a built-in chat transfer feature for Android to iPhone.
Your Google Drive files will still be accessible through the Google Drive iOS app.
Do Not Forget These Commonly Missed Items
Two-factor authentication. This is the number one thing people forget. If you use Google Authenticator, export your accounts before wiping your old phone. Better yet, use an authenticator that syncs to the cloud.
WhatsApp chat history. WhatsApp does not use your phone's built-in backup system.
You need to use WhatsApp's own backup feature within the app.
Banking and payment apps. Most banking apps require you to re-verify your identity on a new device. Have your bank's customer service number handy in case you get locked out.
Downloaded music and podcasts. Streaming services like Spotify sync your library automatically, but any locally downloaded files need to be transferred manually or re-downloaded.
Saved Wi-Fi passwords. iCloud Keychain and Google's password manager both sync Wi-Fi passwords if you are signed into the same account. If not, you will need to re-enter them.
After the Transfer
Once everything is on your new phone, spend 30 minutes checking that things are in order. Open your photo gallery and scroll through it. Open your contacts and search for a few names. Check your messaging apps for chat history. Open your authenticator app and verify your accounts are there.
Keep your old phone for at least two weeks after the transfer. Do not factory reset it until you are absolutely certain everything made it to the new device. This gives you a safety net in case you missed something.