Switching from an Android device to an iPhone can be exciting but also challenging when it comes to moving your data over. After you’ve finished setting up your new iPhone, you still have to move your contacts, photos, videos, and other important files from your Android device.
The good news is that transferring data from Android to iOS is very possible even after initial setup. There are a few different methods you can use to make the transition as smooth as possible. In this guide, we’ll walk through the steps for transferring your data using built-in platform tools as well as third-party apps.
Using Google Drive to Transfer Files
One of the easiest ways to transfer files from Android to iOS is by using Google Drive. This method works great for photos, videos, documents, and other files you have stored in Drive.
Here are the steps to transfer files from Android to iOS using Google Drive:
- Open the Google Drive app on your Android device and upload any files you want to transfer to your iPhone. Make sure to upload the full resolution photos and videos.
- On your iPhone, download the Google Drive app from the App Store.
- Sign in to your Google account through the app.
- Open the Google Drive app and you will see all of your uploaded files.
- Tap on a file to download it directly to your iPhone.
The great thing about using Google Drive is that the files remain in sync across devices. Anything uploaded to Drive on your Android will automatically appear in Drive on your iPhone for easy downloading and access.
Transferring Contacts with Google
Your contacts are one of the most important pieces of data to transfer from your old Android phone to your new iPhone. Luckily, if you used Gmail on your Android device, your contacts should be backed up and synced with your Google account.
Here’s how to transfer contacts from Android to iPhone using your Google account:
- On your iPhone, open the Settings app and tap Contacts.
- Tap Accounts.
- Tap Add Account > Google.
- Sign in to your Google account.
- Tap to enable Contacts so that your Google contacts are synced.
Once this sync is complete, you will see all your Google contacts moved over to your iPhone automatically. Any contacts stored locally on your Android device that were not synced with your Google account will need to be transferred separately.
Transferring Photos and Videos
Photos and videos take up significant space on your phone, so you’ll want to make sure they properly make it to your new iPhone.
Here are a few ways to transfer your photos and videos from Android to iOS:
Use Google Photos Sync
If you backed up your photos to Google Photos on your Android phone, the sync should automatically transfer your photos to the iPhone Google Photos app once you install it and sign in.
To check the sync:
- Install Google Photos on your iPhone.
- Sign into your Google account.
- Give the app permission to access your photos.
- Your photos from Google Photos on Android will now be synced over.
Use AirDrop
AirDrop lets you wirelessly transfer files between iOS devices and Macs. To use it to transfer photos and videos:
- Turn on AirDrop on your iPhone and Android phone.
- On your Android device, open the photos or videos you want to transfer.
- Tap the Share icon and select AirDrop.
- Select your iPhone from the list of nearby devices.
- Accept the transfer request on your iPhone.
Use the Move to iOS App
For transferring large photo and video libraries, use the Move to iOS app available on the Google Play Store. To use it:
- Download Move to iOS on your Android phone.
- Follow the setup prompts to transfer your media to your iPhone.
- Accept the incoming transfer request on your iPhone.
- Move to iOS will transfer your photos and videos directly into the Photos app.
Transferring Music
To transfer your music files and playlists from Android to iPhone, you have a couple options:
Sync iTunes
Connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes installed. In iTunes, enable syncing for music files. Then iTunes will transfer over music saved on your computer to your iPhone.
Use a Cloud Service
Upload your music library to a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox on your Android device. Then re-download the files onto your iPhone.
This takes more time but is necessary if you want to transfer music not originally saved on your computer.
Use AirDrop
You can also use AirDrop to wirelessly send individual music files and playlists from your Android device directly to your iPhone. Just tap Share and select AirDrop on the Android before accepting the transfer on the iPhone.
Transferring Calendar and Email Data
To move over your calendar appointments and emails from Android to iPhone, you’ll need to sync up accounts.
For email, add the same Google, Yahoo, Outlook, or other mail accounts you had on your Android to your iPhone. This will sync the messages to your iPhone Mail app.
For calendar, make sure to turn on calendar syncing when you add your Google or other account to your iPhone. This will transfer over events and appointments.
If you stored contacts, emails, or calendar data locally on your Android device, you’ll need to export these to your computer then import them into your iPhone.
Apps Data Transfer
Some apps like WhatsApp, LINE, and Viber let you transfer chat history from Android to iOS. Enable the transfer option in the iOS app and it will move your messages over on first install.
For other apps like games, you may need to start your progress over from scratch unfortunately.
Using Third-Party Apps to Transfer Data
In addition to built-in tools, there are many helpful third-party apps that make transferring data from Android to iPhone quick and easy:
| App | What it Transfers |
|---|---|
| Move to iOS | Contacts, Message History, Photos, Videos, Web Bookmarks, Mail Accounts |
| Copy My Data | Contacts, Calendar, Photos, Videos, Apps |
| AnyTrans | Contacts, Messages, Photos, Music, Videos, Apps, App Data |
These apps provide step-by-step guides to securely and directly transfer many different file types from your Android device to your new iPhone.
Transferring Data from iCloud Backup
If you previously used an iPhone and still have that phone’s iCloud backup available, you can transfer data from your iCloud backup to your new iPhone.
To do this:
- Make sure you sign into your iCloud account during setup of your new iPhone.
- Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud.
- Tap on Manage Storage > Backups.
- Select your old iPhone backup then tap on Restore.
This will transfer your old iPhone data such as settings, app layouts, messages, notes, bookmarks and more to your new iPhone.
Manually Transferring Files from Android to iPhone
You always have the option to manually transfer files from your Android over to your new iPhone:
- On your computer, connect both your Android device and iPhone.
- Find your iPhone folder under Devices in Finder or iTunes.
- Open your Android’s folders and copy over any files you want to transfer.
- Paste these files directly into the comparable folder on your iPhone.
For example, paste photos and videos into the DCIM folder on your iPhone. Paste downloaded documents into the Downloads folder.
While manual transfer takes more time, it gives you the most control over which individual files you want to move over from Android.
Conclusion
Transferring data from an old Android phone to a new iPhone can seem daunting. Thankfully, with the help of built-in syncing tools, third-party apps, cloud storage services, and manual file transfer, you can successfully move over your important files.
The key things to move from Android to iOS include contacts, photos, music/video libraries, emails, calendar events, message histories, apps, and app data. Back up key files before leaving your Android device so you have a copy.
Patience and organization are crucial when transferring data to a new phone. Take time to ensure the transfer is thorough and all your files are properly arranged on your new iPhone.
With the right preparation and diligence, you can achieve a smooth transition from Android to iOS and quickly feel at home on your new iPhone.