Turn on the new Motorola phone and follow its setup wizard. When the wizard offers to copy data, choose that option and follow the instructions shown on both phones. Motorola’s Android transfer flow can bring over many common items, but it is not a complete clone: downloads such as PDFs, apps installed outside Google Play, non-Google accounts, non-Google contacts or calendars (Motorola gives WhatsApp as an example), and ringtones are listed as exclusions. An iPhone or iCloud source uses a separate Google Drive workflow. If you skipped copying during setup, Motorola says you can resume through Android Setup > Continue Setup Wizard.
What the Motorola setup transfer can and cannot do
The data-copy step is part of the phone’s initial setup experience. Motorola’s new-phone setup tutorial and user documentation direct you to use the prompts displayed by your particular model. Menus, wording and available options can vary by model, Android release and region, so treat the screen in front of you as the final authority.
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For an Android source phone, Motorola says the setup copy can include:
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- Music
- Photos and videos
- Google accounts
- Contacts saved on the phone or SIM card
- Text messages and multimedia attachments
- Most phone settings
- Wallpaper
- Call history
That list is broad, but it does not mean the new phone becomes an identical image of the old one. Motorola explicitly identifies several items that are not included in the Android copy process:
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- Downloads such as PDF files
- Apps that were not installed from Google Play
- Accounts other than Google accounts
- Contacts and calendars belonging to services other than Google; Motorola’s example is WhatsApp
- Ringtones
Before erasing or trading in the old phone, open important apps and check files that fall outside the supported categories. A transfer can finish successfully while still leaving those items behind.
It is also useful to separate “copied” from “ready to use.” An app may be restored but still require a sign-in, an account verification step or an in-app restore. Likewise, a contact stored locally may copy differently from one synchronized to Google. The setup result should therefore be treated as a starting point for verification, not as proof that every screen and record matches the old phone.
Choose the correct source-phone path
| Source phone | Motorola’s documented route | Items Motorola specifically describes | Important limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android | Use the data-copy choice in the new phone’s setup wizard. | Apps and app data, music, photos and videos, Google accounts, phone- or SIM-stored contacts, texts and multimedia attachments, most settings, wallpaper and call history. | Downloads, outside-Play apps, non-Google accounts, non-Google contacts/calendars and ringtones are excluded in Motorola’s list. |
| iPhone with iCloud data | Use the separate transfer instructions shown during setup; Motorola describes Google Drive as the route for copying files to the new phone and Google account. | Files that the Google Drive workflow can copy; the specific set depends on what you select and what the setup screen supports. | Motorola does not present this as a full iPhone clone or promise that every iPhone app or item will move. |
The two paths should not be mixed. An Android-to-Motorola copy uses the Android device-transfer flow, while an iPhone/iCloud source follows the Google Drive-based instructions. If the wizard presents a different option on your model, use that model’s displayed instructions rather than forcing a generic method.
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The source platform also changes what “transfer” means. With Android, Motorola describes a broad device-copy process that can include messages, call history and settings. With iPhone and iCloud, Motorola describes copying files through Google Drive. That distinction explains why an iPhone migration can leave you with files in your Google account while still requiring separate app installation and account recovery.
Prepare before starting
A few checks prevent the most common interruptions and help you identify anything that needs a separate backup.
- Keep both phones available. Do not put the old phone out of reach until you have verified the new one.
- For a resumed transfer, meet Motorola’s stated conditions. The user guide says both phones should be fully charged, turned on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Identify non-transfer items. Look for downloaded PDFs, files in download folders, sideloaded apps, non-Google accounts, service-specific contacts or calendars and custom ringtones.
- Know your account sign-ins. The Android flow copies Google accounts, but individual apps may still ask you to authenticate again.
- Do not wipe the old phone yet. Keep it until messages, photos, contacts, files and the apps you actually use have been checked on the Motorola.
Make a short inventory before you begin. Open the old phone’s Downloads folder, note any apps that do not appear to have come from Google Play, and identify which contacts and calendars belong to accounts other than Google. If a file or account is business-critical, plan its separate export or sign-in before the old phone is reset. This is faster than discovering an omission after the phone has been traded in.
Motorola does not state that one particular cable is mandatory for every model or transfer route. If the setup wizard asks for a wired connection, use a cable that carries data and physically fits both phones; a charge-only cable will not satisfy a data transfer. The USB setting on a supported Motorola device can default to No data transfer, with separate choices for file transfer and other functions. See Motorola’s USB preference guide if a wired connection is detected only as charging.
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Do not buy an accessory solely because it is labeled USB-C. Confirm that the two phones have compatible ports, that the cable supports data rather than charging only, and that the transfer screen actually calls for a cable. Wireless and wired choices can differ by model, so the setup wizard remains the deciding source.
Transfer from an Android phone during initial setup
- Start the new Motorola phone. Turn it on and proceed through the opening language, region and network screens until the wizard asks whether you want to copy data from an old phone.
- Select the copy-data option. The exact label can differ. Choose the option that refers to copying or transferring from an old Android phone.
- Follow the pairing instructions. The new phone will display the method it supports. Keep following the prompts on the old phone rather than switching to a different migration app.
- Review the categories offered. The wizard may show what it found and what can be copied. Compare that list with the items you identified during preparation.
- Authenticate when requested. Google account sign-in or confirmation may be required. Use the account you intend to keep on the new phone.
- Start the copy and leave the phones alone. Large photo or video libraries can take time. Keep the devices available until the wizard reports completion.
- Finish Android setup. Complete the remaining prompts, then wait for apps and account data to finish restoring before judging the result.
Motorola’s documented categories describe what the Android flow is designed to copy, not a guarantee that every app will restore identically. An app can be present while its developer requires a fresh login, local database restore or separate in-app backup.
When the wizard offers a selection screen, do not assume that selecting fewer categories creates a complete transfer later. Instead, compare the offered categories with your inventory and make a note of anything absent. The transfer can be rerun only through the options your model exposes, so keeping the old phone intact is the safest fallback.
Transfer from an iPhone or iCloud
Motorola documents a separate route for an iPhone and iCloud source in its “Copy data from old phone” support article. During setup, select the iPhone or iCloud option if it appears and follow the displayed Google Drive instructions. That workflow copies files to the new phone and your Google account.
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- Choose the iPhone/iCloud source option. Do not select the Android device-to-device path for an iPhone source.
- Use the Google Drive instructions shown by the wizard. The transfer screen explains which files to select and where they will appear on the Motorola.
- Sign in to the intended Google account. This account is the destination for the files the Drive process copies.
- Let the file copy complete. Keep the iPhone available until the setup flow confirms that the selected content has been handled.
- Check apps separately. Motorola does not promise that every iPhone app, app account or app-only data will move to Android. Reinstall Android versions where available and use each service’s own export or sign-in process for anything the setup flow does not include.
The iPhone route is therefore a file-and-account migration path, not a promise of identical app layouts, iOS settings or a complete device clone.
Afterward, open Google Drive or the relevant file location on the Motorola and confirm that the files you selected are present. Keep the iPhone until you have checked documents, photos and any service-specific exports. A file appearing in Drive does not mean the associated iPhone app or its private database has moved.
If you skipped the transfer during setup
Motorola’s user guide says the setup wizard can be reopened after initial setup. Its wording is: “During phone set up, you were asked if you wanted to copy data from your old phone to your new phone.” To continue, use this exact sequence:
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- Make sure both phones are fully charged and turned on.
- Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network.
- On the new Motorola phone, swipe down from the home screen to open the notification panel.
- Tap Android Setup.
- Tap Continue Setup Wizard.
- Follow the transfer prompts and select the source-phone path that matches your old device.
These labels come from Motorola’s guide at this support page. If Android Setup or Continue Setup Wizard is not present, the phone may have completed that wizard, the notification may have been dismissed, or your model may expose setup recovery under a different label. Use the model-specific user guide and the options shown in Settings rather than deleting data at random.
Resuming setup does not change the exclusions. Downloads, non-Play apps, non-Google accounts and the other items on Motorola’s list still need their own handling. Before starting a resumed copy, repeat the inventory and connection checks instead of assuming the second attempt will discover unsupported content.
Verify the result before retiring the old phone
Verification is where you catch the exclusions that a completion message cannot show. Work through the following checks on the new Motorola:
- Contacts: Search for contacts saved locally and on the SIM, not only contacts synchronized to Google.
- Messages: Open several conversations and confirm that multimedia attachments appear where expected.
- Photos and videos: Check recent items, older albums and any folders that matter for work or family records.
- Call history: Confirm that recent and important historical calls are present.
- Apps: Open the apps you rely on and test a sign-in, notification and locally stored record. Reinstall anything that was outside Google Play.
- Files: Search Downloads and other file locations for PDFs and documents; these are explicitly outside Motorola’s listed Android copy categories.
- Accounts and calendars: Check services that are not Google accounts. Motorola specifically warns that non-Google contacts and calendars are not included; WhatsApp is given as an example.
- Personalization: Recreate ringtones if needed, because Motorola lists them among the exclusions, and confirm wallpaper and key settings.
Use a representative sample rather than checking only totals. Open an old text thread with an attachment, a recent and an older photo, a contact saved to the SIM, and one app that stores records locally. This catches category-specific gaps that a quick glance at the home screen can miss.
Only after these checks should you reset, sell, recycle or hand back the old phone. Keep any separate exports or backups until you know the new device contains the information you need.
Troubleshoot a transfer that does not start or finish
The copy option never appears
Restart the setup flow if the phone is still in first-run configuration. If setup has already ended, use the recovery path above: open the notification panel, tap Android Setup, then Continue Setup Wizard. Confirm that both phones are on, charged and using the same Wi-Fi network, as Motorola specifies for this resumed process.
The phone charges but does not transfer over USB
A charging connection is not automatically a data connection. Check that the cable supports data and fits both ports. On the Motorola, open the USB connection notification or USB preferences and change No data transfer to the file-transfer mode offered by the device. Motorola’s USB documentation explains that available modes vary by supported device; do not assume that every cable, adapter or port combination can carry the migration.
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Some apps or records are missing
First compare the missing item with Motorola’s exclusions. A PDF in Downloads, a sideloaded app, a non-Google account, a service-specific contact or calendar and a ringtone may have been left behind by design. For an app that was copied but is empty, sign in and use that service’s own backup or restore feature. For an app that was not copied because it came from outside Google Play, obtain it again only from a source you trust and verify that its developer supports Android.
The iPhone transfer brought files but not an app
That result is consistent with Motorola’s description of the iPhone/iCloud route. It is based on Google Drive file copying, not an all-content iPhone clone. Install a compatible Android version manually and follow the app provider’s account-recovery or export instructions for data that the Drive step does not contain.
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The transfer appears complete but content is still arriving
Open the apps and galleries again after setup has finished. The wizard can complete its main step while apps and account data continue to restore. Do not erase the old phone until the verification list is complete.
The phones cannot see each other
Confirm that both devices are turned on and, for a resumed process, connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Return to the setup prompts on the new Motorola and follow the pairing method shown there. Avoid substituting Smart Connect or an unrelated file-sharing feature for the migration flow unless the model’s instructions specifically direct you to do so.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do not confuse Smart Connect with initial phone migration
Motorola’s Smart Connect information describes pairing devices, installing the app and sharing files or other connected-device functions. It is not presented as the initial Android phone-to-phone migration workflow. For a brand-new Motorola phone, begin with the setup wizard’s copy-data step; use Smart Connect later for the specific sharing or pairing task it supports.
When a separate backup or manual move is necessary
Use a separate method whenever the item is outside Motorola’s stated transfer scope or is too important to leave unverified. Examples include downloaded documents, ringtones, data in non-Google accounts, service-specific contacts and calendars, and apps installed outside Google Play. Export or back up those items through the relevant app or service before wiping the old phone. For an iPhone, expect to reinstall compatible apps and recover their data through each provider rather than assuming the Google Drive transfer handles it.
Do not interpret an exclusion as evidence that the data is lost. It means the standard setup copy does not claim to handle that category. Keep the old device available, use the service’s own export or backup controls, and confirm the result on the Motorola before removing the original data.
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The practical rule is simple: let the Motorola setup wizard handle the supported categories, then treat every exclusion as a separate checklist item. That approach gives you the broadest supported migration without mistaking a successful setup screen for a complete clone.
Quick checklist for a clean handoff
- Identify whether the old phone is Android or iPhone/iCloud.
- Read the new Motorola’s transfer prompt instead of assuming another model’s menu is identical.
- Keep both phones charged, on and available; use the same Wi-Fi when resuming a skipped setup.
- Check downloads, sideloaded apps, non-Google accounts, service-specific contacts and calendars, and ringtones separately.
- If a cable is requested, verify data support, port fit and the Motorola USB mode.
- Test contacts, messages, attachments, photos, videos, call history, apps, files and accounts.
- Reset or trade in the old phone only after the new one passes those checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I transfer everything to my new Motorola phone?
During setup, choose the copy-data option and follow the prompts for the old phone. Motorola supports many Android categories, but it does not promise a complete clone; downloads, outside-Play apps, non-Google accounts, some service data and ringtones need separate handling.
Can I transfer data after setup?
Yes. Motorola’s guide says to turn on and fully charge both phones, connect them to the same Wi-Fi network, then open the new phone’s notification panel and tap Android Setup > Continue Setup Wizard.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →How do I transfer from iPhone to Motorola?
Choose the iPhone or iCloud path shown during setup and follow the Google Drive instructions. This copies supported files to the Motorola and your Google account, but apps and app-specific data may require separate Android installation or account recovery.
Do I need a USB-C cable?
Not universally. Use a cable only when the setup flow calls for it, and verify that it supports data, fits both phones and matches the transfer method. A Motorola USB connection may default to No data transfer until you select a file-transfer mode.
Why are my PDFs or downloaded files missing?
Motorola lists downloads such as PDFs outside the Android setup copy categories. Move or export those files separately before erasing the old phone.
Is Smart Connect the same as phone migration?
No. Motorola describes Smart Connect for pairing devices and sharing files or other connected-device functions. Start a new-phone migration with the setup wizard’s copy-data step.
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Use the new Motorola’s setup wizard, choose the path matching your old phone, and verify the result before wiping the old device. Android transfers cover many common categories; iPhone transfers use a separate Google Drive workflow. Treat Motorola’s listed exclusions as a manual-backup checklist, and check cable data support and USB mode only when a wired transfer is actually requested.
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