The safest way to transfer data to a new phone is to use the manufacturer’s setup-time migration tool, keep both phones charged and connected, and keep the old phone untouched until you have checked your messages, photos, videos, and contacts on the replacement. The exact route depends on whether you are moving between iPhones, between Android phones, or switching platforms.
Start the move while the new phone is still in its initial setup screen whenever possible. Some transfer tools are offered only during setup, and cross-platform tools may require you to erase a phone that has already been configured.
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Choose the correct transfer route first
Your phone pairing, setup status, access to the old device, and the type of data you need determine the right method.
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| Old phone | New phone | Primary route | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone | iPhone | Quick Start, direct wireless or wired transfer, or an iCloud/computer backup | Timing varies with network conditions and the amount of data; cable compatibility depends on the models. |
| Android | Android | Setup-time cable or wireless copy, or restore from a Google Account backup | Downloads, hidden-folder media, some app data, and data held by non-Google accounts may not copy. |
| Android | iPhone | Apple’s Move to iOS during iPhone setup | If iPhone setup is complete, you must either erase and restart setup or move content manually. |
| iPhone | Android | The new Android phone’s setup transfer, by cable or supported wireless method | Coverage varies by device and method; iCloud-only media and some message or app data may need separate handling. |
Official instructions can change with the phone model and operating-system version. Keep the old phone available until your own checks show that the data you need is present.
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Prepare both phones before starting
Preparation prevents most avoidable interruptions and gives you a recovery path if an item does not appear immediately.
- Charge both phones, or keep them connected to power for the entire transfer.
- Know the old phone’s passcode or screen-lock credential. You may also need the Apple Account or Google Account used for backups and synchronization.
- Connect to Wi-Fi or mobile internet as the setup instructions require. Wireless migration creates or uses a local connection, while cloud restoration needs internet access.
- Check free storage on the new phone. The transferred content must fit, and a cloud restore may continue downloading after the initial setup.
- Install pending system updates only if the phone’s setup flow requests them; do not erase the old phone to make space before verification.
- Back up app-specific data according to the app’s own instructions. Device migration does not guarantee that every private app database or account session will be restored.
- Write down any accounts that store contacts, calendars, photos, or messages outside the account used by the phone’s main backup service.
Do not start by wiping the old phone or removing its SIM and accounts. The old device is your source and your fallback until verification is complete.
iPhone to iPhone: use Quick Start or a backup
Direct Quick Start transfer
Apple’s Quick Start can configure a nearby new iPhone from an old iPhone or iPad. Apple’s instructions are available at Use Quick Start to transfer data to a new iPhone or iPad.
- Connect the old iPhone to Wi-Fi and turn on Bluetooth.
- Turn on the new iPhone and place it beside the old one. Follow the Quick Start prompt that appears on the old device.
- Scan the animation shown on the new iPhone, then enter the old iPhone’s passcode when asked.
- Choose a direct transfer from the old device or an iCloud download.
- Keep both phones near each other and connected to power until the on-screen process finishes.
With direct transfer, both phones must remain available until completion. With an iCloud download, basic setup can finish while apps and other content continue downloading in the background. Apple says transfer time depends on network conditions and the amount of data being transferred, so a fixed duration cannot be promised.
Wired iPhone migration
Apple also documents a cable-based route in Use a wired connection to transfer data to a new iPhone or iPad. The required cable depends on the ports and models involved. For example, Apple documents USB-C migration between iPhone 15 or later models. If the phones use different connectors, an appropriate cable or adapter is needed; a cable is not required for the wireless or iCloud routes.
When the old iPhone is unavailable
If the old iPhone cannot be used, restore from an iCloud backup or, where available, a computer backup. Sign in with the account that created the backup and allow the phone to finish downloading content before judging anything missing.
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Android to Android: cable, wireless copy, or Google backup
Copy during Android setup
Google supports both cable and wireless setup copying. Its Android Help guide, Copy apps & data from an Android to a new Android device, states that the two methods support the same data in the context of that setup flow.
- Turn on the new Android phone and begin setup.
- When prompted to copy apps and data, choose the cable or wireless option.
- For a wired transfer, connect the phones with a compatible data cable. An adapter may be necessary when their ports differ.
- For a wireless transfer, follow the pairing instructions shown on both phones and keep them close together.
- Unlock the old phone, approve the connection, select the categories to copy, and leave both devices powered until the progress indicator finishes.
Google’s support estimate for setup copying is “a few minutes to a few hours,” depending on the amount of content and the devices involved. It is an estimate, not a guaranteed completion time.
What Android setup can copy
Google lists apps and some app data, music, photos, videos, phone and SIM contacts, text messages, multimedia in messages, many settings, wallpaper, and call history among the items that can copy during setup. The exact list depends on the device and Android version.
Google also identifies content that may not copy: downloads, media stored in hidden folders, apps installed outside Google Play, unsupported app data, data belonging to non-Google accounts, and some settings. Contacts or calendars synchronized with another service must be restored by adding that account on the new phone rather than assuming the device copy will include them.
Restore from a Google Account backup
If the old Android phone is unavailable, choose the restore-from-backup option during setup and sign in to the Google Account that holds the backup. Some backups also require the old device’s screen-lock credential. Google’s general backup guidance is at Back up or restore data on your Android device.
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Android to iPhone: use Move to iOS before finishing setup
Apple’s Move from Android to iPhone or iPad flow is designed to run while the iPhone is being set up. It can transfer contacts, message history and SMS, camera photos and videos, photo albums, files and folders, calendars, and other supported categories.
- Start setting up the new iPhone and stop when the setup assistant offers the option to move data from Android.
- On the Android phone, install and open Move to iOS, then follow its prompts.
- Enter the temporary code displayed by the iPhone. The iPhone creates a temporary Wi-Fi network for this process.
- Choose the categories to transfer and leave both phones near one another, powered, and undisturbed.
- Wait until the progress indicator on the iPhone finishes before using either phone for another task.
Apple supports a wireless transfer and a direct USB-C connection on compatible devices. Music, books, and PDFs are not included in the automatic move and must be transferred manually.
If iPhone setup is already complete
Apple says Move to iOS must be used during setup. If you have finished setting up the iPhone, the stated choices are to erase the iPhone and begin setup again, or move the content manually. Do not tell yourself that opening Move to iOS later will merge everything into an already configured iPhone; that is not the documented flow.
Avoid interruptions
Keep Move to iOS in the foreground on the Android phone when required. Apple warns that switching apps or receiving a call during the transfer can interrupt it. If the process stops, restart the official flow rather than deleting data from the old phone.
iPhone to Android: follow the new phone’s setup choices
Current Android setup guidance supports cable and, on supported devices, wireless transfer from an iPhone. Begin with the new Android phone’s on-screen instructions and review the item list it presents. Google’s guide is Switch to a new Android device.
- Start setup on the new Android phone and choose the option to copy data from an iPhone when offered.
- Select the cable route if the phones and cable support it; otherwise use the supported wireless method.
- Approve prompts on the iPhone, select the categories offered, and keep both phones connected and powered.
- After copying, follow the separate instructions for switching off iMessage and for bringing iCloud photos and videos into Google Photos if those items are stored in iCloud.
Do not assume that every iCloud-hosted photo arrives through a standard phone-to-phone copy. Message formats, app data, and cloud-only media can vary by Android model and transfer method. Check the new phone’s item list and use the manufacturer’s specific instructions for anything excluded.
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Protect the three data types people miss most
Messages
Text messages and multimedia messages are commonly included in the official setup routes, but support differs by platform pairing. Android-to-Android setup can include text messages and multimedia in messages; Move to iOS can include message history and SMS. Cross-platform app conversations may require the app’s own backup and restore procedure.
Open several conversations on the new phone, including a recent thread, an older thread, and one containing a photo or video. Do not erase the old phone merely because the messaging app has installed; installation is not proof that its private history has restored.
Photos and videos
Camera photos and videos and photo albums are supported categories in Move to iOS, while Android setup can copy photos and videos that are included in the selected transfer. Downloads, hidden-folder media, and cloud-only libraries can be exceptions. Let any cloud photo service finish synchronizing before deciding that a photo is absent.
Contacts
Contacts may be stored on the phone, SIM, Apple Account, Google Account, or another synchronization service. Google says contacts saved to Google sync when that account is added to the new phone, while contacts synchronized elsewhere may not be included in Android setup transfer. On either platform, sign in to every account that originally supplied contacts and check the account settings before exporting or deleting anything.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verify the new phone before retiring the old one
Verification is the point at which you decide whether the move succeeded. Perform it while the old phone still works and remains signed in.
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- Open Photos or the chosen photo service and check recent images, older albums, videos, and any folders you rely on.
- Open Contacts and search for several names, including contacts you know came from different accounts.
- Check calendars, notes, files, call history, and other categories that matter to you.
- Open your most important apps and confirm that their accounts, downloads, and app-specific data are present.
- Leave the new phone on power and internet while cloud restoration and photo synchronization finish. On Android, full backup restoration can take up to 24 hours according to Google.
If an item is missing, keep the old phone intact, identify where that item was stored, and use the relevant account or app backup rather than repeating a blind device reset.
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Troubleshoot a transfer that stalls or misses content
The progress bar appears frozen
- Keep both phones powered, nearby, and connected as instructed.
- Do not switch away from a transfer app when the platform warns that doing so can interrupt the process.
- Check that the destination has enough free storage.
- For a wired transfer, reseat the cable and confirm it supports data, not only charging.
- For a wireless transfer, keep the phones close and avoid calls or other activity that interrupts the transfer app.
If the official support flow tells you to restart, do so while the old phone still contains the original data. A failed attempt does not justify erasing the source.
Some contacts are missing
Determine whether those contacts were saved to the phone, SIM, Google, Apple, or another account. Add and sign in to the corresponding account on the new phone, then enable its contacts synchronization. A device-to-device copy cannot substitute for access to an account that was never included in that copy.
An app’s data is absent
App installation and app-data restoration are separate. Some apps restore only after you sign in; others require a backup created inside the app before the phone move. Google specifically notes that app support varies and cites WhatsApp as an example requiring a prior Android backup. Follow the app’s own documented restore steps.
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First distinguish local camera files from cloud libraries, downloads, and hidden folders. Leave the new phone online while synchronization completes, and check the original account. Android’s setup exclusions include downloads and hidden-folder media; an iPhone-to-Android copy may also require a separate iCloud-to-Google Photos process.
Erase, trade in, or give away the old phone only after verification
Once your messages, photos, videos, contacts, and other essential accounts are confirmed on the new phone, sign out of the old device’s accounts, disable device-tracking or activation locks as the platform requires, remove the SIM or memory card, and perform the platform’s factory reset. Keep a record of the new phone’s successful sign-in and backup before handing over the old one.
If verification is incomplete, do not erase, trade in, or give away the old phone. It may be the only place where an excluded download, hidden-folder photo, app database, or non-synchronized contact still exists.
What determines transfer time and coverage
Transfer duration is controlled by data volume, connection type, network conditions, phone hardware, operating-system version, and whether the process is copying locally or restoring from the cloud. Apple explicitly says Quick Start timing varies with network conditions and the amount of data. Google describes Android setup copying as taking from a few minutes to a few hours and says a backup restoration can take up to 24 hours to finish fully.
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Wired transfer can avoid some wireless interruptions, but it requires a compatible data cable and possibly an adapter. Wireless and cloud methods avoid buying a cable but depend more heavily on battery level, local connectivity, and internet speed. No route guarantees that every account, hidden file, cloud-only photo, message format, or private app database will migrate.
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