Transfer your data while setting up the Nothing Phone (3). Charge both phones, connect the Nothing phone to Wi‑Fi or mobile service, choose the correct source-phone option, connect or pair the old phone as prompted, sign in with a Google Account, select the data to copy, and start the transfer. Nothing documents an Android QR-code route as well as a cable route, so use the connection method shown by your setup screen rather than assuming every software version behaves identically.
What you need before starting
The transfer is designed to run from the Nothing Phone (3) setup wizard. Have the following ready before you begin:
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- Both phones charged: Nothing advises a full charge on the source phone and the new phone. A transfer can fail or be interrupted when either device runs short of power.
- A reliable connection: The Nothing phone must be connected to Wi‑Fi or mobile service during setup. A good Wi‑Fi connection is recommended where available.
- A Google Account: Nothing recommends signing in with one so the phone can download apps and copy content during setup.
- The correct cable or adapter: iPhone transfers use a direct wired connection. For a Lightning-equipped iPhone, Nothing specifies a Lightning-to-USB-C adapter or cable. Check the connector on your particular iPhone before you start; do not assume every iPhone uses Lightning.
- An unlocked source phone: Keep an Android phone unlocked and ready to scan a setup QR code or confirm a cable connection, depending on the prompt. Keep an iPhone unlocked so it can ask you to approve the wired connection.
Choose the right transfer route
| Source phone | Connection described by Nothing | What to prepare | Important transfer notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Direct cable connection to the Nothing Phone (3) | A cable or adapter matching the iPhone connector; Lightning models need a Lightning-to-USB-C adapter or cable | Texts, photos, contacts, most apps and music can move by cable. Apps that do not transfer can be downloaded through Google Play. |
| Android phone | Setup QR-code flow or a cable flow, according to the prompt on the Nothing phone | Old phone unlocked; Wi‑Fi or mobile service on the new phone; Google Account available | Follow the connection method displayed by the setup wizard because Nothing documents both methods. |
Transfer from an iPhone
Complete the iPhone-specific messaging steps before moving the SIM or phone number. Then use the Nothing Phone (3) setup wizard and a compatible cable.
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1. Turn off iMessage and FaceTime before moving your number
- On the iPhone, open Settings > Messages and turn off iMessage.
- Open Settings > FaceTime and turn off FaceTime.
- If other Apple devices still have your number registered for iMessage, deregister the number on those devices as well.
- If the SIM has already been removed, Nothing says to contact Apple to deregister the number.
These steps belong before the SIM or number is moved. They are separate from copying files, but they prevent the number from remaining associated with Apple messaging services after you switch to the Nothing phone.
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2. Start Nothing Phone (3) setup
- Turn on the Nothing Phone (3) and begin its setup wizard.
- Connect it to Wi‑Fi or mobile service when prompted.
- Choose the option indicating that your old phone is an iPhone.
3. Connect the phones directly
- Keep the iPhone unlocked.
- Connect it directly to the Nothing phone with a compatible cable or adapter. A Lightning-equipped iPhone requires the Lightning-to-USB-C accessory specified by Nothing.
- Approve or confirm the connection on the iPhone when its prompt appears.
- Sign in to your Google Account on the Nothing phone when the setup wizard requests it.
Use a connector that fits the iPhone you actually own. The adapter requirement differs by iPhone port, so buying or carrying a Lightning accessory does not guarantee compatibility with an iPhone that uses a different connector.
4. Select the content to copy
- Review the categories presented by the setup wizard.
- Deselect anything you do not want on the Nothing Phone (3).
- Tap Copy to begin the transfer.
Nothing says its cable transfer can move texts, photos, contacts, most apps and music. An app that does not transfer can be downloaded through Google Play after setup. The setup screen is the authority for the categories available in your particular transfer; review it instead of assuming every item on the iPhone will be copied.
Transfer from an Android phone
Nothing’s Android instructions support two connection styles: a QR-code flow and a cable flow. The setup wizard decides which one it presents, so do not skip a displayed QR step or substitute a cable if the screen is asking you to pair by code.
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1. Prepare the old Android phone
- Leave the old phone unlocked and close enough to scan the setup QR code if that method appears.
- If the setup screen asks for a cable, keep the old phone ready to confirm the wired connection.
- Make sure the Google Account you intend to use is available for sign-in on the Nothing phone.
2. Start setup on the Nothing Phone (3)
- Turn on the Nothing phone and proceed through the initial setup.
- Connect it to Wi‑Fi or mobile service.
- Choose the option for transferring from an Android phone.
- Read the next screen carefully. It will direct you to scan a QR code or connect by cable, depending on the setup version and the route offered.
3. Pair or connect as shown
- For a QR-code flow, use the unlocked old Android phone to scan the setup QR code shown by the Nothing phone.
- For a cable flow, connect the phones as directed and confirm the connection on the old Android device if it asks.
- Sign in to the Google Account on the Nothing phone when prompted.
4. Choose what to copy and start
- Review the categories offered by the setup wizard.
- Leave selected only the content you want on the Nothing Phone (3).
- Start the copy and leave the phones connected or paired until the setup screen reports that the transfer stage is complete.
Because Nothing provides both QR and cable procedures, the exact pairing screen can differ between setup versions. The correct action is the one named on your Nothing phone’s current screen.
QR code or cable: how to interpret the setup prompt
| Prompt you see | Action | Source-phone state |
|---|---|---|
| Scan a setup QR code | Use the old Android phone to scan the code displayed on the Nothing Phone (3). | Keep the Android phone unlocked and ready to scan. |
| Connect by cable | Attach the phones with the compatible cable and approve the connection on the source phone if asked. | Keep the source phone unlocked; for iPhone, confirm the connection on the iPhone. |
Nothing’s current guidance does not say that every Phone (3) setup build uses one universal connection method. Treat the wizard’s prompt as the deciding factor, particularly when transferring from Android.
What the iPhone cable transfer can copy
For the iPhone route, Nothing specifically identifies these categories as transferable by cable:
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- Text messages
- Photos
- Contacts
- Most apps
- Music
“Most apps” is not the same as every app. If an app does not transfer, install it through Google Play on the Nothing phone. The setup wizard’s category screen lets you leave selected data behind; use it when you want a clean start rather than a complete copy.
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The order matters for iPhone users. Turn off iMessage and FaceTime before moving the SIM or number. Check other Apple devices that still use the number for iMessage and deregister it there too. If the SIM has already been removed, Nothing directs you to contact Apple to deregister the number. This number-deregistration work is independent of the cable copy, so completing the file transfer does not replace it.
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The setup wizard does not show the expected source-phone option
Return to the source-selection screen within the setup flow and choose the option matching the old phone: iPhone for an Apple phone or Android for an Android phone. The transfer instructions apply while setting up the Nothing Phone (3), so make the source selection before proceeding past the relevant setup screen.
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The iPhone will not connect
- Unlock the iPhone before attaching the cable.
- Use a cable or adapter that matches the iPhone’s actual connector. Nothing specifically names a Lightning-to-USB-C adapter or cable for Lightning-equipped models.
- Watch the iPhone for a connection-confirmation prompt and approve it.
The Android setup asks for a QR code but you prepared a cable
Use the QR-code route shown on the Nothing phone and scan it with the unlocked old Android device. Nothing documents both QR and cable methods, but the setup screen determines which one is active for your transfer.
The Android setup asks for a cable
Follow the cable instructions on the Nothing phone, connect the old Android phone, and confirm the connection on that phone if prompted. Do not switch to an unprompted pairing method merely because another Nothing guide describes it.
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Restart the attempt only after both phones have been fully charged, the Nothing phone has a good Wi‑Fi or mobile-service connection, and the source phone is unlocked and ready to approve the connection. These are the prerequisites Nothing identifies for avoiding interruptions and completing the transfer.
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An app is missing after an iPhone transfer
Nothing says that apps which do not transfer can be downloaded through Google Play. Search for the app there after setup rather than treating its absence as evidence that the cable transfer failed.
Messages still behave as though the number belongs to iMessage
Verify that iMessage is off under Settings > Messages, FaceTime is off under Settings > FaceTime, and the number has been deregistered from any other Apple devices that still use it. If the SIM was removed before deregistration, contact Apple as Nothing instructs.
A practical transfer checklist
- Both phones are fully charged.
- The Nothing Phone (3) is connected to Wi‑Fi or mobile service.
- A Google Account is available for sign-in.
- The source phone is unlocked.
- For iPhone, iMessage and FaceTime are turned off before moving the SIM or number.
- For iPhone, the number is deregistered from other Apple devices, or Apple has been contacted if the SIM was already removed.
- The cable or adapter matches the source phone’s connector.
- The correct source-phone option is selected in the Nothing setup wizard.
- Android users follow the QR-code or cable method actually displayed by the setup screen.
- The categories to copy are reviewed before tapping the copy command.
- After an iPhone transfer, missing apps are looked for in Google Play.
Which method should you use?
If the old phone is an iPhone, use the direct cable route and complete the iMessage and FaceTime deregistration steps first. That is the route Nothing specifies for moving texts, photos, contacts, most apps and music.
If the old phone is Android, begin with the Nothing Phone (3) setup wizard and follow its displayed pairing method. The wizard may request a QR-code scan or a cable connection; both are documented by Nothing, and neither should be treated as universally available on every setup version.
In both cases, the safest sequence is the same: prepare power and connectivity, select the matching source phone, connect or pair only as prompted, sign in with a Google Account, review the copy categories, and start the transfer.
Quick Recap
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