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The easiest and most official way to transfer data from Android to iPhone is by using Apple’s Move to iOS app during the initial setup of your new or factory-reset iPhone.
Method 1: The Official “Move to iOS” App (Best for Entire Phone)
- Turn on your new iPhone and place it near your Android phone.
- Follow the setup screens until you reach the Transfer Your Apps & Data page.
- Tap From Android.
- On your Android phone, download and open the Move to iOS app from the Google Play Store.
- Agree to the terms and tap Continue on both devices.
- Enter the one-time 6-digit or 10-digit code shown on your iPhone into your Android phone.
- Select the specific data categories you want to move and wait for the loading bar to finish completely on the iPhone.
Method 2: Transfer Without App (New Direct QR Method)
- On the iPhone’s Transfer Your Apps & Data setup page, tap From Android, then select Transfer without App.
- Place the Android device next to your iPhone and tap Continue.
- Use your Android camera to scan the QR code displayed on your iPhone.
- Choose the files and data you want to send and complete the prompt on your iOS device.
Method 3: Manual Transfer via Google Account (Best for Contacts & Calendar)
- On your Android phone, make sure your contacts, calendar, and notes are synced to your Google Account.
- On your iPhone, open Settings, tap Mail, then tap Accounts.
- Select Add Account and sign in with your Google login info.
- Toggle on Contacts, Calendars, and Mail to sync them instantly.
Method 4: Cloud Storage (Best for Photos, Music, and Documents)
- Download Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox on your Android device.
- Upload the files or folders you want to save from your Android phone to the cloud.
- Download that same cloud app on your iPhone and log into your account to access or download your files.
Pro Tip
Do not sell, give away or reset the Android phone for at least seven days. Use that week to open every important app on the iPhone once, receive one banking or verification code and send yourself one WhatsApp message. If something is missing, the old phone is still your fastest way to fix it.
What Can You Move From Android to iPhone?
Move to iOS can transfer a lot in one go. Depending on your phone and versions, it can move:
- Contacts
- Message history
- Camera photos and videos, and photo albums
- Files and folders
- Web bookmarks
- Mail accounts
- Calendars
- Accessibility and display settings
- WhatsApp chats, through the official WhatsApp option
It also looks at which of your Android apps have free iPhone versions and offers to download them. Paid apps are added to your wish list, because you must buy them again on the App Store.
Before You Start: A 10 Minute Checklist
Almost every failed transfer comes from something that could have been fixed beforehand.
- Charge both phones or keep them plugged in. A transfer can take an hour or more.
- Check the iPhone storage. Everything you move must fit. If your Android has 150 GB of photos and the iPhone has 128 GB, you must choose what to move.
- Update Android. Install the latest system update and update the Google Play Store.
- Turn off VPN and battery savers on the Android phone.
- Turn off Smart Network Switch or Adaptive WiFi on the Android phone, because these features can drop the private WiFi connection.
- Keep the phones close and leave the screens on. Do not answer calls or use the phones during the transfer.
- Back up Android to Google, so you have a safety copy if something goes wrong.
- Write down your important passwords and two factor codes. Authenticator apps do not always move.
Method 1: Transfer With Move to iOS (Step by Step)
Move to iOS is free, and it moves the most data with the least effort.
On the iPhone
- Turn on the new iPhone and follow the setup steps until you see Apps & Data.
- Tap Move Data from Android, then tap Continue.
- A six or ten digit code appears on the screen. Leave it visible.
On the Android Phone
- Open Google Play, search for Move to iOS and install it.
- Open the app and tap Continue, then Agree, then Next.
- Enter the code shown on your iPhone.
- Wait while the phone connects to the temporary WiFi network from the iPhone.
- Select the content you want to transfer and tap Continue.
Finishing the Transfer
- Watch the loading bar on the iPhone. Do not stop until it finishes, even if the Android says the transfer is complete.
- When the bar ends, tap Done on the Android phone and Continue on the iPhone.
- Follow the on screen steps to finish setting up your Apple Account, Face ID and Siri.
Once setup ends, open Photos, Contacts, Messages and Calendar to confirm everything came across.
If Your iPhone Is Already Set Up
Move to iOS only appears during first time setup. You have two choices:
- Erase the iPhone and start again. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, then set it up again and choose Move Data from Android. Only do this if you have not put anything on the phone you want to keep.
- Use the manual methods below. These work on any iPhone at any time.
Method 2: Move Each Type of Data Manually
Contacts
- On Android, make sure contacts are saved to your Google account, not only to the phone or SIM.
- On the iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Contacts > Contacts Accounts > Add Account and choose Google.
- Sign in and turn on Contacts. Your contacts sync to the iPhone.
If your contacts are stored on the SIM card, put the SIM in the iPhone and go to Settings > Apps > Contacts > Import SIM Contacts.
Calendars and Email
Add your Google or other accounts to the iPhone in Settings > Apps > Mail or Calendar and turn on the items you want to sync. Calendar events and emails then appear automatically.
Photos and Videos
- With Google Photos: install Google Photos on the iPhone, sign in with the same Google account and let your library appear. You can view everything, and you can save selected items to the iPhone.
- With a computer: connect the Android phone to a computer, copy the DCIM folder to the computer, connect the iPhone and add the photos to the Photos app. On a Mac you can use Finder or the Photos app, and on Windows you can use the Apple Devices app or iCloud for Windows.
- With cloud storage: upload photos to a cloud service, then download them on the iPhone through its app.
Files and Documents
Upload documents to Google Drive, OneDrive or another cloud service, then open the same app on the iPhone or add the account in the Files app. This also keeps your files in one place for the future.
Music
Copy your music files to a computer and add them to the Music app or use your streaming subscription on the iPhone. Streaming libraries such as Spotify and Anghami follow your account, so you only need to sign in.
WhatsApp has an official way to move chats from Android to iPhone through Move to iOS. Open WhatsApp on Android, go to Settings > Chats > Move chats to iOS and follow the steps. Use the same phone number on both phones, and do this before you erase the Android phone.
What Does Not Transfer From Android to iPhone
Knowing this in advance saves stress later.
- Apps themselves. Android apps cannot run on iPhone. You download the iPhone version and sign in again.
- App data and game progress. Most stays in the app account, so sign in with the same account. Games without an account may lose progress.
- Saved passwords. Chrome and Google Password Manager passwords can be used on the iPhone by signing in to Chrome or by importing them into the Passwords app.
- Purchased apps. Paid apps must be purchased again on the App Store.
- Ringtones, wallpapers and system settings. These are set up again.
- Payment cards in Google Wallet and Samsung Pay. Add them to Apple Wallet.
- Health and fitness history in some apps. Check the app for its own export or sync option.
Move Data From Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and Other Android Phones
Move to iOS works on almost all Android brands that have Google Play, so the steps are identical for Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, Google Pixel and others. The menu names on your Android phone may look slightly different, but the process is the same.
What About Huawei Phones Without Google Services?
Many Huawei phones sold in recent years do not include Google Play, so the Move to iOS app may not install from the usual store. In that case, use the manual methods: copy photos and videos to a computer, export contacts to a file or to a cloud account, and sync mail and calendars through their own accounts. It takes more steps but works on every phone.
UAE Checklist: Banking, UAE PASS, WhatsApp and Your Number
People moving from Android to iPhone in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and other emirates should check the items below before erasing the old phone.
- Banking apps. Many UAE banks link your account to one device. Install your bank’s app on the iPhone, sign in and follow the device registration steps. Some banks ask for an SMS code, a call or a branch visit, so finish this while the old phone still works.
- UAE PASS and government apps. Set them up again on the iPhone and verify your identity if asked. Keep your Emirates ID ready.
- WhatsApp. Back up and move chats before you switch, and verify your number on the iPhone.
- Your number and SIM. Move your SIM card to the iPhone if it fits. If you use an eSIM, contact your carrier, such as e& or du, to move it, and test calls and mobile data before you wipe the Android phone.
- Two factor apps. Move each account to the new authenticator or set it up again, because these apps often do not transfer automatically.
- Work apps. Ask your IT team if a work profile or email needs to be approved for the new device.
After the Transfer: Finish Setting Up Your iPhone
- Check your data. Open Photos, Contacts, Messages and Calendar and confirm everything is there.
- Download your apps. Use the App Store to install the iPhone versions of the apps Move to iOS suggested.
- Set up iCloud. Turn on iCloud Photos and iCloud Backup so your new iPhone is protected from the start.
- Set up Apple Wallet and Face ID.
- Check the iPhone you bought. If it is second hand or came from abroad, run the tests to check iPhone is original and learn how to check iPhone model country.
- Try the camera. Learn how to edit videos on iPhone so your old clips and new ones look their best.
- Keep the Android phone for a week. Do not erase it until you have checked banking, WhatsApp and messages.
- Erase the Android phone safely. When you are ready, sign out of your Google account, remove the SIM and memory card and perform a factory reset from Settings.
If you are choosing between phones and tablets across brands as well, see our guide to the best Android tablet 2026 for work and events.
Fixes When Move to iOS Does Not Work
There Is No Move Data From Android Option
The iPhone has already been set up. Erase it and start again, or use the manual methods.
The Code Does Not Appear or Will Not Connect
Turn on WiFi on both phones, move them closer and try again. Turn off the VPN and any WiFi assistant features on Android. If the problem continues, restart both phones. If the connection keeps dropping, use these tips for laptop WiFi connection fixes, because the same router and signal basics apply.
The Transfer Is Stuck or Fails Halfway
Keep both screens on and do not open other apps. If it stays stuck for 30 minutes, restart both phones and try again with fewer items, for example photos first and messages second.
The iPhone Says There Is Not Enough Space
Choose less content or delete large items on the Android phone. You can also move photos by cable to a computer and add only the ones you need.
Some Photos or Contacts Are Missing
Check that they were selected before the transfer and that contacts were saved to the phone or Google account, not to an app that syncs separately. You can run the manual method for the missing items.
WhatsApp Chats Did Not Move
The chat transfer needs the same phone number, a recent WhatsApp version on both phones and must be started from the Android phone. If it fails, keep the chats on Android until you fix it, and do not erase the old phone.
Switching Your Team From Android to iPhone? Test Before You Buy
Many businesses across the UAE are moving staff from Android phones to iPhones, especially for sales, hospitality and event roles. Buying dozens of phones before you know how the change works is a risk. Renting a small group of iPhones first lets you test your apps, email setup, security rules and staff training for a few weeks, then decide what to buy.
It also helps for short projects, exhibitions and roadshows, when a team needs a set of matching iPhones for only a short time, and the phones can be set up fresh instead of moving personal data.
Our guide to first time laptop rental covers how renting works for a first time business customer, and you can read about the cost benefits of rental to see when it is cheaper than buying. To check which iPhone models are available for your dates and team size, contact our rental team.
Frequently Asked Questions About Transferring Data From Android to iPhone
How do I transfer data from Android to iPhone?
Use the Move to iOS app during iPhone setup. Tap Move Data from Android, enter the code on the Android phone, choose your content and wait until the iPhone loading bar finishes. Manual methods work if the iPhone is already set up.
Can I transfer data from Android to iPhone after setup?
Move to iOS only works during first time setup. After setup, either erase the iPhone and start again or move data manually with Google accounts, Google Photos, cloud storage and a computer.
How long does it take to transfer data from Android to iPhone?
Usually 20 minutes to over an hour, depending on how much data you move and how strong the connection is. Large photo and video libraries take the longest. Keep both phones plugged in until the iPhone bar finishes.
Can I transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone?
Yes. WhatsApp has an official method that uses Move to iOS. Open WhatsApp on Android, go to Settings, Chats and choose Move chats to iOS. Use the same phone number on both phones.
Does Move to iOS transfer apps?
No. It cannot move Android apps to iPhone. It shows which of your apps have free iPhone versions and helps you download them. Paid apps must be bought again, and you must sign in to each app.
What data cannot be transferred from Android to iPhone?
Android apps and app data, saved system settings, ringtones, paid apps, wallet cards and some music or game progress do not move. Photos, contacts, messages, calendars and mail accounts do.
Can I transfer from Android to iPhone without WiFi?
Move to iOS creates its own private WiFi link between the phones, so you do not need a router. If you want no wireless transfer at all, copy files by cable to a computer and add them to the iPhone.
Will my UAE banking apps work on the new iPhone?
You must install and sign in to them again. Many UAE banks link the account to one device, so you may need to register the new iPhone before the app works. Do this before erasing the Android phone.
Can I rent iPhones before switching my team from Android?
Yes. You can rent a set of iPhones for a short period, test your apps and workflows, and then decide whether to buy. Contact the rental team with your dates and quantities to check availability.
