With so many excellent Android phones on the market, iPhone owners have plenty of reasons to consider making the switch to Google’s mobile operating system. Seeing as you can use many of the same apps, make calls, watch videos and take photos whether you are using an iPhone or an Android phone, your options expand greatly by being open to swapping to the other phone operating system. You could even try out a different type of phone that isn’t currently made by Apple, such as one with a foldable screen or a 200-megapixel camera.
Yet, making the switch can be pretty intimidating if you’ve never done so before, especially if you’ve spent many years with an iPhone. Making the switch from iPhone to Android isn’t just switching phones; it’s switching ecosystems too. But the process is a lot easier than you think! Whether you’re switching to a Pixel, a Samsung or another Android handheld, we’ve got you covered.
A few taps can help you backup your information in iCloud, just in case.
But first: Back up and prep
Before you do anything, we highly recommend backing up your existing iPhone. Not only do you want to make sure that all of your precious data is stored away in case something goes awry, but this also makes it a lot easier if you just want to transfer specific data like photos and videos. You can backup to iCloud, though you might have an easier time later on if you use Google One.
In addition to backing up, we also recommend checking the transfer process of any authenticator apps and password managers. You don’t want to get locked out of any important apps or services on your new phone.
Next, turn off FaceTime and iMessage on your iPhone so you don’t miss any incoming calls or messages. To disable FaceTime, head to Settings, FaceTime and then select Turn off FaceTime. To disable iMessage, head to Settings, then Messages and then select Turn off iMessage. Alternatively, you can also deregister iMessage by heading to this Apple support page.
You should also sign up for a Google account if you don’t already have one. You don’t necessarily need one to use an Android phone, but it does significantly improve the experience since it allows you to use Google services like Gmail and Google Photos.
Lastly, ensure both the iPhone and your new Android handheld are powered on and charged to at least 80% battery life, and you’re ready to start.
Transferring data using a USB-C cable can help make the move from iPhone to Android an easier one.
Transferring your data with a cable
There are a few ways to transfer data from your iPhone to your new Android handset. The easiest and fastest way to do so is with a cable. If you have an iPhone 15 or newer you can use a USB-C to USB-C cable, but if you have an older iPhone you’ll have to either get a USB-C to Lightning cable or a USB-C adapter.
Different Android handsets might have slightly different procedures, but generally speaking, you follow the on-screen instructions when setting up your phone. If you’re switching to a Pixel, you should see Set up using another device, at which point select iPhone or iPad.
When prompted, activate your SIM (be it physical or eSIM) and set up your biometrics as well — most Android phones use a fingerprint sensor. You would then select Copy data from your iPhone. You will also be prompted to connect both devices using a cable.
After connecting the two phones, you will then be asked to select the data types you want to transfer, such as Contacts, Photos, Messages and more. Obviously, the more data types you select, the longer the transfer process will take. You can also choose to copy Apps, which will essentially bring up a list of matching apps over on Google Play that you can then download.
While most of your data should be able to transition over to your Android phone, keep in mind that some specific services might not be available. For instance, CNET Video Producer Carly Marsh tried to make the switch from iPhone to a Motorola Razr, but found that her Apple notes could not naturally transition without manually moving them to Google Keep first.
The Android Switch app can help move your data from the iPhone to an Android phone.
Transferring your data wirelessly or with an app
Certain Android handsets offer a way to transfer data wirelessly with the help of an app. If you’re switching from an iPhone to a Pixel, you can download the Android Switch App. If you’re switching to a Samsung device, you can get the Samsung Smart Switch Mobile app instead.
You would do the same exact setup on your Android phone — signing up on the Google account, activating the SIM card, etc. — but when it comes time to connect the two devices, you can select Copy without cable or Transfer wirelessly depending on the app. You might be prompted to enter your Apple ID password if your iPhone uses encryption for backup.
Transferring data from the cloud
If you don’t have too much data to transfer, or you’d rather just set up your Android phone as new, you can also choose to transfer your data from the cloud. This applies only to select data, however. If you use Google One, you can sync only photos, videos, contacts and calendars. To do so, simply backup your iPhone’s data with Google One and then open the Google One app on your Android phone.
If you use Samsung’s Smart Switch app, you have the option to transfer your iCloud data to your new Samsung phone. You would select Get data from iCloud and then login when prompted.
The cards in your Apple Wallet will need to be manually moved to Google Wallet.
Set up your wallet, chat apps and other services
Much like the authenticator apps mentioned earlier, there are some services that can be used on only one phone at a time. All the cards in your Apple Wallet, for example, will have to be transferred to Google Wallet. Certain transit cards, like San Francisco’s Clipper card, for example, will need to be deleted from your old phone before it can be transferred to your new one. If you’re using the Clipper app instead, you’ll need to set up a new card on your Android device.
Popular chat apps like WhatsApp and Signal have specific instructions (here and here) for moving to new phones. For both of these, you’ll have to backup existing conversations in order to avoid losing them. Backing up WhatsApp chats is free. Signal’s Secure Backup allows you to store and transfer your texts and 45 days of media attachments for free, and charges $2 per month to store up to 100GB of media.
