01 Check storage space. Go to Settings > Storage on your Android and note how much data you have. Your new iPhone needs at least the same amount of free space. You cannot transfer 80GB of data to a 64GB device.

02 Turn off mobile data on your Android. The transfer creates a temporary private Wi-Fi network between the two devices. Mobile data and smart network switching features interfere with it.

03 Update Chrome on your Android. Bookmarks only transfer if Chrome is on the latest version. Open the Play Store, search for Chrome, and tap Update.

04 Charge both phones to at least 80%. Better yet, keep both plugged in throughout. Low battery is one of the most common causes of interrupted transfers.

05 Keep your iPhone on the setup screen. Move to iOS only works during initial iPhone setup. If you have already finished setting up your iPhone, erase it first (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings).

Optional: Use a USB-C Cable for Faster Transfer

If both phones have USB-C ports, connecting them with a cable speeds up the transfer significantly and moves more data types compared to Wi-Fi alone. Recommended for photo libraries larger than 50GB.

What Data Transfers from
Android to iPhone?

Not everything moves automatically. Check the table below before you start so you know what to expect and what needs manual attention afterwards.

Data Type	Move to iOS	Manual Method
Contacts and call history	Yes	Add Google account
SMS messages	Yes	No
WhatsApp messages and media	Yes (must select)	No
Photos and videos	Yes	Google Photos or USB
Calendars and mail accounts	Yes	Add Google account
Web bookmarks (Chrome)	Yes	No
Files, folders, Voice Memos	Yes	Google Drive
Free apps (on both platforms)	Yes	Re-download
Music files, PDFs, eBooks	No	Computer sync or streaming
Paid apps and in-app purchases	No	Re-purchase from App Store
Saved Wi-Fi passwords, ringtones	No	Re-enter manually

Do not erase your Android phone until you have verified everything on your iPhone. Keep your old phone for at least a week after the switch. If anything is missing, you still have the original copy.

How to Transfer Data from
Android to iPhone Using Move to iOS?

Move to iOS is Apple's free app for transferring data from Android to iPhone. It handles all 16 data types listed above in a single pass during iPhone setup.

Best for: First-time transfer where both phones are in hand and the iPhone has not been set up yet.

1Install Move to iOS on your Android. Open the Google Play Store, search for "Move to iOS," and tap Install.

2Turn on your new iPhone and follow setup until "Transfer Your Apps & Data." Tap "From Android."

3Open Move to iOS on your Android. Tap Continue, accept the terms, and grant Location and Notification permissions.

4Enter the code from your iPhone into the Move to iOS app. The two devices connect over a temporary private Wi-Fi network.

5Select the data types you want to transfer and tap Continue. Tick WhatsApp if you want your chat history to move across.

6Wait for the loading bar on your iPhone to finish. Do not open other apps, take calls, or disconnect from power on either phone.

7Tap Done on your Android, then tap Continue on your iPhone. Complete the remaining setup steps including Face ID and Apple ID.

Move to iOS Troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
Transfer stuck or freezing	Turn off mobile data. Forget all saved Wi-Fi networks. Disable Adaptive Connectivity. Restart both phones and try again.
iPhone ran out of space	Erase the iPhone. Free up space on your Android or skip photos during the transfer and move them via Google Photos afterwards.
Move to iOS not showing	Your Android needs Android 4.0 or later. Use the QR code scan option on the iPhone setup screen to open the download link.
"Unable to migrate" error	Put Android in Aeroplane Mode, re-enable Wi-Fi only. Set screen timeout to maximum. Many transfers succeed on the second attempt.

👉 Apple's Official Move to iOS support page

How to Transfer WhatsApp Messages
from Android to iPhone?

WhatsApp chats, media, and voice notes transfer through Move to iOS during initial iPhone setup. You do not need a separate tool, a computer, or a paid app. Your data stays end-to-end encrypted throughout.

WhatsApp Transfer Requirements
Android version	Android 5.0 or later
WhatsApp version	Latest version on both Android (Play Store) and iPhone (App Store)
iPhone status	Factory new or reset to factory settings
Phone number	Same number on both devices
Connection	Both on same Wi-Fi, or Android on iPhone's hotspot. Both plugged into power

1Tick WhatsApp on the Transfer Data screen in Move to iOS. A WhatsApp-specific screen appears.

2Tap Start on the WhatsApp preparation screen on your Android. WhatsApp packages your chat history for export.

3Wait for the transfer to complete and finish iPhone setup. Install WhatsApp from the App Store once setup is done.

4Open WhatsApp on your iPhone and log in with the same phone number. Tap Start when prompted to restore your chats.

✕ Skipping WhatsApp during Move to iOS

If you skip WhatsApp during the Move to iOS step, you cannot transfer it later without erasing your iPhone and starting setup again. There is no standalone WhatsApp migration tool from Android to iPhone outside of Move to iOS.

✕ Restoring a Google Drive WhatsApp backup on iPhone

WhatsApp on Android backs up to Google Drive. WhatsApp on iPhone backs up to iCloud. These two cloud systems do not connect, so Move to iOS is the only official free method

👉 WhatsApp chat transfer help

How to Transfer Photos from Android to iPhone After Setup?

If you used Move to iOS, your photos are already on your iPhone. If you skipped it, or some photos did not come across, use Google Photos. It is the fastest method and does not require a computer.

Best for: Transferring photos after iPhone setup is already complete, or when Move to iOS missed some images.

1Open Google Photos on your Android. Go to your profile icon > Photos settings > Backup and turn it on. Select "Original quality" for full-resolution copies.

2Wait for all photos and videos to upload. Keep the app open on Wi-Fi. Large libraries take time, so let this run overnight if needed.

3Install Google Photos on your iPhone from the App Store. Sign in with the same Google account. Your full photo library appears on your iPhone.

Prefer to Keep Photos Off the Cloud?

Connect your Android to a computer via USB, copy the DCIM folder, then sync those photos to your iPhone using Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app (PC). This preserves original quality with no compression and no cloud storage needed.

Post Transfer Checklist

Move to iOS gets most of your data across, but a few things still need manual setup. Work through this list once the transfer finishes.

✔

Re-download your apps: Free apps from both platforms transfer automatically, but some need to be downloaded again from the App Store. Paid Android apps will need to be re-purchased.

✔

Sign into streaming services: Spotify, Netflix, YouTube, and similar apps require you to log in again. Your subscriptions carry over as they are linked to your account email.

✔

Sync Google Accounts: If you skipped Move to iOS for mail, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account > Google. Your Gmail, Contacts, and Calendar will sync automatically.

✔

Set up your SIM or eSIM: For physical SIMs, swap the card into your new iPhone. For StarHub eSIMs, go to Settings > Mobile Service > Add eSIM to complete the digital transfer.

✔

Turn on iCloud Backup: Ensure your data stays safe by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and toggling it on.

Important: Verify your photos and messages before erasing your Android. Keep your old phone for at least a week to ensure no two-factor authentication (2FA) apps are left behind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q How long does it take to transfer data from Android to iPhone?

Most transfers take between 10 and 30 minutes over Wi-Fi. Large photo and video libraries take longer, sometimes over an hour. Using a USB-C cable between the two phones speeds up the process significantly.

Q Does Move to iOS transfer WhatsApp messages?

Yes. WhatsApp chats, media files, and voice notes transfer through Move to iOS. Select WhatsApp on the Transfer Data screen during iPhone setup, then install WhatsApp on your iPhone and log in with the same phone number to restore your chats.

Q Do I lose data when switching from Android to iPhone?

No. Move to iOS copies data from your Android to your iPhone without deleting anything from the source device. Keep your Android phone as a backup until you have verified everything transferred correctly.

Q How do I transfer photos from Android to iPhone if I already set up my iPhone?

Use Google Photos: back up your photos on your Android, install Google Photos on your iPhone, and sign in with the same Google account. Or connect your Android to a computer, copy the DCIM folder, then sync photos to your iPhone using Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app (PC).

Q What happens to my phone number when I switch from Android to iPhone?

Your phone number stays the same. Remove the physical SIM from your Android and insert it into your iPhone, or set up your eSIM through Settings > Mobile Service > Add eSIM. StarHub eSIM transfers are free through digital channels.

Q What if I already set up my iPhone without using Move to iOS?

You have two options. Erase your iPhone (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings) and start setup again to use Move to iOS. Or keep your current setup and move content manually: add your Google account for contacts and email, use Google Photos for photos, and note WhatsApp chat history cannot be transferred without Move to iOS.

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Disclaimer:
This content is provided for general information and convenience. While we take care in preparing our articles, readers should refer to official sources or professional advice for specific, up-to-date details.

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