To transfer data from iPhone to Android, use the setup method offered by the new Android phone, preferably a supported cable when you want the broadest transfer. Wireless Android Switch is useful on eligible devices, but the data categories and after-setup options vary by phone, Android version, account, and manufacturer.

Key Takeaways

Check the new phone's own setup instructions instead of assuming every Pixel, Samsung, or Android release has the same menus.

A cable commonly transfers more categories than the classic wireless flow, but neither route copies every app or account.

Turn off iMessage before moving the number, then test SMS or RCS, calls, contacts, and mobile data.

Keep the iPhone until missing photos, WhatsApp history, passwords, passkeys, work data, and authenticator access have been resolved.

This is the iPhone-to-Android direction. For the reverse move, use Android to iPhone. For general device triage, see the Device and App Guide.

Google's transfer guide defines supported paths and data categories［1］; its troubleshooting guide defines recovery and after-setup limits［2］; Google Messages covers the iMessage handoff［3］; and Apple documents the separate iCloud Photos copy service［4］.

How can you transfer data from iPhone to Android on your new phone?

Google documents both a classic setup flow and newer transfer capabilities that are available only on eligible devices or releases. Read the instructions displayed by the new phone and its manufacturer before choosing a path.

Path	Use it when	Watch for
Cable during setup	Both phones work and the correct cable or adapter is available	Keep both phones unlocked, powered, and connected until copying finishes
Wireless Android Switch	The new phone offers the QR or wireless flow and the iPhone meets its requirements	Classic wireless transfer can support fewer data categories than cable
Manufacturer transfer tool	The phone maker explicitly directs you to its tool	Capabilities are device-specific, not Android-wide guarantees
Manual follow-up	Setup has finished or a category is unsupported	Move only the missing category from its authoritative service

Do not erase or trade in the iPhone based on a transfer estimate. First inspect what the new phone says it will copy and what it excludes.

What should you prepare on both phones?

Charge both phones and connect them to reliable Wi-Fi.
Update the transfer app when the new phone asks you to, and confirm that the iPhone meets the displayed iOS requirement.
Make a current iPhone backup so the migration is not your only copy.
Check available storage on the Android phone.
Inventory contacts, calendars, photos, videos, messages, WhatsApp, paid apps, health records, passwords, passkeys, authenticator accounts, and work profiles.
Keep the Apple Account password and relevant Google Account sign-in methods available.

Managed iPhones and work or school accounts may block categories or require administrator enrollment on the new phone. Stop and ask the administrator before removing a management profile or wiping either device.

Transfer with a cable during Android setup

Start the Android phone and choose to copy apps and data.
Connect the iPhone with the cable or adapter specified by the new phone.
Unlock the iPhone and approve trust or access prompts that you understand.
Sign in to the Google Account you intend to use.
Review the categories offered, select what you need, and begin copying.
Keep both phones connected and powered until the new phone reports that copying has finished.

If the cable disconnects or the transfer stalls, do not repeatedly erase the new phone. Check the cable, ports, battery, storage, and the official troubleshooting flow first.

Use wireless Android Switch when offered

The new phone may display a QR code that opens Android Switch on the iPhone. Follow that device's prompts and keep both phones nearby, awake, and connected to power. In Google's classic flow, wireless transfer requires a supported iOS version and may move fewer categories than cable.

Some newer Android releases add after-setup or expanded transfer capabilities on eligible devices. Treat those as conditional features shown by the actual phone, not a promise that every current Android device can perform the same transfer.

Which data may need a separate transfer?

Review every category individually:

iCloud Photos: photos stored only in iCloud may not arrive in the ordinary copy. Apple offers a separate service to request a copy of iCloud Photos for Google Photos in supported regions.
Paid apps and in-app purchases: an iOS purchase does not automatically become an Android license. Check the developer's account or subscription rules.
Health data: Google lists health data among categories that do not transfer in the classic flow.
Passwords and passkeys: support depends on the source, destination, browser or password manager, and eligible transfer flow. Verify each important sign-in.
WhatsApp: follow the WhatsApp option presented during supported setup; do not assume a later ordinary cloud restore will cross platforms.
Work profiles: re-enrollment and administrator approval may be required.
Offline media and local app files: redownload or export them from the responsible app where supported.

Copying a category manually is safer than rerunning the whole migration when everything else has already arrived.

Turn off iMessage before moving the number

On the iPhone, turn off iMessage before removing its SIM or moving the number. Google warns that otherwise messages from Apple users may continue going to iMessage instead of the Android phone.

If you no longer have the iPhone, use Apple's number-deregistration path linked from Google's guidance. After the number is active on Android:

send and receive a normal SMS with a non-Apple contact;
send and receive a message with an iPhone contact;
verify group messaging and, where supported, RCS status;
make and receive a call; and
turn off Wi-Fi briefly and test mobile data.

Do not delete the old eSIM until mobile service has passed these checks. Use the eSIM transfer guide when carrier activation is separate from data migration.

Verify the Android phone before erasing the iPhone

Compare contacts and calendar ranges, open old and recent photos, inspect message attachments, and sign in to essential apps. Test password or passkey access and every authenticator-protected account. Confirm WhatsApp history where applicable, work enrollment, calls, SMS or RCS, mobile data, voicemail, and a new Android backup.

Keep the iPhone powered off but intact for a short verification period if your return deadline permits. Erase it only when the Android phone and separate recovery methods work without depending on the old device.

Summary

The new Android phone's supported setup path is the source of truth. A cable often provides the broadest classic transfer, wireless Android Switch can be convenient on eligible devices, and manual follow-up handles categories that do not cross platforms. The migration is complete only after messaging, service, account access, and important data are tested.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cable required to move from iPhone to Android?

No. Some phones support a wireless Android Switch flow, but a cable commonly supports more categories in the classic process.

Can I transfer after Android setup is finished?

Some eligible devices and newer releases offer after-setup transfer, while others require setup-time copying or a reset. Follow the instructions for the actual phone and do not generalize one model's feature.

Will paid iPhone apps transfer to Android?

The app may be suggested or available on Android, but an App Store purchase or in-app purchase does not automatically create a Google Play license. Check the developer's account terms.

Why are my iCloud photos missing?

Photos stored only in iCloud may not be included in the ordinary device copy. Apple provides a separate copy-transfer process to Google Photos in supported locations.

Should I turn off iMessage before or after moving the SIM?

Turn it off before removing the SIM or transferring the number, then test messages after activation on Android.

Do passwords and passkeys transfer?

Only in supported combinations and flows. Verify the password manager or platform instructions and test important accounts before erasing the iPhone.

Can WhatsApp move from iPhone to Android?

It can on supported devices and setup flows, but conditions apply. Use the WhatsApp option shown during migration and verify the chat history before wiping the iPhone.

When can I erase the iPhone?

After contacts, photos, messages, WhatsApp, critical apps, authenticator access, calls, SMS or RCS, mobile data, and the new backup have been tested.

Transfer support varies by device, Android and iOS version, manufacturer, region, carrier, account, and app. Back up important data before erasing either phone.

Sources

Sources checked 28 August 2026.

How to Transfer Data from iPhone to Android