How Do I Transfer Everything to a New Phone?

By Jordan · Reviewed by CaseyLast updated July 16, 2026

The easiest way to move everything to a new phone is to use the built-in transfer tool made for it: “Quick Start” if you’re going from iPhone to iPhone, “Move to iOS” if you’re going from Android to iPhone, or Google’s built-in transfer during setup if you’re going from any phone to Android. All three copy your photos, contacts, and most apps automatically over Wi-Fi or a cable, and take about 15 minutes to an hour depending on how much you have.

Keep both phones charged and near each other, and stay connected to Wi-Fi throughout — this is the single biggest cause of a transfer stalling partway through.

Before you start

1. Make sure your old phone is backed up (see our article on backing up photos and contacts) as a safety net, even though the direct transfer methods below don’t require it.
2. Charge both phones to at least 50%, and keep them plugged in during the transfer if possible.
3. Know your Apple ID or Google account password — you’ll need to sign in on the new phone.
4. Keep both phones close together and on the same Wi-Fi network.

How to transfer from an iPhone to a new iPhone

1. Turn on your new iPhone and place it near your old, unlocked iPhone.
2. A Quick Start screen should appear on your old iPhone automatically — tap Continue.
3. Hold your old iPhone over the new one so the swirling pattern on the new phone’s screen is centered in the camera view on the old phone.
4. Enter your old iPhone’s passcode on the new phone when asked.
5. Choose Transfer from iPhone and select whether to bring over all your apps and data or just some of it.
6. Stay connected to Wi-Fi and keep both phones nearby until the progress bar finishes — this can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour for a phone with a lot of photos.

How to transfer from an Android phone to a new iPhone

1. On your old Android phone, download the free Move to iOS app from the Google Play Store.
2. On your new iPhone, during setup, reach the Apps & Data screen and tap Move Data from Android.
3. On the Android phone, open Move to iOS, tap Continue, and accept the terms.
4. A code will appear on your new iPhone — enter that code into the Move to iOS app on your Android phone.
5. Choose what to transfer (contacts, photos, messages, and more), then tap Continue and wait for the transfer to finish.
6. When it’s done, follow the remaining setup steps on your new iPhone.

How to transfer from any phone to a new Android phone

1. Turn on your new Android phone and follow the setup screens until you reach the option to Copy apps & data.
2. Choose whether you’re copying from an old Android phone (usually done wirelessly or with a cable) or from an iPhone.
3. Sign in with your Google account when prompted — most of your contacts, photos, and Google-connected data transfer automatically once you’re signed in.
4. For apps and files not covered automatically, follow the on-screen prompts to connect the two phones with a cable or over Wi-Fi and select what to bring over.
5. Wait for the transfer to complete before setting the old phone aside.

Don’t forget these after the transfer

• Text messages from friends with an iPhone (blue bubbles): if you switched away from an iPhone, deregister your old number from iMessage at Settings → Messages → iMessage on the old phone before it’s out of your hands, or messages may not reach your new phone reliably.
• Two-factor authentication apps: apps like an authenticator app often need to be set up again manually on the new phone, since they don’t always transfer automatically.
• Payment cards: re-add your cards to Apple Pay or Google Pay on the new phone; they don’t carry over automatically for security reasons.

Frequently asked questions