Ranking updated
Apps to move your data to a new phone
Each phone maker has its own free app for switching, and it is safer to use it than a lookalike from an unknown seller. Move to iOS from Apple runs on your old Android phone and moves contacts, messages, photos, WhatsApp chats and more to a new iPhone. Android Switch from Google runs on your iPhone and moves photos, videos, contacts and calendar to a new Android phone without a cable. Samsung Smart Switch moves content from an iPhone or another Android phone to a Galaxy.
How we picked: the transfer apps published by Apple, Google and Samsung themselves, with what each moves taken from the maker’s own app description or support page. We skipped lookalike transfer apps from unrelated sellers.
Move to iOS: Android to iPhone
Move to iOS is the Apple app you install on the old Android phone. On the new iPhone you choose to move data from Android during setup, then pick what to send. Apple lists contacts, message history, photos and videos, albums, files, web bookmarks, mail accounts, WhatsApp messages and media, voice memos, call history and calendars. Keep both phones near each other and on power until the transfer finishes; a USB-C cable makes it faster.
Android Switch: iPhone to Android
Android Switch from Google runs on your iPhone and moves photos, videos, contacts and calendar events to a new Android phone without a cable. It walks you through the steps, such as turning off iMessage so you do not miss texts. If the new phone is a Samsung, Google says you do not need this app and can follow the Galaxy setup instead.
Samsung Smart Switch: anything to a Galaxy
Samsung Smart Switch moves contacts, photos, music, videos, messages, notes, calendars and more to a Galaxy phone, wirelessly or with a cable. From an iPhone you install it from the App Store, and the data stays on the old phone after the transfer. To free up space on the old phone first, see photo cleaner apps. To keep a copy of photos and files in the cloud, see cloud storage apps.
| App | From → to | What it moves | Install on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move to iOSGoogle Play | Android → iPhone or iPad | contacts, messages, photos and videos, WhatsApp, call history, calendars, bookmarks | Android |
| Android SwitchApp StoreGoogle Play | iPhone → Android | photos, videos, contacts, calendar events | iPhone |
| Samsung Smart SwitchApp StoreGoogle Play | iPhone or Android → Galaxy | contacts, photos, videos, messages, calendars and more | iPhone, Android |
Frequently asked questions
How do I move my data from Android to iPhone?
Install Move to iOS from Apple on the Android phone and, during iPhone setup, choose to move data from Android.
How do I move from iPhone to Android?
Use Android Switch from Google on the iPhone. If the new phone is a Samsung Galaxy, use Samsung Smart Switch or the Galaxy setup.
Does the data stay on my old phone?
Yes. Samsung says the sender phone keeps its data after a Smart Switch transfer.