Every year when a new iPhone hits the market, consumers have the option to upgrade to the latest and greatest or save a few bucks by buying an older but now discounted model. One way or another, countless Android users are switching to iOS.
However, there are several ways to transfer months or years of photos, videos, text messages, and other data from your Android device to iPhone, but I’ve found the following to be the most effective and safest. and easy to use.
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I’m also in the minority who keeps switching phones every month or two, which means data transfer is second nature at this point, so trust me when I say these are the best methods.
How to transfer data from Android to iPhone?
Before starting any data transfer, it is always a good practice to do the following:
- Charge at least 75%The higher the better. Depending on how much data you’re transferring, it’s natural for your phone to heat up and therefore drain your battery at a much faster rate.
- Have a stable Wi-Fi connectionWe will transfer the data wirelessly, which means that a strong and static signal is required for the most optimal transmission.
- Double check the amount of data you’ve transferredYour iPhone may or may not have enough storage capacity to receive each file. If not, now is a good time to organize your old files on your Android phone, figure out what to keep, what to keep on an external drive, and what to clean up before moving.
Method 1: Transfer data via Move iOS
My primary method of file transfer is Apple’s own Move to iOS service. It will be pre-downloaded on your iPhone, so all you have to do is download the Move to iOS app on your Android device via the Google Play Store.
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For the service to work, you must be in the iOS Setup Assistant, which is the start page when you turn on your new iPhone for the first time. If you’ve already set up your iPhone and can access the Home screen, you’ll need to factory reset it to use Move to iOS.
From the iOS Setup Assistant, go through the initial setup slides, including Wi-Fi connection, password generation, and Apple Diagnostics terms and conditions. You will eventually see one Applications and data screen
Enter this code on your Android phone. The pairing process will then begin and you will be able to choose what files you want to transfer. The list includes messages, contacts, calendar data, Google account(s), photos and videos, and user settings.
With the Move to iOS app, your iPhone will generate a one-time code for pairing. June Wan / ZDNET
Method 2: Transfer data through a Google account
Finally, you can use your Gmail to transfer data through the cloud. This method is ideal if there are additional files you forgot to move over during the first method, or if you’ve already set up your iPhone and couldn’t use Move to iOS.
1. Go to the Settings app on your Android phone
Search Google: tab, tap Backup, and enable the categories you want to sync across devices. You can double check what is being copied by expanding Google account the data in Backup details the list. Wait for the backup to finish syncing.
2. Switch to your iPhone
Open iPhone Settings > mail >: Accounts >: Add an account > and enter your Gmail credentials. Your Google Account information should sync with iPhone and start importing automatically.
3. Another useful alternative
You can also upload files to a Google Drive folder and download them to your iPhone.
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FAQs
Can I use the Move to iOS app even if I’ve already set up my iPhone?
Unfortunately, you cannot use the file transfer service if you have already completed the iOS Setup Assistant. My best advice is to back up everything you want to keep on your new iPhone, reset the iPhone to factory settings, use the Move to iOS service, and then retrieve what’s backed up. Again, just make sure you have enough storage to store everything.
What is the fastest way to transfer data from Android to iPhone?
Apple’s Move to iOS service is the most seamless and efficient transfer service I’ve used, especially when I’m still going through the initial setup phase. Otherwise, you can also use desktop software like AnyTrans to connect both phones to a computer and transfer files locally. However, I’m usually against using non-proprietary software when transferring personal information, so I’ll stick with the above two methods for safety.
Can I transfer data from Android to iPhone after setup?
Of course. The best method is to back up any information you want to transfer to Gmail or Google Drive, then download it from your iPhone. It requires more manual work, but it’s great if you only want to move some files and not all.