Key Takeaways
- Back up your phone before starting a transfer so nothing is lost if the process fails.
- Built-in transfer tools handle contacts, photos, and settings but often skip third-party app data.
- Switching from iPhone to Android (or vice versa) requires extra steps compared to same-platform moves.
- Some things, like two-factor authentication apps and banking apps, must be set up manually on the new device.
- Signing out of accounts on the old phone is a separate step you should complete after confirming the transfer.
What you will need
What a phone transfer actually does
When you set up a new phone, the setup wizard offers to copy data from your old one. That process moves contacts, call logs, photos stored on the device, text message history, Wi-Fi passwords, and most system settings. What it does not move is everything inside third-party apps. Game progress, authenticator codes, and banking app sessions are tied to the app's own servers or stored locally in ways the transfer tool cannot reach.
Staying on the same platform (iPhone to iPhone, or Android to Android) gives you the smoothest transfer. Moving between platforms takes more steps because the two ecosystems use different file formats and backup systems. If you have not yet decided which platform fits your life, see our guide to choosing between iPhone and Android before you buy.
Before any transfer, check how your photos are stored. If they are already syncing to iCloud or Google Photos, they will survive even a failed transfer. If they live only on the device, they need a backup first. Our article on where your photos and files actually live explains how to tell the difference.
Before you start
Take a few minutes to prepare both phones. These steps protect your data if anything goes wrong mid-transfer.
Back up the old phone
On an iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then iCloud Backup, and tap Back Up Now. On Android, go to Settings, then System, then Backup, and start a backup to your Google account. Wait for the backup to complete fully before moving on.
Charge both phones
A transfer that cuts off because of a dead battery can leave your new phone in a partially set-up state. Plug both phones into power before you begin and keep them plugged in throughout the transfer.
Connect to Wi-Fi
Both phones should be on the same Wi-Fi network. A wireless phone-to-phone transfer can send several gigabytes of data, and doing it over cellular may hit your data cap or run slowly enough to time out.
Start the transfer on the new phone
On a new iPhone, the Quick Start screen appears automatically when you bring it near your old iPhone. Follow the on-screen prompts to authenticate and choose what to transfer. On a new Android phone, the setup wizard will ask whether you want to copy data from another Android phone or from an iPhone. For iPhone-to-Android moves, download the Switch to Android app on your iPhone and follow its instructions using a cable for the most complete transfer.
Log back into apps manually
Once the transfer completes, most apps will prompt you to sign in again. Go through your most-used apps first: email, social accounts, streaming services, and any financial apps. Have your passwords ready, or use your password manager if you have one set up.
Once the backup is confirmed, check your storage. A transfer from a 128 GB phone to a 64 GB phone will fail or truncate if your old phone holds more data than the new one can accept. Our breakdown of what fills up phone storage can help you find and clear space quickly.
Apps and accounts that need manual attention
The transfer tool cannot handle every app. Plan for these categories before you wipe the old phone.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) apps: Apps like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator generate one-time codes tied to the device. Most of them have an export or account-transfer option in their own settings. Use it before you reset the old phone. If you skip this step, you may be locked out of accounts that require those codes to log in.
Banking and financial apps: Most banks require you to verify a new device by logging in fresh. Have your account credentials and any registered phone number or email ready. Some banks also send a verification code via text, so your SIM should be active in the new phone before you start.
Messaging apps with local backups: Some chat apps store message history only on the device unless you explicitly enable cloud backup inside the app. Check the backup settings in any messaging app you rely on before the transfer.
Write down app-specific passwords first
Before you start the transfer, open your most-used apps and confirm you know the login credentials for each one. A password manager on both devices simplifies this considerably. If you store passwords only inside a browser on your old phone, export or sync them before the transfer begins.
For privacy and security settings you may want to review on the new device, our privacy settings walkthrough covers each permission category and what it controls.
After the transfer: closing out the old phone
Confirm the new phone has everything you need before you do anything permanent to the old one. Open a few apps, check your photos, and send a test message.
Once you are satisfied, sign out of all accounts on the old phone. On an iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, and choose Sign Out at the bottom. On Android, go to Settings, then Accounts, and remove each account individually. After signing out, perform a factory reset. This step removes your personal data from the device and is required whether you plan to sell it, trade it in, or store it. Our checklist for preparing your old phone walks through every step in detail.
Keep the old phone for a few days after the reset if you can. Occasionally, an app or setting surfaces later that you forgot to move over, and having the old device available (even signed out) as a reference can save time.