The fastest way depends on what kind of phones you have

Moving text messages to a new phone is possible, but the method changes depending on whether you are switching between iPhones, Android phones, or moving from one type to the other. If both phones are iPhones, you can use iCloud or a computer backup. If both are Android, Google's built-in backup works. If you are switching between iPhone and Android, you will need a third-party app or manual export, because the two systems do not talk to each other directly.

The reason for this difference is that iPhone and Android store messages in different formats and use different backup systems. Apple does not let Android access iCloud backups, and Google's backup system does not restore to iPhones. This is a technical limitation, not something you can work around by trying harder — so knowing which phones you have before you start saves time.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone to iPhone: use iCloud backup during setup, or restore from a computer backup made in Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows).
  • Android to Android: turn on Google backup before you switch phones, then sign into your Google account on the new phone during setup.
  • iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: use a third-party app like Samsung Smart Switch, Google Takeout, or a messaging app that syncs across platforms.
  • Text messages are stored locally on your phone, so backups must happen before you switch — you cannot retrieve old messages from your old phone once you have set up the new one.
  • Backing up messages also backs up your call history and some app data, depending on the method you choose.

Moving messages between two iPhones

The simplest method is to use iCloud during setup. Before you turn off your old iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Make sure Messages is toggled on. This tells iCloud to save your messages to the cloud. Then turn off your old phone.

On your new iPhone, during the initial setup screen, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" when asked. Sign in with the same Apple ID you used on the old phone. Select the most recent backup from the list. iCloud will restore your messages, photos, apps, and settings. This usually takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on how many messages you have and your internet speed.

If you have already finished setting up your new iPhone without restoring from backup, you can still use a computer backup instead. On a Mac with macOS Monterey or newer, plug in your new iPhone and open Finder. Click your phone in the sidebar, then click "Restore Backup" and choose the backup file from your old phone. On Windows, use iTunes instead — plug in your phone, click the device icon, and select "Restore Backup". This method works even if you have already used the phone for a few days, but it will erase everything on the new phone first.

Moving messages between two Android phones

Android phones back up to Google automatically if you have turned on backup in Settings. To check: open Settings, search for "backup", and tap "Google account" or "Backup and restore". Make sure "Back up to Google Account" is toggled on. Your messages, contacts, and app data will save to your Google account in the background.

On your new Android phone, during setup, you will be asked to sign in with a Google account. Use the same account you used on the old phone. Android will ask whether you want to restore from backup — select yes. Your messages and other backed-up data will read to the new phone. This can take several minutes if you have thousands of messages.

If you have already finished setup without restoring, you can still restore manually. Open Settings, search for "restore", and look for an option like "Restore from backup" or "Restore contacts and data". The exact name varies by manufacturer — Samsung calls it "Smart Switch", while Google Pixel calls it "Restore". Tap it, sign in with your Google account, and select the backup you want to restore.

Moving messages from iPhone to Android

iCloud backups cannot be restored to Android phones, so you need a different approach. The most reliable method is to use Google Takeout, which is Google's tool for downloading your own data. However, Takeout exports messages in a format that Android cannot import directly, so you will also need a third-party app to read the exported file.

Start on your iPhone: open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud. Scroll down and tap "Manage Storage", then "Backups". Tap the backup for your iPhone and note the backup date — you will need this to know which messages are included. Unfortunately, iCloud does not let you export messages directly, so instead use a free app like "SMS Backup+" or "TunesKit iPhone Data Recovery" to export your messages to a file before you switch phones.

Alternatively, if your new Android phone is a Samsung, use Samsung Smart Switch. This app can read some iPhone backups directly. read Smart Switch on your iPhone, create a backup, then read Smart Switch on your new Samsung phone and restore from that backup. This works better than Takeout for most people because Samsung built it specifically for this purpose.

Moving messages from Android to iPhone

Android backups stored in Google Account cannot be restored to iPhone, because Apple does not support Google's backup format. The simplest workaround is to use a messaging app that syncs across both platforms, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal. If your important conversations are in one of these apps, they will automatically appear on your new iPhone when you sign in.

For SMS text messages specifically, use an app like "SMS Backup+" on your Android phone before you switch. This app backs up your text messages to your Gmail account. Then on your iPhone, use an app like "SMS Backup Reader" to view those backed-up messages. The messages will not appear in the iPhone's built-in Messages app, but you will be able to read them.

If you want messages in the native iPhone Messages app, you will need to manually forward important conversations or use a computer tool like "iMazing" or "PhoneRescue" to convert Android backups to iPhone format. These are paid tools, but they handle the conversion automatically. Without one of these, moving SMS from Android to iPhone means accepting that old messages will stay in a separate app or will not transfer at all.

What happens to messages during the switch

Messages are stored on your phone's storage, not in the cloud by default. This means if you do not back up before you switch, those messages are gone — they do not automatically move to your new phone. The backup systems described above copy messages from your old phone to either the cloud or a computer, then restore them to your new phone.

If you have already turned off your old phone and set up your new one without backing up, you cannot recover those messages unless you have a backup file from before the switch. Do not try to turn the old phone back on and set it up again — that will not help. Instead, check whether your phone company (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.) keeps message backups. Most do not, but some older plans may have archived messages that you can request.

Backing up before you switch phones

The time to back up is before you turn off your old phone. If you are planning to switch phones soon, start now: turn on backup in your phone's settings and let it run for a few hours to make sure everything is saved. For iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and toggle Messages on. For Android, go to Settings, search for "backup", and make sure "Back up to Google Account" is on.

If you have a lot of messages — more than 10,000 — the backup may take longer than you expect. Start the backup the night before you plan to switch phones. Check back in the morning to make sure it finished. If you are using a computer backup instead, plug in your phone and let the backup complete fully before you unplug it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my text messages transfer automatically when I get a new phone?

No. Messages are stored on your phone, not automatically synced to the cloud. You must turn on backup in your settings before you switch phones. If you have already switched without backing up, those messages are not recoverable unless you have a backup file from before the switch.

Can I move messages from my old phone after I have already set up the new one?

Not easily. Backups must happen before you switch. If you have already set up your new phone, you can restore from a backup file if one exists from before the switch, but this will erase everything on the new phone first. If no backup exists, the old messages are gone.

Do picture messages and group chats transfer too?

Yes, if you use the backup method for your phone type. iCloud backups include picture messages and group chats. Google backups include SMS and MMS (picture messages), though group chat history may be incomplete depending on your Android phone. Third-party apps vary — check what they support before you rely on them.

What if I do not remember my Google account password?

Go to google.com/account/recovery on a computer or another phone. Google will ask you to verify your identity using a recovery email or phone number you set up when you created the account. Once you reset your password, you can sign in on your new Android phone and restore your backup.

Can I move messages to my new phone without using the cloud?

Yes, using a computer backup. For iPhone, use Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) to create a backup file on your computer, then restore that file to your new iPhone. For Android, you can export messages to a file using an app like SMS Backup+, then import them on your new phone. This method does not require cloud storage.