The fastest way depends on what phone you're moving to

If you're moving from an iPhone to another iPhone, use iCloud or a direct cable transfer — both move everything at once, including photos, messages, contacts, and app settings. If you're moving from Android to Android, Google's built-in transfer tool does the same thing. Moving between different operating systems (iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone) is slower because some apps and settings don't translate, so you'll need to handle those separately.

The method you choose matters because it affects what actually arrives on your new phone. A cable transfer is fastest and most complete. A cloud backup takes longer but works even if your old phone is broken. A manual transfer of just contacts or photos takes the longest but gives you control over what moves.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone to iPhone: plug both phones together with a cable or use iCloud to transfer everything in one step, including apps, photos, messages, and settings.
  • Android to Android: open the setup screen on your new phone and choose "Copy apps and data from your old phone" to move everything wirelessly.
  • iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: contacts and photos move easily, but apps and messages require manual setup because the two systems don't share the same app stores.
  • If your old phone is broken or lost, restore from a backup stored in iCloud (iPhone) or Google Drive (Android) instead of transferring directly.
  • Before you start, charge both phones to at least 50 percent and make sure they're on the same Wi-Fi network if you're doing a wireless transfer.

iPhone to iPhone: the cable method (fastest)

Plug your old iPhone into your new iPhone using a USB-C to USB-C cable (iPhone 15 and newer) or Lightning to USB-C (older iPhones to newer ones). When the setup screen appears on your new phone, tap "Transfer Directly" and follow the prompts. This moves your entire phone — apps, photos, messages, settings, even your home screen layout — without uploading anything to the cloud first.

The transfer takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have. Keep both phones plugged in and on the same Wi-Fi network. You don't need to do anything else; when it finishes, your new phone is a complete copy of your old one.

iPhone to iPhone: the iCloud method (works if old phone is broken)

If your old iPhone still works but you don't have a cable, or if it's broken and you need to restore from backup, use iCloud. On your old phone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and tap "iCloud Backup" to back up now. This uploads your photos, messages, contacts, app data, and settings to Apple's servers.

On your new iPhone, during setup, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" and sign in with the same Apple ID. Select the backup from your old phone and wait for the restore to finish. This can take an hour or more depending on your internet speed and how much data you have. Your new phone will look and work exactly like your old one when it's done.

Android to Android: the wireless method

Turn on your new Android phone and go through the initial setup screens. When you see "Copy apps and data from your old phone," tap it and choose "Copy from old device." Your new phone will show a code on the screen. On your old phone, open Settings > Accounts > Google and tap "Set up device transfer," then scan the code with your old phone's camera.

The two phones will connect over Wi-Fi and transfer everything — contacts, photos, messages, app data, and settings — directly from one to the other. This takes 20 minutes to an hour. Both phones need to stay on Wi-Fi and plugged in until the transfer finishes. When it's done, your new phone has everything your old one had.

Android to Android: the Google Drive method (if old phone is broken)

If your old Android phone is broken or lost, you can restore from a Google backup instead. On any device, go to Google Drive and sign in with the Google account you used on your old phone. Look for a folder called "Android Device Transfer" or check Google One (Google's backup service) to see what data was backed up.

On your new Android phone, during setup, sign in with the same Google account and choose "Restore from backup." Select the backup from your old phone and let it restore. Contacts, photos, and app data will return, though some app settings may not transfer perfectly. This process takes 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have.

Moving between iPhone and Android: what transfers and what doesn't

Contacts and photos move easily in both directions. Before you switch, export your contacts from your old phone as a file (usually a .vcf file) and email it to yourself, or use Google Contacts to sync them. Photos can be moved by uploading them to Google Photos, OneDrive, or another cloud service on your old phone, then downloading them on your new one.

Apps do not transfer because iPhone and Android use different app stores. You'll need to read them again on your new phone by searching the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android). Messages, calendar events, and email accounts can be set up manually on your new phone by signing into the same accounts you used before. Some third-party apps like WhatsApp or Telegram have built-in transfer tools — check their settings before you switch.

What to do if the transfer gets stuck or fails

If a transfer stops partway through, restart both phones and try again. Make sure both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network and that neither one is running low on battery. If you're using a cable, try a different cable or USB port. If the transfer keeps failing, use the cloud backup method instead (iCloud for iPhone, Google Drive for Android) — it's slower but more reliable when direct transfer isn't working.

If you've already set up your new phone and the transfer didn't complete, you can still restore from a backup. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, then set up again and choose "Restore from iCloud Backup." On Android, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data, then set up again and restore from your Google backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to keep my old phone after the transfer is done?

No. Once the transfer finishes and you've confirmed everything arrived on your new phone, you can sell, recycle, or donate your old phone. If you're worried you missed something, wait a few days and check that your most important apps and photos are there before you get rid of it.

Will my passwords transfer to the new phone?

Passwords stored in your phone's built-in password manager (iCloud Keychain on iPhone, Google Password Manager on Android) will transfer automatically during a full backup or direct transfer. Passwords saved only in individual apps may not transfer — you might need to sign in again to some apps on your new phone.

What if I don't want to transfer everything, just my photos and contacts?

You can move just those items without doing a full transfer. Export your contacts as a .vcf file from your old phone and import it on your new one. For photos, upload them to Google Photos, OneDrive, or iCloud on your old phone, then read them on your new phone. This gives you control over what moves and what stays behind.

Can I transfer data from a very old phone that's almost dead?

If the phone turns on but barely holds a charge, charge it as much as possible before you start. If it won't turn on at all, you can't do a direct transfer — use the cloud backup method instead if you have a backup from when the phone was working. If you don't have a backup, the data on that phone is not recoverable through a transfer.

Will my text messages transfer if I'm switching from iPhone to Android?

Text messages do not transfer between iPhone and Android because the two systems store them differently. Contacts will transfer, but the actual message history stays on your old phone. If you need to keep those messages, take screenshots or use a third-party app like SMS Backup+ (Android) before you switch.