The fastest way depends on what kind of phone you're switching to
If you're moving from an iPhone to another iPhone, use iCloud or a wired connection — both move everything in one go and take 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much data you have. If you're moving from Android to Android, Google's built-in transfer tool does the same thing. Switching between iPhone and Android is slower because the systems don't talk to each other directly, so you'll move some things automatically and handle others by hand.
The method you choose matters because some paths preserve everything — your photos, messages, contacts, app settings — while others leave gaps. A wired transfer is the most reliable. A cloud backup is the most convenient if your old phone is broken. A manual transfer takes longest but works when nothing else does.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone to iPhone: connect both phones with a cable or use iCloud to move everything at once, including photos, messages, and app data.
- Android to Android: open the setup screen on your new phone and choose "Restore from backup" to pull data from your Google account.
- iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: contacts and photos move automatically, but messages and app data do not, so plan to reinstall apps and export messages separately if you need them.
- A wired transfer is fastest and most complete, but requires both phones to be in working order and a compatible cable.
- If your old phone is broken or lost, restore from a cloud backup instead — iCloud for iPhone, Google Drive for Android.
iPhone to iPhone: using a cable or iCloud
Turn on your new iPhone and hold it next to your old one. A screen will appear asking if you want to set up using your old phone. Tap "Continue" and follow the prompts. Your new phone will connect to your old one over Bluetooth and pull over your Apple ID, iCloud settings, photos, messages, contacts, and app data all at once. This takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much you have. Keep both phones plugged in and close together until the transfer finishes.
If your old iPhone is broken or you don't have it with you, turn on the new phone and choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" instead. Sign in with your Apple ID and pick the backup you want to restore from. iCloud saves a backup automatically every night if your phone is plugged in and on Wi-Fi, so there's usually a recent one available. This method takes longer because it downloads everything over the internet, but it works even if your old phone is gone.
If you have a USB-C or Lightning cable, you can also plug your old iPhone directly into your new one. This is the fastest method because data moves over the cable instead of through the internet. Your new phone will ask if you trust the old one — tap "Trust" on both phones and the transfer will begin.
Android to Android: using Google's transfer tool
Turn on your new Android phone and go through the setup screens until you see "Restore from backup" or "Copy your data." Tap it and sign in with the Google account you use on your old phone. Your new phone will read your contacts, calendar, photos, messages, and app data from Google Drive. This takes 15 minutes to an hour depending on how much you have and how fast your internet is.
If you don't see this option during setup, you can do it later. Go to Settings, then Accounts, then Google, then tap your account name. Scroll down and tap "Manage your Google Account," then go to the "Data and Privacy" tab. Tap "Data from apps and services" and look for your old phone's backup. You can restore from there, though it's easier during the initial setup.
Android automatically backs up your data to Google Drive every night if you're signed into a Google account and connected to Wi-Fi. So even if your old phone is lost or broken, you can restore everything on your new phone as long as you remember your Google password.
iPhone to Android: what moves and what doesn't
Your contacts and photos will move automatically. When you set up your new Android phone, sign in with a Google account and choose to restore from backup. Google will pull your contacts from iCloud and your photos from Google Photos if you've been using it. If you haven't used Google Photos, your iPhone photos won't transfer this way — you'll need to read them to your computer first or use a third-party app.
Your text messages and iMessage conversations will not transfer. If you need them, export them from your iPhone before you switch. Open the Messages app, find a conversation, press and hold it, and tap "More." Select all the messages you want to keep, then tap "Copy." Paste them into an email to yourself or a notes app. This is tedious for hundreds of messages, so most people just accept that old messages stay on their old phone.
Your apps will not transfer either. You'll need to read them again from the Google Play Store. The good news is that most apps save your login information and settings to your Google account, so you won't have to set them up from scratch. Open each app, sign in, and your data will usually appear.
Android to iPhone: what moves and what doesn't
Your contacts and calendar will move automatically. When you set up your new iPhone, choose "Restore from Android" and sign in with your Google account. Your iPhone will read your contacts and calendar events. Your photos will also transfer if you've been using Google Photos — the iPhone will pull them from there.
Your text messages will not transfer. Android messages stay on Android. If you need to keep them, take screenshots of important conversations or export them using an Android backup app before you switch. Most people don't bother because old messages are rarely needed.
Your apps will not transfer. You'll read them again from the App Store. Like with iPhone-to-Android switches, most apps will restore your login and settings once you sign in, so you won't lose your data inside the apps themselves.
What to do if the transfer gets stuck or incomplete
If the transfer stops halfway through, check that both phones are still connected to power and Wi-Fi. If you're using a wired transfer, make sure the cable is fully plugged in on both ends. Restart both phones and try again. Most transfers will pick up where they left off.
If some apps or photos didn't transfer, they may have been too large or the connection may have dropped. Check your new phone's storage — if it's almost full, the transfer may have stopped to avoid running out of space. Delete some apps or photos you don't need and try again.
If you're restoring from a cloud backup and it's taking a very long time, switch to a faster Wi-Fi network if you can. Cellular data is much slower. You can also wait until you're on a home Wi-Fi network and try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my text messages transfer to my new phone?
Only if you're staying on the same type of phone — iPhone to iPhone or Android to Android. If you're switching between iPhone and Android, messages do not transfer automatically. You can take screenshots of important conversations or use a third-party backup app, but most people accept that old messages stay on the old phone.
What if my old phone is broken and I can't turn it on?
Restore from a cloud backup instead. If you had an iPhone, sign into iCloud on your new phone during setup and choose your most recent backup. If you had Android, sign into your Google account and choose to restore from backup. As long as you remember your password, your data will read to your new phone.
Can I transfer data from my old phone after I've already set up the new one?
Yes, but it's more complicated. On iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then Transfer or Reset, then "Erase All Content and Settings," and set up again from your old phone or a backup. On Android, go to Settings, then Accounts, then Google, and manually restore from your backup. It's easier to do it during initial setup.
Will my app passwords and login information transfer?
Most apps store login information in your cloud account — Google for Android, Apple ID for iPhone — so they'll restore automatically when you sign in on your new phone. Some older apps may not, so you may need to log in manually. You won't lose the data inside the apps, just the saved password.
How long does a data transfer usually take?
A wired transfer between two iPhones takes 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much data you have. A cloud restore takes longer — anywhere from one to several hours — because it downloads over the internet. Android transfers are usually faster, taking 15 minutes to an hour. Keep both phones plugged in and don't use them while the transfer is happening.