Once you have decided on Android or iOS, you usually stay there for a while. One reason for this is that switching between the mobile operating systems is tricky. But it is not impossible either. We’ll show you how to do it step by step to switch from Android to iPhone.
It’s not about whether Android is better or worse than iOS, but about the challenges users face when they decide to switch from an Android smartphone to an iPhone. The situation is that you had a working system on Android and of course you don’t want to start all over again on the iPhone. Instead, as much as possible should be moved from Android to iOS. We will help you step by step.
1. Backup of the existing cell phone
Now is not the time to be hectic. We can understand why you want your new iPhone up and running quickly, but snap-action actions often backfire. If you are always busy making backups of your cell phone data anyway, you can skip this step.
Otherwise, we advise you to make a backup of the data on your Android phone before moving. Simply because most cell phones have important data dormant and should be backed up. Of course, Google offers its cloud for this, but there are also local backup options.
2. Do an app check
Make a plan of what you want to move. The best thing to do is to go through all of the installed apps on Android. One or the other file is likely to be found on every cell phone. Such a move is always a good occasion to slim down. Do you really need three weather apps or five messengers? In the end, of course, it is your decision what you want to take with you. But get an overview.
Also important: In addition to the apps, you also need to know which user data you want to take with you. These are primarily photos and videos, but documents also belong in the inventory.
3. Automatically move via app
Apple provides a moving assistant with the free Android app Transfer to iOS. Install it on your existing Android phone, unpack the new iPhone and switch it on. You are now ready to get started with the setup on the iPhone. When you get to the Apps & Data screen, tap Transfer Data from Android.
The iPhone now displays a code that must be entered in the “Transfer to iOS” app on the Android smartphone. The iPhone now opens its own WLAN and sends a connection request to the Android mobile phone. Connect the Android device to this WLAN by tapping on “Connect”. The advantage here is that the data is transferred directly.
Before doing this, you have to define exactly what is to be transferred: Basically, the app supports contacts, message history, camera photos and videos, photo albums, files and folders, accessibility settings, display settings, web bookmarks, e-mail accounts and calendars.
The whole thing can take a while, especially if you are transferring a lot of photos or videos, for example. Let your cell phones work in peace during this time. If this basic data is exceeded, you will be asked whether you also want to transfer the free third-party apps if they are available on both Google Play and the App Store. You should be able to decide whether this makes sense based on the findings from step 2.
4. Install cloud apps and you’re done
With the data transfer from Android to iOS, you should now have at least the basic things on the iPhone. However, you should not be completely satisfied at this point. The all-clear can be given to all apps that are available for Android and iOS and that save data in the cloud.
In the worst case, you have to download the apps and log in again. Then everything should look like it did under Android. How to get Instagram, TikTok or Spotify up and running. Password managers are of course particularly important in this context, because they also save all login files for other services. So get Bitwarden or whatever password manager you use, on iOS too.
If you have previously saved passwords via Google, they can also be accessed on iOS via a Google account. The easiest way to do this is to install Chrome and enter it in the settings under “Passwords” under “Fill in automatically”.
In general, cloud storage apps are also a good idea for taking files with you from Android to iOS. It doesn’t matter which provider you choose. You can use Google Drive just like Dropbox, OneDrive, or alternatives.
5. Move messenger
Messenger is one of the most important apps of all. Moving here is often not as easy as you might imagine. With WhatsApp, for example, you can save chat histories in the cloud, which helps when switching to a new mobile phone. Unfortunately, this only works from Android to Android and from iPhone to iPhone.
WhatsApp is screwing up the cross-transfer of the chat history. You can already move from iOS to Samsung devices, but there should be a complete solution in both directions. As of today, you still have to resort to third-party tools, which are also really expensive.
But there is not only WhatsApp, you probably have at least one other messenger at the start: Threema users can switch from Android to iOS using the safe function. Telegram saves everything in the cloud anyway, you only have to log in on the iPhone. Signal can also only take data with it from Android to Android or from iOS to iOS.
6. Bring saved games to iOS
Games can be just as annoying as Messenger when switching from Android to iOS. Everyone has one or the other game that is played from time to time. It would be cool not to have to start over on the iPhone. If the games have their own user accounts with a sync function, it doesn’t look too bad. Then all you have to do is get the game on iOS and log in.
What does not work is the transfer of saved games from Google Play Games. If in doubt, you must contact the provider for games that are very important to you. But it may well be that there is simply no solution and you have to start over on the iPhone.
7. Problems with paid apps and subscriptions
What actually happens to paid apps when you switch platforms? Nothing, because you made the purchase in the Play Store on Google, which is of little interest to the App Store. What is often mentioned as a tip: Contact the manufacturer and describe the situation, maybe you will then get the iOS version for free. In many cases, however, it will simply boil down to having to buy the iPhone version again.
Be sure to also check subscriptions in the Play Store. They continue to run happily, regardless of whether you are still using the services or not. Be sure to cancel subscriptions that you no longer need.
8. Final finishing touches
With the steps outlined above, you should now have most of it on your iPhone. There are still a few things to consider. One or the other app still needs to be reworked. Example home banking: Here you will have to re-link the new smartphone to your account. You also have to set up contactless payment again. There is no Google Pay on the iPhone, Apple Pay is available for that.
A longer test is definitely the order of the day. Is all the content there, are your apps running and can you do whatever you want with the iPhone? If so, you can reset your Android smartphone and make your system change official.
In the event of problems, Apple provides extensive information on manually moving apps and data. Apple support is also an option that you as a new iPhone user can take advantage of.