The easiest way to transfer data from iPhone to Android is during the new phone’s setup: choose “copy from iPhone or iPad” and connect the two phones with a cable or the QR code. Turn off iMessage first, and use Samsung’s Smart Switch instead if the new phone is a Galaxy.
Turn off iMessage first
On the iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Messages (older iOS: Settings > Messages) and switch off iMessage. Do the same for FaceTime.
If you skip this, texts from other iPhone users can keep going to iMessage and never reach your Android. M-Pesa and bank SMS come as normal texts, but turning iMessage off removes any doubt.
Already sold or lost the iPhone? Use Apple’s online “deregister iMessage” page with your phone number.
Use the built-in copy or Smart Switch
Any Android phone (Pixel, Tecno, Infinix, Oppo and others):
- Charge both phones and connect the iPhone to Wi-Fi.
- Switch on the new Android and follow setup until it asks to copy apps and data.
- Choose iPhone or iPad.
- With a cable (best): connect the iPhone’s charging cable to both phones, using a USB-C adapter if needed. Tap Trust on the iPhone.
- Without a cable: scan the QR code on the Android with the iPhone camera, or install Google’s Android Switch app on the iPhone (iOS 15 or later).
- Pick what to copy and tap Copy. Large transfers can take an hour or more.
The cable method copies more: messages, free apps, contacts, photos, calendars, notes and, on prompt, WhatsApp chats. The wireless app route mainly moves contacts, calendars, photos and videos. The newest phones on current software can copy even more, such as call history, Wi-Fi networks and passwords.
Samsung Galaxy: at setup choose to copy from iPhone, or open Smart Switch later. Use the cable option for the most data. Smart Switch can also pull contacts, photos and videos from iCloud if you don’t have a cable.
So yes, you can transfer without a computer: the phones talk to each other directly.
Google account sync
Sign in to the same Google account on both phones as a safety net:
- Contacts: add your Google account on the iPhone and sync contacts, or follow moving contacts from iPhone to Android.
- Photos: install Google Photos on the iPhone and back up over Wi-Fi; everything appears on the Android. See transferring photos between Android and iPhone.
- Calendar and Gmail: they appear as soon as you sign in.
What does not come across
- Photos stored only in iCloud. Download them to the iPhone first, or request a copy from Apple into Google Photos.
- Paid apps and in-app purchases. Android needs its own version, often paid again.
- iCloud-only data, Safari bookmarks and Health data.
- WhatsApp comes across only when you accept the prompt during setup with a cable. Otherwise see moving WhatsApp from iPhone to Android.
- Apple Music and iCloud Drive files need Apple’s Android app, the web or a manual download.
Keep the iPhone, unwiped, for a week until you’re sure everything arrived.
Quick answers
Turn off iMessage, then on the new Android’s setup screen choose copy from iPhone and connect with a cable or QR code. Pick what to copy and wait.
Use Smart Switch, either during setup or from the app later, with the iPhone cable connected for the fullest copy.
Yes. The phones connect directly by cable or Wi-Fi, and Google Photos or iCloud cover anything left over.
