You can’t copy Android apps directly to an iPhone, because Android and iOS use different app formats. The closest thing is Apple’s Move to iOS app: during iPhone setup, choose From Android on the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen, open Move to iOS on your Android phone, and enter the code shown on the iPhone. It transfers contacts, messages, photos, videos, calendars, and more, and it adds the free apps you had on Android that are also in the App Store. Paid apps must be bought again, and app data moves only if the app syncs through its own account.
This guide covers the full Move to iOS process, what does and doesn’t transfer, how to move app data for popular apps, and what to do if you’ve already set up your iPhone.
What transfers with Move to iOS
| Transfers | Doesn’t transfer |
|---|---|
| Contacts, message history, photos and videos, calendars, mail accounts, web bookmarks, and (on supported versions) WhatsApp data | Paid apps, most app data, music with DRM, PDFs and documents stored only in apps, Android-specific settings |
| Free apps that are available in the App Store (added during setup) | Apps with no iPhone version |
Before you start
- Charge both phones and connect them to power.
- Connect the Android phone to Wi-Fi.
- Install Move to iOS from Google Play on the Android phone.
- Make sure the iPhone has enough storage for your photos and data.
- Your iPhone must be new or erased, since Move to iOS runs during initial setup.
Step-by-step: Move to iOS
- Turn on the iPhone and follow setup until you reach Transfer Your Apps & Data (called Apps & Data in older iOS versions).
- Tap From Android.
- On the Android phone, open Move to iOS, tap Continue, and agree to the terms.
- Enter the code shown on the iPhone into the Android phone.
- Join the temporary Wi-Fi network the iPhone creates if prompted.
- Choose what to transfer and tap Continue.
- Leave both phones alone until the loading bar finishes on the iPhone, even if Android says it’s done.
- Finish iPhone setup. Free apps you had on Android start downloading from the App Store.
Move app data for common apps
- Google apps (Gmail, Drive, Photos, Maps, YouTube) – install the iPhone versions and sign in with your Google account.
- WhatsApp – Move to iOS can transfer chats on supported versions; otherwise use WhatsApp’s own transfer steps.
- Signal, Telegram, and others – use each app’s built-in transfer or backup option.
- Games – progress usually carries over if you signed in with a game account (not tied to Google Play Games only). Check the game’s support page.
- Streaming and social apps – sign in, and your content and playlists sync.
Already set up your iPhone?
- Install your apps manually from the App Store and sign in to each one.
- Sync contacts and calendars by adding your Google account in Settings > Apps > Contacts (or Mail) > Accounts.
- To use Move to iOS, you’d need to erase the iPhone (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings) and start over. Back up anything new first.
Troubleshooting
- Transfer keeps failing – turn off mobile data, VPNs, and Wi-Fi optimization features on Android, and keep the Move to iOS app open on screen.
- No code appears – restart both phones and start setup again.
- Some apps didn’t install – they may be paid or unavailable in your region’s App Store.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy my apps again?
Paid apps and in-app purchases from Google Play don’t carry over, though subscriptions tied to an account (like streaming services) keep working when you sign in.
How long does Move to iOS take?
From a few minutes to over an hour, depending on how many photos and videos you have.
Can I move apps from iPhone back to Android?
Android has similar setup tools for copying data from an iPhone, with the same app limitations.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.