How to switch from iPhone to Android

Ignore the arguments about which is better, because iPhones and Android phones have a lot more in common than some people admit. Switching from an iPhone to an Android phone is pretty straightforward these days, and you can take all your stuff with you, including photos, messages, and other stuff.

With the upcoming iOS 18 update, iPhone owners will finally get RCS messaging, the SMS update that will hopefully fix many of the issues people are currently facing when texting between iPhone and Android. One more reason to explore the possibility of a new phone operating system. This guide covers everything you need to know about switching from an iPhone to an Android phone.

What you need to get started:

1. Your old iPhone.
2. Your SIM card (not required for eSIM activation).
3. Your Wi-Fi data (home network and Wi-Fi password).
4. Your Google account details (you can set up an Android phone without a Google account, but you need one to use Google services and get the most out of them).
5. A switching app (from Google) Switch to Android, Samsung Smart Switch for Mobile Devicesor other).
6. A USB-C to USB-C or Lightning to USB-C cable (not essential, but allows for faster transfers).

Start by making a backup

The process of switching from iPhone to Android is usually pretty straightforward, but it’s always a good idea to make a backup before you start anything like this. Back up first and you won’t lose anything you care about. For some of the methods below, you also need a backup to restore to your new phone. We have guides on how to back up your iPhone and your Android phone. You should back up your iPhone to iCloud, but you might also consider backing up to Google One (more on this later).

Remember that you can make a backup of data within certain applications, such as WhatsApp, to avoid losing your conversations (Settings > Chats > Chat Backup). You should also consider any authentication apps you have and check what the transfer process is to avoid losing secure access to services and websites.

Preparing for change

If you can keep your old iPhone for the upgrade process, it will be much easier and quicker to complete. Either way, there are a couple of tasks you need to perform on your iPhone. Go to Settings > Messages to alternate iMessage off, and do the same with FaceTimeIf you forgot to do this and you no longer have your iPhone, you can still unsubscribe from this page on Apple’s support page.

It’s a good idea to check how much data you have on your iPhone. Take a look at Settings > General > iPhone Storage and make sure your new Android phone has enough space to copy everything over. If it doesn’t have enough space, see what you can delete. Now, you’re ready to switch.

How to switch from iPhone to Android

You can usually copy data from your old phone at some point during the setup process. If your iPhone keeps crashing during this process, it can be annoying, so before you start copying data, go to Settings > Display & brightness > Auto-lock and set it to Never.

How to transfer data using a cable

The quickest and easiest way to transfer data is via a cable. This process varies slightly depending on the Android manufacturer. If you’re switching to a Google Pixel, for example, it’s as easy as this:

1. Turn on your new Pixel, choose your language and region, and tap Begin.
2. In it Set up using another device page, touch iPhone or iPad.
3. Choose your Wi-Fi network and connect to it. It may take a few minutes while the information is “checked.”
4. Sign in to your Google account.
5. Insert your SIM card or set up your eSIM.
6. Set up a PIN and fingerprint unlock.
7. It’s time to Copy data from your iPhonetap Next.
8. Connect your iPhone and Pixel with a Lightning to USB-C cable (or a USB-C to USB-C cable if you have an iPhone 15 or later).
9. You must enter your iPhone PIN to trust the connected Pixel.
10. Now, you can select what you want to copy and press Copy to start the process.
11. If you decide to copy Applications, It will provide you with a list of matching apps it managed to find (some in-app purchases and settings will not be copied and you will have to purchase premium apps again).
12. Once it’s finished copying, you can disconnect your iPhone and complete the last few tasks to get your new Pixel up and running.