Apple Move to iOS App Explained (Simply): Why It Fails and How to Actually Make It Work

So, you finally caved. You bought the new iPhone. Maybe it was the camera, or maybe you just got tired of being the only green bubble in the group chat. But now you’re staring at your old Android phone and that shiny new piece of glass, wondering how the heck you’re going to get five years of photos, sketchy WhatsApp memes, and a thousand contacts from one to the other without losing your mind.

Enter the Apple Move to iOS app.

On paper, it’s a dream. Apple literally put an app on the Google Play Store to help you "defect" to their side. It’s a peace offering in the middle of a smartphone war. But if you’ve spent any time on Reddit or Apple Support forums lately, you know the reality is... kinda messy. Sometimes it works like magic; other times, it gets stuck at "1 minute remaining" for three hours until you want to throw both phones out the window.

Let's break down what's actually happening under the hood in 2026, because things have changed a bit with the latest iOS 26 updates.

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What Does the Move to iOS App Actually Transfer?

Honestly, it moves more than it used to, but it still has its limits. Apple and Google have been forced into a bit of a "forced friendship" by EU regulators, so the walls of the garden aren't quite as high as they used to be.

Here is the current list of what usually makes the jump:

• The Basics: Contacts, message history (including those embarrassing texts from 2019), and web bookmarks.
• The Media: Camera photos and videos. This is usually what takes the longest.
• The Technical Stuff: Mail accounts and calendars.
• The Big One: WhatsApp messages and media. This used to be a nightmare, but it’s mostly native now.
• Settings: Accessibility settings and display settings (like Dark Mode preferences).
• Apps: It won't move the actual Android app files (obviously), but if the app is free and available on the App Store, the iPhone will offer to download the iOS version for you once you're set up.

The "Stuck at 0%" Problem: Why It Fails

Most people think the transfer happens over your home Wi-Fi. It doesn’t.

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Basically, your iPhone creates its own private, temporary Wi-Fi network. It’s like a secret tunnel between the two devices. If your Android phone "wakes up" and realizes it doesn't have internet access on this secret tunnel, it might try to jump back to your home Wi-Fi or use 5G. The second it does that? Boom. Connection severed. Transfer failed.

There’s also the issue of "bloat." If you have 200GB of 4K video on your Android but you bought the 128GB iPhone, the app isn't going to tell you it's impossible until it's already halfway through and realizes it's out of room. It’s a bit of a "measure twice, cut once" situation.

How to Actually Use Apple Move to iOS Without Losing Your Mind

If you want this to work on the first try, you can't just wing it. You've gotta be a little methodical.

1. Plug them both in. Seriously. This process eats battery for breakfast. If either phone dies mid-transfer, you might have to factory reset the iPhone and start over.
2. Airplane Mode is your best friend. Turn it on for the Android phone, then manually toggle Wi-Fi back on. This prevents a random phone call or a "Smart Network Switch" feature from killing the transfer.
3. Clean up your trash. Delete those 4,000 blurry screenshots and the "Good Morning" GIFs your aunt sends you. The less data you move, the less chance of a timeout.
4. The Code Stage: On your new iPhone, you’ll reach a screen during setup called "Apps & Data." Tap Move Data from Android. You’ll get a 6-digit or 10-digit code. Punch that into the Android app.
5. Don’t touch them. Once the "Transferring" bar appears, go get a coffee. Walk the dog. Do anything except touch those phones. Even opening another app on the Android to check the weather can kill the process.

What about the USB-C Cable?

In 2026, we finally have a better way. Since modern iPhones and almost all Androids now use USB-C, you can actually just plug them into each other with a high-quality cable. It’s significantly faster and way more stable than the "secret Wi-Fi tunnel" method. If you have a cable, use it. Your sanity will thank you.

The Gaps: What Doesn't Move?

Even with the fancy new AppMigrationKit frameworks Apple introduced in iOS 26.3, some stuff just isn't coming with you.

Your PDF documents, locally stored music (the MP3s you downloaded in college), and books won't move. You’ll need to move those manually via a computer or a cloud service like Google Drive. Also, if you have paid apps on Android, you’re likely going to have to buy them again on the App Store. Apple and Google aren't that friendly yet.

Dealing with the Post-Transfer Blues

Sometimes, you finish the transfer, and the iPhone says "Completed," but you open your Photos and it's empty. Don't panic.

The iPhone spends the next hour (or three) indexing everything. It’s basically organizing the boxes you just moved into the new house. Give it time, keep it on the charger, and let it finish its background work. If your WhatsApp chats didn't appear, make sure you're using the same phone number you had on the old device, or the encryption keys won't match up.

Actionable Next Steps:

• Check your storage: Verify that the "System Data" on your Android isn't larger than the total capacity of your new iPhone.
• Update Chrome: If you want your bookmarks to move, make sure Chrome is updated to the latest version on your Android before you start.
• Disable "Connection Optimizer": Go into your Android settings and turn off any feature that automatically switches between Wi-Fi and mobile data. This is the #1 killer of the Apple Move to iOS app success rate.
• Manual Backup: If you have high-priority files, back them up to Google Photos or Drive first. The Move to iOS app is a "convenience tool," not a foolproof backup system.

The switch to a new ecosystem is always a bit of a headache, but it’s a lot easier when you know which traps to avoid. Just remember: stay plugged in, stay off the phone, and maybe keep a USB-C cable handy just in case.