Making the jump from Android to iPhone feels a bit like moving houses. You’ve got years of digital "furniture"—photos from that 2019 road trip, endless WhatsApp threads, and a contact list that probably needs a prune anyway. Apple knows this. That’s why they built the Apple Move to iOS app. But honestly? It’s not always the "one-tap miracle" the marketing suggests.
If you’re staring at a brand-new iPhone 17 or maybe an iPhone 16e and wondering why the progress bar hasn't budged in twenty minutes, you aren't alone. In 2026, the stakes are higher. We have more data than ever. Our "System Data" is bloated, and our photo libraries are massive. Let's get into what actually happens when you hit "transfer" and how to avoid the common pitfalls that leave people frustrated.
The Reality of Moving Your Data
The Apple Move to iOS app is basically a bridge. It creates a private Wi-Fi network between your old Android and the new iPhone. In the past, this was a wireless-only affair, but here is a pro tip: use a cable. If you have a USB-C to USB-C cable (standard for most phones now), plug them together. Apple quietly updated the app recently to support wired migrations, and it is significantly faster. We’re talking the difference between a three-hour "estimated time remaining" and a thirty-minute coffee break.
What Actually Moves (And What Stays Behind)
People often think everything just "clones" over. It doesn't. Here is the breakdown:
- The "Yes" List: Contacts, message history (including those crucial WhatsApp backups), camera photos, videos, mail accounts, and calendars.
- The "Sorta" List: Your free apps. If an app exists on both Google Play and the App Store, the iPhone will offer to download it for you once you finish setup.
- The "No" List: Your PDF downloads in the "Downloads" folder often get lost in the shuffle. Game saves that aren't cloud-synced? Gone. Paid apps? You’ll have to buy them again or hope the developer has a cross-platform account system.
Why Move to iOS Fails (and How to Fix It)
The most common complaint is the "Transfer Interrupted" error. It’s the worst. You’re at 92%, and suddenly—boom—error. Usually, this isn't a "broken" app. It’s a phone being too smart for its own good.
Disable your Android’s "Smart Network Switch." Android phones love to hunt for the best internet connection. During the transfer, your Android is connected to a "network" created by the iPhone that doesn't have internet. The Android phone thinks, "Hey, this Wi-Fi sucks," and tries to jump back to your home Wi-Fi or LTE. This kills the transfer instantly. Turn off mobile data and "Auto-connect to Wi-Fi" before you start.
The Storage Math Problem
Check your storage. No, really. If you have a 256GB Android phone stuffed with 200GB of 4K video, and you bought a 128GB iPhone, the Apple Move to iOS app will simply give up. It doesn't always tell you why. It just stops. Always assume iOS itself takes up about 10GB of your new phone’s space right out of the box.
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Step-by-Step Without the Fluff
- Clean up first. Delete those 400 blurry screenshots of memes. It makes the transfer faster.
- Plug into power. Both devices. If a battery drops below 20%, the transfer might throttle or die.
- The Code. On your iPhone, reach the "Apps & Data" screen. Select "From Android." You’ll get a 6-digit or 10-digit code.
- The Handshake. Open the app on your Android, enter the code, and choose your "stuff."
- The Wait. Do not touch either phone. Even if the Android says it's done, look at the iPhone. The iPhone is the boss here; wait for its progress bar to finish.
New 2026 Features You Should Know
With the rollout of iOS 26.3, Apple has actually made things a bit more "platform-friendly." There is now a built-in tool for moving away from iPhone to Android too, which shows Apple is finally playing nice with EU interoperability rules.
They’ve also added support for moving Voice Memos and Dual SIM labels. If you use a work and personal SIM, the labels (like "Business" or "Travel") actually move over now instead of you having to rename them manually.
The "After" Care
Once the transfer is done, you might notice your iPhone feels hot or the battery is draining fast. This is normal. It’s called re-indexing. Your iPhone is scanning all those thousands of photos so you can search for "dog" or "beach" in the Photos app. Give it 48 hours to settle down before you panic about battery life.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your apps: Before starting, check if your most important paid apps have "Account" logins. If they do, your data lives in their cloud, not on the phone.
- Update everything: Ensure your Android is on the latest version of the Move to iOS app from the Play Store.
- Check WhatsApp: Make sure you've triggered a fresh backup within WhatsApp settings on Android before starting the move, as this is often where the transfer hangs.