How to Transfer Photos from Android to iPhone: Complete Migration Guide

Switching from Android to iPhone doesn’t mean leaving your photo memories behind. Apple’s Move to iOS app makes transferring your entire photo library quick and automatic, preserving all your images with their original dates and quality intact.

What is Android-to-iPhone Photo Migration?

Photo migration is the process of transferring your entire photo library from an Android device to your new iPhone while preserving metadata like dates, locations, and edit history. Rather than manually uploading photos one by one or relying on cloud sync delays, Apple’s Move to iOS app (currently version 4.0.3, available on Google Play Store as of January 2025) handles the transfer automatically during your iPhone’s initial setup.

The migration process works by creating a secure connection between your Android phone and iPhone over your Wi-Fi network, transferring photos in their original format without requiring you to visit any websites or manage multiple steps. This is the most reliable method for moving a complete photo library with all metadata intact.

Current as of: iOS 17.x and iOS 18.x (tested compatibility as of January 2025)

Why Use This Feature?

• Complete Library Transfer: Move all your photos at once instead of uploading them individually, saving hours of manual work
• Preserves Photo Metadata: Your photos keep their original capture dates, locations, and other EXIF information, so your timeline stays accurate
• No Cloud Delays: Unlike cloud-synced photos, Move to iOS transfers directly between devices, giving you immediate access to your complete library
• Secure Connection: The app uses encrypted Wi-Fi transfer, so your photos stay private during migration without uploading to the internet

Things to Consider

• Use During Initial Setup Only: The Move to iOS app works most reliably when you start with a fresh iPhone during the initial setup process. If you’ve already configured your iPhone, you’ll need to use an alternative method (Google Takeout export) instead
• Stable Wi-Fi Required: Both devices must stay connected to the same Wi-Fi network throughout the transfer. If your Wi-Fi disconnects or devices switch networks, the transfer will fail or get stuck. Keep both phones on the same network and plugged into power
• Transfer Time Varies Significantly: Apple’s official documentation states transfers typically take 10-20 minutes for most transfers, but can range from a few minutes to over an hour depending on Wi-Fi signal strength, network congestion, and photo file sizes. There are no guaranteed benchmarks—your actual time will depend on your specific network conditions
• Storage Space Must Be Available: Your iPhone needs enough free storage space to hold all your Android photos. The transfer will pause if your iPhone’s storage fills up during migration

How to Transfer Your Photos: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Start with a Fresh iPhone During Setup

Power on your new iPhone. Follow the initial setup screens until you reach the ‘Apps & Data’ screen—this is where migration begins. If you skip this step, you’ll need to use the Google Takeout method (covered in the troubleshooting section) instead.

Step 2: Select ‘Move Data from Android’

Tap the ‘Move Data from Android’ option. Your iPhone will generate a 10-digit or 6-character setup code and display it on screen. Keep this screen visible—you’ll need to enter this code on your Android phone next.

Step 3: Download Move to iOS App on Your Android Phone

On your Android device, open the Google Play Store and search for ‘Move to iOS’ (published by Apple Inc.). Download and install the app—it’s currently version 4.0.3 and available globally with no regional restrictions. Open the app and tap ‘Continue,’ then accept the terms and conditions to proceed.

Step 4: Select Photos in the Move to iOS App

The Move to iOS app will show you a content selection screen with options for different types of data. Find and tap ‘Photos’ to select which photos you want to transfer. You can choose specific Android photo folders or select all photos (we recommend selecting all for a complete migration). Your selection here determines what transfers next.

Step 5: Enter the Setup Code

When prompted by the Move to iOS app, enter the 10-digit or 6-character setup code from your iPhone into the Android app. This establishes the secure connection between your two devices. Both phones must remain connected to the same Wi-Fi network during this step.

Step 6: Wait for Transfer to Complete

Keep both devices on the same Wi-Fi network, plugged into power, and do not close the Move to iOS app or interrupt the connection. Transfer time depends on your Wi-Fi speed and the number of photos—Apple’s official documentation states transfers typically take 10-20 minutes for most transfers, though they can range from several minutes to over an hour depending on network conditions and photo file sizes. Watch the progress indicator on your Android phone.

Step 7: Verify Your Photos Transferred Successfully

Once the transfer completes, unlock your iPhone and open the Photos app. Navigate to ‘All Photos’ to view your complete library. Verify that the photo count matches your Android device (you can check exact counts in Settings > General > iPhone Storage). Open a few random photos and check that timestamps and other metadata transferred correctly.

Step 8: For Photos Not Transferred or Already-Configured iPhones

If you missed the initial setup window or your transfer was incomplete, use Google Takeout to export your Android photos. On your Android phone or computer, visit Google Takeout (support.google.com/accounts/answer/3024190). Select ‘Photos’ and choose your export format (Takeout exports as .zip or .tgz compressed archives with photos in their original format). Download the archive to your Mac or PC, then import the photos to your iPhone using the Files app or Photos app by selecting the photos and choosing ‘Import.’

Troubleshooting Common Transfer Issues

Connection Keeps Dropping Restart both devices and ensure your Wi-Fi signal is strong (move closer to your router if needed). Check that both phones are connecting to the same Wi-Fi network name. If problems continue, restart your router and attempt the transfer again.

Transfer Stopped Halfway or Shows Incomplete Your iPhone likely ran out of storage space mid-transfer. Check available storage by opening Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Delete unnecessary apps or data to free up space, then restart the transfer from the beginning.

Photos Missing After Transfer Verify that you selected the correct Android photo folder in Step 4. Some third-party gallery apps store photos in non-standard locations that the Move to iOS app might not access. Open your Android phone’s default Photos app (usually Samsung Gallery, Google Photos, or similar) and confirm those photos are visible there before attempting transfer again.

Duplicate Photos Appear on iPhone If you’re restarting a transfer on an already-configured iPhone, restart your iPhone completely (press and hold power button + volume button, slide to power off, wait 30 seconds, then restart). This clears system cache that might cause duplication. After restarting, use the Google Takeout method instead of attempting Move to iOS again.

Transfer Works but Photos Look Different Quality Move to iOS transfers photos in their original format and quality. If photos appear lower quality on your iPhone, check your iPhone’s storage settings—iOS sometimes compresses photos if storage is limited. Ensure you have at least as much free storage as the total size of your Android photos.

Transferring your photo library from Android to iPhone is straightforward with Apple’s Move to iOS app, taking just one setup window and 10-20 minutes (or longer on slower networks) to complete. Your photos arrive organized, dated correctly, and ready to view—giving you one less thing to worry about during your switch to iPhone.