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The most complete transfer is Apple’s Move to iOS process, run while your iPhone 18 Pro Max is still on its initial setup screens. On the iPhone, choose Transfer Your Apps & Data > From Android > Transfer with App; on Android, install Move to iOS, enter the code shown on the iPhone, and select what you want copied. A direct USB-C data cable is usually faster and more dependable than a wireless connection. If your iPhone has already been configured, the automatic migration requires erasing it first.
What moves from Android to iPhone 18 Pro Max
Move to iOS transfers supported personal data rather than making a clone of the Android phone. Apple’s current list includes the following:
| Content | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Contacts | Contacts selected during setup are copied to the iPhone. |
| Message history and SMS | Supported text-message conversations move into the iPhone’s Messages app. |
| Camera photos and videos | Media in the Android camera library can be copied. |
| Photo albums | Supported albums are transferred with the selected photos. |
| Files and folders | Compatible files from Android storage, including selected microSD-card content, can be included. |
| Accessibility and display settings | Supported preferences are carried over, although you should review them on iOS. |
| Web bookmarks | Bookmarks can be transferred; update Chrome on Android first if they are important. |
| Mail accounts | Account details may be added, but some providers can require a fresh sign-in or security check. |
| WhatsApp messages and media | Supported WhatsApp chats and their media can be included in the Move to iOS selection. |
| Voice Memos | Supported recordings are copied. |
| Call history | Recent call records can transfer. |
| Calendars | Calendar data selected for migration can be copied. |
| Some free apps | If an equivalent exists in Google Play and the App Store and supports Apple’s transfer feature, its App Store version can be matched for later download. |
Apple summarizes the supported categories this way:
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“Here’s what gets transferred: contacts, message history, SMS messages, camera photos and videos, photo albums, files and folders, accessibility settings, display settings, web bookmarks, mail accounts, WhatsApp messages and media, Voice Memos, call history, and calendars.”
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Transfer availability can vary with Android manufacturer, app version, file type, account security and the amount of storage available on the iPhone. Treat the list as supported categories, not a promise that every item in every app will appear.
What does not transfer automatically
Android app installations
Android applications are not copied as Android binaries. The process can identify some free apps that have an iOS equivalent, but the iPhone installs the iOS version from the App Store. Paid apps, region-limited apps, sideloaded apps and apps without an iOS edition require separate handling. After setup, open the App Store, download the matched apps, and sign in with each service’s account. App data that is stored only inside an Android app may not be recoverable unless that app provides its own cloud export or account-based restore.
Music, books and PDFs
Apple says music, books and PDFs need to be moved manually. Copy DRM-free files to a computer or a cloud-storage service, then import them using an iPhone-compatible app. For purchased books, music or subscriptions, install the publisher’s or store’s iOS app and sign in; ownership and download rights are controlled by the original service.
Google Photos and Google Calendar libraries
Google Photos and Google Calendar remain available after you sign in on the iPhone. Google advises leaving Apple Photos or Apple Calendar unchecked during the migration if you prefer to keep using those Google services rather than creating a second local library. This choice affects convenience and duplication, not whether the cloud data still exists.
Prepare both phones before starting
- Charge both devices. Keep the Android phone and iPhone connected to power for the entire transfer. A large photo or video library can take a long time.
- Connect to Wi-Fi. The wireless method uses a temporary network created during setup. Do not depend on a weak public hotspot.
- Update Android software and Move to iOS. Install or update Apple’s Move to iOS app from Google Play. Update Chrome as well if browser bookmarks matter.
- Check iPhone capacity. In Android storage settings, estimate the size of the selected photos, videos, files, messages and microSD-card content. The iPhone must have enough free space for the selection and iOS itself.
- Prepare a real data cable. A USB-C cable must support data, not merely charging, and its connectors must fit both phones. If either phone uses a different port, use a compatible data cable or adapter that supports transfer.
- Protect access to accounts. Have passwords, two-factor authentication methods and recovery codes ready. App downloads and mail accounts often require a new sign-in on iOS.
- Keep the Android phone available. During the migration, do not answer calls, open another app or let Android put Move to iOS in the background.
Do not erase or trade in the Android phone until you have opened important photos, conversations, files, accounts and app sign-ins on the iPhone.
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Recommended method: Move to iOS during first-time setup
1. Start iPhone setup
Turn on the new iPhone 18 Pro Max and follow the setup assistant until you reach Transfer Your Apps & Data. Choose From Android, then select Transfer with App. Do not choose a normal “set up as new” path if you want the automated migration; the transfer option appears during this part of setup.
2. Install and open Move to iOS on Android
On Android, open Move to iOS, accept its prompts and grant the permissions it requests for the categories you intend to move. The iPhone displays a six- or ten-digit code. Enter that code in the Android app.
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3. Join the temporary connection
After the code is accepted, Android is prompted to join a temporary Wi-Fi network created by the iPhone. Keep both phones close together. If you are using a direct USB-C connection, connect the cable when the setup assistant requests it and keep it attached until the transfer finishes.
4. Select content
Choose the categories to transfer. Include microSD-card content if it is offered and you want it copied. Review the estimated amount against the iPhone’s available storage before continuing. If you intend to keep Google Photos or Google Calendar as your primary services, leave the corresponding Apple Photos or Apple Calendar options unchecked as advised by Google.
5. Leave the devices untouched
The Android phone shows a progress indicator while the iPhone prepares and imports the data. Keep both devices powered, nearby and on their transfer screens. Do not switch apps, answer a call, disconnect the cable or disable the temporary connection. Wait until the iPhone’s progress bar completes, even if Android appears to finish first.
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6. Complete iPhone setup and download apps
Finish the iPhone setup assistant. Open the App Store and install the suggested or equivalent iOS apps, then sign in. Open WhatsApp and any other messaging or storage app that offers an import prompt and follow its in-app restore steps.
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Apple supports a direct USB-C connection between compatible phones. Google describes the cord method as more reliable than Wi-Fi, and Apple says it can be faster. Wireless transfer is convenient when no suitable cable is available, but it depends on the temporary Wi-Fi link and is more vulnerable to interference or Android power-management behavior.
| Factor | USB-C cable | Wireless Move to iOS |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Often faster, especially for large photo and video libraries. | Can take longer as the amount of data grows. |
| Reliability | Google says the cord is more reliable than Wi-Fi. | Depends on the temporary Wi-Fi connection and nearby radio interference. |
| Equipment | Requires a compatible USB-C data cable or data-capable adapter. | No cable required. |
| Phone behavior | Keep the cable connected and both phones on the transfer screens. | Keep both phones close, powered and connected to the temporary network. |
| Best use | Large libraries or a migration where minimizing interruptions matters. | Small or moderate transfers when a suitable cable is unavailable. |
A USB-C label alone does not prove that a cable carries data. Verify data capability and connector compatibility before relying on it.
No-app QR-code transfer
Apple’s current support documentation describes a second route for compatible Android 17-or-later devices and iPhones running an iOS 26.5-compatible release. During iPhone setup, choose Transfer Your Apps & Data > From Android > Transfer without App. The iPhone displays a QR code; scan it with the Android phone, select the data categories, and optionally transfer the eSIM if the option appears.
This route is not universal. Compatibility is determined by the Android manufacturer and the device, so the absence of Transfer without App is not an error you can fix by installing a different application. Use the standard Move to iOS route when the QR option is unavailable.
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WhatsApp chats and media
WhatsApp messages and media are among the categories Apple lists as transferable through Move to iOS. Select WhatsApp when the Android checklist appears, keep the phones connected until the migration completes, and then install or open WhatsApp on the iPhone with the same phone number. Follow WhatsApp’s import or restore prompt rather than creating a new empty account first.
Check several old conversations, group chats, photos, videos and voice messages after setup. If a particular item was never stored in WhatsApp’s transferable data or is excluded by an app-version or account condition, it may require a separate export; do not assume that an Android backup format can be restored directly to iOS.
Phone number, SIM and eSIM activation
During migration, the iPhone may offer to activate your phone number and move a physical SIM or eSIM. In some cases, setup sends you to the carrier’s website or app. Follow the on-screen carrier instructions because support differs by country, carrier and device.
Before wiping Android, place a test call, send an SMS and verify mobile data on the iPhone. If the number does not activate, keep the Android phone available and contact the carrier; Apple says its stores can help with data transfer and keeping the number, but carrier eligibility still controls the activation.
If the iPhone was already set up
The automated Move to iOS flow is tied to the initial setup assistant. To use it after setup, back up anything already on the iPhone, open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, and start setup again. Erasing removes data currently on the iPhone, so confirm that the backup is complete and that you know the Apple Account credentials before proceeding.
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If you cannot erase the iPhone, use Apple’s manual-transfer approach instead: add mail and calendar accounts, copy photos and files through a computer or cloud service, install iOS versions of apps, and export individual app data using each service’s supported method. Manual migration is slower and does not recreate every Android setting, message database or app state.
Troubleshoot a stalled or incomplete transfer
Move to iOS stops or returns to the beginning
- Keep Move to iOS visible on Android and prevent the screen from locking.
- Turn off cellular data temporarily so Android does not switch away from the temporary Wi-Fi network.
- Disable network-optimisation, VPN or battery-saving features that can interrupt the connection.
- Forget conflicting saved Wi-Fi networks, restart both phones and begin the setup transfer again.
- Use a compatible USB-C data cable if wireless attempts continue to fail.
The iPhone says it is full
Stop and compare the selected Android data with the iPhone’s capacity. Remove unnecessary videos, downloads or duplicated files from the selection, or erase the iPhone and repeat the migration with a smaller set. Do not delete the Android originals until the reduced transfer has been checked.
Only some content arrived
Check which categories were selected, whether the missing files were on a microSD card, and whether the iPhone has enough free storage. Look in the Files, Photos, Messages, Contacts and Calendar apps rather than relying only on the transfer summary. A second run after erasing the iPhone is the cleanest way to retry an incomplete automated migration.
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Apps or accounts are missing
Search the App Store for the iOS edition and sign in manually. Confirm that you used the same email address or phone number as on Android. For apps that store data only locally, look for an export, cloud-sync or account-restore option on Android before wiping it.
Post-transfer verification checklist
- Make a test call and send an SMS; confirm mobile data and the correct phone number.
- Open recent and older photo albums, videos and files, including important microSD-card items.
- Search Messages and WhatsApp for key conversations and attachments.
- Check Contacts, Calendar, mail accounts, bookmarks and Voice Memos.
- Install every essential iOS app and complete two-factor authentication.
- Verify that password-manager, banking, work and authenticator apps are ready before leaving Android behind.
- Confirm that cloud libraries are not duplicated unintentionally if you chose Google Photos or Google Calendar.
Only after these checks pass should you factory-reset, sell or trade in the Android phone.
Which transfer path should you choose?
| Your situation | Best choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| The iPhone is brand new and you have a compatible data cable. | Move to iOS with USB-C. | It avoids wireless interference and is generally faster and more reliable. |
| The iPhone is brand new but no cable is available. | Move to iOS wirelessly. | It uses the supported temporary Wi-Fi connection without extra hardware. |
| Your Android and iPhone meet the documented version and manufacturer requirements. | Transfer without App by QR code. | It avoids installing Move to iOS, but availability is device-dependent. |
| The iPhone is already configured and contains data you need. | Back up, erase, then run Move to iOS, or migrate manually. | The automatic route only appears during first-time setup; manual transfer avoids erasing but covers less. |
| You rely on Google Photos or Google Calendar. | Keep those services and leave the corresponding Apple categories unchecked. | Your existing cloud libraries remain available after signing in. |
The Bottom Line
For the fullest migration, back up and prepare both phones, then run Move to iOS during iPhone 18 Pro Max setup. Use a verified USB-C data cable when possible, keep both devices powered and untouched, reinstall iOS apps from the App Store, and verify your data before erasing Android.
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