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To transfer photos from Samsung to iPhone, use Apple’s Move to iOS flow while setting up a new or erased iPhone. It can move camera photos, videos, and photo albums along with other selected content. If your iPhone is already set up and you do not want to erase it, copy the photos to a computer and sync them to the iPhone instead.

Choose a transfer method for your iPhone’s setup status

Method Best for What you need to know
Move to iOS A new or erased iPhone and a broader Android-to-iPhone migration Choose From Android during iPhone setup. If setup is complete, Apple says you need to erase the iPhone to use this method; otherwise, transfer photos manually. Apple Support
Direct USB-C connection Phone models that support a compatible direct connection Apple describes this as a faster option but gives no measured speed. Check both phones’ ports and cable compatibility; Android may prompt you to change USB settings. Apple Support
Computer-assisted transfer An iPhone that is already set up, or a failed or unavailable app transfer Copy photos from Android to a computer, then sync them to the iPhone using the applicable Apple software. Apple Support
SD card or external storage import Photos stored on removable or external media Use a compatible reader or connector and import the files in iPhone Photos. iPhone User Guide

Prepare both phones before transferring

  • Turn on Wi-Fi on the Samsung phone and connect both phones to power.
  • Check the iPhone’s available storage against the size of the content you plan to move. Include photos stored on an external microSD card in your estimate.
  • For a wired transfer, confirm that your exact Samsung and iPhone models support the connection and that you have a compatible cable. A phone with a Lightning port may need a different compatible connection or another transfer method.
  • If you are moving Chrome bookmarks as part of a broader migration, update Chrome on Android first.

Apple’s current setup guide also describes an app-free transfer route, but it is conditional: it requires a compatible version of Android 17 or later and supported devices, and starts during iPhone setup. It is not available on every Samsung phone. Apple’s eligibility and setup guidance

Transfer photos with Move to iOS during iPhone setup

  1. Turn on the iPhone and begin setup. At the transfer screen, choose From Android.
  2. On the Samsung phone, open Apple’s Move to iOS app and follow its prompts. Enter the code shown on the iPhone when asked.
  3. When the content choices appear, select the items you want to move. Photos, videos, and photo albums are among the content Move to iOS can transfer.
  4. Keep both phones nearby and connected to power. Leave Move to iOS open on the Samsung; do not answer a call or switch to another app while the transfer is running.
  5. Wait until the progress bar on the iPhone finishes before using either phone or completing the remaining setup prompts.

Use a USB-C cable when both phones support it

Apple Support says, “Alternatively, you can also use a USB-C cable to directly connect your Android device and your iPhone for a faster transfer.” Apple does not publish a transfer rate or completion-time estimate, so “faster” is a qualitative comparison, not a guaranteed speed.

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Connect the phones with a compatible cable and follow the Move to iOS prompts. Depending on the Samsung model, Android may show a USB prompt that requires changing the USB settings before the transfer can begin. If the ports or cable do not support a direct connection, use Wi-Fi migration during setup or the manual method below. Apple Support’s USB-C and setup guidance

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Fix a Move to iOS transfer that stalls or stops

  • Keep the app in front: Leave Move to iOS open on the Samsung, and do not use other apps or answer calls until the iPhone’s progress bar is complete.
  • Check the connection: Keep the phones near each other and connected to power. Turn off cellular data on Android and disable settings or features that may switch or interfere with Wi-Fi.
  • Restart and retry: Restart both devices, then run the transfer again.
  • Check iPhone space: Confirm that the selected content, including items on an external microSD card, fits in available storage. If the iPhone runs out of space or the migration stops partway, Apple advises erasing the iPhone and starting over after confirming the collection fits.

Apple says the iPhone creates a temporary Wi-Fi network for the Move to iOS flow. Follow the on-screen connection prompts rather than switching networks during migration. Apple’s transfer troubleshooting steps

Transfer photos manually to an iPhone that is already set up

If you do not want to erase a configured iPhone, Apple’s manual approach is to copy photo files from Android to a computer and then sync them to the iPhone. On many Android phones, camera photos are in the DCIM folder. The exact file-browsing steps can vary by device and computer.

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  1. Connect the Samsung phone to a Mac or PC and open its files. Locate the photo folders you want to transfer, often including DCIM, and copy them to the computer.
  2. Connect the iPhone to the computer and use the relevant Apple tool to sync the copied photos: Finder on macOS Catalina or later, iTunes on macOS Mojave or earlier, or Apple Devices on a PC.
  3. Follow the tool’s onscreen sync controls to select the photo folders and apply the sync.

For the detailed manual workflow, see Apple’s instructions for moving content manually from Android.

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Import photos from an SD card or external storage

If the photos are on a Samsung phone’s microSD card or another external storage device, you can import them directly into iPhone Photos using a compatible card reader or connector. The reader, connector, and storage setup must be supported by the iPhone. Apple’s iPhone User Guide explains photo and video import from SD cards and external storage.

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