People stay on a platform for years out of fear of the move rather than preference for the phone. The move is easier than it was, and knowing what will and will not come across removes most of the worry.
The official tools
Going to Android, the phone's setup process will offer to copy from an iPhone, either with a cable or over Wi-Fi. Going to iPhone, Apple's Move to iOS app on the Android phone does the same. Both move contacts, photos, videos, messages, calendar events and, where an equivalent exists, apps. Run them during setup; retrofitting a transfer onto a phone you have already started using is messier.
What transfers cleanly
- Contacts, calendars and email, particularly if they already live in a Google or Microsoft account rather than only on the phone.
- Photos and videos. If your library is in Google Photos or iCloud, it may be simpler to sign in on the new phone than to copy files.
- Most apps, and their data where the app syncs to an account (banking, social, streaming, email).
What needs attention
- Paid apps and in-app purchases. Bought through one store, they do not transfer to the other. You will repurchase, or move to a subscription that works across both.
- Messaging history. WhatsApp now supports transfer in both directions through its own tool. iMessage conversations do not move to Android; before switching away from iPhone, turn iMessage off in settings or texts from other iPhone users may go missing for a while.
- Two-factor authentication apps. Export your accounts from the authenticator app before wiping the old phone, or you will be locked out of things. This is the step people forget.
- Smartwatches and some accessories. An Apple Watch only works with an iPhone; many Android watches work poorly or not at all with iPhone.
- Music libraries that were downloaded rather than streamed.
Keep the old phone for a week
Do not sell or wipe the old handset the day the new one arrives. Keep it on Wi-Fi for a week so anything you missed can still be reached. Then wipe it, sign out of the accounts, and trade it in. Your number moves the same way whichever direction you go: text PAC to 65075 if you are changing network, or simply move the SIM (or transfer the eSIM) if you are staying.