How to move everything to your new phone: iPhone and Galaxy

use the built-in tool for your pair of phones, keep both on Wi-Fi and charged, and do not wipe the old phone until you have checked the new one. Setup takes 30 to 60 minutes for most people. The tool you need depends on where you are moving from and to.

Before you start

• Charge both phones to at least half, or leave them on charge.
• Connect both to Wi-Fi.
• Have your Apple ID or Google account password ready.
• Update the old phone to its latest software version.
• Take a fresh backup, in case something goes wrong.

iPhone to iPhone

Switch on the new iPhone and bring it close to the old one. Quick Start appears on the old phone; confirm it and scan the animation with the old phone's camera. You can then transfer directly between the phones, or restore from an iCloud backup. Direct transfer keeps most app logins and settings, and is the fastest option when both phones are in front of you.

Android to iPhone

During setup on the iPhone, choose the option to move data from Android. Install Apple's Move to iOS app on the Android phone, enter the code the iPhone shows, and choose what to bring across: contacts, messages, photos, videos, calendars and email accounts. Music, books and PDFs need to be moved separately, and paid apps may need buying again on iOS.

iPhone to Galaxy or other Android

On a Samsung, use Smart Switch. You can connect with a USB-C cable for speed, or use Wi-Fi. For other Android phones, Google's own set-up tool can copy from an iPhone. Before you move your number, switch off iMessage and FaceTime on the old iPhone, so texts from other iPhones are not held back.

Galaxy to Galaxy

Smart Switch handles it. Put the phones next to each other, open Smart Switch on both, and follow the prompts. It carries across apps, messages, settings and the home screen layout.

The things people forget

• WhatsApp. Back it up inside the app first. Moving between iPhone and Android takes a specific transfer process, so check WhatsApp's own guide before you start.
• Authenticator apps. Many do not move automatically. Move each account over properly before wiping the old phone, or you can lock yourself out.
• Banking apps. These often need to be re-registered on the new device.
• Your SIM or eSIM. A physical SIM can move over. An eSIM needs to be reissued by your network. Our eSIM guide explains it.
• Smartwatch and earbuds. These will need pairing again with the new phone.

When you are done

Use the new phone for a couple of days with the old one switched off but not wiped. If everything is where it should be, sign out of your accounts on the old phone and reset it. That gives you a way back if something is missing.

Common questions

How long does a transfer take?

From 10 minutes to over an hour, depending on how much is on the phone and the connection speed. A cable is faster than Wi-Fi.

Will I lose my apps?

Between phones of the same system, apps come across. Between iPhone and Android, apps are redownloaded from the store and paid apps may need to be bought again.

Do I need to keep the old phone?

Keep it for a week or so. After that, wipe it and either sell it or recycle it.