About This App
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Category
Productivity
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Installs
100,000,000+
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Content Rating
Rated for 3+
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Developer Email
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Privacy Policy
http://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy/
Screenshots
Editor Reviews
Move to iOS is a data transfer app used for moving your photos, contacts, messages, and other content from an Android phone to a new iPhone. It launched alongside iOS 9 back in 2015 and is available for free on Google Play. You won't find it on the App Store because it's meant to be installed on your Android device. The app has been downloaded over 100 million times from Google Play. It is completely free to download and use, with no in-app purchases and no advertisements. You don't need to create an account or register to use it. The whole process is designed for a one-time setup when you are switching phones.
Using the app is straightforward. When you get a new iPhone, you start the setup process. On the "Apps & Data" screen, you choose "Move Data from Android." Your iPhone will then display a unique code. You then grab your old Android phone, download and install the Move to iOS app from Google Play, open it, and agree to the terms. The app will ask for that code from your iPhone. Once you enter it, the two devices connect over a private Wi-Fi network. You then select what you want to transfer: your Google Account info, contacts, message history, photos and videos, web bookmarks, and even your mail accounts. The app will also flag any free apps you had on Android that are also available on the App Store and add them to your wishlist. A simple tip from a user: make sure both phones are plugged into power, as the transfer can take a while depending on how much data you have. Also, don't use either phone for anything else during the transfer to avoid interruptions.
Compared to other methods, Move to iOS is the official, integrated way to switch. You could manually back up photos to Google Photos, sync contacts to your Google account, and hope your messages transfer, but that's piecemeal and easy to miss something. Other third-party transfer apps exist, but they often feel clunky, might not transfer everything correctly, and sometimes cost money. I chose Move to iOS because it's made by Apple, so it works directly with the iPhone setup. It feels more secure and reliable than downloading some random app from an unknown developer. While it's not perfect and can be slow, it gets the job done in one go, which is why most people making the switch use it.
Features
- 🔗 Seamless Setup Integration: Unlike standalone transfer tools, Move to iOS is built right into the initial iPhone setup process. You don't need to set up your iPhone first and then transfer; the app guides you through it from the start, making the switch feel like a single, continuous action.
- 🔗 Transfers More Than Just Files: It moves your core data like messages and mail accounts, which many generic file-sharing apps can't do. Compared to just using a cable or cloud service, it ensures your message history and account settings come along for the ride.
- 🔗 App Suggestion Feature: After transferring your data, it creates a list on your new iPhone of the free apps you had on Android. This is a huge time-saver compared to manually searching the App Store for each app you remember having.
- 🔗 Private, Direct Connection: The transfer happens over a direct, encrypted Wi-Fi network created between the two phones. This feels more secure than uploading all your personal data to a third-party cloud server, which is how some other transfer apps operate.
Pros
- ✅ Official and Trustworthy: Being an Apple app, it's the most reliable method for this specific task. You don't have to worry about malware or data mishandling like with some unknown third-party apps.
- ✅ All-in-One Solution: It consolidates what would be multiple steps across different services into one process. Compared to manually syncing contacts, photos, and messages separately, this is far simpler for the average user.
- ✅ Free and No Ads: The app is completely free with no hidden costs or annoying advertisements. Many similar data migration tools either have paid tiers for full functionality or are littered with ads.
Cons
- ⚠️ Transfer Speed: The process can be very slow, especially with a lot of photos and videos. Other wireless transfer methods or using a computer can sometimes be faster.
- ⚠️ Android-Only App: You can only download it on an Android device, which can be confusing if you've already boxed up your old phone. Some competing tools are available on both platforms for more flexible transfers.