Moving from one operating system to another is always an exciting process, but often fraught with technical difficulties. This is especially true for the migration of user data, when you need to transfer contacts, photos and correspondence history. Users often encounter a situation where the official Apple tool does not see the device or the process freezes at the time estimation stage. This causes panic, as it seems that the data may be lost forever.
In fact, most failures are not related to hardware incompatibility, but to the nuances of wireless protocols and security settings. In this article, we will analyze in detail why data is not transferred from Android to iPhone and how to fix each specific error step by step.
The main reasons for the failure of the Move to iOS utility
The first thing you need to understand: the application Move to iOS creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, bypassing yours home router. It is this feature that often becomes a stumbling block. If your Android phone has mobile data turned on or tries to switch to a home Wi-Fi network with a weak signal, the connection to the iPhone will be lost.
In addition, modern versions of Android have aggressive power saving settings. The system can forcibly “put to sleep” background processes, which include the data transfer process. As a result, the screen goes blank, the connection is lost, and you see an error.
It is also worth considering operating system versions. For the utility to work correctly, version 4.0 or higher must be installed on Android, and version iOS 9 or later must be installed on iPhone. Although today it is difficult to find a device with such an old OS, on budget models with stripped-down firmware, conflicts with Wi-Fi module drivers may occur.
⚠️ Attention: If the process is interrupted at the “Time Estimation” or “Data Transfer” stage, do not try to immediately resume it. You must completely reset the network settings on both devices before trying again.
Preparing devices: critical settings
Before starting the procedure, make sure that both smartphones are connected to a power source. Transferring large amounts of data, especially videos and photos, uses up battery power significantly. If the charge level drops below 20%, the system may block transmission to conserve power.
On your Android device, you must disable any features that may interfere with a stable connection. Go to Settings and make sure Energy Saver mode is turned off. It is also recommended to turn off mobile data so that the system does not try to use it if the Wi-Fi Direct signal is lost.
Pay special attention to application permissions. When you first launch it Move to iOS will ask for permission to access contacts, storage and location. If you accidentally click "Decline", the application will not be able to read data for transfer.
☑️ Preparing Android for transfer
Check the amount of free memory on your iPhone. If you are trying to transfer 100GB of data and only have 50GB available on your new device, the process will fail. Remove unnecessary applications or photos from the new device before starting the migration.
Step-by-step guide for resolving connection errors
If the standard startup fails, follow the “clean” connection procedure. This is the most effective method and helps in 90% of cases. Start by completely restarting both smartphones. This will clear the network services cache and reset hung processes.
On your iPhone, go to the factory reset section. This is a critical step as the phone must be in initial setup state to receive data. If you've already set up your iPhone as a new device, you'll have to reset it to factory settings.
Settings → General → Transfer or reset iPhone → Erase content and settingsAfter resetting, your iPhone will prompt you to set it up again. Go to the Apps & Data screen and select Transfer Data from Android. A six or ten digit code will appear on the screen.
Enter this code on your Android device. Make sure you enter the numbers quickly but accurately. Once entered, Android will ask you to connect to the temporary Wi-Fi network created by the iPhone. Click “Connect”, even if the system warns you that there is no Internet access on this network.
| Stage | Action on Android | Action on iPhone | Indicator status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Launch | Open Move to iOS | Select "From Android" | Waiting for code |
| 2. Communication | Enter the code from the iPhone screen | Show code | Wi-Fi generation |
| 3. Connection | Confirm connection to Wi-Fi | Wait for connection | Transfer screen |
| 4. Choice | Mark data for transfer | Display progress | Load slider |
| 5. Final | Wait for the "Ready" message | Wait for completion | Settings screen |
What to do if the code is not accepted?
If the code does not work the first time, close the app on Android and start again. Make sure you don't have the back button pressed on your iPhone. The code is only valid for a few minutes; if a connection is not established, it expires. Generate a new code on iPhone.
Problems with transferring WhatsApp and instant messengers
A separate category of problems is associated with transferring correspondence history. Unlike contacts and photos, messenger data requires a special procedure. For WhatsApp, you need to use the built-in export function within the application itself before working with Move to iOS.
Go to WhatsApp settings on Android, select “Chats” and click “Transfer chats”. The system will ask you to connect your phone to the network and may require Face ID or iPhone fingerprint authentication during the process. Do not close the WhatsApp app on Android until the transfer is complete.
Often users complain that messages have been transferred, but media files (photos and videos from conversations) have not. This is due to the session time limit. If there is too much data, the process may break down. In this case, try transferring only the text history and saving the media files manually via the cloud.
⚠️ Attention: The WhatsApp interface and transfer capabilities may be updated by developers. Always check the official WhatsApp help or the Apple Support website for the latest requirements for application versions.
Before transferring WhatsApp, make a backup copy of your chats to Google Drive. This will create a backup copy in case a direct transfer between phones fails.
Alternative methods for transferring data
If Apple's built-in tool keeps throwing errors, there are proven alternatives. The most reliable way is to use cloud services. Synchronization via a Google account is ideal for contacts and calendar.
Add your Google account in iPhone settings. Go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts, select Google and turn on the “Contacts” toggle switch. In a few minutes, the entire phone book will appear in the Phone application on iOS.
For photos and videos, use the service Google Photos. Install the application on iPhone, log in to the same account as on Android. All previously uploaded pictures will be available in the gallery. This also solves the problem of running out of space on the iPhone, since photos are stored in the cloud.
- 📱 Google Drive: Allows you to transfer documents, notes and backup copies of files. Install the application on your iPhone and download the necessary files.
- 📸 Send Anywhere: A third-party application for fast file transfer over Wi-Fi without registration. It works on the principle of generating a 6-digit key.
- 💻 Computer as an intermediary: Connect Android to the PC, copy the photo to a folder, then connect the iPhone and use iTunes or Finder to synchronize.
Use cloud services (Google Photos, Google Contacts) often more reliable and faster than direct wireless transfer via cable or Wi-Fi Direct, especially when there is a large amount of data.
Solving problems with specific file types
Sometimes the transfer is successful, but certain files are damaged or inaccessible. This often happens with video files in non-standard formats or files protected by DRM. iPhone supports a limited set of codecs, and some videos from Android may not play.
In such cases, it is recommended to use third-party converters or players, such as VLC for Mobile. This player is capable of playing almost any video and audio formats that cannot be opened by a standard application.
If application data is not transferred (not the applications themselves, but their settings and logins), accept the fact that this is a technical limitation. Due to differences in the architecture of iOS and Android, most application data cannot be migrated. You will have to log in to your accounts again.
For music the situation is similar. MP3 files purchased from Google Play Music (if the service is still available in your region) or downloaded manually are best transferred through a computer or an Apple Music subscription by syncing your library.
Why does the transfer freeze at 90%?
A freeze at the final stage usually means that the system is trying to finish recording the last large files or is indexing the database. Don't interrupt the process. If it doesn't move for more than 30 minutes, the connection is most likely lost due to Wi-Fi interference. In this case, you will have to start over, having first deleted unnecessary video files from Android.
Is it possible to transfer data if the iPhone is already configured?
Officially, the Move to iOS utility only works during the initial setup stage. If you are already using the phone, the only way to use this method is to reset your iPhone to factory settings. An alternative is to transfer data in parts via the cloud or computer without resetting.
Is it safe to transfer data through third-party applications?
Applications like Send Anywhere use a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, the data is not uploaded to intermediate servers, which ensures a high level of security. However, always download such utilities only from the official App Store and Google Play stores.
What to do with passwords from Wi-Fi networks?
Passwords from Wi-Fi networks are not automatically transferred through Move to iOS for security reasons. You'll have to enter your home network password on your iPhone manually the first time you connect. Your iPhone will then be able to share the password with other Apple devices in your ecosystem.
Are alarms and ringer settings transferable?
No, system settings such as alarms, wallpapers, desktop icon layout, and sound settings cannot be transferred between different operating systems. These settings must be configured on the iPhone manually after data migration is complete.