Buying a new smartphone is always an exciting event, especially when you decide to change the ecosystem Android to iOS. However, the euphoria of a new device often gives way to disappointment when the standard data migration process stalls at the very first stage. You downloaded the official application, entered the code, but the transfer froze, was interrupted, or did not start at all. This is a common problem that thousands of users face every day.
There can be many reasons why data transfer it is not possible to complete successfully: from banal interference in the Wi-Fi network to incompatibility of operating system versions. It is important to understand that the built-in Move to iOS tool is extremely sensitive to any external interference. Even a regular incoming notification or switching to the mobile data can break the connection between devices.
In this article we will analyze in detail all possible failure scenarios and propose working action algorithms. You will learn how to prepare both smartphones for migration, what settings are critical, and what to do if the standard method absolutely refuses to work. Sometimes the solution lies in a simple reboot, and in other cases you will need to use cloud services or a computer.
Preparing devices: critical settings
Before you try to start the migration process again, you need to make sure that both smartphones are in perfect condition for this task. Often users ignore basic requirements, considering them obvious, but it is the little things that cause errors. Make sure that your Androidsmartphone has an application installed Move to iOS from the official Google Play store, and not from third-party sources.
On the receiving device, that is, iPhone, the state should be “out of the box”. This means that the phone must be in the initial setup phase. If you have already set up your iPhone and are using it, the transfer application will not launch correctly. You will have to perform a full factory reset via the menu Settings → General → Transfer or reset iPhone → Erase content and settings.
⚠️ Warning: Resetting your settings will erase all data from the new iPhone. Make sure there is no important information on it that you did not have time to save before you begin the reset procedure.
The battery level is also a critical factor. The transfer process can take from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data. If one of the devices dies in the middle of the process, the connection will be broken and you will have to start over. Connect both smartphones to power sources or make sure that the charge is at least 50-60%.
Another nuance concerns software updates. Outdated versions Android or iOS may contain bugs that prevent the stable operation of the transmission protocol. Check for updates in the settings of both devices. For Android this is the section System → System update, and for iOS - Basic → Software update.
⚠️ Attention: Menu interfaces and item names may differ depending on the smartphone model and shell version (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS, etc.). Check the location of the settings with the current manuals of the manufacturer of your device.
☑️ Checklist for preparing for transfer
Wi-Fi connection problems and interference
The most common reason for a failed transfer is an unstable wireless connection. The app Move to iOS creates a direct, secure Wi-Fi network between two devices without using your home router. Any attempts by the phone to switch to a mobile network or connect to a known access point result in a failure.
To eliminate this factor, you need to switch both smartphones to “On an airplane” immediately after launching the app on Android and entering the code on the iPhone. This will disable all unnecessary radio modules. After enabling Airplane mode, manually activate only Wi-Fi on both devices. Make sure that features like “Wi-Fi Assist” or “Smart Network Switching” are not enabled on Android, which may try to find the Internet through a mobile connection.
Sometimes the problem lies in physical obstacles or interference. Place your smartphones next to each other on a flat surface. Do not hold them in your hands, as the human body may shield the signal, and accidentally touching the screen may crash the application. It's also a good idea to close any background apps on Android that might be consuming traffic or CPU time.
If the process is stuck at the Time Estimation stage, don't panic. In some cases, with a large volume of photos and videos, this stage can last up to an hour. Leave your phones alone and don’t press buttons.
Alternative methods: cloud services and computer
If the standard application continues to produce errors, despite following all the recommendations, it makes sense to use alternative migration paths. Ecosystems Google and Apple are quite well integrated, which allows you to transfer the bulk of data manually or through the cloud.
The most reliable way to transfer contacts, calendars and mail is synchronization through a Google account. On iPhone, go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts → Add account and select Google. Enter your details and enable synchronization of the required items. Contacts will automatically appear in the iOS phone book.
The service is great for transferring photos and videos. Google Photos. Install the application on iPhone, log in to the same account as on Android. All your media files will be available in the cloud. If you need to save them to your phone's memory, use the Download function (if you have enough space) or simply leave them in the cloud, saving space on your device.
You can use your computer to transfer document files, music and other data. Connect Android to your PC, copy the files to a folder, then connect your iPhone and use the app Finder (on macOS) or iTunes (on Windows) to synchronize. This method is more labor-intensive, but it gives complete control over what exactly ends up on the new phone.
| Data type | Transfer method | Complexity | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Synchronization Google | Low | Instantly |
| Photo/Video | Google Photo / Cloud | Low | Depends on Internet |
| Messages (SMS) | Move to iOS (only) | High | Medium |
| Files/Music | PC (iTunes/Finder) | Medium | High (via cable) |
Specific errors and failure codes
The application Move to iOS can produce specific error codes that help diagnose the problem. For example, a low error number often indicates that one of the devices has lost connection to the created network. In this case, forcing the application to close on Android and restarting the procedure from the very beginning helps.
If you see a message that “could not connect to the server,” check your date and time settings. Both devices must have the “Auto” option or the time must match to the nearest minute. The time difference may compromise the SSL/TLS security protocols used during the transfer.
Another common problem is the lack of free space on the iPhone. Before you start migrating, make sure that the amount of free memory on the receiving device exceeds the amount of data you plan to migrate. The system will not allow you to complete the process if there is not enough space, even if the progress bar shows 90%.
⚠️ Attention: If the transfer is interrupted while loading applications, this is normal. The applications themselves are not copied from Android, but only their free analogues are downloaded from the App Store. Make sure you are signed in to your Apple ID.
Sometimes antiviruses or firewalls on Android can block the creation of a local network. Try temporarily disabling any third-party security software while data is being transferred. After the migration is successfully completed, the protection can be turned back on.
What to do if the error repeats constantly?
If you tried 3-4 times and each time the process crashes at the same percentage, a specific file in the Android database may be damaged. Try to reduce the amount of transferred data by unchecking photos or videos, and transfer them separately via the cloud.
Transferring WhatsApp messages and instant messengers
A separate headache for many users is transferring the history of correspondence from WhatsApp. The standard data migration tool now supports this feature, but it requires strict compliance. Firstly, the latest version of WhatsApp from Google Play must be installed on Android.
Secondly, on iPhone the WhatsApp application must either not be installed at all or uninstalled before setting up the phone. If you have already installed WhatsApp and activated it, the system will not offer to transfer chats. You'll have to delete the app and start setting up your iPhone all over again or use backups, which is more difficult.
The process looks like this: when setting up your iPhone, select “Transfer data from Android,” then on Android, in the Move to iOS app, select WhatsApp. Once the transfer to your iPhone is complete, install WhatsApp from the App Store, sign in with the same phone number, and follow the on-screen instructions to import your chat history.
You can only transfer WhatsApp once during the initial setup of your iPhone. If you skipped this step, it will be extremely difficult to transfer your correspondence history using official methods later.
When to contact a service center
There are situations when the problem is hardware in nature or associated with deep software failures that the user cannot fix on his own. If none of the software methods helped, and the phones behave strangely (spontaneous reboots, overheating, lack of a Wi-Fi module), diagnostics may be required.
You may also need the help of specialists if you are moving from a corporate Android device that has strict security policies (MDM profiles) installed. These profiles can block the installation of third-party applications or the creation of local networks, which makes it impossible to use Move to iOS.
In the service center, engineers can use professional programmers and cable adapters to directly transfer data, bypassing wireless protocols. This is a paid service, but it guarantees data safety in complex cases of migration between incompatible software versions.
Why does the transfer freeze at the “Data Transfer” stage?
Most often this happens because the Android smartphone screen has gone dark or the application has been minimized. The Android system may aggressively close background processes to save power. It is necessary to increase the time before the screen turns off in the settings and disable battery optimization for the Move to iOS application.
Is it possible to transfer data if the iPhone is already set up?
Officially - no, the function is only available during the initial setup. However, there are third-party paid apps for PC (for example, iCareFone or AnyTrans) that allow you to transfer contacts, photos and messages to an already configured iPhone, but they are not free and require a cable connection.
What to do with application passwords?
Passwords from applications and sites are not automatically transferred for security reasons. You will have to enter them again. The exception is passwords saved in Google's password manager, which can be synced if you install the Chrome browser or the Google app on your iPhone and turn on autofill.
How long does a complete transfer take?
Time depends on the amount of data. For 10-20 GB of photos and videos, the process can take 1 to 3 hours. Don't interrupt the process, even if it seems stuck. An interruption will result in the need to start all over again, since the partial transfer is not saved.
Are applications transferred from Android to iPhone?
The application files themselves (.apk) are not transferred, since the system architectures are different. However, if the application is available in both Google Play and the App Store, the system will try to find its free version and offer to download it. Paid applications will have to be purchased again if the developer does not support a cross-platform license.