Progress indicator freezing at 50% or 80% when transferring data from Android to iPhone via the Move to iOS app is a common glitch that interrupts content migration and makes users mistakenly believe that the device is completely frozen or crashed.
In reality Move to iOS app ("Moving to iOS") is extremely sensitive to the quality of the wireless connection and background processes in the Android operating system. Even minor system intervention in the operation of the Wi-Fi module can break the connection between gadgets, which will lead to the process stopping without an obvious error message on the screen. Understanding the technical features of this transfer protocol is the first step to successfully completing the migration.
In this article, we will examine in detail the reasons why data transfer can take a disproportionate amount of time, and provide a step-by-step algorithm for eliminating freezes. You will learn what settings need to be changed on an old smartphone, how to properly prepare files, and what to do if standard methods do not help restore communication between devices.
Reasons for the migration process to freeze
The main reason why data downloads stop or are extremely slow lies in instability local Wi-Fi networkgenerated by iPhone. The app does not use your home router; instead, Apple's new phone generates its own hotspot that the Android smartphone connects to. Any interference on the air, active VPN connections or aggressive energy saving settings on Android can block this communication channel.
Often users do not realize that background services on the sender’s device are trying to “help” by switching the network to the mobile data at the slightest drop in the signal. This instantly breaks the connection to the iPhone, as both devices must be on the same isolated network. The amount of data transferred also has a significant impact: if you have hundreds of gigabytes of high-resolution photos, the process physically cannot be fast due to the bandwidth limitations of the wireless module.
⚠️ Attention: If the progress indicator does not move for more than 15-20 minutes, and the wait time exceeds 1 hour, most likely the connection is already broken, even if the screen is on. In such a situation, continuing to wait is pointless.
Another factor is overheating of the devices. When actively transmitting large amounts of information, the processors and communication modules of both smartphones work at their limit, which causes heating. When a critical temperature is reached, the system can artificially slow down the transfer speed or pause the process for cooling, which is perceived by the user as a freeze.
Do not forget about software conflicts. An outdated version of the application Move to iOS on Google Play or an outdated version iOS on the target device may contain errors that prevent the correct handshake of transmission protocols. Before starting the procedure, it is critical to ensure that both devices have the latest available software update installed.
Preparing devices before starting the transfer
The success of the operation depends 90% on preliminary preparation, which many ignore by immediately launching the application. The first and most important step is to completely disable all features that may interfere with the Android network interface. This includes not only the mobile data, but also geolocation services, which often scan the airwaves for networks.
You must force stop all running applications on your Android smartphone. Background processes, such as synchronizing cloud storage, downloading updates, or running instant messengers, consume traffic and processor resources, creating a queue for data transfer. Freeing up RAM will ensure that all power is devoted to the migration utility.
- 📴 Turn off mobile data and ensure that the SIM card does not try to register with the network during the process.
- ✈️ Temporarily turn off Bluetooth if it is not required to connect accessories to reduce radio interference.
- 🔋 Connect both devices to power sources, as draining the battery in the process may interrupt the session permanently.
- 🚫 Disable any installed VPN services and ad blockers that may filter local traffic.
It is also recommended to clear the application cache Move to iOS before launch. Go to Settings → Applications → Moving to iOS → Storage and click “Clear cache”. This will remove temporary files from previous failed attempts that may have corrupted the current session. If the problem persists, try completely uninstalling and reinstalling the application from the store Google Play.
☑️ Ready to transfer
Optimizing Wi-Fi and network settings
The most common technical cause of failures is the Smart Network Switch function, present on many smartphones from Samsung, Xiaomi and other manufacturers. This option automatically switches the device to the mobile network if the Wi-Fi signal seems weak. Since the iPhone network is temporary and does not have access to the global Internet, the Android system mistakenly believes that the connection is bad and disconnects it.
To fix this problem, you need to go to the advanced Wi-Fi settings on your Android device. The path may vary depending on the model, but usually it is in the menu Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → Advanced (or through three dots in the corner of the screen). Find the item “Switch to mobile network” or «Smart Network Switch» and move it to the “Off” position.
If Disabling this feature did not help, try changing the DHCP settings. In some cases, a static IP address helps stabilize the connection. To do this, in the iPhone Wi-Fi network settings, click on the gear icon or hold down the network name, select “Change network” and in the IP settings, switch the mode from DHCP to Static. Enter the address suggested by the system and save the changes.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to connect to your home Wi-Fi router during setup. Devices must establish a direct connection with each other (Peer-to-Peer). Connecting to a shared network may cause a conflict of IP addresses.
It is also worth considering the frequency range. Some older Android models only support 2.4 GHz, while newer iPhones can create a network in the 5 GHz band. Although modern devices are usually compatible, in rare cases it may help to manually limit the range in the developer settings or use Airplane mode and then turn on Wi-Fi only to reset all network modules.
Before connecting your iPhone to the network, reboot the Wi-Fi module on Android: turn on airplane mode for 10 seconds, then turn it off and activate only Wi-Fi. This will clear the network stack of errors.
Working with large amounts of data
The transfer time directly depends on the amount of information. If you are trying to transfer the entire gallery of 5 years of smartphone use, the process may take several hours. The application Move to iOS does not compress photos and videos before sending, transmitting them in their original quality, which creates a huge load on the communication channel.
There is an effective strategy to speed up the process: selective transfer. At the stage of selecting content in the application, refuse to transfer photos and videos. Transfer only contacts, messages, call history and account settings. This data is lightweight and transferred in minutes. Photos can be synchronized later through cloud services, such as Google Photos or iCloud, which is often more reliable and faster.
If transferring media files is necessary, check their format. Videos in 4K resolution or files in the HEIC format may take longer to process. Try moving your heaviest video files to your computer or cloud first, reducing the amount of local storage to be migrated. This will reduce the likelihood of a connection timeout.
| Data type | Approximate volume (1000 units) | Average transfer time | Risk of failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | ~100 KB | Less than 1 min | Low |
| Messages (SMS/MMS) | ~50 MB | 5–10 min | Medium |
| Photos (12 MP) | ~3–5 GB | 40–60 min | High |
| Video (4K) | ~20–50 GB | 3–5 hours | Critical |
Remember that interrupting the process during the transfer of a large amount of data requires a complete reset of the iPhone and starting the setup again. You can’t just “pick up” where you left off. Therefore, assessing risks and reducing the amount of information transferred is a key success factor.
Why can’t you interrupt the process?
The Move to iOS data transfer protocol does not support resuming. When the connection is broken, the encrypted session key is revoked and the iPhone goes into a waiting state for a new pair. An attempt to renew the connection without resetting the device will result in a “Failed to connect” error.
Alternative methods of transferring information
If Apple's standard tool continues to not work correctly, it makes sense to consider alternative migration methods that may be more stable in your specific situation. Third-party developers offer solutions that use other data compression and transmission algorithms that are less sensitive to interference.
One of the reliable options is the use of cloud services. Install the app Google Photos on your iPhone and log in to your account. All your photos and videos uploaded to the cloud from Android will automatically appear in your iPhone gallery. This method does not require a direct connection between phones and can be done in parts over several days.
To transfer contacts and calendar, just add your Google account to your iPhone settings. Go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts → Add account → Google. After entering your login and password, enable synchronization of the required items. The data will be downloaded via the Internet in a couple of minutes, regardless of the state of the Wi-Fi module.
- 💻 Use your computer as an intermediary: copy photos from Android to PC, then connect iPhone and import files via iTunes or the Photos application on macOS.
- ☁️ Services like Send Anywhere allow you to transfer files using a one-time code, which sometimes works more stable than creating a direct network.
- 📲 For Samsung users there is an application Samsung Smart Switch, which has a version for iOS and supports wireless content transfer.
Using a cable is also possible, but requires an adapter (for example, USB-C to Lightning or USB-C to USB-C for iPhone 15). However, the official Move to iOS application does not support a wired connection, so this method can only be implemented through a computer or specialized third-party software.
Cloud synchronization is the most reliable way to transfer a media library, as it eliminates the risk of breaking the direct connection between devices and allows you to resume downloading at any time.
Actions in case of critical errors and resets
If nothing helps and the process freezes, the only correct solution is to completely reset the new iPhone to factory settings. You should not try to “press” the current session, as the data may be damaged. Return to the Hello screen and begin setup again, paying particular attention to preparing your Android device.
Cold boot both devices before trying again. Turn them off completely, wait a minute and turn them on again. This will clear memory buffers and restart network services. Make sure that there are no other applications running on the iPhone that are consuming system resources during setup.
In rare cases, the problem may lie in incompatibility of software versions. If custom firmware or a heavily modified shell is installed on Android, the application may not work correctly. In such a situation, try temporarily disabling all battery optimizations for the application Move to iOS in the Android system settings, allowing it to run unrestrictedly in the background.
⚠️ Attention: When you try again, do not restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup if it was created during the unsuccessful transfer process. It is better to set up your phone as new and transfer data manually or via the cloud.
If after all the manipulations the transfer is not possible, contact Apple support or the manufacturer of your Android smartphone. Perhaps the problem is hardware in nature (a defective Wi-Fi module) or is associated with a specific bug in the operating system version that requires a patch from the developers.
What to do if the iPhone is already configured?
If you are already using the phone, but want to transfer data, you will have to erase it. Go to Settings → General → Transfer or reset iPhone → Erase content and settings. This will delete all current data, so make sure you have a backup copy of important information.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to interrupt the data transfer and continue later?
Unfortunately, no. The protocol Move to iOS does not support pause or resume functionality. If the process is interrupted, the data may be partially written and corrupted. You need to reset your iPhone to factory settings and start the migration procedure again from the very beginning.
Why is the transfer very slow, even if there are few files?
The speed depends on the quality of the radio channel between the devices. If there are strong sources of interference nearby (microwaves, other routers) or if Android has power saving enabled, which limits Wi-Fi operation, the speed may drop to a minimum. Try moving your devices closer to each other and turning off power saving mode.
Are app passwords and banking data transferred?
No, security reasons do not allow you to transfer saved passwords, banking app data, and two-factor authentication. You will have to sign in to your accounts again on the new device. Only the applications themselves (links to them in the App Store) are transferred, but not their internal data.
What to do if the code does not appear on the iPhone screen?
Make sure that mobile data and VPN are disabled on Android. Also check if your phone is connected to another Wi-Fi network. If the code does not appear within a minute, restart the application on both devices. Sometimes turning off and on airplane mode on your Android smartphone helps.
Can I use a cable to speed up the process?
The official application Move to iOS works only over a wireless connection. Using a cable is only possible with the participation of a computer as an intermediate link or when using specialized software from third parties, but not as part of the standard iPhone setup procedure.