Changing an operating system is always stressful for the user, be it an experienced geek or an ordinary one a person who just wants to try something new. The transition from an open and flexible platform Android to a closed but stable ecosystem iOS requires preparation and understanding of the fundamental differences in the operation of devices. If you decide to change your smartphone to iPhone 7, you will not only have to transfer contacts, but also completely rebuild your digital habits.
The process of migration to Apple devices has been significantly simplified in recent years, and now it takes a matter of minutes with a stable Wi-Fi connection. However iPhone 7 has its own characteristics associated with the age of the model and the lack of a number of modern functions that should be taken into account before starting the procedure. In this article, we will analyze each stage: from preparing the old device to the final setup of the new smartphone, so that your transition is as painless as possible.
Preparing an Android device for migration
Before picking up a new one iPhone, you need to put your current smartphone in order. Android. Cluttered files and outdated software can cause data transfer errors. Make sure that your device has the latest available version of the operating system, as older versions may not work correctly with modern transfer protocols.
A critical step is to free up space and remove debris. The data transfer app will copy everything you allow it to, including unnecessary cache files and temporary data. Clear your gallery of duplicate photos and uninstall apps you no longer use. This will speed up the process and save precious storage space iPhone 7which does not support memory expansion with microSD cards.
You also need to check the battery level on both devices. The transfer process can take from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data. If your phone dies in the middle of the process, you will have to start the procedure again, which may result in file corruption.
Connect both smartphones to chargers before starting the migration. Even if the battery is 80% charged, the data transfer process puts a lot of stress on the processor and Wi-Fi module, which leads to rapid energy consumption.
Finally, make sure that on your Androidsmartphone power-saving features are disabled, which can interrupt the Wi-Fi connection in the background. Go to Settings → Battery and add the future migration application to the list of exceptions or temporarily disable the power saving mode completely.
Installing and configuring the Move to iOS application
The main tool for migration is the official application from Apple under name Move to iOS. It is available for free in the store Google Play. Download it to your Androidsmartphone, but do not launch it yet. The launch must occur strictly at a certain point in setting up the new one. Turn on your new one and follow the instructions on the screen until the “Apps & Data” screen appears. This is where the key menu item “Move Data from Android” is located. If you have already set up your phone and see the desktop, you will have to reset the device to factory settings via iPhone.
Turn on your new iPhone 7 and follow the onscreen instructions until the Apps & Data screen appears. This is where the key menu item “Move Data from Android” is located. If you have already set up your phone and see the desktop, you will have to reset your device to factory settings via Settings → General → Resetto access this screen.
⚠️ Attention: The data transfer function is only available during the initial setup of the iPhone. If you already use a phone, creating a new Android backup and restoring from it through iTunes or Finder will not transfer your contacts and photos as conveniently as a direct connection.
After selecting the item, a six-digit or ten-digit code will appear. Enter this code in the application iPhone A six or ten digit code will appear. Enter this code in the application Move to iOS on your device Android. The devices will create a temporary secure Wi-Fi network, which Android will connect to automatically. Do not switch to mobile data or another Wi-Fi network at this moment, otherwise the connection will be lost.
Selecting data types to transfer
Once the connection is established, the application will prompt you to select the content you want to move. The interface is intuitive, but you should pay close attention to each item, since not all data supports direct transfer between different ecosystems.
- 📞 Contacts and call history: They are transferred almost always without loss, numbers are saved in the international phone book format.
- 📸 Photos and videos: Copied in original quality, but metadata (geolocation, shooting date) can sometimes get confused with very large amounts of data.
- 📧 Accounts and messages: Free email accounts are transferred, but SMS messages are transferred only if they are stored locally on the device.
- 📁 Free applications: The system will try to find analogues of your applications in App Store and offer to download them, but paid applications will have to be purchased again.
Pay attention to the “Settings” item. Some system settings, such as accessibility or certain keyboard settings, can be carried over so you don't have to configure them manually. However, specific launcher settings Android or widgets have no analogues in iOS and will not be transferred.
If you use messengers such as WhatsApp, make sure to select the appropriate item in the list. Transferring chat history WhatsApp requires special attention and may take longer than transferring photos, since the database is encrypted and checked for integrity.
Transfer process and waiting time
After selecting the data, the transfer process will begin. A progress bar will appear on the screen, showing the approximate time remaining. Even if a message appears on the iPhone A progress bar will appear to show the estimated time remaining. Even if on Androiddevice that the process is complete, do not touch the phones until the bar on iPhone reaches the end.
The transfer time directly depends on the amount of data. A small set of contacts and several dozen photos will take a couple of minutes. If you plan to transfer a video library of 10-20 GB, the process may take an hour or more. During this time, device screens may heat up - this is normal operation of wireless communication modules under high load.
| Data type | Approximate volume | Average transmission time | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | < 1 MB | < 1 min | High |
| SMS messages | 5-50 MB | 2-5 min | Medium |
| Photos | 1-10 GB | 15-45 min | High |
| Video archive | > 10 GB | > 1 hour | Low (better via PC) |
If the process is stuck in one place for more than 15 minutes, the Wi-Fi connection may have failed. In this case, it is recommended to abort the operation, restart both devices and start the procedure again, selecting a smaller amount of data for the first attempt, for example, only contacts and photos.
What to do if the transfer is interrupted?
If the process is interrupted, the data that has already been transferred may be partially written to the iPhone. It is recommended to perform a full reset of the iPhone (Settings → General → Reset → Erase content and settings) and start setting up from the very beginning to avoid file conflicts and duplicate entries in the phone book.
Features of the iPhone 7 ecosystem after switching on
When the indicator is on iPhone reaches 100%, complete the setup on the new device. You'll see your contacts and photos in their respective apps. However iPhone 7 has a number of hardware and software features that you need to get used to after Android. For example, there is no physical "Back" button in the interface - navigation is carried out by gestures or the "Home" button.
The file system iOS is closed to the user. You won't be able to simply connect your phone to your computer and copy music to an arbitrary folder, as you did on Android. The Files application is used to manage files, and media synchronization most often occurs via iCloud or a computer with installed iTunes (or Finder on macOS).
It is also worth noting the absence of a 3.5 mm headphone jack in the model iPhone 7. This was the first Apple smartphone to lose this port. You will have to use the Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter that comes with the kit, or switch to wireless headphones that support the protocol Bluetooth.
⚠️ Attention: Applications installed on Android do not work on iOS. Even if the application name is the same,