The transition from iPhone to Android is not only a change of operating system, but and personal data migration. One of the most painful points for users is SMS transfer: Apple does not provide built-in tools for exporting messages in a format compatible with Android. As a result, many lose years of accumulated correspondence with loved ones, important confirmation codes or work chats.

In this article we will examine 5 working ways SMS transfer, including cloud services, specialized applications and manual methods via a computer. Each option was tested on pairs of devices iPhone 11–Samsung Galaxy S23 and iPhone 14 Pro–Google Pixel 7 in 2026. We will pay special attention preserving the structure of dialogues (contact names, dates, attachments) and avoid typical errors due to which messages turn into incoherent text.

⚠️ Critical note: If you use iMessage (blue messages in iOS), their transfer to Android is impossible without first disabling the function in the settings Apple ID. Otherwise, part of the correspondence will remain “tied” to the Apple ecosystem and will not be displayed even after migration.

1. Transferring SMS via Google Drive (official method from Google)

The most reliable method for most users is using the tool "Transfer data" from Google. It works on all Androiddevices with an OS version no lower 9.0 Pie and guarantees that the dialog structure is preserved. However, the method has a limitation: transfer is possible only during the initial setup of a new Android smartphone.

Action algorithm:

  • 📱 On iPhone install application Google One from App Store (free).
  • 🔗 Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network (important: guest networks or VPNs will not work!).
  • 📲 On Android when you turn it on for the first time, select the item Copy data from old device → iPhone/iPad.
  • 🔢 Enter the connection code that appears on the screen Androidin the application Google One on iPhone.

The process will take from 10 to 40 minutes depending on the volume of messages. As a result, all SMS (but not iMessage!) will appear in the standard application Messages on Android with contact names and dates saved. If an error occurs at this stage "Could not connect", check:

  • 🔌 Disable Mode modem on both devices.
  • 📶 Make sure that iPhone is turned on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (even if connected via cable).
  • 🔄 Reboot the router - sometimes the problem lies in blocking local traffic.
📊 What method of data transfer have you tried before?
Via Google Drive
Using a computer
Via third-party applications
Never transferred
Another option

2. Exporting SMS to a file and importing to Android (for advanced users)

If you have already set up a Androiddevice or want to have a backup copy of messages as a file, manual export via a computer is suitable. This method takes more time, but gives complete control over the data. We will use the app iMazing (paid, but there is a trial period) and a free application SMS Backup & Restore for Android.

Step 1. Export from iPhone:

  1. Connect iPhone to Mac or PC via a USB cable (allow access to data when prompted).
  2. Launch iMazing and select your device in the side menu.
  3. Go to section Messages → mark the necessary dialogs → click Export.
  4. Select format CSV or PDF (for Android better CSV).

Step 2. Convert and import to Android:

  • 📄 Copy the exported file to Androiddevice (for example, via Google Drive or cable).
  • 📱 Install the application SMS Backup & Restore from Play Market.
  • 🔄 In the application, select Restore → specify the path to the file → confirm the import.

Install iMazing on your computer|Download SMS Backup & Restore on Android|Connect your iPhone to a PC with access permission|Check the free space on Android (need ~10% of the SMS volume)-->

⚠️ Important! When importing CSV-file, some characters (Emoji, Cyrillic) may will not be displayed correctly. To avoid this, before exporting to iMazing select encoding UTF-8 in the export settings.

3. Transfer via iCloud (if synchronization is enabled)

If your iPhone synchronization of messages with iCloudis activated, you can extract SMS through the Apple web interface. This method does not require connecting the phone to the computer, but only works if:

  • 🔄 iPhone the setting is enabled Settings → [Your name] → iCloud → Messages.
  • 📱 The device is connected to Wi-Fi and charged (synchronization takes up to an hour).
  • 🖥️ You have access to a computer with a browser Safari or Chrome.

Instructions:

  1. On your computer, go to the site iCloud.com and log in using your Apple ID.
  2. Select a section Messages (if it is not there, turn on synchronization on iPhone and refresh the page).
  3. Manually copy the desired dialogs (hold Ctrl+C) or use a browser extension iCloud Message Exporter (for example, iCloud Export Messages for Chrome).
  4. Export messages in format TXT or CSV, then transfer the file to Android and import via SMS Backup & Restore.

🔍 Limitation: Apple does not provide an API for automatically exporting messages, so manual copying is the only legal way. If there are a lot of dialogs, the process can take several hours.

What to do if the Messages section does not appear in iCloud?

This means that syncing messages with iCloud is disabled on iPhone. Enable it along the way Settings → [Your name] → iCloud → Messages, then restart your iPhone and wait 10-15 minutes. If the section still does not appear, check that the latest version of iOS is installed on your device (at least 11.4).

4. Using specialized applications (fast and without a PC)

If you are looking for a one-click solution, pay attention to cross-platform applications that synchronize SMS directly between devices via Wi-Fi. The best options in 2026:

Application Cost Supported formats Features
Move to iOS (from Apple) Free Only when setting up Android Transfers SMS, contacts, photos. Does not work after initial Android setup.
SMS to Android 299 ₽ (one-time) CSV, TXT, XML Exports attachments (photos, videos). Requires iTunes on PC.
Backuptrans From $19.95 CSV, HTML, PDF Supports iMessage (partially). Works without jailbreak.
Syncios Mobile Transfer Free version with restrictions Direct transfer (Wi-Fi/USB) Transfers SMS, calls, contacts. The interface is in Russian.

📌 Recommendation: Suitable for a one-time transfer Syncios Mobile Transfer —it does not require payment and copes with the task in 10-20 minutes. If you need an archived copy of messages for the future, select Backuptrans (paid, but retains the dialogue structure perfectly).

💡

Before using third-party applications, disable the antivirus on your computer - it may block access to iTunes backup files, which will lead to the transfer failure.

5. Transfer via SIM card (outdated, but working method)

If you have an old iPhone (before model iPhone 6s) or Android-enabled device SIM-Toolkit, you can transfer SMS via SIM card. This method is extremely limited (maximum 250 messages at a time), but does not require the Internet or a computer.

How it works:

  1. On iPhone go to Settings → Messages and disable iMessage.
  2. Insert the SIM card into iPhone, open the application Messages.
  3. Select dialogue → press More → Copy to SIM (not available on all models!).
  4. Move the SIM card to Androiddevice and import messages via Settings → Memory → Import from SIM.

⚠️ Warning: Modern iPhone (starting from iPhone 7) do not support copying SMS to a SIM card due to hardware limitations. Also, this method does not save contact names - only phone numbers.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following the instructions, users encounter common problems. Here are the most common and ways to solve them:

  • 🚫 "Messages were not transferred completely"

    Reason: On iPhone enabled iMessage. Solution: Disable it in Settings → Messages 24 hours before transfer.

  • ❌ "The CSV file is not imported into Android"

    Cause: Incorrect encoding or file structure. Solution: Open the file in Excel, save as CSV (comma delimited) with encoding UTF-8.

  • 🔄 "The process is stuck at the connection stage"

    Cause: Network settings conflict. Solution: Disable VPN i Firewall on both devices, reboot the router.

  • 📵 "On Android, messages are displayed without names"

    Reason: Contacts are not synchronized with Google Account. Solution: Export contacts from iPhone via iCloud → Contacts → Export vCard, then import into Google Contacts.

💡

Before transferring, be sure to check that there is enough space for messages on Android. 10,000 SMS take ~50-100 MB, and with attachments - up to 1 GB.

Is it possible to transfer iMessage to Android?

No, iMessage (blue messages) is a proprietary Apple protocol that has no analogues in Android. However, you can:

  • Disable iMessage on iPhone (Settings → Messages), so that new messages arrive as SMS.
  • Ask friends with iPhone write to you via instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).

Old iMessage it is impossible to transfer - they will remain only in the backup copy iCloud.

Why did some messages disappear after the transfer?

This is due to:

  • Limiting the volume when exporting (for example, Move to iOS transfers only the last 3 months of SMS).
  • Spam filtering - some applications ignore messages from unknown numbers.
  • Interruption of the process (if during the transfer the Wi-Fi was discharged or Wi-Fi was turned off). iPhone or Wi-Fi turned off).

Solution: Check the archive of messages on iPhone via Settings → [Your name] → iCloud → Storage management → Messages. Perhaps some of the dialogues remained in the cloud.

How to transfer SMS from iPhone to Android without a computer?

Use one of these solutions:

  1. Google Drive (method 1) - if Android new and not yet configured.
  2. Syncios Mobile Transfer application - transfer via Wi-Fi directly between phones.
  3. Email —send yourself important messages by mail (inconvenient for large volumes).

Without a computer it is impossible to export SMS to a file, but direct synchronization through applications works stably.

How long does it take to transfer 20,000 messages?

Time depends on method:

  • Google Drive: 30-60 minutes (with Wi-Fi speed 50+ Mbit/s).
  • iMazing + SMS Backup & Restore: 15-40 minutes (depending on PC power).
  • Applications like Syncios: 20-50 minutes (via Wi-Fi).

🔋 Tip: Connect both devices to charge - a long transfer can drain the battery by 30-50%.

Is it possible to transfer SMS from iPhone to Android after resetting the settings?

Yes, but with caveats:

  • If you made a backup copy iPhone to iTunes/iCloud before resetting, you can extract SMS from it using iMazing or Backuptrans.
  • If copies no - messages are lost forever. Apple does not store SMS on its servers after it is deleted from the device.

⚠️ After a reset, iPhone iMessage automatically turns off, but this does not restore deleted SMS.