Changing the ecosystem from closed iOS to flexible Android often raises concerns among users about losing important information. However, the migration process can be quite smooth if you know the right tools and steps. Using iTunes as an intermediate link remains one of the most reliable methods for those who are used to working with Apple desktop applications.
Unlike cloud services, local transfer through a computer gives full control over files and does not depend on the speed of the Internet connection or the amount of available storage in the cloud. You create a complete backup of your iOS devices, extract specific data from it and then transfer it to a new smartphone. This approach is especially relevant when moving to Android flagships, where it is important to preserve the structure of media files and contacts without duplication.
This article will examine in detail the technical nuances of working with backups created in iTunes, and methods for converting them for reading on devices running Android OS. We will look not only at standard import paths, but also at hidden software capabilities that are often overlooked in a superficial approach to migration.
Preparing a backup in iTunes
The first and most critical step is to create an up-to-date backup of your iPhone. Without this step, all subsequent actions will be impossible, since iTunes stores the data in an encrypted or open archive on the computer’s hard drive. Make sure that you have the latest version installed on your PC iTunesdownloaded either from the official Apple website or through the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 and 11.
Connect your iPhone to your computer using an original Lightning or USB-C cable. After connecting and unlocking your device, you may need to confirm your trust in this computer by pressing the corresponding button on the smartphone screen. In the iTunes interface, select the device icon that appears in the upper left corner to go to the management menu.
⚠️ Attention: Before you start creating a copy, be sure to uncheck the “Encrypt local copy” option if you do not know the password for it. Encrypted backups cannot be unpacked by third-party utilities to extract data on Android without knowing the key.
In the "Browse" or "Backups" section, select the "This PC" option and click the "Create a copy now" button. The process can take from 10 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data. After completion, check the date of the last copy in the device settings inside iTunes to ensure the success of the operation.
☑️ Ready for transfer
Searching and extracting files from a backup
The biggest difficulty when working with iTunes is that the app does not allow you to simply “open” the folder with (backup) and copy files with the mouse. The data is stored in a specific structure with hash file names, which makes it unreadable to the user without additional software. The standard path to the backup folder in Windows usually looks like this: C:\Users\[Name]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\.
To extract clear files (photos, contacts, messages), you will need a third-party software extractor. apps like iBackup Viewer, iMazing or free analogues allow you to open the backup file and export the data to familiar formats. For example, contacts can be uploaded in VCFformat, and photos can be uploaded to a folder with the original resolution.
Run the extractor app and specify the path to the previously created copy of iTunes. Select the categories of data you want to transfer to Android. This can be not only media files, but also notes, calendars and call history. Once selected, click the export button and save the data to a separate folder on your desktop for convenience.
Why do the files have strange names?
In iOS backups, the files are renamed into hashes (character set) to optimize the SQLite database. Without a decoder, you will not be able to understand which file is a photo and which is a system log.
It is important to note that some types of data, such as installed applications or their settings, cannot be transferred directly due to differences in the architecture of the iOS and Android operating systems. Focus on user content: photos, videos, documents and personal data.
Transfer contacts and calendar to Android
Contacts are the most important part of a user's digital profile, and losing them is unacceptable. Once you have exported contacts from iTunes backup to .vcfformat, the import process on Android becomes trivial. There are several ways to integrate this data into the system of a new smartphone.
The easiest method is to use the Google Contacts web interface. Log into your Google account through a browser on your computer, select “Import” in the menu on the left and download the prepared VCF file. After synchronization, all numbers will automatically appear on your Android device, provided account synchronization is enabled.
- 📂 Local import: Copy the contacts file to a memory card or to the internal memory of your phone, open the "Contacts" application, find the "Import/Export" item in the settings and select the file.
- 📧 Via mail: Send the VCF file to yourself on Gmail, open the letter on your phone and click on the attachment to automatically add it to your address book.
- 🔄 Synchronization: If you use Outlook or Yandex.Mail, import contacts there, and then add this account to Android settings for automatic uploading.
Do the same with calendar data. Export events from an iTunes copy to .ics format and import them into Google Calendar. This will save all your appointments, reminders and birthdays with dates attached.
When importing contacts, check if duplicates have been created. The Contacts app on Android has a built-in Merge Duplicates feature that will quickly bring order to your address book.
Migration of photos and video files
Media library usually takes up the largest amount of memory. When you export from iTunes, you will receive files in original quality. However, there is an important nuance related to compression formats. Modern iPhones by default use the format HEIC for photos and HEVC for videos, which not all Android smartphones can play out of the box.
When using extractor apps (discussed in the second section), there is often an on-the-fly conversion option. It is recommended to set up exporting photos to a universal format JPG, and videos to MP4. This ensures that the gallery on the new device will correctly display all files without the need to install additional codecs.
After conversion, simply copy the folders with photos and videos to the internal Android memory or microSD card. Create a clear directory structure, for example DCIM/Camera or Pictures/iPhone_Importso that the system automatically recognizes them as media files and adds them to the general gallery.
| Data type | Original format (iOS) | Recommended format (Android) | Method transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photos | HEIC / JPG | JPG / PNG | USB cable / Extractor |
| Video | MOV / HEVC | MP4 / AVI | USB cable / Extractor |
| Contact | SQLite DB | VCF | Google Sync / File |
| Messages | SQLite DB | PDF / TXT | Extractor (view only) |
If the volume of the media library exceeds 50-100 GB, the copying process via USB 2.0 may take considerable time. In this case, it is advisable to use USB 3.0 ports (usually blue) on the computer and the appropriate cable to speed up data transfer.
Message transfer and call history
With SMS and iMessage history, the situation is more complicated. The iMessage protocol is proprietary and only works in the Apple ecosystem, so these messages will not appear in the stock Messages app on Android. However, text SMS can be saved.
Using software to unpack an iTunes backup, you can export correspondence in PDF or HTML format for archival storage. This will allow you to view old conversations through a browser or document reader, but not integrate them into your phone's messaging system.
⚠️ Attention: There is no legal way to turn iMessage into regular SMS on Android. If you switch to Android, be sure to disable iMessage on the Apple website, otherwise messages from other iPhone users may not reach your new number.
Call history can also be exported as a CSV table or text file through extractor apps. While it's difficult to automatically log them into your Android call log without root, having a file with dates and numbers can be useful for recovering important contacts or reporting.
Alternative methods and problem solving
Sometimes direct transfer through iTunes and extractors may encounter database reading errors or incompatibility software versions. In such cases, it is worth considering hybrid methods. For example, using cloud services as an intermediate buffer: upload photos from an iTunes copy to Google Drive, and then download them to your phone.
If your computer does not see your iPhone in iTunes, try replacing the cable, reinstalling the Apple Mobile Device Support drivers, or updating iTunes itself. A common problem is that the connection is blocked by antivirus software or the Windows firewall, which can prevent the synchronization service from working.
For users who want to automate the process as much as possible, there are specialized utilities like “Switch to Android” from Google, but they usually require connecting the phones with a cable to each other (via an adapter), rather than using iTunes. The iTunes method is good precisely because it allows you to work with data even if the old iPhone is already sold or broken, but there is a fresh copy of it on your computer.
Using iTunes as a data source is a reliable “offline” method that does not depend on the condition of the old phone, but requires a computer and third-party software to unpack files.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to transfer the applications themselves from iPhone to Android via iTunes?
No, this is technically impossible. Applications for iOS (.ipa) and Android (.apk) have different architectures and are written in different programming languages. You will have to re-download analogues of the necessary apps from the Google Play Store. Some services (for example, banks or social networks) will save your progress if you log into the same account.
Is it safe to use third-party apps to extract iTunes?
Using reputable (known and proven) apps such as iMazing or CopyTrans is safe. They work locally with a backup file on your computer and do not send data to the Internet. Avoid dubious free utilities from unknown sites that may contain malware.
What to do if iTunes does not create a backup?
Check your free disk space, update iTunes to the latest version and try reconnecting the cable to a different USB port. Also make sure that the “Power Saver” mode is not turned on on your iPhone, which sometimes blocks synchronization.
Will passwords from Wi-Fi and sites be saved during transfer?
Passwords from iOS Wi-Fi networks are not automatically transferred to Android via files. Passwords saved in iCloud Keychain will also not be directly accessible in the Android browser. It is recommended to use password managers (for example, Google Password Manager or 1Password) to synchronize access between platforms.