The transition from the operating system Android to iOS often causes users to fear the loss of important data, photos and settings. However, modern tools developed by the company Applemake this process as transparent and safe as possible, even for inexperienced users. The issue of migration is especially relevant for owners of new models, such as iPhone 12, which requires the correct initial configuration for comfortable operation.
The main tool that allows you to automate most of the routine operations is the application Move to iOS. It provides secure data transfer over a created temporary Wi-Fi network between two devices. It is important to understand that in order to successfully complete the procedure, both smartphones must be charged and be close to each other throughout the entire synchronization time.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the stages of information transfer, consider possible pitfalls and offer alternative methods for cases where automatic migration is impossible for some reason. You will learn how to save call history, messages and folder structure so that the new gadget becomes a complete reflection of the old one.
Preparing devices for the migration procedure
Before starting any actions, you need to make sure that both devices are ready for use. Your current smartphone based Android must have sufficient battery charge, preferably more than 50%, or be connected to a power source. A similar requirement applies to a new one, since the process of transferring large amounts of data can be energy-intensive. iPhone 12, since the process of transferring large amounts of data can be energy-intensive.
The condition of the new device is critically important. iPhone 12 must be on the initial setup screen, the so-called "Hello" screen (Hello). If your phone has already been activated and you are using it, you will have to do a full factory reset to get to this screen. This is necessary because the application Move to iOS only works during the initial system configuration stage.
⚠️ Attention: Performing a factory reset (
Settings → General → Transfer or reset iPhone → Erase content and settings) will delete all data that you may have already written to the new phone. Make sure that iPhone 12 there is no important information before starting the procedure.
Also check the amount of free memory on the target device. The data you plan to transfer, including photos, videos, and apps, should not exceed the available space on iOS. If the smartphone stores several hundred gigabytes of media files, and the iPhone version has a minimum amount of memory, the process may be interrupted or terminated.
☑️ Ready to transfer
Using the Move to iOS application
Official migration method from Apple is the most preferred because it supports transferring not only media files, but also system data such as mail accounts and accessibility settings. To get started, you need to download the application Move to iOS from the store Google Play to your device Android. On iPhone 12 you don’t need to download anything, the function is built into the system.
Run the application on your Android smartphone and accept the terms of use. After that, follow the on-screen instructions until you reach the "Data Transfer" step on the setup screen iPhone. Select the option "Transfer data from Android", and a six-digit or ten-digit code will appear on the screen of the new phone.
Enter this code in the appropriate field on the device Android. After checking the code iPhone 12 it will create a temporary secure Wi-Fi network. You will be prompted to connect to it by clicking the "Connect" button on your Android device. Once the connection is established, you will see the Data Transfer screen where you can select the types of information to migrate.
- 📞 Contact: Full phone book with numbers and email addresses.
- 📸 Photos and videos: All images from the gallery and camera, including meta data.
- 💬 Messages: SMS history and MMS conversations (not supported on all versions of Android).
- 📅 Calendars and bookmarks: calendar events and saved pages in the Chrome browser.
After selecting the required categories, click "Continue". The transfer process will begin, the duration of which depends on the amount of data. Important: do not use the device Android during the transfer, even if the application reports that the process is complete. Wait for the loading indicator to appear on the screen iPhone 12.
If the process is frozen at the "Time Estimation" stage, try turning off the mobile data on your Android device and leaving only Wi-Fi active. This often solves the problem of an unstable connection.
Solving connection problems and errors
Despite the well-functioning algorithms, users often encounter situations where data transmission is interrupted or the code is not accepted. Most often, the reason lies in network settings or energy saving. The operating system Android can aggressively close background applications or switch the network from Wi-Fi to the mobile data, which breaks the connection with iPhone 12.
To eliminate such failures, it is recommended to switch the smartphone based on Android to "Flight" mode before entering the code, and then manually turn on only the module Wi-Fi. This will prevent the system from attempting to switch to the cellular network. It is also worth disabling any smart network switching functions if they are active in your device settings.
⚠️ Attention: Memory cleaning applications or antivirus apps on Android may block operation Move to iOS. Temporarily disable them or add the transfer application to the exception list before starting the procedure.
If the error persists, try restarting both devices and starting the process again. Make sure that other applications that consume traffic, such as streaming services or torrent clients, are not running. The stability of the communication channel directly affects the integrity of the transferred files. Android other applications that consume traffic, such as streaming services or torrent clients, are not running. The stability of the communication channel directly affects the integrity of the transferred files.
What to do if the code does not match?
Make sure that you enter the code from the iPhone setup screen, and not from SMS. The code is only valid for a short time. If the time is up, press "Back" on your iPhone and get a new code. Also check if the "Private Wi-Fi Address" mode is enabled on Android in the settings of a specific network - disable it for the iPhone's temporary network.
Alternative methods for transferring contacts and calendars
In cases where using the application Move to iOS is impossible, the most reliable way to transfer contacts and calendars is synchronization via cloud services. Most users Android already have an account Googlethat integrates perfectly with the ecosystem Apple.
To implement this method, you need to make sure that synchronization of contacts and calendar with your Google account is enabled on your old phone. You can check this in the section Settings → Accounts → Google. Make sure that the switches opposite the “Contacts” and “Calendar” items are active and the data has been successfully uploaded to the cloud.
After completing the setup iPhone 12 go to the menu Settings → Contacts → Accounts. Click "Add account" and select logo Google. Enter your details from the account to which your contacts were linked on Android. The system will prompt you to select the types of data to synchronize - make sure that the "Contacts" switch is turned on.
After a few minutes, your phone book will appear in the "Phone" or "Contacts" application on the new device. This method also allows you to transfer notes if you used Google Keep, although they will require installing a separate application from App Store.
| Data Type | Move to iOS | Google Account | Manual Export (VCF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Automatic | Automatic | File import required |
| Calendar | Automatic | Automatic | Not directly supported |
| Photo and Video | Yes | Through the Photo application | Through iTunes/Finder |
| Messages (SMS) | Yes | No | No |
| Chrome Bookmarks | Yes | By logging into the browser | No |
Transferring photos and media files manually
If your media library is too large for wireless transfer or the connection keeps dropping out, it makes sense to use a computer as an intermediary. This method requires a cable USB-C (for new Android) or Micro-USB, as well as a cable Lightning to connect iPhone 12 to a PC or Mac.
On a computer with an operating system Windows You will need an app Apple Devices (formerly iTunes) or File Explorer to access the Android file system. Copy the folders DCIM and Pictures from the internal storage of your Android smartphone to your computer’s hard drive. This will create a reliable backup copy of your memories.
Next, connect iPhone 12 to your computer. In the device management application, select the "Photos" section and activate synchronization with the folder where you previously copied the images. After clicking the "Apply" or "Synchronize" button, all selected photos and videos will be uploaded to the gallery of the new smartphone.
For users macOS the process is even easier thanks to technology Android File Transfer or the built-in "Transfer to Mac" application. After copying files to your Mac drive, simply drag them into the Photos application window, and the system will automatically organize them by dates and locations taken.
Using a computer is the most stable way to transfer terabytes of video, since it does not depend on the quality of the Wi-Fi signal and does not drain phone batteries as quickly.
Migration instant messengers and third-party applications
Transferring the applications themselves from Android to iPhone 12 is impossible due to differences in operating system architecture and installation file formats (.apk against .ipa). You will have to re-download all the necessary apps from App Store. However, the list of purchases on Google Play is not transferred, and for paid applications you will most likely have to pay again if the developer does not support a cross-platform license.
The most difficult moment is transferring the history of correspondence in instant messengers. For WhatsApp the situation has improved dramatically: now there is an official method for transferring chats through the app Move to iOS. When selecting data to transfer during iPhone setup, simply check the WhatsApp box. Once the migration is complete, install WhatsApp on the new phone and log in with the same number - your chat history will appear automatically.
⚠️ Note: To transfer WhatsApp, your chat history should not be backed up encrypted to Google Drive before starting the process. Delete old backups from the Google cloud, otherwise the system will offer to restore them, which may conflict with data transferred via cable/Wi-Fi.
With the messenger Telegram there will be no problems at all, since it stores the entire history of correspondence on its servers. You just need to install the application and enter your phone number. But for Viber and Signal the process is more complicated: Viber allows you to create a backup copy, but restoring it on iOS from an Android backup is officially impossible without using third-party paid utilities on a PC. Signal requires creating a backup on Android and manually transferring it, but support for cross-platform recovery is limited.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can apps with paid features be transferred for free?
Unfortunately, application licenses are tied to the store (Google Play or App Store). When switching to iPhone 12 you will have to purchase paid applications again. The exception is subscription services (for example, Spotify or YouTube Premium), which are tied to your account and not to the device.
What to do if there is not enough space for all the photos on the iPhone 12?
In this case, the application Move to iOS will offer to select only part of the data or will interrupt the process. It is recommended to free up space on your new device in advance or transfer photos to your computer and download only selected photos to your phone. You can also use cloud services like Google Photos.
Will call history be transferred from Android?
Yes, the application Move to iOS supports transferring call history. Once the migration is complete, you will be able to see a list of past calls in the Phone app on your iPhone.
Do you need to insert a SIM card into your iPhone before the transfer begins?
No, this is not necessary. Data transfer occurs via Wi-Fi. However, to activate some functions and verify the number in instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) after the transfer, the SIM card will need to be installed in iPhone 12.
Is it possible to interrupt the transfer and continue later?
No, the transfer process via Move to iOS cannot be paused and resumed. If the connection is interrupted, you will have to reset the settings iPhone and start the setup procedure all over again from the very beginning.