The easiest way to transfer photos from Android to iPhone is the Move to iOS app, because Apple built it for this exact switch. Install it on Android, start the iPhone setup, and the app moves your photos over a private Wi-Fi link. If your iPhone is already set up, use Google Photos instead. This guide shows 5 easy ways to transfer photos from Android to iPhone, for new iPhones and old ones.
Answer Box 1 The best way to transfer photos from Android to iPhone is the Move to iOS app during iPhone setup. It moves photos, videos, and contacts over a private Wi-Fi link in one go. If your iPhone is already set up, use Google Photos or Google Drive instead. Both work well, and both keep your photo quality safe.
Contents
- Why People Move Photos from Android to iPhone
- How to Transfer Photos from Android to iPhone in 5 Easy Ways
- How to Transfer Photos from Android to iPhone: Which Way Fits You Best
- Common Mistakes to Avoid When You Transfer Photos from Android to iPhone
- The Verify Before You Delete Checklist Most Guides Miss
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why People Move Photos from Android to iPhone
People switch from Android to iPhone for many reasons, and photos are the first thing they want to keep. A new iPhone often arrives as a gift, a work phone, or an upgrade after years on Android. The photos hold family trips, baby pictures, and years of memories. That is why the photo move matters more than apps or settings.
The two systems hold a huge share of the phone world. StatCounter reported in September 2026 that Android runs on 69.17 percent of mobile devices worldwide, while iOS runs on 30.81 percent. Photutorial research reported by PetaPixel on 18 June 2025 says about 2.1 trillion photos were expected to be taken worldwide in 2025, up from 1.9 trillion in 2024. That is about 5.3 billion photos per day, and 94 percent of photos come from smartphones.
How to Transfer Photos from Android to iPhone in 5 Easy Ways
The five ways below cover every switch, from a brand new iPhone to one you have used for a year. Start with Move to iOS if your iPhone is fresh out of the box, because it moves everything in one go. If your iPhone is already set up, pick Google Photos or Google Drive instead.
1. Transfer Photos With the Move to iOS App
Move to iOS is Apple’s free app for switching from Android, and it is the best pick for a new iPhone. Install it on your Android phone from Google Play. Start your iPhone setup, and stop at the Apps and Data screen. Tap Move Data from Android, and the iPhone will show a six-digit code. Open the app on Android, tap Continue, and type in the code.
The app creates a private Wi-Fi link between the two phones, and it asks what you want to move. Tick Photos, and tick Videos too, then tap Next. Keep both phones plugged in and close together during the transfer. When it finishes, tap Done on the Android phone and Continue on the iPhone.
2. Transfer Photos With Google Photos
Google Photos is the easiest way to move photos to an iPhone that is already set up. Open Google Photos on your Android phone, tap your profile photo, and turn on Backup. Wait until the backup finishes, and check that the photo count looks right. Then install Google Photos on your iPhone, and sign in with the same Google account.
To save the photos into the iPhone Photos app, open Google Photos on the iPhone, select the photos you want, and tap Share, then Save to device. The photos keep their full quality when you back them up in original quality. Storage saver shrinks them slightly, so check your backup setting before you start.
3. Transfer Photos With Google Drive
Google Drive moves photos through the cloud, and it works well when you want to pick exact folders. Open the Google Drive app on your Android phone, tap the plus icon, and choose Upload. Pick the photos you want from your Gallery, and the upload will run over Wi-Fi. Then install Google Drive on your iPhone, and sign in with the same Google account. Open the folder, and save the photos to the iPhone.
Drive keeps your files in their full quality, so nothing is shrunk on the way. It is a good pick when your photos sit in clear folders, because you can upload one folder at a time. The same 15 GB free storage limit applies, because Drive shares storage with Google Photos and Gmail.
4. Transfer Photos With Send Anywhere or a Direct Transfer App
Send Anywhere is a free app that moves photos straight from one phone to the other, with no cloud in between. Install it on both phones from their app stores. Open it on the Android phone, tap Send, and pick the photos you want to move. The app shows a six-digit key and a QR code. Open it on the iPhone, tap Receive, and type the key or scan the code.
The transfer uses Wi-Fi Direct, so it is fast and it needs no mobile data. A few hundred photos move in minutes, and the app keeps their full quality. It also works for videos, music, and documents, so you can move more than photos in one go.
5. Transfer Photos With a Computer as a Middle Step
A computer in the middle is a solid fallback when the wireless ways fail. First move the photos from Android to the PC with a USB cable, as our guide on how to transfer photos from Android to PC explains step by step. Copy the DCIM folder to a folder on the PC, and check that the photos open. Then plug the iPhone into the same PC, and open iTunes or Finder.
In iTunes or Finder, click the iPhone, open the Photos tab, and tick Sync Photos. Choose the folder you copied from Android, and click Apply to sync the photos to the iPhone. This method takes more steps, but it works when Wi-Fi is weak or the apps keep failing.
How to Transfer Photos from Android to iPhone: Which Way Fits You Best
The best method depends on whether your iPhone is new or already set up. Move to iOS wins for a brand new iPhone, because it moves photos, videos, and contacts in one go. Google Photos wins for an iPhone that is already set up, because it needs only a sign-in. Google Drive wins when you want exact folders, and Send Anywhere wins for a fast phone to phone move.
| Method | Best for | Needs iPhone setup | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move to iOS app | Brand new iPhone | Yes, during setup | Fast |
| Google Photos | iPhone already set up | No | Medium |
| Google Drive | Exact folders and sharing | No | Medium |
| Send Anywhere | Fast phone to phone move | No | Fast |
| Computer as middle step | Weak Wi-Fi or big library | No | Medium |
If you are still unsure, use Move to iOS for a new iPhone, and Google Photos for one that is already set up. If you need to move photos to a different device too, read our guides on how to transfer photos from Android to Mac and how to transfer photos from Android to laptop. For more phone care, read our guides on how to screenshot on Android and how to clear cache on Android.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When You Transfer Photos from Android to iPhone
Starting Move to iOS after the iPhone setup is done. Move to iOS works only during the first setup, so a finished iPhone cannot use it without an erase. If you missed it, use Google Photos instead of erasing the phone.
Letting a phone lock or sleep mid-transfer. A locked screen can pause the Wi-Fi link, and the transfer may stall or fail. Keep both phones plugged in, awake, and close together until the move finishes.
Deleting photos from Android before you verify them. This is the error that loses photos for good. Never delete from the Android phone until you have opened a few photos on the iPhone and checked the count. A delete before a check is a risk you cannot undo.
Forgetting videos and screenshots. Photos move first in most apps, but videos and screenshots need a tick too. In Move to iOS, tick Videos as well as Photos. Screenshots live in a separate folder, so check them by hand.
Ignoring the storage limit on the iPhone. A full iPhone will stop the transfer halfway, and some photos will not arrive. Check the free space on the iPhone before you start, and free space if it is low.
Trusting a single copy. One copy on one iPhone is still one risk, because a phone can break or get lost. Keep a second copy in Google Photos or on a PC. Two copies in two places is the real safety net, and it costs little effort.
The Verify Before You Delete Checklist Most Guides Miss
Most guides stop when the transfer bar hits 100 percent, but a finished bar is not proof that your photos are safe. Run this short check before you delete anything from your Android phone. First, compare the photo count in the iPhone Photos app with the count on the Android phone. Second, check the total storage used by photos on the iPhone, because a big size gap means some files did not arrive.
Third, open five random photos on the iPhone, and make sure each one loads fully and looks sharp. Fourth, play the first and last ten seconds of your longest video, because a video can copy halfway and still look fine in a list. Fifth, check your albums, because some apps move photos but drop the album layout. Sixth, look for the folders most people forget, such as Screenshots, Downloads, and WhatsApp Images.
Seventh, keep the Android copy until you have a second backup, either in Google Photos or on a PC. A single iPhone copy is better than none, but two copies is the real goal. Name your albums the same way on the iPhone, so you can find photos later without a search.
Answer Box 2 The safest way to transfer photos from Android to iPhone is Move to iOS for a new iPhone, or Google Photos for one already set up. Both move your photos in full quality, and Google Photos keeps a cloud copy too. Always count the photos before you delete anything from Android.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer photos from Android to iPhone without a computer?
Yes, use Move to iOS, Google Photos, Google Drive, or Send Anywhere, and none of them need a computer. Move to iOS works during the first iPhone setup, and Google Photos works on any iPhone.
Does Move to iOS transfer all my photos?
Yes, Move to iOS moves your photos and videos, plus contacts, messages, and more. Tick Photos and Videos on the transfer screen before you start. The move can take a while for a big library, so keep both phones plugged in.
How do I transfer photos from Android to iPhone after setup?
Use Google Photos or Google Drive, because Move to iOS works only during the first setup. Back up your photos on Android, then sign in with the same Google account on the iPhone.
Will my photos lose quality when I move them to iPhone?
No, if you pick the right settings. Move to iOS and Send Anywhere keep full quality. Google Photos keeps full quality in original quality mode, but storage saver shrinks photos slightly.
How long does it take to transfer photos from Android to iPhone?
It depends on how many photos you have and which method you use. A few hundred photos take minutes with Move to iOS or Send Anywhere. A library of ten thousand photos can take an hour or more.
Can I use AirDrop to transfer photos from Android to iPhone?
No, AirDrop works only between Apple devices, so an Android phone cannot use it. Use Quick Share, Send Anywhere, or Google Photos instead, because they work across both systems.
How do I transfer photos from Android to iPhone with Google Photos?
Turn on Backup in Google Photos on your Android phone, and wait until the backup finishes. Install Google Photos on your iPhone, sign in with the same Google account, and your photos will appear.
What if Move to iOS is not working?
First check that both phones sit on the same Wi-Fi network, and that the Android phone has the latest Move to iOS app. Restart both phones, and try the setup again from the start. If it still fails, use Google Photos instead, because it works on any iPhone.
Can I transfer photos from Android to iPhone using a USB cable?
Not directly, because the two phones use different systems and cables. Use a computer as a middle step instead, and move the photos from Android to the PC first. Then sync them from the PC to the iPhone with iTunes or Finder.
How do I move WhatsApp photos from Android to iPhone?
Move to iOS can move WhatsApp chats and media when you pick it on the transfer screen. Open WhatsApp on Android, back up your chats first, then run the Move to iOS transfer.
Will transferring photos delete them from my Android phone?
No, a transfer never deletes the originals on its own. The photos stay on the Android phone until you delete them by hand. Always check the iPhone copy first, and only then delete from Android.
Can I transfer photos from Android to iPhone for free?
Yes, all five ways in this guide are free. Move to iOS, Google Photos, Google Drive, and Send Anywhere cost nothing to use. Google gives 15 GB of free cloud storage, so a very big library may need more space.
Learn more about the iPhone on Wikipedia: IPhone