DB Labs DB Labs

Updated March 8, 2026

By Jack Smith, iOS Developer at DB Labs

Photo Transfer

Transfer Photos from Android to iPhone (2026)

Switching from Android to iPhone is exciting — but getting your photo library across can be confusing. Here are all the methods, ranked from easiest to most technical, so you can pick the one that fits your situation.

March 8, 2026  ·  7 min read

Quick Answer

If you are setting up a new iPhone, use Move to iOS — Apple's free app that wirelessly transfers your entire Android photo library, contacts, messages, and more during setup. If your iPhone is already set up, use Google Photos: back up your Android library to Google Photos, install the app on iPhone, sign in with the same Google account. Both methods transfer photos at full quality with no compression.

Method 1: Move to iOS (New iPhone Setup Only)

Move to iOS is a free app from Apple available on the Google Play Store. It is the official way to transfer data when setting up a new iPhone and is by far the most complete solution — it transfers photos, videos, contacts, message history, mail accounts, calendars, bookmarks, and more.

Important limitation: Move to iOS only works during the initial iPhone setup process. If your iPhone is already configured, you cannot use Move to iOS — use one of the other methods below.

1 Install Move to iOS on Android

On your Android phone, install the Move to iOS app from the Google Play Store. Keep your Android connected to power and connected to Wi-Fi.

2 Begin iPhone Setup

Turn on your new iPhone and follow the setup steps until you reach the Apps & Data screen. Tap Move Data from Android.

3 Connect the Devices

On your iPhone, tap Continue. A 10-digit or 6-digit code appears on your iPhone screen. Open Move to iOS on Android, tap Continue, then Next, and enter the code from your iPhone.

4 Select Data to Transfer

Choose which content to transfer. Select Camera Roll to transfer all photos and videos. You can also select contacts, messages, mail accounts, calendars, and free apps.

5 Wait for Transfer

The transfer time depends on library size. A 10 GB photo library typically takes 15-30 minutes. Keep both phones on the same temporary Wi-Fi network created by the iPhone and do not lock either screen until the transfer completes.

Method 2: Google Photos (iPhone Already Set Up)

If your iPhone is already configured, Google Photos is the easiest wireless solution with no computer required.

  1. On your Android, open Google Photos and ensure Backup is enabled. Wait for all photos to finish uploading.
  2. On your iPhone, install the Google Photos app from the App Store.
  3. Sign in with the same Google account used on your Android.
  4. All your Android photos are now accessible in the Google Photos app on iPhone.
  5. To add specific photos to your iPhone Camera Roll, open each photo and tap the three-dot menu → Save to device. To download everything, use the Google Takeout service.

Method 3: USB Cable via Computer

For large libraries without relying on cloud services, a USB cable transfer via Mac or Windows gives you full control over your files.

  1. Connect your Android to your Mac or PC. Pull down the Android notification shade and select File Transfer (MTP).
  2. On Mac, open Android File Transfer (free download from android.com/filetransfer). Navigate to Internal Storage → DCIM and copy all folders to your Mac.
  3. On Windows, open File Explorer → This PC → your Android device → Internal Storage → DCIM. Copy all photo folders to your PC.
  4. Connect your iPhone and open the Photos app on Mac. Go to File → Import and select the copied photos folder to import directly to your iPhone library.

Method 4: iCloud.com Upload

You can upload Android photos directly to your iCloud library using iCloud.com from any computer browser, which then syncs to your iPhone automatically.

  1. Copy photos from your Android to a computer (see Method 3).
  2. On the computer, open iCloud.com in a browser and sign in with your Apple ID.
  3. Click Photos → the upload button (cloud with arrow) → select all the photos from your Android export.
  4. Photos upload to iCloud and sync to your iPhone Camera Roll within minutes (ensure iCloud Photos is enabled on your iPhone: Settings → Photos → iCloud Photos).

Once your Android photos land on your iPhone, you may find years of duplicate shots, blurry photos, and screenshots in the mix. Use Swype Photo Cleaner to quickly cull through the combined library and keep only your best shots.

Tidy Up Your New iPhone Library

After moving from Android, your iPhone photo library is bound to have duplicates and clutter. Swype Photo Cleaner makes cleanup fast — swipe left to delete, right to keep. Get your new library organized in minutes.

Free · iPhone · iOS 16+ · 100% on-device, zero uploads

Download on theApp Store

Free · iPhone · iOS 16+

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to transfer photos from Android to iPhone?

For a new iPhone, Move to iOS is the best method — it transfers your full photo library wirelessly during setup. For an already-configured iPhone, Google Photos is the easiest: back up on Android, install on iPhone, sign in to the same account.

Does Move to iOS transfer all photos?

Yes, Move to iOS transfers your entire camera roll including photos, videos, albums, and metadata. It also transfers contacts, messages, calendars, and more. It only works during initial iPhone setup and cannot be used on an already-configured device.

Can I transfer photos from Android to iPhone using a cable?

A direct Android-to-iPhone USB transfer is not supported. However, you can use a computer as an intermediary: connect Android, copy photos from the DCIM folder, connect iPhone, then import using the Photos app on Mac or iTunes/Finder on Windows.

Will my Android photos lose quality when transferred to iPhone?

No. Move to iOS, USB cable via computer, and Google Photos Original quality all preserve full original resolution and metadata. Your photos will arrive on iPhone at their original file size and quality.