Transfer data from your previous device to a Pixel phone

When you set up a new Pixel device, you can transfer data from your previous Android device or iPhone. The process and options for data transfer may vary depending on the devices and the Android version.

If you don't have access to your previous device, learn how to back up or restore data on your Pixel device.

To find visual, step-by-step instructions on how to transfer your data, take a look at Pixel Guidebooks.

Get your devices ready for data transfer

Important: To get the most out of your new Pixel device, you need a Google Account. Learn how to create a new Google Account.

Before you transfer your files and information to your new Pixel device, follow these steps to make sure that all of your data transfers. Before you get your new Pixel device ready for setup, learn more about tasks that you can do.

To begin a transfer to your new Pixel device, make sure that you prepare:

  • Your fully charged existing device on the latest software and its charging cable
  • A strong Wi-Fi connection
  • Your new, fully charged Pixel device
  • A SIM card tool, if you use a SIM card

Tip: If your device storage is full, data transfer could pause. Learn how to check your storage capacity.

Choose the device that you'll transfer data from:

Transfer data from an iPhone to a Pixel

You can transfer your iPhone data such as texts, photos, music, contacts, apps and calendars to a Pixel device.

Step 1: Get your iPhone ready for data transfer
Important: Beta versions of iOS aren't supported for data transfer to Pixel.
  1. Turn off iMessage and FaceTime. Learn how to turn off iMessage.
  2. If an organisation, such as a business or school, manages your iPhone, you have to:
    • Log in with a personal ID.
    • To successfully transfer data, remove the organisation account.
Step 2: Prepare your Pixel device
  1. Turn on your Pixel device.
  2. Tap Get started.
    • You can change the language or vision settings of your device.
Step 3: Connect to Wi-Fi and mobile network for Pixel 8 and later

Important: Based on connectivity, the order of screens may differ.

  1. On your Pixel device, tap iPhone or iPad.
  2. Connect to a Wi-Fi network.
    • If you can't connect to a Wi-Fi network, connect to your mobile network through a SIM card.
  1. Sign in to your Google Account.
  2. To connect to a mobile network, download your eSIM.
    • Otherwise, follow the prompts to insert your SIM card.

Tip: Your Pixel supports eSIM based on your mobile operator. For more details, check with your operator.

Step 4: Connect your iPhone to your Pixel device

On your Pixel device:

  1. On the 'Copy data from your iPhone or iPad' prompt, tap Next and then Copy your data.
  2. On the 'Use your old device' prompt, tap Next.

On your iPhone:

  1. Turn your iPhone on.
  2. Unlock your device.

To connect both your iPhone and Pixel device:

  1. Plug one end of your iPhone charging cable into your iPhone.
  2. Plug the cable's other end into your Pixel device.
    • If you use a Quick Switch adaptor:
      1. Plug the cable's other end into the adaptor.
      2. Plug the adaptor into your Pixel device.
  1. On your iPhone, tap Trust.
  2. On your Pixel device, a list of your data types appears.
    • The amount of iPhone storage may trigger a capacity warning since it may include system files or linked iCloud data. If you're sure that all your on-device data can be transferred, ignore the warning and continue.
    • To know how much on-device storage your iPhone has, tap Settings and then General and then iPhone Storage.
  1. To transfer all your data, tap Copy.
    • To only transfer selected data:
      1. Turn off what you don't want.
      2. Tap Copy.
What data does or doesn't automatically transfer to your new Pixel

Important: Contacts, calendars and Google Keep notes that you transfer to your Pixel device sync and upload to your Google Account. When you sign in to your Google Account on your Pixel device, your account info syncs.

Data type Cable Wi-Fi Post-setup data transfer (cable only)
  • Photos
  • Live photos
  • Burst photos
  • Videos
 Yes Yes Yes
Device-only, iCloud and cloud-synced contacts Yes Yes Yes
SMS messages and iMessages which include photo, video, replies, emoji reactions and other attachments Yes No Yes
Device-only and iCloud-synced calendar appointments Yes Yes No
Apps at no charge which are matched to Google Play1 Yes No Yes
WhatsApp chat history Yes No Yes
MP3 and audio files Yes No Yes

Voice memos

  • These transfer to Recorder.
 Yes No No

Notes

  • These transfer to Keep.
 Yes No Yes
Call history2 Yes No Yes
Home screen app layout and custom wallpapers Yes No No

Device settings

  • Alarms
  • Saved Wi-Fi SSIDs
  • Font size
  • Screen timeout settings
 Yes No Yes
  • In-app purchases
  • Device settings, such as Wi-Fi passwords
  • Music with Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection
  • Bookmarks from Safari®
  • Paid and unavailable apps on Google Play
  • Some app data, such as data from apps that aren't stored in the cloud
 No No No

1 Some third-party apps and data may not be transferred automatically. Learn more about Pixel device data transfer.

2 To transfer your call history, set your iPhone up for local backup encryption.

Transfer your iCloud data

Only on-device data is transferred with a cable. To make sure that the data is available on your Pixel, follow the instructions if you have data in iCloud or in other cloud services.

Tips:

  • You may continue to set up your Pixel during transfer.
  • To find results and tips on how to transfer any missing content, review the transfer summary screens once the transfer is complete.
  • You can transfer some of your data wirelessly but cable is recommended as it transfers more data types.

After initial setup, here are other items that transfer to your Pixel device:

Photos, videos, documents and other files stored in iCloud

Based on your library size, the transfer can take several hours or days. It may also require a purchase of a Google One storage plan. Learn how to transfer iCloud photos and videos to Google Photos.

To transfer files from your iCloud as an alternative:

  1. On your computer, sign in to your iCloud account.
  2. Choose the files that you want.
  3. Export the files.
  4. To upload your files, choose their destination based on their type:
    • Google Photos: Photos and videos
    • Google Drive: Miscellaneous files and PDFs
Music

To use subscription-based services like Spotify or Apple Music:

  1. Download the app.
  2. Sign in to your account.
You can also transfer your Apple Music playlists to YouTube Music. Learn how to import your playlists from another service.
LINE
Contacts and two weeks of chat conversations. Learn how to transfer your LINE account.
Saved passwords, non-Google account data and game app data

You can retrieve the following data if you sign in to the Google Account that you previously used:

  • Passwords from Google Password Manager
  • Non-Google accounts and their data, which includes contacts and calendar events
  • Your progress in some game apps or websites

Frequently asked questions

What if some of my data didn't transfer over?
If you encounter an issue when you transfer data to your Pixel device, learn how to fix issues with data transfer. If you have a Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL or Pixel 9 Pro Fold, you can transfer data after setup. Learn how to transfer data post setup.
I am setting up my new Pixel device for a child
When prompted to transfer data, tap Skip. Learn how to set up a child account on your Pixel device.
How do I get a Quick Switch adaptor?
If your device is an iPhone X or earlier, you can use a USB-C to Lightning cable or a Quick Switch adaptor. Learn how to request and use a Quick Switch adaptor.
What's the difference between a physical SIM and an eSIM? My connection timed out mid-transfer. What do I do? I don't have my previous device

If you can't use your previous device or don't have a cable that fits, learn how to fix issues with data transfer.

My data transfer timed out because I'm at storage capacity
If you didn't transfer your data when you first turned on your device, learn how to fix issues with data transfer.
How do I transfer data post setup?
If you have a Pixel 9 or later device, you can transfer additional data after the initial setup. Learn how to transfer data after setup.
How do I transfer all of my iCloud photos to Google Photos? What's RCS messaging?

Important: RCS is now available for Android and selected iPhone devices, provided by Google or your operator under your operator's Terms of Service.

Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a modern industry standard for messaging and enables more dynamic and secure conversations than SMS and MMS. Learn how to turn RCS chats in Google messages on or off.
How do I log in to my apps and services? What about passkeys?

If you use Google Password Manager, it's already installed on your new device. Learn more about passkeys.

If you use iCloud to store your passwords or passkeys, you need to log in to your apps and services manually.

Related resources

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