How to move text messages to a new phone

Have you just bought a new smartphone? You likely want to transfer the years of messages accumulated on your old phone to your new handset. Thankfully, this task is easier than you may think. Here’s how to move text messages to a new phone.

Editor’s note: We used a Google Pixel 7 running Android 14 and an Apple iPhone 12 Mini running iOS 17.2.1 to formulate these instructions. Some menus and steps may change depending on your hardware and software.

How to move text messages from an Android to Android phone

Transferring messages from one Android phone to another Android phone is easy. You can use your old device and Google account to back up and restore text messages. First, back up your messages on your old phone.

How to use Backup by Google One:

1. Open the Settings app on your old Android phone.
2. Go into Google.
3. Hit the All services tab.
4. Select Backup.
5. Ensure that Backup by Google One is enabled.
6. Scroll down and ensure SMS and MMS messages are listed.
7. Tap the Back up now button to manually back up your messages.

How to restore your backups from Google One:

1. Turn on your new phone and log in using the same Google account you used to create the backup.
2. During the setup process, choose Restore when your phone asks if you want to restore the data connected to your account.
3. After the setup process is complete, you should see your messages in the Messages app.

How to move text messages to a new iPhone

Like an Android phone, you can use your iCloud account on an iPhone to back up and restore your messages. Let’s start by turning on backups on your older iPhone.

How to enable iCloud backups:

1. Ensure you have iOS 11.4 or later installed.
2. Plug your iPhone in and connect it to Wi-Fi.
3. Open Settings app.
4. Go into the Apple ID settings, which is labeled as your name.
5. Select iCloud.
6. Make sure iCloud Backup is enabled.
7. Then, select Show All under Apps Using iCloud.
8. Tap on Messages in iCloud and toggle on the Use on this iPhone option.
9. Hit Sync Now.

How to restore your Messages on a new iPhone:

1. Turn on your new iPhone.
2. Go through the setup steps.
3. When prompted, tap Restore from iCloud Backup to restore your messages.
4. The transfer process may take a while, but you should see your messages in the Messages app once it is complete.

How to move text messages from iPhone to Android

You can transfer messages from an iPhone to an Android phone, but the process will be more involved.

How to transfer text messages from iPhone to Android:

1. Turn on your new Android phone and follow the setup process.
2. When prompted to “Copy apps & data,” tap Next.
3. Turn on and unlock your iPhone, then tap Next on the “Use your old phone” screen.
4. You will need a cable that can connect to your iPhone on one end and an Android device on the other. This could be a Lightning to USB-C cable, or a USB-C to USB-C cable if you have an iPhone 15. Alternatively, you can pick up an adapter.
5. Plug the USB-C end into your phone and connect the other end to your iPhone.
6. When prompted on your Android phone, sign in with your Google account, then hit Next.
7. You’ll be asked what you want to copy. Make sure you choose Messages along with anything else you wish to copy. Then tap Copy.
8. Tap Continue.
9. Continue through the rest of the setup process.
10. Your Android phone will remind you to disable iMessage on your iPhone. Ensure you do this so you don’t miss out on future messages.

The process is a bit more streamlined if you have a Samsung phone. As a bonus, you can do it anytime, not just when setting up your new Android phone.

How to transfer text messages from iPhone to Samsung phones:

1. Download the Samsung Smart Switch app on your Samsung device.
2. Open the app and then select Receive data.
3. Choose iPhone/iPad as the source. Make sure your iPhone is on and unlocked
4. Plug the iPhone into your Samsung device using the needed cable, and an adapter, if required. You can also opt to Transfer wirelessly or Get data from iCloud.
5. The Smart Switch app will automatically search your iPhone. Choose Messages along with other things you wish to transfer.
6. Tap Transfer.
7. The transfer process can take some time, but you’ll see a progress indicator on your Samsung device. Ensure the Keep screen on option is enabled, so nothing gets interrupted.
8. Once the transfer finishes, tap Next.
9. Your Samsung phone will remind you to disable iMessage on your iPhone. Ensure you do this so you don’t miss out on future messages.

How to move text messages from Android to iPhone

Apple offers an easy way to move messages from Android to iPhone.

How to use Move to iOS to transfer text messages:

1. Install Move to iOS on your Android phone.
2. Turn on your new iPhone and begin the setup process. Make sure to connect to a Wi-Fi network.
3. When the prompt regarding Apps & Data appears, select Move Data from Android.
4. Make a note of the security code displayed on your iPhone.
5. Open Move to iOS on your Android device.
6. You’ll need to accept the terms, privacy policy, and more. Hit Agree > Continue > Agree > Automatically Send (or Don’t Send) > Continue > Continue > Continue.
7. Enter the security code when prompted.
8. In the Move to iOS app, select the types of data you want to transfer. Ensure you choose Messages.
9. Complete the setup process on your iPhone.

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