How to Transfer SMS Messages to Android
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Tested on
- Android 15 - Pixel 9, iOS 18.4 - iPhone 15 Pro
- You will need
- USB-C to Lightning cable (or USB-C to USB-C if iPhone supports it), stable Wi-Fi connection, Google account credentials
Step by step
Disable iMessage on your iPhone
Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Messages. Toggle the iMessage switch to the Off position to ensure your incoming messages are not captured by Apple servers after the migration.
Note: This prevents message loss if you continue using your phone number on the new device.Start the Android setup process
Power on your new Android device and complete the initial language and Wi-Fi connection steps. When prompted to Copy apps & data, select Next to proceed to the migration menu.
Connect devices with a cable
When the screen displays Use your old device, select iPhone. Plug your Lightning or USB-C cable into the iPhone, then connect the other end to the Android device when prompted.
Note: If you do not have a cable, select 'No cable' to attempt a wireless transfer, though a wired connection is significantly more reliable for large message databases.Trust the Android device
Unlock your iPhone and tap Trust when the 'Trust This Computer?' prompt appears. Enter your iPhone passcode to grant the Android device permission to access your data.
Choose data to copy
The Android device will display a list of available data categories. Ensure the checkbox for Messages is selected. Deselect any other categories you do not wish to move to save time.
Note: The total transfer time depends on the size of your SMS and MMS media attachments.Finalize the data transfer
Tap Copy to begin the migration. Keep both devices connected and active throughout the process. Once the progress bar reaches 100%, disconnect the cables and continue the Android setup.
Note: Do not navigate away from the setup screen until the process is marked as complete.