Tips & How-to

Switching from an iPhone or iPad to a new Galaxy device is much easier than you might think, thanks to Samsung Smart Switch. It’s designed to move your important content like photos, videos, contacts, messages, apps and certain settings, quickly and securely. It even organises everything for you, so your new Galaxy feels familiar right away.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind: passwords and Apple Keychain data won’t transfer, and Apple-only apps can’t move over directly. That said, many apps (like Apple Music) can simply be downloaded again from the Google Play Store. Check out the steps below to find out more, or our FAQ for a more detailed guide.

Initial setup

When you first turn on your new Galaxy device, you’ll go through the usual setup:

1. Choose your language.
2. Accept the terms and conditions.
3. Connect to Wi-Fi.
4. (Optional) Sign in to your Google account. Signing in is recommended because it connects you to Google services straight away, but you can skip it if you prefer.
5. When prompted, select “iPhone or iPad®” as your old device to begin.
6. Tap “Cable” or “Wireless” and follow the steps below.

Cable

If you’re using a cable (which is often the fastest method):

1. Choose “Copy” and agree to the permissions.
2. Connect your devices using a Lightning-to-USB-C or USB-C-to-USB-C cable.
3. When your iPhone displays “Trust this computer?”, tap “Trust”.
4. Your Galaxy will then search for data. Once it shows what’s available, just pick what you’d like to transfer and tap “Transfer”.
5. Keep the cable connected until everything is finished.
6. You can choose to bring over personalised navigation and Samsung Keyboard settings during setup.

Wireless

If you prefer to go wireless:

1. Download and open Smart Switch on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Allow permissions and choose “Wireless”.
3. You’ll then need to scan a QR code displayed on your Galaxy device to connect them.
4. Your Galaxy will then search for data. Once it shows what’s available, just pick what you’d like to transfer and tap “Transfer”.
5. You can choose to bring over personalised navigation and Samsung Keyboard settings during setup.

For text messages, it’s a good idea to turn off iMessage beforehand to avoid missing anything. You can also sign in to your iCloud account during setup to import stored data directly.

If you notice some photos are missing, it may be because your iPhone is set to “Optimise Storage”, meaning full-resolution images aren’t stored on the device. Switching to “Download and Keep Originals” before transferring should fix this.

Finally, if you’re moving WhatsApp, back it up to iCloud first through WhatsApp settings. Once everything’s done, sign in to (or create) your Samsung account and you’re ready to enjoy your new Galaxy.

The Community Team 🤝