The fastest way to transfer apps between Android phones

The easiest method is to sign into your Google account on your new phone during setup. Google Play automatically reinstalls all the apps you owned on your old phone, pulling them from your Google Play library rather than transferring them one by one. This happens in the background while you set up the rest of your phone, and most apps will be ready to use within a few minutes.

If you've already finished setting up your new phone, you can still use this method by going to Settings, then Accounts, then Google, and signing in with the same account you used on your old phone. After that, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, select Manage apps & device, go to the Manage tab, and tap Install next to each app you want to restore.

This method works because Google Play keeps a record of every app you've ever installed on any Android phone linked to that account. The apps themselves stay stored on Google's servers, not on your old phone, so you don't need the old phone present to restore them.

Key Takeaways

  • Signing into your Google account on a new Android phone automatically reinstalls all your previously owned apps from Google Play.
  • App data like game progress, login information, and settings may restore automatically if the app developer uses Google's backup service, but this is not may provide.
  • Apps you sideloaded or installed from sources other than Google Play will not transfer and must be reinstalled manually.
  • If you need to move app data from your old phone, use Android's built-in backup feature or the phone's migration tool during initial setup.

What happens to your app data and settings

Reinstalling an app is not the same as moving your data. When Google Play reinstalls an app, it puts the app itself on your new phone, but your saved progress, login information, and preferences may or may not come with it.

Some apps use Google Play backup, which automatically saves certain app data to your Google account. Games often back up your progress this way, and many productivity apps back up your settings. When you reinstall the app on your new phone, it checks for backed-up data and restores it automatically. You'll see no notification — it just happens.

Other apps do not use Google Play backup and will start fresh when you reinstall them. You'll need to log back in and reconfigure your preferences. The app developer decides whether to use Google's backup service, so there's no way to know in advance except by trying the app on your new phone.

If you want to move app data that Google Play backup doesn't cover, use Android's Backup and restore feature. During setup of your new phone, you'll see an option to restore from your old phone using a cable, Wi-Fi, or a backup file. This copies more data than Google Play backup alone, though not every app supports it.

Apps that won't transfer automatically

Apps you installed from outside Google Play — sometimes called sideloaded apps — will not appear in your Google Play library and will not reinstall automatically. This includes apps you downloaded directly from a developer's website, apps from alternative app stores, or apps you installed using a file manager.

If you need these apps on your new phone, you have two options. First, you can go back to wherever you originally found the app and read it again on your new phone. Second, if you still have your old phone, you can use a file manager to locate the app's installation file (usually a .apk file) and transfer it via USB cable or cloud storage, then install it on your new phone by opening the file and tapping Install.

Be cautious with sideloaded apps: they bypass Google Play's security checks, so only install them from sources you trust. Google Play Protect, which scans apps for malware, does not monitor sideloaded installations the same way.

Using Android's built-in migration tool

If you're setting up a brand-new Android phone for the first time, the setup wizard will offer to restore from your old phone. This is often the simplest path because it moves apps, app data, contacts, messages, photos, and settings all at once.

The setup wizard will ask whether you want to restore from your old Android phone or from a backup file. If you choose to restore from your old phone, you'll need both phones present and connected to Wi-Fi. The process typically takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have.

If you've already completed setup, you can still restore from a backup by going to Settings, then System, then Reset options, and selecting Erase all data. This will take you back to the setup screen where you can choose to restore. Be aware that this erases everything currently on your new phone, so only do this if you haven't added anything important yet.

Transferring apps via a cable or cloud storage

If you prefer not to use your Google account or the automatic migration tool, you can manually transfer app files using a USB cable. Connect your old phone to a computer, locate the app installation files in the file manager (usually in a folder called Downloads or Android), and copy them to your new phone.

Alternatively, you can upload the app files to cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox on your old phone, then read them on your new phone and install them by opening each file. This method is slower than using Google Play but gives you full control over which apps you move.

This approach only works for sideloaded apps or apps you've downloaded as .apk files. Apps installed directly from Google Play cannot be transferred this way because they're licensed to your Google account, not stored as individual files on your phone.

Checking which apps are missing after transfer

After your apps have reinstalled, open Google Play Store and tap your profile icon, then Manage apps & device. Go to the Manage tab and scroll through the list. Any app with an Install button next to it is available in your library but not currently on your new phone — this usually means it didn't reinstall automatically for some reason.

Common reasons an app doesn't reinstall include: the app is no longer available in Google Play, the app is not compatible with your new phone's Android version, or the app requires a payment you haven't made on this account. Tap Install next to any app you want to restore.

If an app you owned is completely missing from your library, it may have been removed from Google Play by the developer. In that case, you'll need to find an alternative app or contact the developer to ask if they offer a way to restore it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need my old phone to transfer apps to a new one?

No. As long as you sign into the same Google account on your new phone, Google Play will reinstall all your apps from its servers. Your old phone doesn't need to be present. However, if you want to transfer app data that isn't backed up by Google Play, you may need your old phone available.

Will my passwords and login information transfer with my apps?

It depends on the app. If the app uses Google Play backup and the developer configured it to save login data, your passwords may restore automatically. Many apps do not back up passwords for security reasons, so you'll need to log in again. Check each app after reinstalling to see what information was restored.

Can I transfer apps from an iPhone to an Android phone?

No. iPhones and Android phones use completely different app stores and app formats. You'll need to find Android versions of the apps you want. Many popular apps like Gmail, Spotify, and Instagram exist on both platforms, but some iPhone-only apps have no Android equivalent.

What if I don't remember which apps I had on my old phone?

Open Google Play Store on your new phone, tap your profile icon, select Manage apps & device, and go to the Manage tab. This shows every app you've ever installed on any Android phone linked to your Google account. You can scroll through and reinstall any app you recognize.

Will transferring apps use up my storage space quickly?

Apps take up storage space, but Google Play only reinstalls apps you previously owned. If your old phone had 100 apps, your new phone will try to reinstall those same 100 apps. If your new phone has less storage, some apps may fail to install, and you'll see an error message telling you to free up space.