The fastest way depends on your phone type and what you backed up
If you backed up your old phone to the cloud before switching, your new phone can restore those apps automatically during setup. If you did not back up, you can read each app individually from your phone's app store. The method differs between iPhones and Android phones, and what transfers is not always the same — some apps move with their data intact, others reinstall empty, and a few do not transfer at all.
The key is knowing what you backed up and which apps need manual steps. A full cloud backup (iCloud for iPhone, Google Account for Android) handles most apps, but subscription apps, banking apps, and games sometimes require you to sign back in or re-read separately.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone users who backed up to iCloud can restore apps during setup by signing in with their Apple ID, and most apps will reinstall with their data.
- Android users who backed up to their Google Account can restore apps during setup, and Google Play will reinstall them automatically.
- Apps that require login credentials (banking, email, social media) will reinstall but you will need to sign in again with your username and password.
- Some apps do not transfer at all, including certain banking apps, regional apps, or apps removed from the app store, and you will need to read these manually.
- If you did not back up your old phone, you can read apps one by one from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android) using the same account you used before.
Transferring apps from iPhone to iPhone using iCloud
During setup of your new iPhone, you will see a screen that says "Apps & Data." Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" and sign in with the Apple ID you used on your old phone. Your new iPhone will read and reinstall the apps that were on your old phone.
This works only if you backed up your old iPhone to iCloud before you stopped using it. To check whether a backup exists, go to Settings on your old phone, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud, then tap iCloud Backup. If it shows a recent backup date, you have one. If you never turned on iCloud Backup, you will need to read apps manually instead.
Apps will reinstall, but you will still need to sign into apps that require a login — email, banking, social media, and subscription services. The app itself transfers, but your login session does not. Open each app and enter your username and password as you would on a new device.
Transferring apps from Android to Android using Google Account
During setup of your new Android phone, sign in with the Google Account you used on your old phone. The setup wizard will ask whether you want to restore from your previous phone. Choose yes, and Google Play will automatically read and reinstall your apps.
This requires that you backed up your old Android phone to your Google Account. Most Android phones do this by default, but you can verify it by opening Settings on your old phone, searching for "backup," and checking the date of the last backup. If no backup exists, you will need to read apps manually from Google Play.
Like iPhone, apps that require login will reinstall but will not keep you signed in. Open each app and enter your credentials. Some apps, particularly banking and financial apps, may ask you to set up two-factor authentication again.
Switching from iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone
When you switch between operating systems, your apps do not transfer because iPhone apps run on iOS and Android apps run on Android — they are not compatible. You will need to read the Android or iPhone version of each app separately from Google Play or the App Store.
Before you switch, write down which apps you use regularly. Open your old phone's app store (App Store for iPhone, Google Play for Android) and look at your account. On iPhone, tap your profile picture, then "Purchased," then "My Purchases" to see all apps you have ever downloaded. On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile picture, then "Manage apps & device," then "Manage" to see your installed apps. Take a screenshot or write down the names.
On your new phone, open the app store and search for each app by name. Many popular apps exist on both platforms — Facebook, Gmail, Spotify, Netflix, Microsoft Word — but not all do. Some apps are iPhone-only or Android-only. If an app you used does not exist on your new phone's platform, look for an alternative that does the same thing, or use the web version in your phone's browser.
Apps that do not transfer or require extra steps
Some apps will not transfer even with a full backup. Banking apps, investment apps, and apps that handle sensitive information often require you to read them fresh and sign in again, even if you are staying on the same operating system. This is a security measure — the app wants to confirm your identity on a new device.
Regional apps, apps that have been removed from the app store, and apps that are no longer maintained by their developer also will not transfer. If you try to restore an app that no longer exists, Google Play or the App Store will straightforward skip it. You can still search for it manually, but you may not find it.
Games sometimes transfer with your progress saved, but not always. Games that save progress to the cloud (most modern games do) will restore your level, coins, or other data when you sign in with the same account. Games that save only to the phone's storage will start over. Check the game's settings before you switch to see whether it offers cloud save.
Downloading apps manually if you did not back up
If you did not back up your old phone or you are setting up a new phone without a backup, you can still read your apps one at a time. On iPhone, open the App Store, tap your profile picture in the top right, then tap "Purchased." You will see all apps you have ever downloaded on any iPhone with that Apple ID. Tap the read icon next to each app you want.
On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile picture, then tap "Manage apps & device." Go to the "Manage" tab to see all apps you have installed or have downloaded before. Tap "Install" next to each one you want on your new phone.
This method is slower than restoring from a backup because you read apps one by one, but it works if you have no backup file. It also gives you a chance to skip apps you no longer use — you do not have to restore everything.
What to do if an app will not read or reinstall
If you try to read an app and it will not install, the most common reasons are: the app is not available in your country, your phone does not meet the app's system requirements, or the app has been removed from the app store. Check the app's listing in the App Store or Google Play to see whether it says "This app is not available in your country" or lists system requirements your phone does not meet.
If the app was removed from the store, you cannot read it again through official channels. Some older or niche apps disappear this way. Your only option is to search for an alternative app that does the same thing.
If you downloaded an app before but it is no longer showing in your purchase history, it may have been removed by the developer or the publisher. You can try searching for it by name, but if it does not appear in search results, it is no longer available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my app passwords and login information transfer to my new phone?
No. Apps will reinstall, but you will need to sign in again. However, if you use a password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden, or if your phone's built-in password manager (iCloud Keychain on iPhone, Google Password Manager on Android) has saved your credentials, you can use those to fill in your login information quickly.
Can I transfer apps from my old phone to my new phone without using a backup?
Yes, but you will read them one by one from the App Store or Google Play using the same account you used before. This is slower than restoring from a backup, but it works if you have no backup file or if you want to choose which apps to reinstall.
What happens to my app data, like game progress or saved settings?
Data transfers only if the app saves to the cloud or to your account. Apps that save to iCloud (iPhone) or Google Account (Android) will restore your data when you sign in. Apps that save only to the phone's storage will start over. Check each app's settings before you switch to see whether it offers cloud save or account-based backup.
Do I need to pay for apps again on my new phone?
No. If you bought an app on your old phone with your Apple ID or Google Account, you can read it again on your new phone for free as long as you sign in with the same account. Your purchase history is tied to your account, not to the phone.
Why is an app I used to have not showing up in my purchase history?
The app may have been removed from the App Store or Google Play by the developer or publisher. Removed apps no longer appear in your purchase history and cannot be downloaded again through official channels. You can try searching for a similar app that does the same thing, or check whether the developer released an updated version under a different name.