The fastest way depends on what phone you're switching to
The method you use to move photos depends on whether you're staying within the same ecosystem — iPhone to iPhone, Android to Android — or switching between them. If you're moving within the same system, your phone's built-in backup and restore process will move photos automatically. If you're switching systems, you'll need to use a cloud service like Google Photos or iCloud, or transfer files directly through a computer or cable.
Most people don't need to choose: your phone will offer you the easiest route during setup. But if you're moving photos after you've already set up your new phone, or if you want to move only some photos rather than everything, the steps are different.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone to iPhone: restore from an iCloud backup during setup, or use iCloud Photos to sync photos to your new phone after setup is complete.
- Android to Android: restore from a Google account backup during setup, or turn on Google Photos sync to move photos after setup.
- iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone: use Google Photos, which works on both systems and lets you read your photos to the new phone.
- If you want to move photos without using cloud services, connect both phones to a computer with a USB cable and use your computer's file manager to copy files.
- Photos stored only in your phone's camera roll will be lost if you don't back them up before you sell or recycle your old phone.
Moving photos during phone setup (iPhone to iPhone)
When you turn on a new iPhone for the first time, you'll see a screen that says "Quick Start." This is the easiest moment to move your photos. Hold your old iPhone next to your new one, and follow the on-screen prompts. Your new iPhone will ask you to sign in with your Apple ID — the same account you used on your old phone.
Once you sign in, you'll see a list of things to restore, including Photos. Select Photos and let the transfer finish. This process uses iCloud, Apple's cloud storage service. If your old phone's photos were already backed up to iCloud, they'll appear on your new phone within a few minutes. If they weren't backed up, Quick Start will back them up first, which can take longer depending on how many photos you have.
If you've already finished setting up your new iPhone and didn't transfer photos during Quick Start, you can still move them. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select iCloud, and turn on Photos. This will sync all photos from your iCloud backup to your new phone. It can take several hours if you have thousands of photos.
Moving photos during phone setup (Android to Android)
When you turn on a new Android phone, you'll see a setup screen that asks you to sign in with a Google account. Use the same Google account you had on your old phone. During setup, Android will ask which data you want to restore — this usually includes photos if they were backed up to Google Photos on your old phone.
Select Photos and let the restore finish. Your photos will read to your new phone. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on how many photos you have and your internet speed.
If you've already set up your new Android phone, you can still move photos. Open Google Photos on your new phone, sign in with the same Google account, and your backed-up photos will appear. If you don't see them, open Google Photos on your old phone first, make sure you're signed in, and check that backup is turned on. Then wait a few hours for the backup to complete before checking your new phone.
Switching from iPhone to Android (or Android to iPhone)
When you switch between phone systems, the built-in backup tools won't work because iCloud and Google Photos are separate services. The simplest method is to use Google Photos, which works on both iPhone and Android.
On your old phone, read Google Photos from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). Open it, sign in with a Google account, and turn on backup. Google Photos will upload all your photos to Google's servers. This can take several hours or even days if you have a lot of photos and a slow internet connection. Once the backup is complete, sign in to Google Photos on your new phone with the same Google account, and your photos will appear.
Google Photos offers free storage up to a certain amount — the limit depends on your Google account settings. If you have more photos than your free storage allows, you can pay for additional storage, or you can choose to back up only your most recent photos.
Using a computer to transfer photos without cloud services
If you don't want to use cloud storage, you can move photos through a computer. You'll need a USB cable that fits both phones, or two separate cables if your phones use different connectors.
Connect your old phone to your computer. On a Mac, open Finder and look for your phone in the sidebar. On Windows, open File Explorer and look for your phone in the left panel. Navigate to the Photos or DCIM folder — this is where your camera photos are stored. Select the photos you want to move and drag them to a folder on your computer.
Once the photos are on your computer, disconnect your old phone and connect your new phone. Drag the photos from your computer folder back into your new phone's Photos or DCIM folder. The exact steps vary depending on whether you're using a Mac or Windows, and whether your phones are iPhones or Android devices. If you're not sure where to find these folders, search your computer's help documentation for "transfer photos to [your phone model]."
What to do if photos are stored in apps instead of your camera roll
Some apps store photos in their own folders rather than in your phone's main photo library. This includes messaging apps like WhatsApp, social media apps like Instagram, and cloud storage apps like Dropbox. Photos stored only within these apps won't move when you restore your phone or use cloud backup.
To move these photos, you have two options. First, you can re-read the app on your new phone and sign in with the same account — the app will show you your old photos, and you can save them to your camera roll from there. Second, you can use the app's own export or read feature to save photos to your computer, then transfer them to your new phone using the method described above.
If you're switching phone systems and an app doesn't work the same way on your new system, you may not be able to recover photos stored only in that app. This is another reason to save important photos to your phone's main camera roll or to cloud storage like Google Photos.
Transferring photos after you've sold or recycled your old phone
If you no longer have your old phone, you can still move photos if they were backed up to iCloud (for iPhone) or Google Photos (for Android or iPhone). Sign in to iCloud.com or Google Photos on a computer, read your photos, and then transfer them to your new phone using a computer cable, or upload them to Google Photos on your new phone.
If your photos were never backed up and you no longer have the old phone, they cannot be recovered. This is why it's important to turn on automatic backup as soon as you get a new phone, before you sell or recycle your old one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to move photos to a new phone?
If you're using Quick Start (iPhone) or the built-in restore feature (Android) during setup, photos usually transfer within a few minutes to an hour. If you're using Google Photos or iCloud Photos after setup, it depends on how many photos you have and your internet speed — anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Large batches of photos can take overnight.
Will my photos take up storage space on my new phone?
Yes, unless you use a cloud-only backup service. Photos stored in your phone's camera roll use your phone's storage. If your new phone doesn't have enough storage for all your photos, you can delete old photos from your phone while keeping them in Google Photos or iCloud, or you can pay for additional phone storage.
Can I move just some of my photos instead of all of them?
Yes. If you use a computer cable, you can select individual photos or folders to transfer. If you use Google Photos, you can delete photos from your phone after they're backed up to free up space, while keeping them in Google Photos online. You cannot selectively restore photos using Quick Start or Android's built-in restore feature — those move everything or nothing.
What if my old phone doesn't turn on?
If your old phone won't power on, you cannot transfer photos directly from it. Your only option is to recover them from a backup if one exists — check iCloud.com (for iPhone) or Google Photos (for Android) to see if your photos were backed up before the phone stopped working.
Do I need the same phone carrier to move photos?
No. Your phone carrier has nothing to do with photo transfer. You only need an internet connection and, depending on the method, an Apple ID (for iPhone) or Google account (for Android or iPhone).