Samsung Smart Switch is designed to bring data onto a Samsung Galaxy phone. It does not send a Galaxy backup into an iPhone. For Samsung-to-iPhone moves, Apple Move to iOS is the official tool.
These steps apply when moving from a Samsung Galaxy phone to a recent iPhone during initial iPhone setup or after erasing the iPhone.
Does This Affect You?
Use this if you expected Smart Switch to move your Galaxy photos, contacts, and messages to an iPhone and discovered there is no iPhone receiving side for it.
Use Move to iOS During iPhone Setup
- On the Samsung phone, install Move to iOS from the Play Store.
- Start iPhone setup and continue to the Apps and Data screen.
- Tap Move Data from Android.
- Enter the code shown on the iPhone into Move to iOS on the Galaxy.
- Keep both phones close, on Wi-Fi, and plugged into power.
- Choose what to transfer: contacts, message history, camera photos and videos, bookmarks, mail accounts, calendars, and compatible free apps.
- Wait for both progress bars to finish before using either phone.
- Tap Done on the Galaxy and continue iPhone setup.
If the iPhone Is Already Set Up
Move to iOS runs during setup only. If the iPhone already has data, back it up first before considering an erase.
- Back up the iPhone with iCloud or a computer if it contains anything important.
- If it is safe to erase, open iPhone Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
- During fresh setup, choose Move Data from Android.
- If you do not want to erase, move data piece by piece instead.
Manual Alternatives
- Sign in to Google on iPhone and enable Contacts and Calendars to sync those items.
- Install Google Photos on iPhone to access backed-up Galaxy photos and videos.
- Use cloud storage or a computer for files.
- Keep the old Galaxy for reference if text message history was not moved during setup.
Important Notes
Back Up the Galaxy First
Before any transfer, back up the Galaxy from Settings > Accounts and backup. If the transfer fails or is interrupted, your source phone data remains protected.
Move to iOS Has Limits
It does not transfer most paid apps, local music files, or app data that requires its own account backup. Those need to be reinstalled or restored inside each app.
Sources
- Apple Support: Move data from Android to iPhone
- Apple: Move to iOS on Google Play
- Samsung Support: What Smart Switch transfers