We haven’t stopped capturing precious life moments ever since manufacturers started putting excellent cameras on smartphones. Despite great strides in digital imaging and mobile interconnectivity, it’s not that easy to transfer photos between devices, especially those running different platforms — say, between an iPhone and an Android phone. If you own both or switch over from iPhone to Android, you will eventually need to know how to transfer photos and images. We’ll show you how it’s done so you won’t have to lose all those files.
Also read: How to backup your Android phone
QUICK ANSWER
There are many ways to transfer photos from iPhone to Android. If you're already syncing your pictures to iCloud, the simplest method is going to iCloud.com on your Android browser, signing in, going into Photos, hitting Select, and picking the photos you want to transfer. Hit the three-dot menu button and tap Download.
JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS
- Transfer manually using a PC
- Google Drive
- Google Photos
- iCloud
- Third-party app
Note: Some of these instructions were put together using an iPhone 12 Mini running iOS 16.1.1, a custom PC with Windows 11, and a Google Pixel 7 Pro using Android 13. Keep in mind some steps might be a bit different, depending on your device and the software it runs.
Transfer photos from iPhone to Android using a computer
David Imel / Android Authority
One of the more straightforward ways to transfer your photos is to copy-paste them from the iPhone’s default photo directory to Android’s image folder. This requires no special accounts or fancy apps. For this method, you will need a PC and USB cables for both your iPhone and Android phones. Make sure that you’ve installed the device drivers of both handsets so that they will be detected.
How to transfer your iPhone photos to your Android phone:
- Connect your iPhone to your PC.
- Turn the phone on and unlock it.
- You will be asked to trust the computer. Hit Trust. Enter your PIN if asked.
- On your PC, click on the Start Windows button.
- Open the Photos app.
- Select Import.
- Hit Apple iPhone.
- Follow instructions. You can now pick which photos you want to import and where.
- Make your selections, click on Add items, and hit Import. Let the computer do its thing.
- Connect your Android phone to your PC.
- On your phone, open the notification shade.
- You should see a notification reading Charging this device via USB. Tap on it. Tap on it again when it expands.
- Select File transfer / Android Auto.
- On your PC, go to the folder where you saved the photos. Select them, right-click on them, and select Copy.
- Go to This PC, find your Android phone, and open the DCIM folder within the phone. You can also go into folders within DCIM, or create new ones.
- Once you’re where you want your images, right-click and select Paste.
- Let the transfer finish, and you’re done!
Transfer photos using Google Drive
Google Drive will make transferring photos from iPhone to Android much simpler, if you don’t mind using the cloud. Of course, there are some limitations. Cloud storage sends your pictures to servers over the internet. This means anyone with slow internet speeds may have to wait long to upload and download larger quantities of photos. Not to mention you might be limited in terms of data, so you might want to be connected to Wi-Fi to do this.
In addition, Google only gives you 15GB of storage for free. This can be quickly filled after storing photos for some years. You’ll need to pay for extra storage if your photo library is more extensive than 15GB. Plans start at $1.99 a month for 100GB.
Transfer photos from iPhone to Android using Google Drive:
- On your iPhone, download Google Drive from the Apple App Store.
- Open Google Drive and sign in to your Google account.
- Tap Add.
- Select Upload.
- Go into Photos and Videos.
- Find and select the photos you want to transfer. Tap Upload.
- Wait for the images to upload.
- Now, let’s move to your Android phone. Google Drive comes pre-installed on most Android devices. If yours doesn’t have it, download it from the Google Play Store.
- Open Google Drive.
- Find and select the images you uploaded.
- Tap on the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner.
- Hit Download.
- Your photos will be downloaded to the Downloads folder. You can use any file manager to transfer them to the Images folder.
Other cloud storage services like Dropbox and OneDrive will work too. We picked Google Drive because of its connection to Android, but the process should be very similar.
More: The 10 best Android backup apps
Google Photos works too
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
Google has cloud services to throw around, and the Photos app is another excellent alternative to transfer photos from iPhone to Android. The difference between Google Photos and Google Drive is that the latter is meant to store any file you throw at it. Meanwhile, Google Photos is explicitly made for storing images and videos.
Google Photos had unlimited “high-quality” image uploads until July 2021. Now, uploaded images count against your Google storage space. Regardless, it’s a very convenient tool for those who no longer want to worry about backing up and restoring photos. You can set any phone to automatically upload images and videos, then simply have the app sync across all your devices.
Transfer photos from iPhone to Android using Google Photos:
- On your iPhone, download Google Photos from the Apple App Store.
- Open Google Photos and sign in to your Google account.
- Google Photos will ask you if you want to sync high-quality photos during set-up. Go ahead and do so. You can also go to Profile icon > Google Photos settings > Back up & sync and toggle on Back up & sync.
- This process will take a while, so give it some time.
- Now, let’s move to your Android phone. Google Photos comes pre-installed on most Android devices. If yours doesn’t have it, download it from the Google Play Store.
- Open Google Photos.
- All your images will be there! By the way, you don’t need to download them if you don’t want to. These images can live in Google Photos.
- If you want to download a photo, tap on it.
- Hit the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner.
- Hit Download.
Related: How to transfer photos from Android to a Windows PC
Just use iCloud
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
You don’t have to stick to Google’s services, especially if all your photos are backed up to Apple’s iCloud servers. You can access and download all your images from iCloud.com.
Transfer photos from iPhone to Android using iCloud:
- If you haven’t yet, make sure iCloud Photos is syncing on your iOS device. Go to Settings > Photos > iCloud Photos and toggle the option on.
- Once your photos are synced, it’s time to move to your new Android phone.
- Open the Chrome browser.
- Go to iCloud.com.
- Log in.
- Go into the Photos section. All your synced photos will show up.
- Hit Select.
- Tap on Select All (or individually pick the photos you want to download on your Android device).
- Select the three-dot menu button on the bottom-right corner.
- Tap on Download.
- Let the files download.
- Images will go into the Downloads folder on your Android phone.
More: Everything you can do with iCloud on Android
Using a dedicated app like Send Anywhere
The options above are great, but there is room for other possibilities like Send Anywhere. This application is free for both Android and iOS. It also requires no cables or computers, as it operates in the cloud.
Next: The best file transfer apps available
Transfer photos from iPhone to Android using Send Anywhere:
- Download Send Anywhere from the Apple App Store.
- Run Send Anywhere on your iPhone.
- Tap theSend tab.
- From the list of file types, selectPhotos. Select the photos that you want to send. You’ll see checkmarks at the bottom-right of the selected photos’ thumbnails.
- Tap theSendbutton at the bottom after selecting the photos.
- The app will generate a PIN and a QR code image for the receiver. These authorization credentials will expire after 10 minutes (by default, but you can also set them to 5 or 30 minutes). Make sure that the receiver device gets the file within that time frame. Or, if you want to share the file(s) with multiple recipients for a longer time, upload the file(s) by tapping the Upload button. This latter option will also generate a PIN, QR code, and a Web URL which are valid for use by the receiver(s) within 24 hours (by default, but can also be set to 12 or 48 hours).
- Download the Send Anywhere app from the Google Play Store on your Android phone.
- Run the Send Anywhere app.
- Tap theReceivebutton on the main screen.
- To receive the file(s), you can enter the PIN and tap the arrow button or scan the QR code generated by the iPhone. Or, if the sender shared the Web URL of the file, open the URL in a Web browser.
Next: A complete guide for switching from iPhone to Android
FAQs
Images might lose quality if you transfer them from iPhone to Android, depending on the method you use. For example, if you use Google Photos and have opted to upload images using high-quality resolution, the photos will be a bit compressed when you download them. Of course, manually transferring them using a PC results in no loss of quality.
It depends on the method you use, but the only limits are usually related to your cloud storage limits, whether those are local or cloud storage spaces. In the case of Send Anywhere, you’ll have a 10GB limit.
Most backup services offer photo transfers, as well as other data. This may include SMS messages, call logs, contacts, and more.
iCloud’s free account offers 5GB of data. You will have to pay extra to get more. Prices start at $0.99 for 50GB.
Apple uses the HEIC image file format. While the format is unique to Apple, Android phones can read and display them. If you do want to convert your images, though, you can read our HEIC-to-JPG conversion guide.
Guides
How-to's
AndroidApple iOSApple iPhoneiOSiPhone
FAQs
How can I transfer photos from iPhone to Samsung? ›
Launch Smart Switch on the new Galaxy phone. If this is your first time using Smart Switch, you will need to tap Agree and then tap Allow to accept the terms of service. Then, tap Receive data. Tap iPhone/iPad, and then tap Get data from iCloud instead at the bottom of the screen.
How do I transfer messages from iPhone to Android? ›- Backup your iPhone and locate the backup file. Connect your iPhone to your computer. ...
- Download iSMS2droid. Install iSMS2droid on your Android phone, open the app and tap on the Import Messages button. ...
- Start your transfer. ...
- You're done!
No, you cannot transfer photos from iPhone to Android using Bluetooth technology. The iPhone may have built-in Bluetooth technology, but its operating system restricts its wireless file transfer capabilities.
Can I AirDrop from iPhone to Android? ›The answer is Yes – and the tool is AirDroid Personal. Its Nearby Share feature makes it a one-click job to AirDrop Android to iPhone. Expect lossless quality and super-fast transfer speed while using this program.
How do I transfer files from iPhone to Android wirelessly? ›- Download the Smart Switch app on your Galaxy phone.
- Open the app and accept the terms of service.
- Select Receive data, and then iPhone/iPad.
- Select Get data from iCloud instead.
- Enter your Apple ID and select Sign in to iCloud.
- Enter the verification code and select ok.
FAQs. How to AirDrop from iPhone to Samsung? No, you can only AirDrop files between iOS devices, this includes iPhones, iPads, Macs, etc. Samsung runs on Android and therefore to AirDrop Samsung to Apple, you need to use a file-sharing app like AirDroid.
How do I get photos off my iPhone? ›Open the Photos app on your computer. The Photos app shows an Import screen with all the photos and videos that are on your connected device. If the Import screen doesn't automatically appear, click the device's name in the Photos sidebar. If asked, unlock your iOS or iPadOS device using your passcode.
How do I transfer files from iPhone to Android without app? ›If you want to send files from iPhone to Android, you can do it effortlessly via Google Drive. With its easy-to-use features, Google has made it easy for iPhone users to shift to Android. Just back up your data from the iPhone to Google Drive before switching to Android.
How do I transfer everything from my old phone to my new phone? ›- Turn on your new device.
- Tap Start.
- When asked, make sure you connect to a Wi-Fi network.
- Choose to copy apps and data from your old device. Recommended: If you have a cable to connect your devices, follow the on-screen instructions to copy your data. ...
- Check your texts, photos, and videos.
You can find Smart Switch on your Samsung phone by going to: Settings > Accounts and back up > Smart Switch. To make sure all of your up to date data is ready to transfer, you'll first need to sync your iOS phone to iCloud.
What is the fastest way to transfer files from iPhone to Android? ›
By launching the Google Drive app, Google has made it much easier to move iOS data to an Android device. Google Drive is one of the most ultimate ways to transfer data from iPhone to Android app. Using Google Drive, you can easily switch data from iOS to Android within a few minutes.
How do I connect my iPhone to my Android via Bluetooth? ›- Move to the Settings screen.
- Tap General.
- Tap Bluetooth.
- Tap OFF. ...
- Put the other device in Discoverable mode. ...
- Tap the device to which you want to connect. ...
- Input the required passkey, such as typing the passkey on a keyboard if you are pairing with a Bluetooth keyboard.
Can I Quick Share Android to iPhone? No, you cannot use Samsung Quick Share to transfer files across Android and iPhone because the app works only for Samsung.
How do I send a video from my iPhone to my Android? ›Step 1: Install the Google Drive app on your iPhone. Step 2: Start the Google Drive app and tap the plus icon at the bottom right corner of your screen. Select Upload > Photos/Videos. Step 3: Select the Videos you want to send and tap Upload from the top-right corner.
Does Samsung Nearby Share work with iPhone? ›The Nearby Share option does not work with the iOS platforms. It is exclusively designed for Android gadgets to send files between them. This file-sharing option is applicable with Chromebooks but does not support other operating systems.
How do I get photos off my iPhone without losing them? ›You can delete photos from your iPhone but keep them in iCloud by turning off iCloud photo sharing. You can also use a different iCloud account to keep the previous account's iCloud photos safe. Another workaround is to use a different cloud server to back up the photos before deleting them on your iPhone.
How do I get photos off my iPhone to free up storage? ›...
Store your photos and videos in iCloud
- Tap Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos.
- Turn on iCloud Photos.
- Select Optimize iPhone Storage to save space on your device.
This usually means that you are only storing a smaller preview of your images on the iPhone. The images are actually stored on the iCloud. For this reason, when you are trying to transfer data, photos won't import from iPhone to PC. Under iCloud, go to Photos and disable this option.
How do I transfer from iPhone to Android without iCloud? ›You can also simply sync your Google Account with your Android device: Go to Settings >Users & Accounts > Add account > Enter your Google account and tap on “Auto Sync data”. In this way, your iPhone data back present on Google Drive will be transferred to your android phone.
Can I transfer my photos from one phone to another? ›You can sync and back up photos on your old Android device, and then you can get those pictures on the new phone. Follow the below steps to transfer photos from the old Android to the new one with Google Photos. Open Google Photos and log in with your Google account. Tap on the hamburger menu and select Settings.
Do I put my SIM card in new phone before transferring data? ›
Regardless of the device you're switching from, don't switch your SIM card until the entire transfer is complete. Before you get started, you'll also want to make sure both your old device and your new device have at least 20 percent battery life.
What is Smart Switch on Android? ›Smart Switch can transfer all your data, including your device settings, so that you can pick up your new device and carry on right where you left off. You can even create a backup for your old phone's files on your PC or Mac, then transfer or sync your data onto your new Galaxy phone.
Can you transfer iPhone to Android wirelessly? ›Moving your data is easy – just connect, select and transfer. Copying your data from your iPhone to your new Android phone is safe and easy. Simply connect the two phones with a cable or pair them wirelessly over Wi-Fi to securely copy your contacts, photos, calendars and more.
How do I send pictures from my iPhone wirelessly? ›- Choose an item on your iPhone or Mac.
- Tap or click the button (such as , Share, AirDrop, or. ) that displays the app's sharing options. ...
- Tap or click. in the share options, then select your other device.
Can you share data from iPhone to Android via Bluetooth? Unfortunately, no. Even though iPhones come with the Bluetooth feature, but lack file transfer options that are limited by the operating system. One of the main reasons for this is compatibility issues.
What is the best way to transfer video from iPhone to Android? ›As we all know, Google Drive enables users to access files on any device. So, you just need to upload the videos from your iPhone to Google Drive, then download them on your Android phone. Besides, you can use this method to transfer large video files, as Google Drive offers a free 15GB storage.
How do I send pictures from my iPhone to non iPhone users? ›You can also share albums with friends and family who don't use iCloud. Just open a shared album that you created, click the People button in the toolbar, and turn on Public Website. Your photos publish to a website that anyone can see in an up-to-date web browser.
How can I send pictures from my iPhone to another phone? ›Step 1: Launch Settings and select your name at the top. Step 2: Tap iCloud > Photos and make sure Sync this iPhone is toggled on. Step 3: Log in with the same Apple ID on your new iPhone and repeat the process: Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos, and toggle on Sync this iPhone.
How do I send pictures from my iPhone to another phone? ›Tap the Share icon at the bottom of your iPhone screen, then tap the AirDrop option. Choose the person or device you want to send the photos to. You may need to tap to accept the files on the receiving device.
How to send photos from iPhone to Android without losing quality? ›- Log in with your Google account in the Photos app on the Android and the iPhone.
- Set backup quality to Original if you want your photos to be transferred in full quality.
- Enable backup, and your photos and videos will begin to sync between both devices.