Before you start

  • Connect both phones to Wi-Fi (much faster than mobile data, and uses no data).
  • Keep your old phone nearby and powered on the whole time.
  • Have a Gmail (Google) account. If you don't have one, create one at accounts.google.com.
  • Plan for 30–60 minutes total. Contacts arrive in minutes; large photo libraries can take several hours.

What will and won't transfer

From an Android phone

Will transfer: photos, videos, contacts, text messages, call history, previously downloaded apps, calendar events, Wi-Fi passwords, and some app settings.

Won't transfer: banking and financial app data (security requires you to log back in), passwords saved inside apps, local game progress, and apps no longer in the Google Play Store.

From an iPhone

Will transfer: photos, videos, contacts (with one extra step), apps that exist on Android, and calendar events you move to Google Calendar.

Won't transfer: iMessage history, FaceTime history, Apple-only apps (iMovie, GarageBand, Apple Wallet), in-app progress, and paid iOS apps (you may need to repurchase Android versions).

Back up WhatsApp photos and videos first (if you use it)

Photos and videos you've received in WhatsApp don't always move with the normal transfer. Save them to Google Photos before you switch:

  1. On your old phone, open Google Photos → profile picture → Photos settings → Backup → Back up device folders.
  2. Turn on the WhatsApp Images and WhatsApp Video folders.
  3. Make sure backup finishes before you switch phones.

To keep your chat history too, use WhatsApp's own backup: WhatsApp → Settings → Chats → Chat backup → Back up to Google Drive.

Move from Android to Thrive

Step 1 — Back up your old phone

Photos and videos:

  1. Open Google Photos on your old phone.
  2. Profile picture (top right) → Photos settings → Backup.
  3. Turn Backup on and wait for "Backup complete."

Contacts, texts, and settings:

  1. Settings → Google → Backup.
  2. Turn Back up to Google Drive on.
  3. Tap Back up now and wait.

Google gives you 15 GB free. If you're running out, free up space (old emails, Drive files) or upgrade at one.google.com.

Step 2 — Set up your new Thrive phone

  1. Power on and connect to Wi-Fi.
  2. Sign in with the same Gmail account as your old phone — this is the most important step.
  3. When the phone asks to restore from a backup, pick your old phone.
  4. Your contacts and texts arrive in minutes; photos can take hours. Leave the phone plugged in.

Step 3 — Reinstall your apps

  1. Open the Play Store → profile icon → Manage apps & device → Manage.
  2. Change the filter to Not installed.
  3. Pick the apps you want and tap the download icon.

Banking apps will install but ask you to log in again — that's normal.

Move from iPhone to Thrive

First — turn off iMessage and FaceTime

This step matters. If you skip it, friends with iPhones will keep sending you texts that go to your old Apple ID, not your new Thrive number.

  • iPhone Settings → Messages → turn iMessage off.
  • iPhone Settings → FaceTime → turn FaceTime off.

If you've already wiped or sold the iPhone, go to selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage on a computer and remove your number there.

Step 1 — Back up your photos

On the iPhone:

  1. Download Google Photos from the App Store.
  2. Sign in with your Gmail account.
  3. Tap Turn on backup.
  4. Stay on Wi-Fi and leave the app open until backup finishes.

Step 2 — Move your contacts to Google

The easiest way is on a computer:

  1. Go to icloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
  2. Click Contacts.
  3. Select all (Ctrl+A on Windows, Cmd+A on Mac).
  4. Click the gear icon (bottom left) → Export vCard. A file downloads.
  5. In a new tab, go to contacts.google.com.
  6. Click Import → Select file → choose the vCard file → Import.

Step 3 — Use the "Move to Android" app

This is a free Google app that moves data directly between your phones over Wi-Fi.

On your new Thrive phone during first-time setup:

  1. Tap Copy apps & data.
  2. Tap A link instead.
  3. A QR code appears on the Thrive phone.

On the iPhone:

  1. Download Move to Android from the App Store.
  2. Open it and tap Continue.
  3. Scan the QR code on your Thrive phone.
  4. Choose what to move (contacts, photos, messages, calendar).
  5. Tap Next. Don't lock either phone during the transfer.

Step 4 — Check that everything arrived

On the new Thrive phone:

  1. Open Google Photos — your photos should be there.
  2. Open Contacts — your contacts should be listed.
  3. Open the Play Store and reinstall any apps you want.

Don't wipe your iPhone yet — keep it around for a few days just in case.

Troubleshooting

Photos aren't showing up

  1. Make sure both phones are signed into the same Google account.
  2. Wait — large libraries take hours.
  3. Confirm you're on Wi-Fi.
  4. Check Google storage at one.google.com — if it's full, backup may have stopped.

Contacts aren't showing up

  1. Check that they're in Google: contacts.google.com.
  2. Settings → Accounts → Google → [your account] → Contacts on → three-dot menu → Sync now.
  3. In your Contacts app: menu → Settings → Display Preferences → All Contacts.

My texts are going to my old iPhone

  1. On the iPhone: Settings → Messages → turn iMessage off.
  2. Settings → FaceTime → turn FaceTime off.
  3. If you no longer have the iPhone: go to selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage.
  4. Ask the people texting you to delete and re-add your number, then try again.

Google storage is full

  • Free up space: delete old emails, Drive files, or photos you don't need.
  • Or upgrade at one.google.com — plans start at $1.99/month for 100 GB.
  • Restart your Google Photos backup once there's space.

When to contact support

Reach out if:

  • You can't sign into your Google account
  • Backup or transfer stalls and won't restart
  • You need help confirming your photos and contacts are safe before retiring your old phone