How to Transfer Text Messages from iPhone to Android

Moving to a new phone means migrating all your data from your old phone to the new one. If you have bought a new Android phone, you will want to learn how you can transfer text messages from an iPhone to Android. This guide shows how to do just that using various methods.

Author Avatar Joy Taylor Last Updated: Jan. 18, 2022

Buying a phone of your dream is an exciting thing to do, and the event becomes even more special if you buy a phone that runs a different operating system than your current phone. This includes buying an Android phone if you already have an iPhone. When you do that, the first thing you will find yourself doing is transferring data from your old phone to the new one.

While some popular content like photos and videos can be transferred using various tools out there, transferring SMS from iPhone to Android may not be that easy. However, that is not to say there are no methods to do this. There are actually several methods available to transfer messages from iPhone to Android and this guide covers those methods for you.

Method 1. Transfer iPhone Messages to Android with iTunes Backup

One of the main drawbacks of using an iOS-based device like an iPhone is that you cannot transfer many types of files from your device over to an Android phone. This is because both operating systems use different file structures and the files stored on one phone will not work on another.

Therefore, in order to transfer the text messages on your iPhone to an Android device, a computer is necessary. This will then allow you to export messages from your iPhone, save them to your computer, and then transfer them to your Android-based phone. This means you will need a computer to do this procedure.

Basically, what this involves doing is creating a backup of your iPhone, extracting the SMS from the backup, and loading those extracted messages on your Android phone. The following should teach you how to do that.

Step 1. Launch the iTunes or Finder app on your computer > connect your iPhone to your computer via a USB cable.

Step 2. Click on the Summary in the left sidebar and choose Back Up Now on the right-hand side pane. This will create a full backup of your iPhone.

Backup iPhone to the computer

Backup iPhone to the computer

Step 3. Once a backup has been created, head to the following path using file explorer.

Windows – \Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

Mac – ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/

Step 4. Find the file named 3d0d7e5fb2ce288813306e4d4636395e047a3d28 and copy it to your Android phone.

You can then launch this file on your Android device and it will restore all your iPhone messages on your Android phone.

Method 2. Transfer iPhone Messages to Android with iSMS2droid

Since there are not many official convenient methods available to transfer text messages from iPhone to Android, there have been some third-party apps to help you migrate messages from your iOS device to an Android device. iSMS2droid is one of these apps that helps you move your messages from one device to another.

The way the app works is completely different than the others. While most data transfer apps rely on syncing or copying files, this app actually works with your iPhone’s backups and then lets you import and save messages to your Android device. It basically means extracting messages from your iPhone backup and restoring them on your Android phone.

You do not need to do anything manually with regard to importing messages as the app has a nice wizard-style interface to help you with the messages import process. If you are not sure about how to use this app, the following steps should help you out.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and launch the iTunes > choose the Summary tab and click on Back Up Now to create a backup of your iPhone. Make sure not to encrypt your backup or this method will not work for you.

Step 2. Head to the following path on your computer and copy the file named 3d0d7e5fb2ce288813306e4d4636395e047a3d28 to your Android device.

Windows – C:\Users[username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

Mac – ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/

Step 3. Download and open the iSMS2droid on your phone. Tap on the option that says Import Messages.

Import iPhone messages on Android

Import iPhone messages on Android

Step 4. Select the file you recently copied to your phone and tap on Import All to transfer all your iPhone messages to your Android device.

Import all messages from the iPhone

Import all messages from the iPhone

The messages should now be restored on your Android phone. You can verify this for yourself by opening the Messages app on your device.

Method 3. Transfer iPhone Messages with Official Tool

If your newly bought Android device is from one of the phone manufacturers that have their own data transfer apps, you can use those exclusive apps to transfer SMS from your iPhone to your Android device. Not all the Android devices out there have these apps available for them.

Two of the popular Android phone makers namely Samsung and Google have apps available for their phones to help you migrate your data. Google has a built-in features on their Pixel phones to help you fetch data from your iPhone whereas Samsung has an installable app that you can use to move data from iOS to your new Samsung Android device.

The following should teach you how you can use both these apps on your phones to copy text messages from iPhone to Android.

  • For Google Pixel Phones:

Step 1. Start setting up your new Pixel phone by tapping on Start when you boot it up for the first time.

Set up the Pixel phone

Set up the Pixel phone

Step 2. Connect to a WiFi network and then connect to your iPhone using a cable.

Connect to a WiFi network

Connect to a WiFi network

Step 3. Log-in to your Google account on your Pixel phone and continue.

Sign-in to Google

Sign-in to Google

Step 4. Your phone will now ask what you want to transfer from your iPhone. Checkmark the option that says SMS messages and taps on Copy at the lower-right corner.

Copy messages from iPhone to Pixel

Copy messages from iPhone to Pixel

Your chosen data will be available on your Pixel phone.

  • For Samsung Phones:

Step 1. Launch the Smart Switch on your Samsung phone and select Receive data.

Receive messages on Samsung

Receive Messages on Samsung

Step 2. Choose Cable on the following screen as you will be copying your messages via a cable.

Use the Wireless Transfer Option

Use the Wireless Transfer Option

Step 3. Connect your Samsung phone to your iPhone via a cable. Tap on Trust on your iPhone.

Step 4. Checkmark the Messages option on your Samsung device and it will start copying your text messages from your iPhone to your Samsung phone.

Transfer Messages from iPhone to Samsung

Transfer Messages from iPhone to Samsung

All of your iPhone’s messages should now be available on your Samsung device.

Method 4. Transfer iPhone Messages to Android with Third-Party Tool

To transfer text messages from iPhone to Android quickly and easily, we highly recommend third-party software – AnyDroid. Why?

  • Supports transferring text messages from iPhone to Android without any barrier, and it only takes a few simple steps to make it.
  • Guarantees 100% safe and secure during the process. All your iPhone and Android data won’t be damaged after transferring.
  • Supports transferring other data like photos, contacts, apps, videos, music, call logs, documents, ringtones, books and etc.
  • Compatible with all models of Android phones like Samsung, Sony, HTC, Google, HUAWEI, LG, and more.

Step 1. Download and install AnyDroid to your Windows/Mac computer > Connect both your iPhone and Android phones to the computer via USB cables > Choose Android Mover and click iOS to Android.

Free Download

Free Download

* 100% Clean & Safe

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

How to Transfer Text Messages from iPhone to Android – Step 1

How to Transfer Text Messages from iPhone to Android – Step 1

Step 2. Choose the Messages icon on the category page.

How to Transfer Text Messages from iPhone to Android – Step 2

How to Transfer Text Messages from iPhone to Android – Step 2

Step 3. Click the Next button to start the transferring process. The time it spends depends on the number of your messages, please wait with patience.

How to Transfer Text Messages from iPhone to Android – Step 3

How to Transfer Text Messages from iPhone to Android – Step 3

Conclusion

If you ever switch from an iPhone to Android, you do not need to worry about your iPhone’s messages. Those messages can be easily transferred to your new Android device using several methods available out there. We hope our guide helps make your migration process easier and smoother.

Author Avatar
Joy Taylor Twitter Share Facebook Share

Member of iMobie team as well as an Apple fan, love to help more users solve various types of iOS & Android related issues.

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