Switching to a new Google Pixel 10 is exciting, and you definitely don't want to leave your photos, messages, and apps behind. The good news is Google has made the process pretty seamless, whether you're upgrading from an older Android phone or making the jump from an iPhone.
Start the Transfer During Pixel Setup
The absolute best time to move everything is when you first turn on your Pixel 10. After you select your language and connect to Wi-Fi, you'll hit a "Copy apps & data" screen. This is your main hub for the transfer.
Tap Next and you'll see your options. You can copy directly from your old Android phone, restore from a Google One cloud backup, or transfer from an iPhone. I'd start with the direct copy if you have both phones in hand.
Copy Directly from Your Old Android Phone
Choose to copy from your old device on the Pixel 10. It will ask you to unlock the old phone and then prompt you to open the Google app on it. You can also manually go to Settings > Google > Device & sharing > Set up nearby device on the old phone.
The two phones will connect via a private Wi-Fi network. You'll then get to pick exactly what you want to bring over. This includes your call history, text messages, photos, videos, device settings, and most of your installed apps.
Use a USB Cable for a Faster Transfer
If you have a USB-C to USB-C cable and the right adapter for your old phone, this is often the quickest method. During the setup process, choose the cable option when prompted.
Connect the two phones, and the Pixel 10 will take over from there. It pulls data directly from the storage of your old phone, which is much faster than doing it wirelessly, especially if you have a lot of photos and videos.
Restore from a Google One Backup
Don't have your old phone anymore? No problem, as long as you backed it up. On the Pixel 10's setup screen, choose to restore from a cloud backup. Sign into your Google account and you'll see a list of available backups from your previous devices.
Pick the most recent one. Your apps will begin downloading from the Play Store, and your settings and data will repopulate. Just make sure your old phone was backing up properly. You can check by going to Settings > System > Backup on any Android device.
Switching from an iPhone to Your Pixel 10
Google has a dedicated tool for this. When you reach the data transfer screen on the Pixel, select the option to transfer from an iPhone. You'll be prompted to download the "Switch to Android" app from the Apple App Store on your iPhone.
Open the app on your iPhone, follow the steps to connect, and choose what to transfer. Your contacts, calendar events, photos, and videos will come over. Your text messages and iMessage history can transfer too, but you need to turn off iMessage on your iPhone first to avoid missing future texts.
For your apps, you'll need to download the Android versions fresh from the Google Play Store. Any paid apps you bought on iOS will need to be purchased again on Android.
Let Your Google Account Handle the Sync
A huge chunk of your digital life is already tied to your Google account and will sync automatically. Once you sign in on your new Pixel 10, your contacts, calendar, Gmail, Chrome bookmarks, and passwords saved to Google will appear almost instantly.
You can manage what gets synced by going to Settings > Passwords & accounts > [Your Google Account]. Toggle on or off the services you want to keep in sync.
Move Your WhatsApp Chats
Transferring WhatsApp is its own separate step, but it's built right into the app. On your old Android phone, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat transfer.
Tap Start, then use your old phone to scan the QR code displayed on your new Pixel 10. Your chat history will move over without needing a cloud backup. If you're coming from iPhone, you'll need to use WhatsApp's "Move to Android" feature, which requires a cable connection.
Final Checks Before You Reset the Old Phone
Take some time to poke around your new Pixel 10. Open your photo gallery, check your messages, and make sure your key apps are installed and logged into. Test that your authenticator apps for two-factor authentication are working.
Once you're confident everything important is on your new device, it's time to wipe the old one. Go to its settings and perform a factory reset. This protects your personal information before you sell, trade in, or recycle it.
