Can you transfer your music from iPhone to Android?
Transferring music from an iPhone to an Android phone is a common task for people switching between the two platforms. In 2023, research shows that while Android has a larger global market share, 10% more users switch from Android to iPhone than vice versa in the US. With so many users switching between ecosystems, transferring playlists and music libraries can be a major concern.
There are several reasons why transferring your music collection from iPhone to Android is beneficial. Switching phones often means starting your music library from scratch. Transferring music saves time rebuilding playlists and collecting files. It also allows you to access sentimental songs and albums you’ve gathered over the years seamlessly on a new device.
Methods for Transferring Music
There are a few different methods you can use to transfer music from an iPhone to an Android device:
Using a Cloud Storage Service
One easy way is to upload your music library from your iPhone to a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox. You can then download the music files to your Android device from the cloud storage. This allows you to transfer your music wirelessly over an internet connection.
Transferring Directly with a Cable
You can use a direct wired connection between your iPhone and Android device with the appropriate cable. For example, you can connect your iPhone to your Android phone or tablet with the Apple Lightning to USB cable. This allows you to directly access your iPhone’s storage and transfer music files to your Android device.
Using a Third Party App
There are also third party apps like AnyTrans, Shareit, Xender or Zapya that provide wireless transfer options between iOS and Android. These apps let you transfer music libraries over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth without needing a cable connection.
Using a Cloud Storage Service
One convenient option for transferring your music library from an iPhone to an Android phone is to use a cloud storage service as an intermediary. Popular cloud services like pCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud allow you to upload your music files from your iPhone and then download them to your Android device.
To start, install the cloud service app on both your iPhone and Android phone. Then on your iPhone, upload your music files to the cloud service. Depending on the size of your library, this may take some time. Services like pCloud offer great features for uploading and organizing music files.
Once the uploads are complete, open the cloud service app on your Android device and download the music files to the local storage. You may need to create a music folder if the service does not do this automatically. The cloud acts as the transfer bridge between the two devices.
Using a cloud service prevents you from having to connect the two phones directly. However, it does require having enough cloud storage space for your music library. Overall, it’s a simple way to transfer all your music from an iPhone to Android.
Transferring Directly with a Cable
One way to transfer music between an iPhone and Android is by using a cable to connect the two devices. You will need the appropriate cable that connects the charging ports on each device, such as a USB-C to Lightning cable. Connect the iPhone to your computer using its charging cable. Then use the other cable to connect your Android device to the same computer.
On the computer, open your Android file management software such as Android File Transfer for Mac or Windows Explorer for Windows. This will allow you to view the files on your Android device. Go to the music folder on your iPhone, select the songs you want to transfer, and drag and drop them into your Android music folder.
This direct, wired connection provides a simple way to transfer music files between devices. Just be sure to have the necessary cables on hand that can bridge your iPhone and Android phone or tablet. The file transfer software helps you easily manage the copying of media.
Sources:
https://www.lifewire.com/transfer-music-iphone-to-android-4174677
https://mobiletrans.wondershare.com/transfer/transfer-music-from-iphone-to-android.html
Using a Third Party App
Third party apps provide a quick and easy way to transfer music between an iPhone and Android device. Here are some of the top recommended apps for transferring music:
AndroTransfer – AndroTransfer allows you to transfer music both ways between an iPhone and Android. You can transfer entire playlists or select individual songs. It also works for photos, videos, contacts, messages and more.
AnyTrans – AnyTrans lets you manage your iPhone music library and transfer songs to Android. You can browse music by playlists, artists, albums or songs and selectively transfer. It also works with many other data types.
iMyFone iTransor – iMyFone iTransor can transfer music libraries between iPhone and Android either way. It provides a user-friendly interface to browse music and supports many formats.
To use one of these apps, first download it on both your iPhone and Android device. Then connect both devices to the same wifi network. Open the app on each device and follow the on-screen prompts to establish a connection. You’ll then be able to browse and transfer music between the two devices.
iTunes vs Google Play Music
When transferring music between iTunes and Android, compatibility of music files can be an issue. iTunes uses AAC or MP3 files, while Android/Google Play Music uses MP3, FLAC, WMA, or AAC files. So MP3 files will transfer with no issue between the platforms.
AAC files from iTunes will also work fine when transferred to an Android device. However, any files purchased from the iTunes Store that have Apple’s DRM copy protection will not be playable on Android. Those files will need to be converted to MP3 first before transferring.
Likewise, any Google Play Music purchases have DRM and won’t play on iTunes. To transfer those files, you’d need to download them again as MP3s from Google Takeout or use a program to strip the DRM protection. But most users’ personal music libraries ripped from CDs or downloaded without DRM will transfer between iTunes and Android with little problem.
Some third party apps like doubleTwist can also convert incompatible audio files like FLAC to MP3 when transferring to make sure everything plays correctly on the new device.
Overall both iTunes and Google Play Music use formats compatible on both platforms. But purchased files with DRM cause the main headache when transferring music between Apple and Android ecosystems.
Transferring Playlists
How your playlists transfer from iPhone to Android depends on the method you use. Some options will seamlessly transfer playlists, while others require you to manually recreate them.
Services like Move to iOS and the paid version of MobileTrans will automatically transfer your iPhone playlists to your new Android device with no extra steps needed. This makes the transition completely seamless.
However, if you use a manual transfer method like connecting your devices with a cable or transferring through cloud storage, your playlists won’t carry over automatically. You’ll need to manually recreate any important playlists in whatever music app you use on your Android phone, like Google Play Music. This can be time consuming if you have a lot of customized playlists.
So in summary, using a dedicated transfer app is the best way to get your iPhone playlists moved over intact to your new Android phone. Manual methods will require you to recreate any playlists you want to keep using.
Dealing with DRM-Protected Files
DRM (Digital Rights Management) is a form of copy protection that restricts the usage of digital content. Music purchased from the iTunes store is protected by Apple’s FairPlay DRM, which prevents the tracks from being played on non-Apple devices.
If you bought DRM-protected music on your iPhone, you have a couple options for transferring:
- Remove DRM with a dedicated third-party app like iSkysoft iMusic. This will strip the DRM so you can freely transfer the tracks.
- Keep the music in iTunes and use a cloud storage service like Google Drive to download the tracks to your Android device. But the tracks will still have DRM and only play properly on Apple devices.
Unfortunately there is no direct method to transfer DRM-protected iTunes music to an Android device. The tracks are locked to only work properly with Apple hardware and software. To gain full usage of the music on Android, you’ll need to strip the DRM first.
Choosing What to Transfer
When moving your music library from an iPhone to an Android device, you’ll likely need to be selective about what you transfer, due to storage limitations on your new phone. The average iPhone can hold between 3,000-7,000 songs depending on song file size, while many Android devices start with only 32-64GB of onboard storage.[1]
Start by evaluating how much total storage you have available on your Android device. This will determine how many songs you can realistically transfer. Next, consider which playlists and albums are your top priorities to recreate on the Android platform. Focus on your most-listened to songs and playlists.
One strategy is to transfer only your 1-3 most frequently used playlists initially, keeping the total song number under 1,000. You can always transfer more playlists later on. Apple Music and Spotify both allow you to download playlists for offline listening, making it easy to grab key playlists before wiping your iPhone.
Albums are another important consideration. Look at your recent play history to see which full albums you stream most regularly, and be sure to transfer those over. Lastly, don’t forget to export your liked/starred song library, as that contains your favorite individual tracks.
Conclusion
Transferring your music library from an iPhone to Android device does not have to be a difficult or daunting process. The key is having the right tools and techniques. Using a cloud storage service like Google Drive is one of the simplest ways to move all your music files over at once. You can also connect your devices directly with a cable and transfer select songs and playlists. Apps like AnyTrans and iMusic make it easy to migrate entire libraries. With some preparation and patience, you can successfully switch your tunes.
The most important steps are making backups, dealing with any DRM limitations, and choosing what media you want to bring to your new device. While streaming services continue to grow in popularity, many still rely on large personal libraries. Switching between platforms like iOS and Android does not mean having to start your collection over from scratch. With the right approach, you can seamlessly transition to a new phone without missing a beat or your favorite beats.
