[5 Quick Fixes] Move to iOS Stuck on Preparing Screen

Move to iOS stuck on preparing screen? Read this guide to see how long does Move to iOS take to prepare and how to speed up the transfer.

By @Lena Last Updated July 7, 2023

Problem: Move to iOS stuck on preparing

 

Move to iOS stuck on “preparing” screen

I’ve been trying for several hours know to transfer my data from a Samsung A51 to my new iPhone 13 Pro, but as mentioned the move to ios app isn’t working for me. Does anyone know why?

- Question from Reddit

With Move to iOS app, Android users can effortlessly transfer data from Android to iPhone. Nonetheless, sometimes problems can occur, such as “Move to iOS stuck on preparing”. Although the main goal of the Move to iOS application is to simplify the data transfer process, when problems arise, they can disrupt the smoothness of the process.

How long does Move to iOS take to prepare?

The duration of the preparation stage for data transfer using the Move to iOS app depends on factors such as your Wi-Fi connection and the size of the data being transferred from your Android device to your iPhone.

It is worth noting that if your Wi-Fi connection is weak and you need to transfer a large amount of data, the preparation process may take longer to complete. This is normal in some cases, so it is recommended to be patient and monitor the progress of the transfer.

However, if the transfer process seems to be taking an excessive amount of time, you may need to take some action to fix the Move to iOS stuck on preparing issue.

How to fix Move to iOS stuck on preparing screen

When you meet Move to iOS stuck on preparing problem, you can try these methods to fix the problem and complete the transfer process. It is crucial to carefully follow the steps for each fix in order to avoid encountering any errors.

Tip 1. Restart your device

When you come across a software glitch on your phone, the first step is to restart your device. This simple action can potentially remove any factors that may be causing memory congestion or hindering the performance of Move to iOS, ensuring its tasks can be carried out smoothly.

🔸 On your Android phone, simply press and hold the power button and select Restart.

🔸 On your iPhone, you should hold down both the Power button and the Volume up button. Then, slide the button to power off the device.

Tip 2. Check Wi-Fi connection

Move to iOS app heavily relies on the Wi-Fi network to complete the data transfer process. Therefore, when you encounter Move to iOS stuck on preparing screen issue, the next step is to check your Wi-Fi connection.

To ensure a smooth transition when using Move to iOS to clone from Android to iPhone, it's crucial to have a reliable and steady Wi-Fi connection. If it's unstable, the solution is simple: switch to a stable Wi-Fi network and give the Move to iOS transfer another try.

Tip 3. Turn on Airplane mode

To prevent any potential issues, it is recommended that you enable the Airplane mode on both your iPhone and Android devices. This will disable any network connections and ensure that your mobile phone does not inadvertently access data or connect to other nearby devices. Once the transfer is complete, you can then disable the Airplane mode.

Tip 4. Turn off running apps on Android

When you have numerous apps running while attempting to transfer data from Android to iPhone, your progress may become slow due to limited available RAM memory. Therefore, the Move to iOS stuck on preparing screen issue occurs.

It is highly recommended to shut down all those apps if you are encountering difficulties in completing the transfer. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this:

1. Go to Settings app on your Android phone.

2. Once inside Settings, locate the Apps option and tap on it.

3. Proceed to identify any app that is currently running in the background on your Android device. Tap the app and then choose the Force Stop option.

Tip 5. Turn off Smart Network Switch on Android

To enhance the user experience on Android devices, the Smart Network Switch feature was introduced on Android 4.3. Its purpose is to ensure a reliable internet connection even when Wi-Fi is not available.

However, when using the Move to iOS app, which relies on Wi-Fi for data transfer, having the Smart Network Switch enabled can cause issues. Specifically, if your Wi-Fi connection is slow, your Android phone may automatically switch to cellular data, so you find Move to iOS stuck on preparing screen.

To avoid this problem, it is recommended to disable the Smart Network Switch.

1. Turn on Mobile Data on your Android phone.

2. Open the Settings app and locate the Wi-Fi option. Tap on it to access the Wi-Fi settings.

3. Tap the More button. From the available options, choose "Smart network switch" from the drop-down list.

4. Finally, tap the Off button to disable the Smart Network Switch.

Bonus: other ways to transfer data from Android to iPhone

Besides Move to iOS, there are alternative methods available that can help you share files from Android to iPhone. When you meet Move to iOS stuck on preparing issue, you can try the following tools.

Transfer data from Android to iPhone via FoneTool

AirDrop is commonly used by Apple device users to easily share data between two devices. If you have an Android phone and an iPhone, there are other apps, such as FoneTool, that can help you sync the two devices wirelessly.

One of the advantages of using FoneTool is that it doesn't require a Wi-Fi network connection or consume your cellular data. You can download and install FoneTool on both your devices and start the transfer. To transfer files from your Android phone to your iPhone using FoneTool, you can follow these steps:

1. Open FoneTool on both devices and allow the app to WLAN usage.

2. Within the FoneTool app on either device, navigate to the Connect Device option. From there, simply tap on the name of the device you wish to establish a connection with.

3. On your Android phone, go to the File Transfer section. Here, you can select the files you want to transfer to your iPhone.

4. Once you've made your selections, tap on the Send button to initiate the transfer process.

Transfer data from Android to iPhone via FoneTool desktop app

If you have a computer at hand, you can use FoneTool desktop software. It is one powerful tool that enables seamless data transfer between your iPhone and PC.

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You can first transfer your files from your Android phone to your computer. Once that's done, follow these simple steps to import the files to your iPhone:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and launch the FoneTool.

2. Select the Phone Transfer option and navigate to the PC to iPhone section.

3. Add the files you want to transfer to iPhone. If you want to add photos, you should first click Photos tab.

4. Click Start Transfer to make it.

💡 Or you can go to this The 7 Best Apps to Transfer Data from Android to iPhone guide to find the app you prefer.

Final words

Hope one of the methods in this article can help you fix Move to iOS stuck on preparing screen issue. If none of them work, you can have FoneTool help you transfer important data, or you can ask Apple Support for help.