Switching phones doesn’t have to mean starting your games over. Here’s how to link accounts, back up saves and get your progress onto a new Android phone or iPhone.
Quick hits
- Check each game’s store listing for Google Play Games or Game Center support before you switch phones.
- Link every game to an account on your old phone first, because guest saves are the ones most likely to be lost.
- Android data transfer happens during setup and can only be done once, so budget time and keep both phones charged.
- On iPhone, iCloud and Game Center must use the same Apple Account for progress to sync across devices.
- If a save won’t transfer, the usual culprit is signing in with a different account than the one you used before.
Nothing stings like installing a favorite game on a new phone and finding level one where a months-old save used to be. Most progress loss is preventable with prep on the old phone before the switch. This walkthrough covers what to check, what to link and how to fix a save that refuses to come along.
Check What the Game Uses to Save Your Progress
Mobile games save progress in a few ways, and the method decides how easy the move will be. Some sync through Google Play Games on Android or Game Center and iCloud on iPhone. Others run their own accounts with an email sign-in, and some save only to the phone, often as a guest.
On Android, open the game’s Play Store page, tap About this game and look for “Uses Google Play Games” near the bottom. Guest-only games are the risky ones, so check their settings for a sign-in option before retiring the old phone. If store labels read like jargon, our rundown of mobile gaming terms to know decodes them.
Step 1: Back Up Before You Switch Phones
On Android, the app-and-data move happens during setup, and Google notes it can only be performed once. Before you start:
- Charge both phones.
- Check storage on both; if the new one is short, choose which data to copy.
- Set aside time; a transfer can take minutes or hours.
- Sign in to your Google Account on both phones for the most complete transfer.
Some data won’t come over: apps that aren’t from the Google Play Store, non-Google accounts, and contacts or calendars synced to other services. Work or school managed phones may not transfer everything.
On iPhone, make sure iCloud backup is on and Game Center uses the same Apple Account as iCloud; that account drives progress syncing on supported games.
Step 2: Link the Game to an Account First
On the old phone, open each game that matters and find its sign-in option, usually in settings. Connect it to Google Play Games, Game Center or the game’s own account. If a game never prompts you at launch, look for a sign-in button in its settings. Signing in may trigger permission requests; our explainer on why mobile games ask for permissions explains them.
Watch out
Linking a guest profile to an account with existing cloud progress can overwrite data. Some games ask which save to keep, so read the prompt and pick the one with your progress.
Step 3: Move Your Saves With Google Play Games or Game Center
On Android:
- Install the Google Play Games app on both phones, signed in with the same Google account on each.
- On the old phone, open the game and sign in when prompted.
- On the new phone, install the game, sign in with the same account and go online; progress syncs automatically.
To check which account a game uses, tap your profile image on its Achievements or Leaderboards screen. The Play Games app shows the account under your Gamer ID.
On iPhone, open Settings, tap Game Center and confirm the email address matches your Apple Account. Then install the game on the new phone and sign in; supported games keep saves current through iCloud.
Apple Arcade saves survive a canceled subscription; resubscribe to access them again. If a game leaves Arcade, the developer may release an App Store version that lets you load your progress.
Step 4: Set Up Your New Phone the Right Way
During Android setup, tap Copy when asked, then choose the cable or wireless option. Both methods move the same data, and the cable must fit both devices or you’ll need an adapter. Enter your old phone’s PIN, pattern or password when asked; that carries over your Wi-Fi credentials and Google accounts. Keep both phones connected until setup finishes, even if you’re prompted about an eSIM.
iPhone to Android moves work through a QR code or a cable during setup. Afterward, install your games and sign in with the accounts you linked in Step 2.
If Your Progress Didn’t Transfer: Fixes to Try
Work through these in order:
- Confirm you’re on the right account; this causes most failures. In Google Play Games, go to More Settings and select the account you used before. On iPhone, check Settings, then Game Center.
- Verify the game supports cloud saves. Not every game does, and Google doesn’t manage in-app data or game accounts.
- Update the game on both phones; a version mismatch can cause restore problems.
- Restart both phones and reopen the game while online.
- Contact the developer; their information is on the store page, and they control the account system.
Manual save transfers are possible for some games, but Android’s storage rules make the data folder hard to reach without steps like wireless debugging. Only try that if you’re comfortable with technical work, and copy the save somewhere safe first.
Keeping Both Phones Working During the Switch
Treat the old phone as a backup until every game has been verified on the new one. Don’t uninstall games or sign out on it yet. Keep both phones charged and on Wi-Fi while saves sync, then play a few minutes of each important game on the new one to confirm progress arrived. Once everything checks out, wipe the old phone. Before that, lock down your accounts with strong passwords and two-factor authentication; our guide to protecting your gaming account walks through the basics.
Player questions
Will uninstalling a game on my old phone delete my progress?
If the game saves to Google Play Games, Game Center, iCloud or the developer’s own account, your progress stays in the cloud and comes back when you sign in. Local-only guest saves live on the phone, so link an account before deleting anything.
Do I need my old phone present to move my games?
For the Android setup transfer, yes, both phones need to be charged and connected during setup. Games tied to an account can be restored on the new phone at any time, though, as long as the old save reached the cloud.
What happens to my saves if I cancel Apple Arcade?
You can resubscribe and still access your game saves. If a game leaves Apple Arcade entirely, the developer may release a separate App Store version, and if it supports loading saved progress you can pick up where you left off.
Why does my game show level 1 even though I signed in?
You are most likely signed in with a different Google or Apple account than the one that holds the save. Check the account shown on the game’s achievements or leaderboards screen and switch to the one you used before.
Games, platforms and settings change with updates, so check the official help pages for your platform if something looks different.