Migrate Signal from iOS to Android

2025 Apr 15

I've done some testing and confirmed today - 2025 Apr 15 - that migrating your Signal data from iPhone to Android is possible. Signal's official documentation does not support this, and I am not liable for anything if this goes wrong for you, but here's what worked when I helped someone migrate Signal from iOS to Android. This method does require that you use Molly going forward, so if that is an issue, following the Signal 45 day transfer. The benefit to this method is that you keep all of your historical messages.

I've had to help people with this a lot lately. Apple, in my personal opinion, has probably accomplished one of the biggest modern day grifts in convincing people that it's privacy focused when, in my opinion, it is one of the least flexible privacy platforms you can find. Moving to Android lets you shift your messaging to a platform over which you have more control. If you need a cheap Android, you can buy used on Swappa (I have used them for years and recommend them; not affiliated, not sponsored) or you can get a phone that's an older used-like-new Pixel 7a ¹ that still leaves you the option of installing GrapheneOS in the future.

High level: you're going to install a fork of Signal, Molly, on your Android destination device and use that to migrate over. Here's the step by step.

Step 1: Transfer your Signal history

ℹ️ Leave your sim card and original Signal intact on your iPhone/iOS device as you begin this process.

1. Install Molly.im on the Android device you're moving to.
2. Open Molly on that device and choose Continue.
3. Do not enter your phone number. Instead, at the bottom, select Link to existing device.
4. Enter a name of your choosing and choose Link. You will see a QR code.
5. On your iOS device, open Signal and go to your settings by clicking on your profile picture, then choose Linked Devices.
6. Select Link a new device. Authorize if needed.
7. Scan the QR code on your Android device from Molly with Signal on your iPhone.
8. Confirm that you want to link the device.

Now you're going to wait. This is going to take a hot minute, and by minute, I mean that it could take literal hours or possibly longer depending on how much data you have, because Molly is going to port your entire Signal history over to your Android device. Once this is completely finished, and you're ready to fully move to Android and no longer use your iPhone for Signal, proceed to step 2.

Step 2: Transfer to the new device

1. Set your iPhone with Signal to airplane mode so that you don't miss any messages.
2. Set your Android with Molly to airplane mode so that you don't miss any messages.
3. In Molly, tap your profile pic > Chats > Backups.
4. Create a backup with a passphrase. Save it in whatever folder you choose.
5. Once the backup completes, out of an abundance of caution, make a copy of it and save it in another folder.
6. Now uninstall Molly. Do not delete your account. Just uninstall.
7. Remove your sim card from your iPhone and put it in your Android. You can disable Airplane mode so that you have connection again.
8. Reinstall Molly on your Android.
9. Open Molly and choose Transfer or restore account on the first screen that opens, NOT "Continue."
10. Follow the steps to select the backup you made previously with Molly and enter your Molly backup passphrase, phone number, etc. It should walk you through the steps at this point.

Final steps

That's pretty much it! You should be all set. That Android device is now your primary device for Signal through Molly and you are able to access all of your history. I've found this has become key as I help people move away from iPhone to more private devices - even if you don't go the full Pixel + GrapheneOS route with your phone, having a burner or side phone that is more private than a phone you travel with is key in the age of digital surveillance.