Switching Phones During a Custody Case? Save Your Texts First
Reviewed by Jacob Reed, founder of Verity ·
Short answer
Export the conversations that matter as files, and keep the old phone, before you switch. A transfer usually carries texts across, but not always: an iPhone backup leaves messages out when Messages in iCloud is on (they live in iCloud instead), moving from iPhone to Android copies messages only with a cable or Google's newer transfer, and iMessage has to be turned off first or new texts keep going to the old iPhone. A file you saved yourself doesn't depend on any of that.
A new phone is a normal part of life, even in the middle of a case. Losing years of messages on the way is the part to avoid.
Before you switch: a short checklist
- Export each conversation that matters as a file: iPhone, Google Messages or Samsung. No computer? See saving iPhone texts without a computer.
- Keep a copy of each file somewhere other than the phone.
- Note the date you switch, in case a gap in the messages needs explaining later.
- Keep the old phone, charged and unwiped, until the new one shows the whole history. Don't delete anything on either (see deleting texts during a case).
iPhone to iPhone
If Messages in iCloud is on, your messages are kept in iCloud and appear on the new iPhone once you sign in with the same Apple Account. If it is off, Apple says they are part of your iCloud Backup instead, so they come across when you restore that backup (or a computer backup) onto the new phone. Not sure which you have? The difference is explained in iCloud sync vs backup.
Android to Android
Google says the automatic backup to your Google Account includes SMS and MMS messages. Set up the new phone with the same Google Account and restore the backup when asked, then check that the conversations you need are all there before you reset the old phone.
iPhone to Android
Google's own table is clear: messages copy across with a cable during setup, or with its newer transfer on some recent phones, but not with the wireless Android Switch app. Google also says you must turn off iMessage on the iPhone first: if you don't, Google says your messages could keep going to the old iPhone. Turn it off before you take the SIM out, or, if the SIM is already out, ask Apple to deregister your number (Google's page links Apple's form).
Android to iPhone
Apple's Move to iOS app lists message history and SMS messages among what it transfers. Even so, export the important conversations first: once the old phone is reset, the transfer is the only copy you had.
Why a file beats a transfer
A transfer moves messages into a new app on a new phone, and you trust that nothing was dropped. A file you exported keeps the conversation as it was on the day you saved it. Verity reads that file in your browser, without uploading it, and numbers every message in date order, so you can check that the dates run from the first message to the last with no gap where the switch happened.
Handing back a work phone? See personal texts on a work phone.
Apple and Google pages cited
Read on November 3, 2026. These features change; check before you rely on them.
- What does iCloud back up? (Apple)
- Move from Android to iPhone or iPad (Apple)
- Copy apps & data from an iPhone or iPad to a new Android device (Google)
- Switch texting from iMessage to Google Messages (Google)
- Back up or restore data on your Android device (Google)
This is general information, not legal advice. Verity is not affiliated with Apple or Google. Ask your attorney what your case needs.
Check the export before you reset the old phone
Drop in the file and read every message numbered in date order. It is read in your browser and is not uploaded.