How to Transfer Pokémon GO to Your new iPhone or Android Device

Since capturing the imagination of millions around the world, Pokémon GO hasn’t slowed down. Thousands still flock to parks and local landmarks every day, hoping to catch one of the game’s powerful creatures. Pokémon GO doesn’t appear to be one of those games that lingers in the public consciousness for a few months, then fades into the background. If you’re playing the game, chances are that you’ll still be revisiting it in the weeks and months ahead. At some point you’ll need to transfer Pokémon GO.

There are practical things that you should consider if you’re going to be playing any game for a long time. Pokémon GO requires investment. You invest your time looking for the creatures around your neighborhood. You invest your energy coming up with different strategies to get the most Candies possible for your favorite Pokémon’s next evolution. If you’ve had trouble getting established at Gyms, you can end up investing some of your real money in the game’s items. When you switch phones, you want to make sure that your entire experience can come with you.

Thankfully, it can. Developer Niantic Labs built Pokémon GO in a way that allows gamers to take their entire experience with them when they decide to upgrade their Android device or switch between iPhones. Here’s how to transfer Pokémon GO to your new iPhone or Android device.

Before We Begin

Transferring Pokémon GO to your new smartphone is probably the easiest thing you’ll ever do with the game.

When you first started with Pokémon GO you were required to login with one of two different types of accounts. The first was a Pokémon Trainer Club Account. The second was a Google Account. Trainer Club Accounts are used throughout the Pokémon franchise, so if you used that one you’d likely remember. Chances are that you went with a Google Account, if we’re being honest.

Whichever account you used, you’ll need the username and password for it. Luckily, the game tells you which of the two types of accounts you used.

Open Pokémon GO on your old iPhone or Android device. After the loading screen, tap the Pokeball at the bottom of your display.

Now tap on Settings.

Scroll down to the bottom of the list of options and you’re given the option to Sign Out. Don’t sign out, just be sure to note the type of account you used.

Transfer Pokémon GO to Your New Phone

Armed with the username of the account you used with Pokémon GO already, go ahead and download the game to your all-new smartphone or tablet from the device’s respective store. If you’re getting a new iPhone, the game should have been re-added automatically when you connected your iPhone to iTunes on your PC or Mac to sync your media and calendar. Android users will need to download the game again from the Google Play Store.

Now, simply sign in to Pokémon GO using the username you found on your old iPhone or Android device. You’ll need to reset your account password if you’ve forgotten it since joining the game. Depending on which type of account you have, that could be a bit more involved. Google forces users to provide a number that’s texted to them when successfully signing into a device they haven’t used in the past. Be sure to have your old phone nearby as you’re signing into the game on the new phone, if you’re switching phone numbers.

Pokémon Trainer Club Accounts can be reset from the web here. Note that if you need to reset your account for any reason, the new password will need to be used on every device or website that you’ve used the Trainer Club Account on.

That’s it. When you log in, all of your information – every Pokémon you’ve ever captured – should be at the Gyms that you left them. Every item that you had on your old smartphone, should be available for you to use. Your in-game Trainer should be unchanged.

Good luck with your new phone and Pokémon GO.

PokeStops & Gym Locations

> 1 / 12

A recent question and answer session on the Silph Road confirms that Pokémon Go currently uses 30% to 50% of portals that were present in Niantic’s last game, Ingress. Pokémon Go maps these over real-world landmarks that players have to walk to. PokeStops and Gyms are real-world locations that players go to pick up items and battle the creatures left behind by other trainers. Police departments are already warning players of the game to stay away from their stations, according to VG247.

> 1 / 12