# Transfer Transactions > This article explains how to create transfer transactions and how to handle imported transactions. Source: https://support.ynab.com/en_us/transfer-transactions-a-guide-HJOsZz4Jj Last updated: 2026-07-10T14:22:02.560Z Create transfer transactions in YNAB to move money from one real-world account to another. Learn how to handle imported transactions on the web, iOS, or Android. When you move money from one real-world account to another, you'll need to reflect that movement in YNAB. This article explains how to create transfer transactions and how to handle imported transactions. #### In This Article [Transfer Transactions Overview](#overview) [How to Create a Transfer Transaction](#create) [How to Handle Imported Transfers](#imported) * * * ## Transfer Transactions Overview How your transfer is recorded in YNAB depends on how your real-world accounts are set up in YNAB: * If you've made a transfer between real-world accounts and **both** of those accounts are set up in YNAB, you'll be making a transfer in the app by following the steps in this article! * If instead the **sending** account is the only one set up in YNAB, this is a [spending transaction](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-add-transactions-in-ynab-HyDwA_byi), not a transfer in YNAB. * If instead the **receiving** account is the only one set up in YNAB, it's an [income transaction](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-add-income-and-other-inflows-H1ZNjfZJi), not a transfer in YNAB. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## How to Create a Transfer Transaction ### iOS 1. Tap the _Accounts_ tab. 2. Tap the account the money is **leaving**.  3. Tap the _Transaction_ button (plus sign icon) at the bottom of the screen.  4. Enter the amount. 5. Tap the drop down menu directly under the amount. 6. Tap _Transfer_. 7. Tap _Transferred to_. 8. Tap the account you’re transferring money **to**. 9. Tap _Save_ and the transfer transaction will show up in both accounts. It will also show up as one transaction in the Spending tab. #### Do You Need a Category? It Depends on Your Account Types **No category needed** if you're transferring between two accounts of the same type. **Cash → Cash** (e.g., checking to savings): the money stays in your plan. **Tracking → Tracking**: the money is outside your plan either way. **Category required** if you're transferring between a Cash account and a **Tracking or Loan** account—because money is either entering or leaving your plan. Not sure how an account is set up? Check the account type in your account settings. A common example: if your savings account is set up as a Tracking account in YNAB, a transfer to your checking account will require a category. ### Android 1. Tap the _Accounts_ tab. 2. Tap the account the money is **leaving**.  3. Tap +_Transaction_ button at the bottom of the screen.  4. Enter the amount. 5. Tap the drop down menu directly under the amount. 6. Tap _Transfer_. 7. Tap _Transferred to_. 8. Tap the account you’re transferring money **to**. 9. Tap _Save_ and the transfer transaction will show up in both accounts. It will also show up as one transaction in the Spending tab. #### Do You Need a Category? It Depends on Your Account Types **No category needed** if you're transferring between two accounts of the same type. **Cash → Cash** (e.g., checking to savings): the money stays in your plan. **Tracking → Tracking**: the money is outside your plan either way. **Category required** if you're transferring between a Cash account and a **Tracking or Loan** account—because money is either entering or leaving your plan. Not sure how an account is set up? Check the account type in your account settings. A common example: if your savings account is set up as a Tracking account in YNAB, a transfer to your checking account will require a category. ### Web 1. Click on the account the money is **leaving** in the left sidebar. 2. In that account register, click the _Add Transaction_ button. 3. If this is a recurring transfer between accounts, you can set this as a repeating [Scheduled Transaction](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/scheduled-transactions-a-guide-BygrAIFA9#add) by using the drop-down menu below the calendar in the Date field. 4. In the Payee field, your Payments and Transfers options are listed at the top of the drop-down menu. Select the _To/From Payee_ option for the account where the money is **going**. 5. In the Category field, YNAB will most likely show "Category not needed." You'll only need to choose a category if you're making a transfer between a Cash account and a **Tracking or Loan** account—because that means those dollars are either leaving or entering your plan. 6. Enter the outflow amount of the transaction. 7. Click the _Save_ button. The transfer will now show up in both account registers. #### Do You Need a Category? It Depends on Your Account Types **No category needed** if you're transferring between two accounts of the same type. **Cash → Cash** (e.g., checking to savings): the money stays in your plan. **Tracking → Tracking**: the money is outside your plan either way. **Category required** if you're transferring between a Cash account and a **Tracking or Loan** account—because money is either entering or leaving your plan. Not sure how an account is set up? Check the account type in your account settings. A common example: if your savings account is set up as a Tracking account in YNAB, a transfer to your checking account will require a category. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## How YNAB Handles Imported Transfers For linked accounts, transfers will import once they clear. If it's the **first transfer** between two particular accounts, YNAB won't know to make it a transfer, so it will import as a regular transaction. Same goes for [importing a file](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/file-based-import-a-guide-Bkj4Sszyo).  But if you enter the transfer before it imports—using the steps above—they'll automatically [match up](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/approving-and-matching-transactions-a-guide-ByYNZaQ1i) and all will be right in your YNABing world.  Otherwise, you can make it a transfer by changing the payee. ### How to Manually Set an Imported Transaction as a Transfer ### iOS 1. Select the specific transaction that imported.  2. Tap the drop down menu directly under the amount. 3. Tap _Transfer_. 4. Tap _Transferred from_ or _Transferred to_ and choose the correct account. 5. Tap _Save._  6. You'll then have one side of the transfer in each account register (and one transaction listing both sides in the Spending tab). A few notes to keep in mind: * When you approve an imported transfer, it’s automatically approved in the other account register (even if you don’t use Direct Import for the other account). * Moving forward, as long as your bank uses the same payee, YNAB will know to make it a transfer automatically. ### Android 1. Select the specific transaction that imported.  2. Tap the drop down menu directly under the amount. 3. Tap _Transfer_. 4. Tap _Transferred from_ or _Transferred to_ and choose the correct account. 5. Tap _Save._  6. You'll then have one side of the transfer in each account register (and one transaction listing both sides in the Spending tab). A few notes to keep in mind: * When you approve an imported transfer, it’s automatically approved in the other account register. * Moving forward, as long as your bank uses the same payee, YNAB will know to make it a transfer automatically. ### Web 1. Select the transaction that imported. 2. Click into the Payee field and change it to the appropriate Transfer account. (For example, the "Transfer : Savings" or "Transfer : Checking" payees in your payee list.) 3. Click _Save_. 4. You'll then have one side of the transfer in each account.  A few notes to keep in mind: * When you approve an imported transfer, it’s automatically approved in the other account register. * Moving forward, as long as your bank uses the same payee, YNAB will know to make it a transfer automatically. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Help Us Help You! Our Knowledge Base team reviews article feedback responses weekly, and we actively revise these articles to make them as helpful as possible. That's where you come in! Our articles are scored based on the _Yes_ or _No_ ratings received below. We also collect freeform feedback for any _No_ ratings (so our team can focus in on what you were specifically searching for!). **Success**: Found what you were searching for? 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