The times when migrating from an Android gadget to an Apple iPhone was characterised by frustration, complexity, and misplaced information are for essentially the most half behind us. Which suggests if you’re able to make the leap to the Apple ecosystem, as many are, the method ought to be easy — and even simpler if you happen to comply with this information.
There’s an app for that: Transfer to iOS
Apple has created Transfer to iOS, an app to appease the ache when transferring to an iPhone. The app is out there within the Google Play Retailer and automates a lot of the migration course of for you.
Apple
The Transfer to iOS app makes it straightforward to switch information and apps from an Android gadget to an Apple iPhone.
Particularly, what the app does is assist transfer your contacts, message historical past, images, albums, movies, bookmarks, schedule, Google/mail account, and accessibility and show settings to your new gadget. It doesn’t transfer music, books, or PDFs, which you could switch manually, as defined under. It’s additionally important that you just pay attention to all of your passwords (or start utilizing a password supervisor corresponding to 1Password), as these aren’t carried throughout by this app.
Safety is essential. To maintain your data secure through the migration, all the pieces is transferred throughout a brief, safe, non-public Wi-Fi community the app creates between the 2 telephones; which means your data doesn’t have to be uploaded or downloaded from the cloud.
The underside line? When you’ve bought your new Apple gadget, obtain Transfer to iOS to your Android handset earlier than you proceed. (For those who don’t use the app, you can lose data, since doing this manually may be time-consuming and tedious. That’s why Apple made the app.) Don’t start organising your iPhone till you’ve put in the app and are prepared to start this course of. (Too late? See “What to do if one thing goes improper” under.)
Dos and don’ts when transferring from Android to iOS
Ensure you have sufficient storage in your iPhone to carry all the info you’re transferring over. For those who attempt to switch extra information than the iPhone can maintain, the method will fail. A technique round that is to add images and movies to a web-based storage service or laptop, then add them your assortment later.
For those who obtain a cellphone name or use one other app in your Android gadget earlier than the switch finishes, the entire operation will fail. You may shield in opposition to this by switching off your mobile information connection on the Android gadget earlier than you begin.
You also needs to flip off apps or settings that may have an effect on your Wi-Fi connection on the Android. It’s also possible to discover Wi-Fi in Settings in your Android, contact and maintain every identified community, and overlook the community.
It’s good to again up your outdated gadget earlier than you start. You should buy 100GB of Google One area for $2/month, for additional peace of thoughts when you switch your information. You may cancel the subscription when you’re positive all of the essential gadgets have been moved efficiently.
Google service customers can seize a duplicate of all their information from takeout.google.com. Right here you’ll be able to obtain all the pieces the corporate retains about you. You would possibly want to make use of a pc and exterior drive to take action, as chances are you’ll discover the corporate has quietly saved an infinite quantity of knowledge associated to you. However it’s a good method to ensure you preserve all of your images and movies to add independently to iCloud.
Getting the Android-to-iPhone migration began
Whenever you’re able to migrate, seize your Android gadget, attain for that new-to-you iPhone, join each units to energy, and test that you’ve got Wi-Fi enabled on the outdated smartphone.
That is tips on how to use the app:
- Maintain each units shut collectively, open your new iPhone and start the setup course of, which you must comply with till you come to the Fast Begin display.
- On that display, faucet Set Up Manually and comply with the directions given.
- You could must activate your eSIM at this level.
- The Set Up Manually display supplies you with a sequence of various choices, however the one you want is Transfer Knowledge from Android.
- Now launch the Transfer to iOS app in your Android gadget.
- When you launch the app and conform to the countless phrases and circumstances, you must see a Transfer to Android display seem on the iPhone. (Observe: You do want to permit the app to entry the gadget’s location for the needs of this switch.)
- Faucet Proceed and after a brief delay you’ll see a 10- or six-digit code seem in your iPhone’s display. An enter field for that code ought to now be obtainable in Transfer to iOS in your Android.
- You would possibly see a “weak web connection” alert in your Android, however Apple says you’ll be able to ignore it — simply enter the code that seems in your iPhone into the enter field.
- If you have not already, you must flip off any apps or settings that might have an effect on your Wi-Fi connection. (Apple cites Sensible Community Change as one instance.)
- The code authorizes your iPhone to create a brief Wi-Fi community between the 2 units, and your Android will ask to let it Hook up with the Community. When you accomplish that, the Switch Knowledge display will turn into seen on the gadget.
- At this level, choose the gadgets you need to switch from the record proven in your Android. Faucet Proceed.
So long as you carry out all these steps appropriately, all of your information ought to start to switch.
How lengthy will an Android-to-iPhone migration take?
With the switch underneath method, go seize a espresso, arrange your private Mastodon server, or do no matter you normally do when it’s essential keep watch over your expertise doing its factor. The essential factor is to maintain your units shut collectively and related to energy, because the switch can take a while.
Apple
Whenever you’re prepared to maneuver information out of your Android to your iPhone, launch the Transfer to iOS app in your outdated gadget.
As a really inaccurate rule of thumb, you’ll be able to count on round 10 minutes for every 500MB of knowledge being moved. Within the case of huge photograph and video collections, that point quickly mounts up.
The important thing gadget to observe throughout this course of is the iPhone — you must see a loading bar on its display as information is transferred. It’s essential to emphasize that the iPhone calls the photographs on this course of, so even when your outdated Android tells you switch is full, the method isn’t really full till that iPhone loading bar tells you so.
Ultimately, the loading bar will end in your new iOS gadget. When it does, faucet Carried out in your outgoing Android and faucet Proceed in your Apple {hardware}. You’ll now undergo the remainder of the iPhone setup course of, together with creating or coming into an Apple ID, enabling Contact ID or Face ID, and being pestered to arrange Apple Pay.
With the eSIM enabled (see “Learn how to activate your eSIM” under) and most of your information in place, your iPhone is now utterly usable, however you’ll nonetheless need to switch music, books, and PDFs. You’ll additionally need to guarantee your app assortment is as full as doable.
The place do you get iOS apps?
Apple
Since Android apps do not robotically switch to iOS, you will must get them from Apple’s App Retailer.
When you, as an Android refugee, turn into accustomed to discovering apps utilizing the search bar, House Display screen, or App Drawer, you’ll need to set up all those you employ.
Usually, hottest apps can be found for each Android and iOS methods. Nevertheless, apps don’t robotically switch if you migrate; you could discover and obtain them your self. Usually it’s easy: obtain the related app from Apple’s App Retailer and enter the account particulars you used in your Android gadget to rise up and operating.
You would possibly discover it vital to make sure that you’ve saved any current modifications made in video games and inventive apps in your Android earlier than starting your journey. Video games and different apps that use an account to log in in all probability save your in-game standing, so you must regain entry to that when you obtain the app and log in in your iPhone.
Learn how to transfer music, books, and PDFs from Android to iOS
You need to use the Android File Switch app on a Mac or PC to obtain music, books, or PDFs out of your Android cellphone to the pc — simply join the gadget and use the app. You may then add these things to iTunes and sync them along with your iPhone. Simply join the iPhone to the pc with a USB cable and use iTunes (Home windows) or the Finder (Mac) to start dropping content material onto the gadget. (One other method is to add information to iCloud Drive or an exterior storage service corresponding to Field or Dropbox, then obtain the information to your new gadget if you require it.)
The method for books and PDFs is analogous. For those who use a cross-platform on-line service corresponding to Kindle or Google Play Books, then it ought to be so simple as putting in the related app and logging in. In any other case, join your Android gadget to your laptop and seek for your books and PDFs within the Paperwork folder. (On a Mac, you should utilize Android File Switch for this.) Drag these things to a folder in your laptop, after which drag gadgets into the Books app on a Mac, or to iTunes if you happen to use a PC.
After all, if you happen to use Netflix, Prime, and even Apple TV+ (coming quickly) in your Android gadget, then all it’s essential do is set up the suitable app and log in.
Learn how to transfer paperwork from Android to iOS
It’s seemingly you’re already utilizing a web-based service for lots of the paperwork you retain in your Android gadget. Usually, you simply must obtain the related app and log in to your account to entry your content material. Apple’s Information app additionally helps a number of such providers, supplying you with a sublime area wherein to deal with docs. To set this up, open Information on the iPhone. As soon as it’s open, faucet Browse > Extra Places and activate the service you employ. Sooner or later, you’ll be capable of entry these gadgets in Information, in addition to through the web service’s app.
This works for many on-line storage providers, although enterprise customers will definitely must work with tech assist to allow a brand new gadget.
That leaves any paperwork or information saved solely in your Android gadget. As soon as once more, the key is to make use of Android File Switch on a Mac or iTunes to switch the merchandise, or to e mail it to your self, or add it to a cloud service you’ll be able to entry from the brand new gadget.
Learn how to manually switch contacts and extra from Android to iOS
Apple
The best method to manually switch contacts is so as to add a Gmail account with contacts and reminders to your iPhone.
You may manually switch contacts. At its most simple, the simplest method to do that is so as to add a Gmail account with contacts and reminders to your iPhone. Open Settings > Mail > Accounts and faucet Add Account to take action.
This may even work with any Google account or service. Whenever you arrange the brand new account, it’s also possible to select to sync Contacts, Calendars, and Notes; that may carry your Google “stuff” into the equal apps on iOS.
Google apps and providers work on iOS
For those who’ve turn into accustomed to Android, you seemingly use Google’s personal apps and providers, together with Chrome, Gmail, Google Drive, and Maps. The excellent news: all these apps are additionally obtainable for iOS — simply obtain them, enter your Google Account particulars and password, and also you’ll be capable of proceed utilizing them as if you happen to by no means migrated.
Can third-party apps deal with the Android-to-iOS course of?
There are quite a few various apps that can assist you migrate to iOS, with one of the crucial extensively used known as AnyTrans. The draw back to a few of these choices is that the person shall be uncovered to quite a few advertisements. And using unsanctioned third-party apps from smaller builders may inadvertently make any firm information it’s essential switch susceptible to exfiltration. That stated, most of those apps will automate lots of the extra advanced information transfers.
What to do if one thing goes improper
If the info switch fails, you must restart each units and take a look at once more. For those who’ve begun setup in your iPhone, you’ll in all probability must erase your iPhone to kick the method into beginning over. Reminder: you want as a lot cupboard space in your iPhone as in your outdated Android gadget; attempting to switch extra information than the iPhone can maintain will trigger the method to fail.
Learn how to activate your eSIM (if wanted)
Apple is within the strategy of migrating most iPhones to eSIM, a non-physical digital SIM that replaces bodily playing cards. iPhones can have a number of eSIMs put in on the gadget and may use as much as two of those without delay.
Organising the eSIM normally simply requires you to begin up the gadget, as soon as the eSIM is put in, or switch the eSIM to the gadget. Apple is forward of the curve in eSIM adoption, so Android customers will seemingly must contact their community supplier to switch the quantity utilizing eSIM Provider Activation or a QR code. (That is defined in further element and for a number of utilization eventualities on this Apple tech be aware.)
Hand-picked ideas for brand spanking new Android-to-iPhone switchers
Get to the House display: Swipe a finger up from the underside of the show to get to the House display.
Learn how to search: To go looking, swipe down from the center of the display.
Management Middle: The Apple equal of Android’s Fast Motion menu is Management Middle. To entry this, simply swipe down from the highest proper nook.
Customizing the display: You’ve got restricted customization selections on iPhone, however you’ll be able to select widgets if you press and maintain the House display. It’s also possible to set the wallpaper (Settings > Wallpaper > Select Wallpaper). There, you’ll be able to choose inventory photographs Apple provides or your individual picture.
Easier screenshots: On Android, taking a screenshot normally means you could press a mixture of buttons on the facet of the gadget. It’s the identical on an iPhone, although the mixture varies relying on which mannequin you may have. However there’s a easy trick to make the method straightforward, a characteristic known as Again Faucet. Open Settings > Accessibility > Contact and faucet Again Faucet. You’ll discover two choices, Double and Triple Faucet. Set certainly one of these to Screenshot, and the opposite to one of many many different selections there — I prefer to set it to Management Middle. When you grasp the faucet it’s the swiftest method to seize a screenshot.
Again to the highest: Studying a protracted doc or internet web page and need to zoom again to the highest? Simply faucet the clock on the high of the show to zip again instantly.
Apps and calls: Sure, you should utilize an app throughout a name, simply swipe as much as attain the House web page and entry the app. To return to the decision, simply faucet the inexperienced icon.
Blue and inexperienced SMS messages: Whenever you use iMessage to deal with incoming messages, you’ll quickly see that some communications present up blue, whereas others are inexperienced. Blue reveals that messages are being transferred (encrypted) between iPhone iMessage customers, whereas inexperienced messages point out that SMS or MMS protocols are in use.
In case you need to return to Android: For those who make the change from Android to iPhone after which later resolve you need to return, you’ll need to depend on our information to transferring from iPhone to Android.
Assuming you persist with the iPhone, listed below are a couple of extra tricks to get essentially the most out of your new gadget:
- Learn how to arrange and use Focus modes on iOS 16
- Learn how to make Highlight give you the results you want
- Learn how to use widgets on iPad and iPhone
- 16+ iPhone tricks to get issues performed quicker
- 10+ ideas for higher iPhone battery life
- 8+ helpful iPhone ideas for higher productiveness
- 10 useful iPhone ideas to make use of at work
- Profit from the Contacts widget for iPhones and iPads
- 8+ helpful ideas for Notes on iPhone, iPad, Mac