This story has been up to date. It was initially printed on July 23, 2018.

Possibly after seeing how a lot you’ll need to splurge for one of many new iPhone 13s, you’ve determined to leap into the welcoming arms of Android. As of as we speak, that course of will probably be a lot easier for a lot of first-time Androiders.

Earlier this 12 months, Google launched a Change to Android app for individuals leaving Apple’s ecosystem behind, however it solely labored with Pixel telephones. Now, the app will work with any telephone working Android 12, although the journey nonetheless has its quirks.

And for those who don’t have a telephone that works with this app, you wish to run a extra guide switch, otherwise you discover you’ll be able to’t copy some knowledge, you’ll must rigorously extricate your self from iOS. We may help information you thru a few of these hoops too—it’s all after the primary part under.

The right way to use the Change to Android app

Google’s Change to Android app is unlisted, so that you received’t be capable of discover it by looking the iOS App Retailer. You possibly can, nonetheless, discover it by looking along with your telephone’s browser, or by clicking this direct hyperlink. When you’ve downloaded it onto your soon-to-be-dearly-departed iPhone, the app will stroll you thru the information switch course of.

First, you’ll want to attach the 2 units—new and outdated—with an iPhone cable. In the event you don’t have one, it’s also possible to use WiFi, however you will want a gentle connection. As soon as they’re linked up, you’ll be able to select which knowledge you wish to switch and go from there. You possibly can copy over contacts, images, messages, apps, wallpaper, music, and different settings and knowledge.

Most free apps will transfer to your new telephone by way of the cable, however bought apps might not. In the event you’re having hassle transferring an app, contact its developer to see what they recommend for customers who’re shifting to a brand new gadget. Your current subscriptions will nonetheless work, and so they’ll be managed as they had been in your iPhone—by both the app developer or iTunes, Android says.

One key level is to be sure you flip off iMessages earlier than you set your SIM card in your new Android. All of your current iMessages will switch as a part of the information swap, however new iMessages may not get by way of for those who don’t go to Settings in your iPhone, open Messages, and switch off the toggle swap subsequent to iMessage. To be secure, you also needs to go to Settings > FaceTime and switch off the FaceTime toggle swap as properly, delinking your cell quantity from Apple’s foremost communication providers. In the event you neglect, you are able to do the job remotely at this internet web page.

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In the event you’re in any respect frightened about dropping knowledge this manner, don’t be. Even when one thing goes fallacious through the switch course of, the stuff that finally ends up in your Android telephone is a replica—all the pieces will stay in your iPhone till you wipe it clear.

The right way to swap from iPhone to Android with out the app

Regardless of the explanation you’re not utilizing the Change to Android app, that is the a part of the story for you. Heck, it’s most likely value scanning even for those who use the app, simply to verify all the pieces goes easily.

Switch Google or Microsoft apps

Switching over will probably be quite a bit simpler for those who already use Google and Microsoft apps in your iPhone. Actually, the identical goes for any cloud-based apps, together with Netflix and Spotify. As a result of they retailer all the pieces on-line, these apps make it very easy to leap between units and throughout platforms.

In the event you lean on Google applications, your new Android gadget ought to include these apps already put in. All you’ll need to do is log in, and your knowledge—your archived Gmail emails, your Google Maps historical past, your Google Chat messages—will seem.

[Related: 5 uses for Google Maps beyond navigation]

Even for those who’re not all-in on Google, Microsoft makes top-quality apps for each iOS and Android. In the event you depend on Outlook and Workplace in your iPhone, go forward and set up the identical apps in your Android gadget, log in, and revel in.

Basically, for those who plan to modify steadily between Android and iOS units, keep on with platform-agnostic apps that work equally on each working programs. They’ll make the method extraordinarily simple. Nevertheless, in case your iPhone depends closely on Apple’s personal apps, the swap would require a considerable quantity of labor, as a result of Apple doesn’t make a lot of its applications out there on Android. Learn on for extra data on coping with this concern.

Transfer textual content messages and e-mail

To maintain observe of your previous chats, you’ll wish to convey your iMessage and e-mail conversations with you. That’s solely partially doable.

The unhappy truth is, except you utilize the Change to Android app, you can not switch your iMessage conversations immediately from iOS to Android. Apple doesn’t make an Android model of its Messages app, nor does it permit every other builders to entry it, so that you’re out of luck. Mac customers can verify iMessages from their computer systems, however others received’t be capable of entry the app after leaping to Android.

So earlier than you permit, ensure to de-link your cell quantity from iMessage—assuming you’re taking it with you to your new telephone. Go to Settings > Messages and toggle off the iMessage swap. Then go to Settings > FaceTime and switch off the FaceTime toggle swap as properly. This removes the affiliation between your telephone quantity and Apple’s proprietary providers, which is able to forestall you from having any issues receiving messages or calls in your new Android handset. In the event you neglect to do that step earlier than you eliminate your iPhone, don’t fear—carry out the duty remotely at this internet web page.

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Fortunately, you’ll be able to convey any Apple emails saved in iCloud—you simply must import them into Android’s Gmail app. Open Gmail in your new telephone, faucet the Menu button on the highest left, scroll right down to Settings, and choose Add account > Different. Then enter your iCloud username and password. In case your Apple account makes use of two-step authentication, you’ll first must create a Gmail-specific password: Go to your AppleID account supervisor, be sure you’re on the Signal-in and Safety web page, click on App-Particular Passwords, and hit Generate an app-specific password. Now you’ll be able to both maintain utilizing your iCloud e-mail deal with inside the Gmail app, or deal with these outdated messages as an archive and swap to a Gmail deal with.

Transfer contacts, calendars, images, and residential movies

It’s comparatively simple to switch among the gadgets you retailer in iCloud—resembling your contacts, calendars, images, and movies—to Google’s servers. However you should begin this course of earlier than you ditch your iPhone.

First, obtain the Google Drive for iOS app to your outdated gadget. Open it and sign up along with your Google account credentials. Subsequent, faucet the menu button (three traces) within the high left, adopted by Settings after which Backup. Now you’ll see an inventory of things, together with Contacts, Calendar occasions, and Photographs & movies. Choose all of the entries you wish to switch to your new Android telephone.

Subsequent, faucet Begin Backup and copies of your iPhone knowledge will transfer to Google Contacts, Google Calendar, and Google Photographs. Now you’ll be capable of entry your information if you signal into your Google account in your new Android telephone.

A fast observe on images and movies: These information will switch to Google Photographs, which is able to depend towards your cloud storage quota. Google Drive provides you a complete of 15GB of free space for storing, shared throughout Drive, Gmail, and Google Photographs. The latter can actually eat up your quota, so if you find yourself needing extra room, you’ll be able to pay to improve. Costs begin at $19.99 a 12 months for 100GB.

That mentioned, not all of us select Apple Music. In the event you want a distinct app and nonetheless wish to switch your MP3s to an Android gadget, you are able to do so utilizing a pc with YouTube Music. Open your laptop’s internet browser, head to YouTube Music’s internet portal, click on your avatar within the high proper portion of the web page, and select Add music. Now drag tracks out of your native storage into your browser window. Your information will sync to the cloud, and also you’ll be capable of stream or obtain them by way of the YouTube Music app in your new Android gadget.

Motion pictures and TV exhibits are extra sophisticated, as a result of Apple doesn’t make an iTunes video participant for Android. You possibly can watch your current iTunes movies on different units, resembling a Mac, Apple TV, or iPad, however not on an Android telephone or pill. Nevertheless, any movies you obtained from non-iTunes sources must be simply high quality. Streaming apps—like Plex, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and naturally Google TV or Google Play Motion pictures & TV—will all work seamlessly throughout Android and iOS. Simply log into your account in your new gadget and also you’ll be good to go.

Transfer paperwork and different information

Now that you just’ve tackled most of your information, all that’s left to maneuver are paperwork and different strays. Your methodology for shifting them to Android will depend upon the iOS app the place you retailer them.

For instance, cloud-storage applications Google Drive and Dropbox work seamlessly throughout Android and iOS. We’d suggest you obtain one in every of these choices to your outdated telephone, use it to avoid wasting your iPhone information, after which log into the identical app in your new gadget.

[Related: How to save any file to your phone so you have it when you need it]

What about information saved to Apple’s workplace suite? You received’t discover Pages, Numbers, or Keynote apps out there for the Android platform. So, when you’ve got information created in these apps, you’ll must export them in a typical format. Open a file with the suitable app, faucet the menu button (three dots) within the high proper of the display screen, and choose Export. Select both a PDF or Microsoft Workplace format (each will work high quality with the Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft Workplace apps for Android), and choose a save location. In the event you’ve put in Google Drive or Dropbox in your iPhone, go forward and reserve it there.

That’s nearly all you should switch. In any case, your cloud-based apps, together with social media, will work precisely the identical as quickly as you log into them in your new gadget. Go forth and go away Apple behind!