Google has quietly released a new Switch to Android app for iOS users who want to switch from iPhone to Android smartphone. It is not currently listed in the App Store, which means users cannot simply search and download apps. The Switch to Android app lets users transfer important information, including contacts, calendar events, photos and videos – without any wires. Apple already offers a similar app in the Play Store for Android users who have already switched to iOS.
The list of new Switch to Android apps is now live in the App Store as an unlisted app for iPhone owners seeking to move away from Apple’s ecosystem, according to a report from 9to5Google. Users who download the app will be guided through the process of transferring their data to their new Android phone – including the important step of disabling iMessage, to ensure that messages from other iPhone users on the new Android phone are delivered as SMS.
With the new Switch to Android app, users will be able to transfer contacts, calendar events, photos and videos from their iPhone to a new Android phone. Previously, users would need to transfer their data from their iPhone to Google Drive, which can take up a lot of storage – or connect a Lightning with a USB Type-C cable to a phone running Android 12. In addition to photos, videos that can be copied from the iPhone, the Switch app on Android allows users to transfer their photos from iCloud to Google Photos.
Unlike Apple’s Move to iOS app, which has been accessible on the Google Play Store since September 2015, the switch to the Android app is not currently listed in the App Store. Earlier this year, Apple added support for ‘Unlisted App Distribution’, which allows users to download apps that are accessible via a direct link.
Gadgets 360 was able to verify that the new Switch to Android app was not visible when searching the App Store, but was accessible by going to a direct link to the App Store.
Here’s how to download and use the Switch to Android app on your iPhone
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Click on this link to download the Switch to Android app.
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Click on Launch the app Get started Button, then scan the QR code shown on your Android phone.
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On your Android phone, select your iPhone from the list of devices.
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Select the toggles for this Introduction, Calendar event, PhotosAnd Video And then tap Continue.
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After the copying process is complete, tap Disable iMessage Go to settings Button
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Request a copy of your iCloud data by tapping Start the request On the next screen.
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Close the app and continue the setup on your Android phone.
The App Store lists users who will need to run iOS 12 or later on their iPhone to switch to Android. The app’s description also informs users that the app will require multiple permissions to access data on the user’s iPhone to complete the transfer to an Android device. The app’s privacy section lists location, contact information, user content, usage information, identifiers and other data for collection under “Data linked to you”. Google has not yet officially announced the app, and there is no word on when it will be listed in the App Store.