Google releases the ‘Switch to Android’ app for iPhone

Google has quietly released a new ‘Switch to Android’ app for iPhones on the iOS app store, however, it is currently unlisted and available only via direct link, first spotted by 9to5Google. Since it is unlisted, users cannot find it by searching or browsing the app store. 

Through this app, existing iOS users moving to Android devices can transfer their photos, videos, contacts and calendar events from their current iPhone to their new Android device. Call history and SMS won’t be moved though. 

This is a data migration tool similar to Apple’s ‘Move to iPhone’ app which was launched a few years ago. It helps in easily transferring your local iPhone data to a new Android device wirelessly without any physical cables. 

Until now, to copy data from an iPhone to Android, users had to first back up the data to Google Drive and then manually restore it on the new Android device. The latest Android 12 made migration easier by allowing to move contacts, apps, and media via a Lightning cable connection.

“The Switch to Android app from Google helps you quickly and securely move your most important data types – photos, videos, contacts, and calendar events — to a brand new Android device without fussy cables,” says iOS app description for Switch to Android app. 

The app will also notify users to deactivate iMessage so that they don’t miss messages from their contacts on the new device. Apart from this, installed iOS apps will also not be automatically installed on your Android device.