Switching data from an iPhone to a new Android device will require an important Google app, a stable Wi-Fi connection, a power cord, and some time.
The decision to replace an iPhone with an Android phone may seem like a daunting task at first, but tools are actually available on both operating systems that make the transition a more seamless experience. Users will need a Google app downloaded on the iOS device to back up all kinds of data. They will also need to turn off a few iPhone features before finalizing the transfer to ensure that no messages or calls are left unanswered on the old device.
There are many reasons to make the switch from an iPhone to an Android phone. One of the main reasons could potentially be Android’s overall flexibility in terms of functionality, which a lot of more tech-savvy users tend to value. Another big seller is that Android and Google pretty much go hand in hand, and the latter is constantly upgrading its apps to provide better features that’ll make mobile phone users love using their devices more. Of course, there’s the simple fact that many companies manufacture Android phones of varying designs, so users have more models to choose from to match their needs as well as their aesthetic preferences.
To get started with transferring data from an iPhone to an Android phone, users need to have the latest version of the Google Drive app installed on the iOS device. Once it is installed, sign in to Drive with the Google account that’ll be associated with the new Android phone. A new Google account can be created after downloading Drive if the user doesn’t have one yet. The most important and crucial step is backing up the useful data from an iPhone and iCloud account to Google Drive. Photos will go to Google Photos. Contacts will get transferred into Google Contacts. Calendar events will be reflected in Google Calendar. Do note that there are certain limitations to these backups. For example, photos organized into albums will not back up to Google Photos. Likewise, users who use third-party apps and services to organize and store contacts, calendar events, and photo and video content will not be backed up as well.
Back Up & Transfer From iPhone To Android
Make sure the iPhone being backed up is on a stable Wi-Fi connection before initiating the process. Launch Google Drive and tap ‘Menu’ (icon with three horizontal lines). Hit ‘Settings’ then ‘Backup.’ Users will have an option to back up ‘Contacts’, ‘Calendar events’, ‘Photos & videos’, or all three. Any previous backups made will be overwritten by the new one. Tap on each one to switch the toggle to the on position for the services that need to be transferred. Tap ‘Start Backup’ to begin the process. It may take several hours for a complete backup, so make sure there is a stable internet connection and ample time allotted for the transfer to finish. Furthermore, ensure that the iPhone has enough battery life by connecting it to a power source.
Once the backup process has concluded, it is time to turn off iMessage and FaceTime on the iPhone so that any messages sent or calls made by fellow Apple users will not be stuck in chat limbo. With the user’s SIM card still inside the iPhone, go to Settings, scroll down and tap ‘Messages’. Switch the ‘iMessage’ toggle off to stop sending and receiving messages on the service. Go back to ‘Settings’ and tap ‘FaceTime’. Switch the ‘FaceTime’ toggle off to stop people from trying to video call.
Transfer the SIM card and sign in using the same Google account used during backup to start using the Android phone. All contact, calendar, and photo data secured in Drive should automatically be transferred into their respective Google app counterparts. Unfortunately, any non-Google apps previously installed on the iPhone will need to be re-downloaded on the Android device, and premium apps might have to be purchased again too.
Sources: Android, App Store, Google
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