How To Change From Iphone To Android

You lot have an iPhone, just that Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphone is calling your name. Yet jumping out of the proverbial Apple handbasket and into Google'southward robotic arms seems to be an overwhelming if not daunting job. Believe it or not, the process is really quite simple.

In this guide, we prove you how to switch from an iPhone to an Android device. Nosotros offset with the simplest style possible and and so explain how to manually move specific items if you don't need everything packed under the iPhone'south pretty face. After that, we will innovate you to the ways of Android.

Making the transition

Before y'all embark on this journey to the promised country of Android, call back almost this. Android isn't consistent across all related devices. Unlike comparison an iPhone X to an iPhone 12 Pro Max, a Samsung Galaxy doesn't accept the same feel as a Google Pixel five. Withal, that'due south the beauty of customization, even on the end-user level, which an iPhone clearly lacks.

Know what you're leaving behind. Many of the cases, docks, and other accessories yous bought for your iPhone are not going to exist compatible with Android smartphones (though it's worth checking because some are).

Sympathize what you'll have instead. Your iOS apps cannot become with you, merely you lot'll discover that almost have Android counterparts awaiting your arrival. If you take whatsoever paid apps, you'll be required to buy them again through the Play Shop, the Galaxy Store, then on. In-app purchases will need to be bought again unless they're tied to a specific app account.

What about your media? Any DRM-protected content y'all purchased, similar e-books, podcasts, movies, and TV shows, will remain in their corresponding Apple-based stores. Your music is accessible through Apple tree Music for Android while certain movies and TV shows bought using iTunes can be attainable if they support Movies Anywhere and/or Vudu. You tin can easily and legally remove the restrictions from music, only not from TV shows and movies.

Last, just not least, there'due south your iPhone itself. Before you wipe it with a factory reset, you'll desire to work through the rest of our guide. When y'all're done, assuming you're not gifting your iPhone to someone, you lot might desire to peruse our guide on how to sell an iPhone without getting ripped off.

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

Using phone manufacturer apps or tools

Earlier we dig into various methods for moving over different $.25 and pieces, it'south worth mentioning that yous can oftentimes save some time by using the tools that the smartphone manufacturer provides. You'll usually exist asked during the setup of your new telephone if you want to copy over files from your old phone.

If y'all buy a Samsung phone, like the Galaxy S21 5G, for example, you'll get a USB-OTG connector in the box, which allows you to plug in your quondam iPhone and copy over a lot of files and data. Y'all can also use the Smart Switch software.

If you don't go such an selection on your new Android phone, or you lack the connector y'all need, don't worry because we're about to run through some alternative methods.

Utilise Google Drive

Google provides a backup tool within the Google Bulldoze app for iOS that does the post-obit:

• Backs up contacts to Google Contacts.
• Backs upwardly calendar events to Google Calendar.
• Backs upward photos and videos to Google Photos.

Any files you downloaded to your iPhone will need to be manually uploaded to Google's cloud. Otherwise, everything listed to a higher place will be transferred to your Google Account with the impact of a button. Here'south how:

Pace 1: Tap to open up the Google Drive app.

Footstep 2: Tap the Iii-Line icon in the top-left corner.

Step 3: Tap Settings on the list.

Step 4: Tap Backup.

Step 5: Tap each selection (Contacts, Agenda Events, and Photos & Videos) and make sure they're toggled on — they should be enabled by default.

Step 6: Tap the Outset Backup push button.

Proceed in mind that the free Google Bulldoze account only provides 15GB of storage. If your backup requires more, you'll need a Google Ane subscription — at least temporarily until everything is moved over to your new Android phone.

Manually transfer contacts using iCloud

If y'all just need to transfer contacts, there are a few means outside using Google Drive. One mode is to download them from iCloud. First, make sure the Contacts app is synced with iCloud and then download your contacts using a web browser. Here's how:

Pace 1: Tap to open up the Settings app.

Step two: Tap on your Apple ID.

Step 3: Tap iCloud.

Step 4: Tap the toggle next to Contacts if syncing is disabled.

Step 5: Open a web browser and log in to the iCloud website.

Pace half dozen: Click Contacts.

Step 7: Click the Cog icon at the lesser left.

Stride 8: Cull Select All on the pop-up carte.

Step nine: Click the Cog icon over again.

Step 10: Select Export vCard on the pop-up menu.

Stride 11: Using the same browser, log in to Google Contacts.

Step 12: Click Import listed on the left.

Pace 13: Click the Select File button on the pop-up window.

Step 14: Select the file located on your computer and and so click the Open button.

Step 15: Click Import.

Transfer contacts using My Contacts Backup app

You lot can also transfer contacts using the free My Contacts Fill-in app.

Step one: Install it on your iPhone.

Step ii: Launch information technology.

Step 3: Tap Backup.

Step iv: Email the fill-in file to an email account on your Android phone. Y'all'll get a VCF file.

Step five: Import the VCF file into Google Contacts, similar to how we imported the file from iCloud.

Transfer contacts individually

If you want to use the process as an excuse to thin the herd and edit your contacts, then you might consider doing it ane by one. In this case:

Step ane: Open up the contact you want to transfer on your iPhone.

Step 2: Select Share Contact to transport it as a text message or by email.

For more data, check out our guide on how to transfer contacts between iPhone and Android devices.

Sync Apple's calendar with Google Calendar

Again, the Google Drive app can sync Apple's agenda automatically if you go with that option every bit Google suggests. Nevertheless, yous take a few other options.

If yous already have a Google Account set upwards on your iPhone, chances are Google Agenda already syncs with your iPhone. If y'all're non sure, practise the following:

Step 1: Tap to open the Setting app.

Footstep two: Scroll downwards and tap Mail.

Step iii: Tap Accounts. Here, you tin can also tap Add together Business relationship and follow the steps if you lot don't have a Google Business relationship synchronized to your device.

Stride 4: Tap Gmail.

Step 5: Tap the toggle next to Calendars to plough synchronization on (if it's not already).

At present we're going to sync Apple Calendar with Google Calendar:

Step six: Tap to open up the (Apple) Calendar app.

Footstep vii: Tap the Calendars tab located at the bottom.

Footstep eight: Tap the Info icon next to the calendar listed under iCloud that y'all desire to sync.

Step 9: Tap Share Link. If you don't come across this pick, you'll need to tap the toggle side by side to Public Calendar starting time.

Step 10: Ship the link to yourself using an email.

Step 11: Open a web browser and log in to Google Agenda.

Stride 12: Click the Plus symbol next to Other Calendars listed on the left.

Step 13: Click the From URL option on the pop-up menu.

Step 14: Enter the URL you emailed to yourself.

Step 15: Click Add Calendar.

Yous can even sync multiple Google calendars to your iPad if you need to practice so.

Sync Apple'due south calendar with iCloud

Y'all can likewise download an app to sync your agenda from iCloud, assuming you lot have Calendar switched on in Settings > [Your Proper name] > iCloud. Y'all could effort Ane Calendar to sync all of your calendars into i identify or check out some of our recommendations for the best calendar apps.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Switching from Apple to Google services

Apple is renowned for its tightly integrated ecosystem, but if you're switching to Android, you'll desire to start using more Google services.

Overall, Google is more universally accessible. Any media purchased through Google Play tin be accessed through apps and spider web browsers. The only Apple-purchased media you can admission on an Android device is Apple tree Music — apps related to Beats and moving to iOS are the only other Android apps Apple offers. Can y'all get Safari on an Android phone? No, but you can install Google Chrome on an iPhone.

That said, forget most iCloud and Safari — you can find all the aforementioned functionality, and more, via Google. As long every bit you are signed in to your Google Account, you can access all your contacts, bookmarks, appointments, and files on almost any device. Here'south a listing of what to expect:

• Contacts for backing up and sharing contacts.
• Messages for texting.
• Google Calendar for keeping on top of your schedule.
• Chrome browser can sync bookmarks and open tabs between computer and Android phone.
• Google Drive for bankroll upwardly your files.
• Google Docs for editing and sharing documents.
• YouTube Music or Google Play Music for storing and streaming your music from the deject.
• Google Photos for backing up and sharing photos and videos.
• Google Fit for tracking your health and fitness.
• Google Go along for notes and lists.
• Android Motorcar for when you lot're driving.
• YouTube for watching videos.
• Google Maps for easy navigation.
• Google Pay for tap-to-pay services.
• Google Assistant (similar to Siri but more universal).

Many of these services are also available on Apple tree devices, merely the feel is optimized for Android. The fact that you tin can have all of these every bit your default options nether i Google Account makes it piece of cake and attainable, and you'll be tempted to utilise more and more Google services. There are also loads of neat alternatives that you can use instead of — or also equally — Google offerings similar Dropbox, and Mozilla Firefox.

Manually move photos and videos using Google Photos

With the Google Drive method, photos and videos are already backed upwards to the cloud if this specific setting is toggled on. You tin can besides utilise other methods to transfer this media, including Google Photos.

If you just want to transfer photos and videos, you tin can turn on Back Upwardly & Sync in the Google Photos app. Here's how:

Step 1: Tap to open the Google Photos app.

Step 2: Tap your Google Account Profile in the peak-right corner.

Step 3: Tap Photos Settings.

Step 4: Tap Dorsum Upwards & Sync.

Step v: Tap the toggle side by side to Dorsum Up & Sync to switch this feature on. All media should eventually sync with your new Android device.

Other ways to manually movement photos and videos

You lot can plug an iPhone into a Windows PC or Mac using a USB cable and and then transfer your photos and videos, like to moving files from an external storage device. Yous tin can e'er apply Bluetooth too as long as your PC can recognize the phone. For detailed instructions, we provide a guide on how to transfer photos from an iPhone to a computer. Afterward that, follow our guide on how to transfer files from Android to your PC. The latter transfer instructions would be reversed for both USB and Bluetooth connections.

However, these methods can exist a pain. Using cloud services like Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive requires you to upload to the cloud from one device and download to some other. Using the Drive/Photos method is probably the easiest, more native method of getting your photos and videos into Android.

For more details on using apps to back upwards and share your photos, cheque out our guide on how to share photos on Android. You tin can use a number of the apps and services discussed there to transfer your photos and videos from your iPhone.

One involves a USB cable and an external hard bulldoze. To utilise this method:

Moving your music: Download and upload to YouTube Music (Windows 10)

The easiest style to admission your music bought through iTunes is to use the Apple Music app for Android. All you need to do is install the app, sign in with your Apple tree ID, and you're skilful to go. At that place's no demand to download and import anything, and y'all don't demand a subscription.

Still, if you desire to rid yourself of iTunes, you tin can e'er download the music and upload it all to YouTube music.

Step 1: Download and install iTunes for Windows. (Microsoft Store) (Desktop)

Step 2: Download the music you desire to be transferred to YouTube Music.

Stride 3: Sign in to YouTube Music.

Step 4: Click on your Google Business relationship Profile icon in the pinnacle-correct corner.

Step 5: Click Upload Music in the driblet-down menu.

Step 6: Navigate to (C:) > Users > Your Profile Name > Music > iTunes. This is the default location.

Stride 7: Select the music you want to upload and click Open.

Moving your music: Download and upload to YouTube Music (MacOS)

The procedure is slightly different if you lot're using a MacOS. Here's what to do:

Step 1: Open the Music app.

Step 2: Download the music y'all desire to be transferred to YouTube Music.

Step 3: Sign in to YouTube Music.

Step 4: Click on your Google Account Profile icon in the top-correct corner.

Step v: Click Upload Music in the drop-downwardly menu.

Footstep 6: Navigate to Macintosh HD > Users > Your Profile Proper noun > Music > Music > Media > Apple tree Music.

Step 7: Select the music y'all desire to upload and click Open.

You can't legally re-create movies or Idiot box shows from your iTunes to your Android smartphone because you lot would take to remove the DRM protection first. Unfortunately, that applies to e-books purchased through iTunes as well.

Moving your text messages

This is a lot trickier than anything we've discussed so far, just some people volition want to keep those precious text conversations and transfer them to their new Android smartphones. Thankfully, it is possible.

One of the easiest methods is to utilise the free iSMS2droid app, but it may not work for everyone. It also requires you to dorsum up your SMS to iTunes and then go digging around to find the right file to catechumen.

You can also use Samsung Smart Switch or Kies software to restore an iPhone backup (including text messages) to a Samsung Android smartphone. You'll besides find quite a few premium software options online that purport to allow you lot to copy text messages, contacts, photos, and fifty-fifty call logs, but nosotros tin can't vouch for their effectiveness. Many Android manufacturers have some type of data transfer app yous tin can try and apply as well.

Regardless of what method you employ, don't forget to turn Messages off before making the switch. Leaving it on could result in SMS and MMS messages however going to your old iPhone. This is because Apple sends an iMessage instead of an SMS or MMS when it detects you're both using iOS. To turn it off, do the following:

Step one: Tap to open the Settings app.

Stride ii: Gyre down and tap Messages.

Step 3: Tap the toggle next to iMessage.

Stride 4: Turn off FaceTime by tapping settings. Coil down and tap FaceTime. Tap the toggle side by side to FaceTime.

If y'all no longer have the phone, yous tin can request Apple to deregister your iPhone with iMessage here.

Finding your mode on Android

Welcome to Android! At outset, it may seem strange and unnerving, simply yous'll shortly go used to it. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you go your feet nether the tabular array and start to feel at home.

Navigation is a lilliputian unlike on Android. Google added a gesture organisation with Android 10, which uses gestures to navigate, similar iOS 13. Still, users however take access to traditional Android navigational buttons, which we cover in a separate how-to guide. Third-party manufacturers may take traditional buttons toggled on by default while making consummate gesture control an option.

Hither is the three-push button navigation setup:

• Dwelling: As of Android eleven, this icon is a white ball that sits at the lesser eye. It will always accept you to the home screen. Yet, long-printing on this push button, and Google Banana will activate.
• Dorsum: Equally of Android xi, this icon is a white triangle that sits at the lesser left. Tap it, and y'all will be returned to the previous page, level, screen, and so on. Y'all can also use it to dorsum out of apps.
• Recents/Overview: As of Android 11, this icon is a white block that sits at the bottom correct. Tap it, and you'll encounter a tiled list of the nearly recent apps used. Only tap the app-preview window to leap back into that app. Y'all can shut down apps from this menu by swiping them away, or touch the app shortcut icon to enter Split Screen mode.

Android also provides a two-push button navigation system:

• Home line: Replacing the dwelling house button is a "home line" of sorts. Tap it, and you're returned to the dwelling house screen. To switch apps, swipe upward from the abode line. To see all apps in the App Drawer, swipe upwardly from the line over again.
• Back: This icon is a modest "less than" symbol that but appears equally needed. Tap information technology to return to the previous page, screen, and so on.

Encounter the App Drawer

With Android, all apps are stored in an App Drawer. What you see on the home and other screens are app shortcuts. Apple tree introduced a similar feature in iOS 14, which places all apps in a stationary App Library screen. On Android, however, the Drawer is attainable by swiping up from the lesser — retrieve of it as an App Library screen tucked beneath the home button.

Like iPhones, you lot can accept multiple screens for all the app shortcuts you want, widgets, and so on. Apple's Today View resides to the left of the abode screen in iOS, and the Google Feed folio is in the same spot in Android. To switch betwixt all screens, just swipe left or right with a finger.

If annihilation, Android and iOS are becoming more alike than in recent years, making the transition from ane to the other easier than ever. You lot can even remove app shortcuts from an iPhone'southward dwelling screen!

One difference in the domicile screen layout is that iOS has a visible dock where you'll typically have admission to the Phone, Safari, Letters, and Photographic camera apps. This dock remains stationary every bit you swipe between screens. Android 11 and Samsung's One UI have a similar setup, only the dock isn't visible. Android 11 places this dock above the Google Search widget, while One UI shoves it to the very bottom.

On older Android phones, you lot may see an apps icon on the invisible dock for accessing the App Drawer. Newer versions of Android do non have this icon — simply swipe upwards from the bottom to admission all your installed apps. Want to add a shortcut to a screen? Long-press on an app and drag it onto a screen, creating a shortcut.

Everything important that happens on your telephone will spark a notification. To access these notifications, swipe down from the meridian to aggrandize the Notification Shade. You can tap on these notifications to open up their parent app, tap the Downwardly Arrow on each to expand, or swipe them left to dismiss.

Mark Jansen/Digital Trends

Customization and widgets

Ane of the large attractions of Android is the power to customize your smartphone. To customize the await, you can but long-printing on an empty section of any screen to go a pop-upwardly card allowing you lot to set up the wallpaper (including blithe "alive" wallpaper if you similar).

On a lot of Android devices, y'all'll too come across the option to add widgets, app shortcuts, web shortcuts, and folders. You lot can drop one app icon on top of another to create a folder. You can also modify the wallpaper for your lock screen or home screen via Settings > Display > Wallpaper.

Widgets are small windows into individual apps that tin update automatically to bring you new information. This ways yous tin can see the latest weather, sports scores, or tweets without having to enter the actual app. Not every app has a widget, but you tin long-press on an empty portion of any screen and select widgets to review your options, or get into the Apps Drawer and roll over on nigh newer phones.

If you're dandy on personalizing the artful of your smartphone, then you should explore the earth of launchers. In that location are all kinds of different looks and styles available, often completely gratis. A couple of pop launchers to get you started are Nova Launcher and GO Launcher EX. However, launches don't fully customize Android — they simply change fonts, icons, the App Drawer layout, and then on. If you're looking to catechumen Samsung's build into i that resembles stock Android eleven, that won't happen without a launcher.

Apps

Even though the Play Store has overtaken Apple tree's App Store when it comes to sheer numbers, there'south no denying that in that location are more high-quality, polished apps, and games on iOS. That's considering it's easier to develop an app for a specific number of iPhones and iPads versus the multitude of different Android devices. That means most new apps and games will launch on iPhone offset.

The practiced news is that the gap is closing, and the vast majority of the big apps and games that you knew and loved on your iPhone will be available for Android. Y'all'll likewise find that apps and games are generally cheaper and a higher proportion of them are free on the Android platform.

To get you started, bank check out our list of the best Android apps and our roundup of the best Android games. With Android, you're not forced to use a ready of default apps. In fact, y'all'll typically find duplicated functionality in pre-installed Google apps and manufacturer or carrier apps. You can simply select the one you similar best, or install another third-party choice to practise the job. When you have more ane app capable of performing a job, y'all'll get a pop-up window asking yous which ane you'd similar to employ (yous can tick Always to make it the default).

When you want to check your complete app list, you can go to Settings > Apps. Y'all can choose to uninstall apps, Clear Cache or Clear Cata, and review the apps' permissions on this screen (you tin can likewise disable bloatware that you don't use). You'll find app updates will appear in your notifications bar from time to time, or you tin enter the Play Store, tap Menu, and cull My Apps to update everything at one time. If you lot find you lot are getting too many annoying notifications from specific apps or games, you can ever bank check out our guide on how to plow notifications off.

Alleviating your worries

Every criticism of Android refers to the same potential bug. Some things could make y'all reticent to leave Apple's walled garden, only these issues are sometimes exaggerated. There are likewise ways to dispel those concerns.

Fragmentation

A great deal is made of the fragmentation event, but it is unlikely to impact your Android feel. In that location is a huge option of Android devices running different versions of the platform, and the main trouble is updates.

Unlike Apple, Google can't but push an update out for every Android device. The manufacturer and the carrier accept a say, and sometimes they hold things up. There can as well be issues with manufacturer UIs like Samsung'south One UI and HTC's Sense UI.

In practice, well-nigh of the summit phones get updates fairly quickly. If y'all want guaranteed fast updates, then opt for a Google device, like the Pixel v. If you want the latest version of Android, Pixel phones are withal the fashion to go.

In terms of apps, the Play Store doesn't let you to install incompatible apps.

Malware

Every twenty-four hours, there'south a new article raising the specter of malware on Android. Every bit the most popular mobile platform, Android will inevitably be targeted, but it is relatively easy to stay safe.

Consider installing ane of the top Android security apps and don't install apps from outside of the Play Store. Sideloading from sketchy Android markets tin can lead you lot to a life full of malware-ridden woes.

Stability

Early Android versions were decumbent to crashing and lag, but times accept changed. From software updates to new devices packed with features, Android is now a frontrunner in the smartphone Os race.

Unfortunately, the platform's history hasn't earned it a great reputation. The fact that y'all tin buy Android smartphones with relatively low specs at a fraction of the price of an iPhone has also impacted brand perception. For a off-white comparison, you lot have to equate apples to apples. Or, in this case, compare a height-line, comparably priced Android smartphone with the iPhone.

The latest versions of Android are fast and polish, and the newest Android smartphones tin can match, or fifty-fifty occasionally all-time, the iPhone when information technology comes to performance. Google has also worked tirelessly to improve stability and functioning on lower-finish hardware with Android One and Android Go.

Actress options: Rooting and other tips

When you root your telephone, you tin customize everything, which tin can be a fun characteristic if you like to make custom icons and keyboards, or even if you simply want to be able to control the inner workings of your device. Information technology's not without risks, though, so most people might want to avert it. Our how to root your Android telephone guide goes into the pros and cons and how to practise it. We have a top ten apps for rooted Android phones roundup to help guide y'all, too.

If yous are unsure what device to buy for your transition, check out our best Android smartphones roundup. For those completely new to Android, our beginner'southward guide volition assist you get farther acquainted. We also have a wide range of other Android guides, including everything from how to block calls on your Android phone to how to wipe your Android device to how to use nighttime manner. If you demand other insight into Android life, search the term on Digital Trends to notice fifty-fifty more resources, including device-specific information.

Some of you lot thought there was no gamble yous'd give up your iPhone. Peradventure you're beginning to see some of the positives of owning an Android, such equally the variety of phones to choose from, picture quality, or just having standard connectors instead of Apple chargers. There'south e'er a learning curve with whatsoever new electronic device, then tackle the switch to Android with enthusiasm regarding the unique features y'all'll be able to harness.

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Source: https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-switch-from-iphone-to-android/

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