Transferring Google services from iPhone to a new Android device or even adding a work account to the Android device from iOS device can be an easy or a challenging task depending on what apps and services you use. An Android device gives access to mail, calendar, and contacts among other resources transferred from iOS device. Depending on your current setup, the process can be quick, or take several hours.
This guide will help you switch from iPhone to Android in the most effective way possible.
For iPhone users who heavily invest in Google, switching to an Android device can be quick - maybe just an hour or two. Those who are into other programs and apps might spend a whole evening switching their work mail and other accounts.
Google accounts including Gmail, Google Maps and Google calendar for iOS can easily be installed on a new Google device. In fact, Android devices are offered with Google accounts already installed. This means that, a user will only need to sign in and pick up where they left off. Apps such as Google Drive and Google Photos might also be pre-installed. If they are not, they can easily be downloaded from Google Play Store on an Android device.
Google Drive helps users manage calendars and contacts, videos, photos and documents. While Google doesn't have an app to help users switch from iOS, it offers enough information on its Android platform for users to use swap with ease.
Users who like switching between different operating systems are advised to use services and apps that are available for iPhone and Android devices. Google’s cloud centric services, such as Google drive and Google Photos, cut across the two operating systems. For now, Apple Music is the only app available for Android devices.
Related: Switch From Android to iPhone
Transferring messages from iOS to Android is a challenging task, seeing that the Google platform does not support Apple’s messaging platform. There is no app from Apple or from Google that will allow you to export all messages from iMessage to a Google messaging app. While most users are going to have to abandon their messages, a clean switch can still be ensured.
Before the switch, a user needs to switch off iMessage and FaceTime from settings. Apple has given instructions on how to de-register from such services on their SelfSolve website.
While exporting messages from iMessage to a Google platform is not easy, there are third party apps that allow users to do just that. iSMS2droid is one such app that allows you to transfer messages backed up on iTunes to an Android device. These messages can also be browsed on a computer using CopyTrans for Windows or PhoneView for MacOS.
Emails are easier to transfer compared to messages. iCloud emails can still be accessed through Gmail, given the user does not want to abandon the old emails and start all over again. The Apple system supports IMAP, which lets users integrate email accounts with ease.
When switching, a user needs to tap the drop down menu on Gmail app menu and select Add Account. Apple provides configuration instructions for the user. This process is the same when the user needs to transfer a different account such as Outlook from Microsoft.
The fact that Apple supports IMAP protocol makes the switching process simple and straightforward.
When the switch from iCloud to Gmail feels like a long process, a user might choose to have their iCloud emails automatically forwarded to Gmail. This can be done by opening iCloud Mail setting and configuring message forwarding. While setting up, a user might also choose to delete old mails once they have been forwarded.
Old messages from iCloud can be exported through Mail on MacOS and the account deactivated. This is a good alternative when a user has a lot of emails that they would like to access in future.
Transferring contacts and calendars from iOS is best done through Google Drive. This comes in handy when a user wants to make a one-time switch. Moving contacts and calendar can be effected by installing Google Drive for iOS on an iPhone, opening the app’s menu and choosing Backup. The app directs users to files and data. On choosing files and clicking Backup, the app will pick up data from iCloud and iOS. To ensure the process is effective, the iOS device needs to be connected to a power source and on Wi-Fi. Once the switchover has started, previously backed up data will be overwritten.
For users who need two-way sync, the process might be a little longer. This option comes in handy for those with an Android device with an Apple laptop. Here, the best way is to use Google services on both platforms such as Google calendars and Google contacts, and then adding the Google accounts to both Android and macOS. The apps can be added from the app menu in both cases.
For two-way sync, users need to ensure they are adding contacts and events to Google calendar and Drive and not iCloud. This lets the contacts and events show up on the Android device. Another good way to sync the two operating systems to work concurrently is to use a third party app from Android or MacOS. There are a number of third-party apps; the best should be the easiest to use.
Like the contacts and calendars, transferring photos and videos can be done through Google apps. To transfer photos, Google Photos, for iOS, should be used. This can be done by easily downloading Google Photos and installing it on the iPhone and backing up all photos. To store everything as is, a user will need to pay Google for storage. Otherwise, photos will be resized. By default, Google will store images at 16MP and videos 1080p max. When resized, a user can save as many photos and videos as they like. This service does not cost anything, and Google offers up to 15 GB storage.
Google Drive is even easier as it allows users to back up all files and data as earlier stated. With Google Photos, however, a user can back up live photos where the app creates a GIF from backed up photos. When photos are backed up through this app, the folders and albums created will not appear. All photos appear as one long list and a user will have to create albums again.
When a user has backed up their photos on iCloud and need to upload them to Google Photos, the only option is to download them from iCloud into a MacOS or Windows PC, and uploading them from there. There is no link or connecting app between Apple Photos and Google Photos, and this means a user need to follow the two processes; download and upload.
While the process is a little longer, it is easier than trying to use the exports options that iCloud offers, seeing that these options are non-existent. This transfer method works only when a user has a computer to work as a link between the two platforms.
Today, Android users can install Apple Music. This makes it easy for users to access iTunes music through Android devices. Tunes purchased directly from iTunes are easy to store in iTunes and access them later after the switch. However, an Apple Music subscription is needed to ensure that the purchases are gotten with ease.
If this is not an option, other ways to transfer music and movies will be dependent on the location of music and mode of storage. Plain MP3 music synced to iOS from iTunes can easily be uploaded from Google Play Music, which allows a user to back up 50,000 songs for free. A third-party program such as DoubleTwist, which lets you keep on using iTunes, can also be used.
For users who are using services such as Spotify, an Android app is needed to access music.
Movies are also easy to transfer for users who have been using services such as Netflix. Google Play Movies and TV and Plex. Here, the relevant Android app is needed to access movies. These services are adaptable and they allow you to stream movies from a single account on different devices.
Even when the process from the services above is easy, movies and videos downloaded from iTunes will not play on Android. Apple and Google have not developed an app that will allow you to play these files. However, there are third party apps that can remove iTunes DRM. Users can find a number of them online.
Users can still access their movies and videos from macOS, Apple TV and Windows. While the movies are not accessible through Android, a user can still get value for their investments on iTunes digital library through a computer.
Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS share a high number of apps and games. While there are a few exceptions such as Day One and Overcast, users can still access their favorite apps and games on Android. The only problem is, a user might need to pay for premium apps all over again. Apps such as Spotify allow you to sign in from any device, which makes them easy to install on the iOS or Android without subscribing again; the subscription gives you access on both platforms.
Even when it might be easy to access apps on Android after the switch, user data might be lost including saved games and documents. Before switching, therefore, it is advisable to confirm with the developer. This is, however, only advisable when the user wants to retain user data. When using iCloud storage, moving the data might be a little challenging.
Sometimes the switch might be beneficial. Some premium iOS games such as Alto’s Adventure are offered free on Android. While it is not possible to transfer apps directly from iOS to Android, these apps can be downloaded and installed from Google Play. For each app on iOS that is not available for Android, there is an alternative.
Users can also download additional apps for Android devices.
There are other factors to consider when making the switch; most of which have not been covered on this guide. iOS has different apps and services that a user might still need to access on Android including banking, fitness and self-improvement apps. Granted, a user might need to keep the iOS device for a while just in case there is an app or service that was forgotten.
While there are a number of third party apps to use for different tasks during the switch, a user needs to be keen as some apps are not safe. This is especially important when transferring important information such as banking details and messages.
A high number of apps for Android and iOS have been introduced, allowing users to make the switch with ease. There are also third party apps that have been developed for the same process too. Attention has been given to cloud services from iOS and Android. These services have allowed users, mostly those who are on cloud services, to make the switch within a few hours. However, iMessage users will find the task a little daunting.
