Google is finally tackling one of the biggest headaches in mobile tech: switching from iPhone to Android without losing half your data.
During its Android Show: I/O Edition 2026 keynote, the company announced a major upgrade to Android’s migration tools. This upgrade dramatically expands what can be transferred from iOS.
Starting with Android 17, users switching from an iPhone will be able to bring across far more than just contacts and photos. Now, the updated migration process supports accessibility settings, alarms, apps and their user data, calendars, call history, email accounts, eSIMs, files, messages, notes, passwords, wallpapers, WhatsApp data, and even your home screen layout.
That last part could make the transition feel noticeably less jarring. This is especially true for long-time iPhone users who don’t want to rebuild their setup from scratch after switching platforms.
The improved transfer system appears to be part of Google’s broader push to make Android feel less fragmented and more welcoming to users coming from Apple’s ecosystem. Previously, switching from iOS often meant sacrificing app data, manually setting up accounts again, or losing key settings entirely.
There is a catch, though. Much like the upgraded Gemini Intelligence experience in Android 17, the upgraded migration tools will arrive on Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones first before expanding to other devices later.
The feature is expected to debut alongside Android 17 and Samsung’s One UI 9. This is tipped to launch with the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide this July. In fact, Samsung has already started rolling out the One UI 9 beta, so there’s a good chance the upgraded Smart Switch experience could appear sooner rather than later.
For Google, the timing makes sense. Foldables are becoming a bigger part of the Android ecosystem. Thus, convincing iPhone users to jump ship is much easier when the setup process doesn’t feel like starting over from zero.
If the new migration system works as smoothly as Google promises, switching from iPhone to Android could finally become a lot less painful. This is something Android users have wanted for years.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Starting with Android 17, users can transfer accessibility settings, alarms, apps and their user data, calendars, call history, email accounts, eSIMs, files, messages, notes, passwords, wallpapers, WhatsApp data, and even the home screen layout.
The upgraded tools will arrive on Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones first before expanding to other devices. The feature is expected to debut alongside Android 17 and Samsung's One UI 9.
Yes. The updated migration process supports transferring your home screen layout, which should make the transition feel noticeably less jarring for long-time iPhone users.
Previously, switching from iOS often meant sacrificing app data, manually setting up accounts again, or losing key settings entirely. The upgrade was announced at the Android Show: I/O Edition 2026 keynote.
