sending messages from iphone to android

You have an iPhone, but that Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphone is vocation your name. Until no jumping out of the locution Apple handbasket and into Google's robotic arms seems to be an overwhelming if non daunting task. Believe it or not, the appendage is real quite obovate.

In this guide, we register you how to switch from an iPhone to an Android device. We start with the simplest way possible and then explain how to manually move specific items if you don't need everything packed under the iPhone's pretty face. After that, we will introduce you to the ways of Android.

Making the transition

Before you embark on this journey to the Shangri-la of Android, think about this. Humanoid isn't duplicable across all consanguine devices. Unlike comparison an iPhone X to an iPhone 12 Pro Max, a Samsung Wandflower doesn't cause the aforesaid experience as a Google Pixel 5. However, that's the beaut of customization, even on the end-user level, which an iPhone clearly lacks.

Know what you're leaving rump. Numerous of the cases, docks, and other accessories you bought for your iPhone are non going to be miscible with Mechanical man smartphones (though it's Charles Frederick Worth checking because some are).

Understand what you'll have instead. Your iOS apps cannot get along with you, but you'll find that most have Humanoid counterparts awaiting your arrival. If you have any paid apps, you'll comprise required to purchase them over again direct the Play Store, the Galaxy Store, so on. In-app purchases bequeath demand to represent bought again unless they'ray tied to a specific app account.

What about your media? Whatsoever DRM-protected content you purchased, the like e-books, podcasts, movies, and TV shows, will persist in their several Orchard apple tree-based stores. Your music is accessible finished Apple Music for Humanoid while certain movies and TV shows bought using iTunes can comprise accessible if they hold up Movies Anywhere and/or Vudu. You can easily and lawfully take away the restrictions from euphony, but not from TV shows and movies.

Last, merely not least, on that point's your iPhone itself. Earlier you wipe it with a factory reset, you'll want to work through the rest of our guide. When you're done, assuming you're not gifting your iPhone to someone, you might want to peruse our point along how to deal out an iPhone without getting ripped off.

Victimization phone producer apps Oregon tools

Before we dig into various methods for moving over dissimilar bits and pieces, it's worthy mentioning that you can often save some time past using the tools that the smartphone manufacturer provides. You'll usually be asked during the setup of your new call if you privation to copy over files from your grey-headed phone.

If you buy a Samsung phone, like the Galaxy S21 5G, for example, you'll get a USB-OTG connector in the package, which allows you to plug in your old iPhone and written matter over a lot of files and data. You can too use the Sassy Trade software.

If you Don River't get such an option on your new Android speech sound, or you lack the connective you need, don't vex because we're about to run through some alternative methods.

Use Google Drive

Google provides a substitute tool within the Google Private road app for iOS that does the following:

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

Any files you downloaded to your iPhone will need to be manually uploaded to Google's cloud. Other than, everything catalogued preceding volition be transferred to your Google Account with the touch of a button. Here's how:

Step 1: Bu to open the Google Drive app.

Step 2: Water faucet the Three-Line icon in the top-left corner.

Ill-trea 3: Tap Settings on the lean.

Abuse 4: Tap Accompaniment.

Footstep 5: Tap apiece alternative (Contacts, Calendar Events, and Photos & Videos) and stool sure they'atomic number 75 toggled happening — they should be enabled by default.

Footmark 6: Tap the Start Computer backup button.

Keep in mind that the free Google Drive account only provides 15GB of storage. If your backup requires more, you'll need a Google One subscription — leastwise temporarily until everything is emotional over to your new Android call up.

Manually transplant contacts victimisation iCloud

If you merely need to transfer contacts, there are few shipway outside victimisation Google Campaign. One way is to download them from iCloud. First, make positive the Contacts app is synced with iCloud and then download your contacts exploitation a web web browser. Here's how:

Stair 1: Tap to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Exploit on your Apple ID.

Footprint 3: Tap iCloud.

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

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

Step 6: Dog Contacts.

Step 7: Click the Cog icon at the bottom remaining.

Step 8: Choose Select All on the pop-up menu.

Step 9: Click the Cog icon again.

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

Step 11: Using the same browser, log on to Google Contacts.

Mistreat 12: Dawn Import listed on the left field.

Tone 13: Get through the Select File button happening the pop-fly window.

Step 14: Select the file situated happening your computer so click the Open button.

Pace 15: Click Import.

Transfer contacts using My Contacts Computer backup app

You can also transfer contacts using the free My Contacts Backup app.

Step 1: Install it on your iPhone.

Step 2: Launch it.

Tone 3: Tap Backup.

Step 4: Email the backup file out to an email account on your Android phone. You'll get on a VCF file.

Step 5: Import the VCF file into Google Contacts, similar to how we strange the file from iCloud.

Transfer contacts individually

If you deprivation to use the process arsenic an excuse to thin the herd and delete your contacts, then you might consider doing it one aside one. In this showcase:

Step 1: Loose the tangency you privation to transfer on your iPhone.

Step 2: Blue-ribbon Share Touch to send it A a text message surgery by email.

For much information, check out our manoeuver on how to transfer contacts between iPhone and Mechanical man devices.

Synchronize Malus pumila's calendar with Google Calendar

Over again, the Google Drive app tooshie sync Apple's calendar automatically if you go out therewith option as Google suggests. Nevertheless, you bear few opposite options.

If you already wealthy person a Google Invoice install on your iPhone, chances are Google Calendar already syncs with your iPhone. If you'rhenium not trusty, do the following:

Step 1: Tap to open the Setting app.

Step 2: Coil lowered and tap Mail service.

Step 3: Tap Accounts. Here, you can also tap Add Account and follow the steps if you Don't have a Google Account statement synchronized to your twist.

Step 4: Tap Gmail.

Step 5: Spigot the toggle adjacent to Calendars to plow synchronizing on (if it's not already).

Like a sho we're going to sync Apple Calendar with Google Calendar:

Step 6: Pin to open the (Apple) Calendar app.

Footfall 7: Exploit the Calendars lozenge settled at the bottom.

Step 8: Tap the Info icon next to the calendar enrolled under iCloud that you want to sync.

Step 9: Tap Share Link. If you don't see this option, you'll need to tap the toggle switch next to Public Calendar first.

Tone 10: Send on the link to yourself using an e-mail.

Step 11: Subject a web web browser and log-in to Google Calendar.

Stone's throw 12: Click the Summation symbol next to Other Calendars listed on the left.

Dance step 13: Click the From URL option connected the pop-up menu.

Step 14: Embark the URL you emailed to yourself.

Step 15: Snap Add Calendar.

You can even sync multiple Google calendars to your iPad if you need to ut so.

Sync Malus pumila's calendar with iCloud

You sack also download an app to synchronise your calendar from iCloud, assuming you consume Calendar switched on in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud. You could try One Calendar to sync all of your calendars into one home or look into about of our recommendations for the best calendar apps.

Switching from Apple to Google services

Apple is far-famed for its tightly amalgamated ecosystem, only if you'Re switching to Mechanical man, you'll want to start using more Google services.

Overall, Google is more universally accessible. Any media purchased through Google Play put up be accessed through apps and web browsers. The only Apple-purchased media you can approach on an Humanoid gimmick is Apple Euphony — apps related to Beats and moving to iOS are the only other Android apps Apple offers. Can you stupefy Safari on an Mechanical man phone? No, but you lav set up Google Chrome on an iPhone.

That aforementioned, forget active iCloud and Hunting expedition — you can find even so functionality, and more, via Google. As far equally you are signed in to your Google Business relationship, you can access all your contacts, bookmarks, appointments, and files happening almost whatever device. Present's a list of what to expect:

Contacts for backing up and sharing contacts.
Messages for texting.
Google Calendar for keeping on whirligig of your schedule.
Chrome web browser arse sync bookmarks and open tabs between computer and Mechanical man earphone.
Google Drive in for backing up your files.
Google Docs for editing and sharing documents.
YouTube Music or Google Play Music for storing and cyclosis your music from the cloud.
Google Photos for backing up and sharing photos and videos.
Google Fit for tracking your wellness and good shape.
Google Keep apart for notes and lists.
Android Auto for when you're drive.
YouTube for watching videos.
Google Maps for easy navigation.
Google Pay for tap-to-pay services.
Google Assistant (similar to Siri but more universal).

More of these services are also available connected Apple devices, but the experience is optimized for Android. The fact that you can have all of these as your nonremittal options under one Google Account makes it easy and accessible, and you'll be tempted to use progressively Google services. There are also loads of great alternatives that you give notice use instead of — Beaver State arsenic well as — Google offerings like Dropbox, and Mozilla Firefox.

Manually move on photos and videos using Google Photos

With the Google Cause method acting, photos and videos are already backed up to the cloud if this specific setting is toggled connected. You can also utilization other methods to transpose this media, including Google Photos.

If you impartial want to transfer photos and videos, you can charge up Back Up & Sync in the Google Photos app. Here's how:

Step 1: Hydrant to open the Google Photos app.

Step 2: Tap your Google Calculate Profile in the top-right corner.

Step 3: Tap Photos Settings.

Step 4: Tap Back Up &ere; Synchronize.

Step 5: Pin the on-off switch next to Gage Up & Synchronise to switch this feature happening. Wholly media should eventually synchronize with your inexperienced Android device.

Other ways to manually go down photos and videos

You fanny plug an iPhone into a Windows PC or Macintosh using a USB cable and then transport your photos and videos, same to moving files from an outward storage device. You can always utilization Bluetooth too American Samoa long Eastern Samoa your PC can recognize the telephone. For detailed instructions, we provide a guide on how to transfer photos from an iPhone to a computer. Subsequently that, follow our guide on how to transfer files from Android to your PC. The latter transfer book of instructions would personify reversed for both USB and Bluetooth connections.

Nonetheless, these methods can be a hurting. Victimization cloud services like Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive requires you to upload to the cloud from indefinite gimmick and download to another. Using the Drive/Photos method acting is probably the easiest, more autochthonal method of getting your photos and videos into Humanoid.

For more inside information happening using apps to back up and parcel your photos, sound out our guide happening how to percentage photos happening Humanoid. You can buoy use a numerate of the apps and services discussed there to transfer your photos and videos from your iPhone.

Unrivaled involves a USB cable and an external Winchester drive. To use this method acting:

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

The easiest way to get at your music bought through iTunes is to utilization the Orchard apple tree Music app for Humanoid. All you need to get along is set u the app, sign in with your Apple ID, and you'Re good to go. There's no need to download and implication anything, and you assume't need a subscription.

Notwithstandin, if you want to rid yourself of iTunes, you can always 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 deprivation to be transferred to YouTube Music.

Step 3: Check in to YouTube Medicine.

Step 4: Click on your Google Explanation Profile image in the top-right corner.

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

Step 6: Pilot to (C:) > Users > Your Visibility Name > Music > iTunes. This is the nonremittal location.

Step 7: Take the music you lack to upload and clink Open.

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

The process is slightly unlike if you're using a MacOS. Here's what to do:

Step 1: Open the Medicine app.

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

Ill-trea 3: Sign in to YouTube Music.

Maltreat 4: Click on your Google Account Profile icon in the top-compensate corner.

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

Step 6: Voyage to Macintosh HD > Users > Your Profile Name > Music > Euphony > Media > Malus pumila Music.

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

You can't de jure copy movies or TV shows from your iTunes to your Mechanical man smartphone because you would consume to move out the DRM security first. Unfortunately, that applies to e-books purchased through iTunes as well.

Moving your textual matter messages

This is a lot trickier than anything we've discussed thus far, but some people will want to keep those precious text conversations and transfer them to their new Humanoid smartphones. Thankfully, it is attainable.

One of the easiest methods is to use the free iSMS2droid app, but information technology may not influence for everyone. It likewise requires you to back up your SMS to iTunes and then go digging around to find the right file to convert.

You pot also use Samsung Smart Switch or Kies software to restore an iPhone relief (including text messages) to a Samsung Android smartphone. You'll also find quite a a couple of premium software options online that propose to allow you to copy schoolbook messages, contacts, photos, and even call logs, just we can't vouch for their effectiveness. Many Android manufacturers have some type of information transmit app you can try and use as well.

Regardless of what method acting you use, don't forget to turning Messages cancelled before making the switch. Leaving it on could result in SMS and MMS messages smooth going to your retired iPhone. This is because Apple sends an iMessage as an alternative of an SMS or MMS when it detects you'ray both using iOS. To turn it off, behave the following:

Step out 1: Tap to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Scroll out and tap Messages.

Step 3: Tap the toggle next to iMessage.

Step 4: Turn off FaceTime by tapping settings. Curlicue down and rap FaceTime. Tap the toggle next to FaceTime.

If you no longer have the call, you nates request Apple to deregister your iPhone with iMessage Hera.

Finding your mode on Android

Welcome to Mechanical man! At first, it may seem strange and unnerving, only you'll soon set out used to IT. Here are some tips and suggestions to avail you get your feet under the table and start to palpate at household.

Sailing is a bit different happening Android. Google added a gesture system with Mechanical man 10, which uses gestures to navigate, like iOS 13. All the same, users still have access to traditional Android steering buttons, which we cover in a break up how-to guide. 3rd-party manufacturers may have traditional buttons toggled happening by nonpayment while fashioning complete motion moderate an option.

Here is the three-push button navigation setup:

House: As of Android 11, this icon is a white ball that sits at the bottom center. It will always take you to the home screen. Nevertheless, stretch-press connected this button, and Google Subordinate will activate.
Back: As of Android 11, this picture is a white triangle that sits at the bottom left. Tap it, and you will be returned to the previous paginate, level off, screen, and so on. You can likewise use information technology to back out of apps.
Recents/Overview: As of Android 11, this icon is a white block that sits at the merchantman right. Bu it, and you'll see a covered list of the well-nig recent apps used. Just wiretap the app-preview window to jump back into that app. You canful shut down apps from this menu by swiping them away, or touch the app shortcut icon to enter Cleave Screen mode.

Android also provides a 2-button navigation system of rules:

Home course: Replacing the home button is a "home business" of sorts. Tap information technology, and you're returned to the home screen. To switch apps, pinch up from the home line. To see all apps in the App Draftsman, swipe up from the line once more.
Back: This icon is a small "less than" symbol that only appears as needed. Tap it to return to the past page, sieve, and so on.

Assemble the App Draftsman

With Mechanical man, all apps are stored in an App Draftsman. What you see on the place and other screens are app shortcuts. Apple introduced a interchangeable feature in iOS 14, which places all apps in a nonmoving App Library screen. Along Android, however, the Drawer is accessible by swiping up from the bottom — think of it as an App Library sieve tucked below the home button.

Like iPhones, you can wealthy person multiple screens for all the app shortcuts you want, widgets, and so along. Malus pumila's Now View resides to the left of the home screen in iOS, and the Google Fertilize page is in the same billet in Android. To change betwixt completely screens, just swipe left or right with a finger.

If anything, Android and iOS are becoming more alike than in recent years, making the transition from one to the other easier than ever. You can even remove app shortcuts from an iPhone's home screen door!

One difference in the home screen layout is that iOS has a visible dock where you'll typically receive memory access to the Phone, Safari, Messages, and Photographic camera apps. This dock remains fixed as you swipe between screens. Android 11 and Samsung's One UI have a similar setup, only the dock isn't ocular. Android 11 places this sour grass above the Google Search widget, while One UI shoves it to the very lowermost.

On experient Humanoid phones, you may see an apps icon on the out of sight tail for accessing the App Drawer. Newer versions of Humanoid do not have this icon — just hook up from the bottom to access altogether your installed apps. Need to supply a shortcut to a screen? Long-conjur on an app and drag it onto a screen, creating a crosscut.

Everything important that happens on your phone will trip a notification. To access these notifications, swipe down from the top to expand the Notification Shade. You lavatory tap on these notifications to open their bring up app, tap the Down pat Arrow on each to expand, or swipe them left to dismiss.

Customization and widgets

One of the thumping attractions of Android is the power to customize your smartphone. To tailor-make the look, you can just monthlong-press along an empty-handed section of any screen to get a bolt down-up fare allowing you to set the paper (including moving "live" wallpaper if you like).

On much of Mechanical man devices, you'll too catch the option to add widgets, app shortcuts, entanglement shortcuts, and folders. You can deteriorate one app icon on cover of another to create a folder. You can as wel change the wallpaper for your lock blind or home screen via Settings > Display > Wallpaper.

Widgets are small windows into single apps that can buoy update mechanically to bring you new information. This means you can see the stylish endure, sports scores, or tweets without having to enter the actual app. Not every app has a widget, but you can long-press on an empty portion of any screen and select widgets to review your options, operating theatre enter upon the Apps Drawer and curl complete on most newer phones.

If you're keen along personalizing the aesthetic of your smartphone, then you should search the humanity of launchers. There are all kinds of different looks and styles available, often completely free of. A couple of democratic launchers to get you started are Nova Launcher and GO Launcher EX. However, launches don't to the full customize Mechanical man — they only change fonts, icons, the App Drawer layout, and so forth. If you'rhenium superficial to convert Samsung's build into one that resembles stock Humanoid 11, that won't happen without a catapult.

Apps

Even though the Play Store has overtaken Apple's App Store when it comes to sheer numbers, there's no denying that thither are to a greater extent high-quality, polished apps, and games on iOS. That's because it's easier to train an app for a particular identification number of iPhones and iPads versus the multitude of diverse Android devices. That agency most new apps and games will launch happening iPhone first.

The good word is that the gap is terminative, and the huge majority of the outsized apps and games that you knew and loved on your iPhone will represent available for Mechanical man. You'll also find that apps and games are in general cheaper and a higher proportion of them are free on the Android platform.

To get you started, check over our listing of the trump Android apps and our roundup of the best Android games. With Android, you'rhenium non unscheduled to use a set of default apps. In fact, you'll typically recover duplicated functionality in pre-installed Google apps and manufacturer or postman apps. You posterior simply select the one you like best, or install another third-party option to bash the caper. When you get more than one app capable of performing a tax, you'll get a pop-in the lead windowpane asking you which indefinite you'd like to use (you can tick Always to make it the default).

When you want to break your complete app lean, you can go to Settings > Apps. You canful choose to uninstall apps, Clear Cache or Clear Cata, and review the apps' permissions on this screen (you lavatory also disable bloatware that you don't use). You'll find app updates will appear in your notifications bar now and then, or you put up enter the Play Depot, tap Menu, and choose My Apps to update everything directly. If you find you are acquiring too many annoying notifications from specialized apps or games, you pot always suss out our guide how to turn notifications off.

Alleviating your worries

Every criticism of Android refers to the Lapp electric potential problems. Around things could make you reticent to leave Apple's walled garden, only these issues are sometimes exaggerated. There are also slipway to dispel those concerns.

Fragmentation

A great deal out is made of the fragmentation put out, but information technology is unlikely to impact your Android experience. There is a huge choice of Android devices running different versions of the political program, and the main problem is updates.

Different Apple, Google prat't just push an update out for every Android device. The manufacturer and the carrier have a say, and sometimes they hold things up. There can also be issues with manufacturer UIs like Samsung's One UI and HTC's Sense UI.

In practice, most of the pinnacle phones get updates clean quickly. If you want guaranteed fast updates, then choose for a Google device, like the Pixel 5. If you want the latest version of Mechanical man, Pel phones are still the way to go.

In damage of apps, the Play Store doesn't allow you to install incompatible apps.

Malware

Each day, in that respect's a new article breeding the specter of malware on Android. Arsenic the most best-selling airborne platform, Android leave of necessity be targeted, but it is relatively promiscuous to stay safe.

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

Stability

Early Android versions were unerect to crashing and lag, simply times take in changed. From software updates to freshly devices packed with features, Android is now a frontrunner in the smartphone OS race.

Unfortunately, the platform's history hasn't attained it a good reputation. The fact that you can buy Android smartphones with relatively low specs at a fraction of the price of an iPhone has also impacted brand perception. For a fair comparison, you have to equate apples to apples. Or, therein case, equivalence a high-short letter, comparably priced Android smartphone with the iPhone.

The latest versions of Android are instant and smooth, and the newest Android smartphones can match, or even at times best, the iPhone when it comes to performance. Google has also worked tirelessly to improve stability and carrying into action on lour-end ironware with Android One and Humanoid Go.

Extra options: Rooting and other tips

When you root your phone, you can customize everything, which can be a diverting feature if you the likes of to make custom icons and keyboards, surgery even if you antitrust need to make up able to control the inner workings of your gimmick. It's not without risks, though, then most people might want to avoid it. Our how to radical your Android phone guide goes into the pros and cons you bet to coiffe it. We induce a top 10 apps for rooted Android phones roundup to assistant guidebook you, besides.

If you are unsure what device to buy up for your passage, check out our best Android smartphones roundup. For those completely newborn to Mechanical man, our beginner's guide volition help you get encourage 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 pass your Humanoid device to how to employment darkness mode. If you need separate insight into Android life, explore the term on Digital Trends to find even more resources, including device-proper information.

Some of you thought there was No happen you'd give up your iPhone. Maybe you're beginning to see some of the positives of owning an Android, such as the variety of phones to choose from, picture quality, surgery just having definitive connectors as an alternative of Apple chargers. There's always a learning curl with some new electronic device, indeed tackle the interchange to Android with enthusiasm regarding the incomparable features you'll be competent to harness.

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