Apple’s latest iOS 26 update, iOS 26.3, has put an end to a decades-long concern: transferring data to an Android phone, and it’s doing so with a cool new tool for anyone looking to switch from iPhone to Android.
The smart iOS 26.3 data migration feature was first seen in a beta release in 2025. It allows users to easily migrate data such as messages, notes, photos and contacts to an Android device with just a few steps.
Easy data migration between iPhone and Android
Before this appeared, users had to install Google’s Android Switch app to transfer data from an iPhone to an Android device. Fortunately, the new built-in tool doesn’t require that much fuss, as users just need to place their devices next to each other to get started.
Now, iPhone to Android data migration is easier than ever before. Users simply connect their iPhone by scanning a QR code displayed on the Android phone using their iPhone or by entering a session ID and pairing code.
Once connected, users can select the data they want to migrate, including photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords, and contacts.
Restrictions on data migration between iPhone and Android
But it’s not without some limitations: the tool doesn’t transfer health data, paired Bluetooth devices, or protected items like locked notes.
The other limit is that both devices must be running the latest software versions with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
Google’s new tool for data transfer from Android to iPhone
This transfer tool originates from a collaboration between Apple and Google, simplifying data transfers for users switching between Apple and Google. To even the score, Google has implemented a similar feature in Android to facilitate data transfers for users moving to an iPhone.
The development puts an end to Apple’s years of reticence regarding data portability between ecosystems.
By simplifying data transfer between their smartphones, Apple and Google are believed to encourage more users to switch platforms without the hassle that has existed for decades.
