iOS 26.3 Makes It Easier to Switch From iPhone to Android

[MacRumors]

With iOS 26.3, Apple is making it simpler for iPhone users to transition to an Android smartphone, with new built-in tools for transferring data.

The new transfer tool allows an iPhone user to place their device next to an Android device to initiate a transfer process. With the two smartphones connected, users can opt to move over photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords, phone number, and more. Data transfers occur with no need to download and use a separate app, making the process simpler.

Health data, devices paired with Bluetooth, and protected items like locked notes are not transferred over to the new device.

Transferring data from an iPhone to an Android device wirelessly requires both devices to have the latest software, and to be connected to Wi-Fi with Bluetooth enabled. There will be an option to display a QR code on the Android device that the iPhone can scan to initiate the process, or there is an option to use a session ID and pairing code instead.

Google has also implemented a similar feature for transferring data from an Android to an iPhone, so it is a two-way process between the platforms.

Last week, the European Commission said that Apple and Google designed and implemented the new transfer system to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the European Union, but it is not a Europe-only feature. The new setting is available worldwide in the iOS 26.3 beta, and it can be found under Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Transfer to Android.

Article Link: iOS 26.3 Makes It Easier to Switch From iPhone to Android

 

[Paddle1]

Glad to see a feature that makes eSIMs a little easier to use.

 

[boswald]

Glad to see a feature that makes eSIMs a little easier to use.

Agreed. Having to call your carrier to switch between devices you own is annoying.

 

[Volk.JP]

Finally, an alternative to Liquid Glass!
Thanks, Apple!

 

[edrozenberg]

Absolutely! IOS 26 is so horrible, so badly conceived by a purse designer named Alan Dye who loved to play with Liquid Ass toys all day, that Android starts to look less badly designed. Personally sticking with iOS 18 on all my devices as long as possible and Sequoia on all Macs.

 

[Skyscraperfan]

Finally Apple allows moving from North Korea to South Korea.

 

[droplink]

Until I read it was an EU mandated feature, I thought it was Apple's reaction to the complaints about iOS 26.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Finally Apple allows moving from North Korea to South Korea.

This is a GREAT bit of humor.
Well played my friend.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Folks in the EU with MORE competition now due to the DMA have the option of using the product of one American big tech company or another American big tech company. And, those companies will make it ever so much easier to switch between American designed products! GO EU!

 

[Scatchit]

It’s almost as if Apple is saying to us, please jump ship.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It’s almost as if Apple is saying to us, please jump ship.

“don’t let the liquid glass cut you on the way out”
-Tim

 

[Mity]

Courtesy of the EU.

 

[Markwebbvt]

You mean I can now finally transfer messages from Apple to Android?!

 

[KillerScoregasm]

Someone is going to come along with a device and software that eclipses these complacent companies. I can’t wait.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

I feel sorry for those who use this new ‘feature’.

 

[now i see it]

I feel sorry for those who don't use this feature

 

[headlessmike]

Agreed. Having to call your carrier to switch between devices you own is annoying.

That’s entirely the carrier’s fault though. My carrier allows me to transfer eSIMs in a matter of seconds using nothing but their app or webpage.

 

[bmark]

iOS 26.3, the mass exodus from Apple has began!

 

[Shorty89]

I feel sorry for those who don't use this feature

Why

 

[Shorty89]

That’s entirely the carrier’s fault though. My carrier allows me to transfer eSIMs in a matter of seconds using nothing but their app or webpage.

But you shouldn’t have too

 

[Chat GPT]

Does it also work with WhatsApp?

 

[platinumaqua]

Should've had this feature much earlier when there were more than two viable smartphone operating systems.

 

[FatLouie]

Finally, an alternative to Liquid Glass!
Thanks, Apple!

....and that is precisely what I did. Now I am using an OPPO Find X9 Pro Global.

 

[applefan8254]

esim hotswap - can we make esim hot swapping between iPhone and Android a regular thing? With zero carrier involvement - just like regular sim swapping allows.

Regular sim card hot swapping between multiple devices requires zero carrier involvement.

Esims are supposed to be "the future" and "better". Until esim supports hot swapping back and forth and iPhone and Android and vice versa on a daily basis, as much as we want, I don't think it's true.

Some might say this involves carriers but I kind of disagree and think Apple and Google should take a leadership role here and *bring* this ability *to* carriers. Make the front end and back end technology so easy that carriers will support it. And eventually require them to do so.

 

[4tune8chance]

With iOS 26.3, Apple is making it simpler for iPhone users to transition to an Android smartphone, with new built-in tools for transferring data.

The new transfer tool allows an iPhone user to place their device next to an Android device to initiate a transfer process. With the two smartphones connected, users can opt to move over photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords, phone number, and more. Data transfers occur with no need to download and use a separate app, making the process simpler.

Health data, devices paired with Bluetooth, and protected items like locked notes are not transferred over to the new device.

Transferring data from an iPhone to an Android device wirelessly requires both devices to have the latest software, and to be connected to Wi-Fi with Bluetooth enabled. There will be an option to display a QR code on the Android device that the iPhone can scan to initiate the process, or there is an option to use a session ID and pairing code instead.

Google has also implemented a similar feature for transferring data from an Android to an iPhone, so it is a two-way process between the platforms.

Last week, the European Commission said that Apple and Google designed and implemented the new transfer system to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the European Union, but it is not a Europe-only feature. The new setting is available worldwide in the iOS 26.3 beta, and it can be found under Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Transfer to Android.

Article Link: iOS 26.3 Makes It Easier to Switch From iPhone to Android

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