What You Need to Do When Switching from Android to iPhone Leave a comment

Android and iOS are the two most popular operating systems in the world of mobile phone technology. Both competitors offer great features and have a loyal customer base. But sometimes, customers switch from Android to iPhone either to experience using a different operating system or because of the higher security features offered by iOS. This switch can be challenging as after using Android for a long time you must have accumulated a decent amount of data and have the habit of using a different user interface.

Fear not! The RTC Electronics team has come up with a guide to smoothen this transition for you. Read through this blog post to understand what you need to do when switching from Android to iPhone. We have divided the post into three parts for your convenience.

Part-I

Create a Backup

Before you attempt to switch, make sure that you create a back up of all your existing smartphone’s information. This will help you if you’re unable to transfer all your data from Android to iOS. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry. You can sync your content to your computer or use a microSD card, cloud service or a hard disk to keep your photographs, videos, contacts, music files, calendar and other important content safe.

Download ‘Move to iOS’ App

To ensure a hassle-free transfer of data from your Android smartphone to iPhone, Apple has made a special tool named ‘Move to iOS’. This app is available to any device running Android 4.0 or later and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. Install the app on your Android smartphone, accept permission requests and open the app. In the meantime, simply boot up your new iPhone while setting it up, reach the screen titled ‘Apps & Data’ and tap ‘Move Data from Android’ option. Now, tap ‘Continue’ on both devices followed by ‘Agree’ and ‘Next’. Your Android device will ask to enter a 12-digit code displayed on your new iPhone. Enter the code to connect both devices over a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi network. Lastly, your iPhone will ask to finish setting up the device and you’ll get your email account, Chrome bookmarks, photos, videos, calendar and other information in the new device.

Part-II

 

Understand What Content You Can Transfer and What You Can’t

Even if you have created a backup and transferred all data from your previous device to the new one, it is important for you to know that you can’t transfer everything as not all software works in an iOS device. Here’s an overview of the data you can and can’t move to your iPhone.

• Photos and videos– No one wants to lose their precious memories just because they are changing their phones. If you saved your photos and videos on your Google account, then merely installing Google Photos on your iPhone is required to download all of those photos and videos to your new device.

• Music– If you listen to music online, then you don’t need to worry as you can simply stream your favourite songs through a streaming service like Spotify and enjoy them on your new device. If you had a good collection of downloaded songs for offline listening, then you can add DRM-free files to iTunes. However, music files with DRM need to be authorized first (with an app) to use it on your iPhone. Some DRM files aren’t supported on the iOS at all. So, make sure you check all the files before switching. Also, Windows Media files can’t be played on iPhone, so convert them to AAC or MP3 and then add them to iTunes.

• Contacts– The address book and other contact details can be easily and seamlessly transferred to your new phone with the ‘Moe to iOS’ app. The contacts that you have saved on the cloud will be available on your iPhone once you download it.

• Apps- This is the biggest point of difference between Android iOS as there are several Android apps that don’t work on iPhones and vice versa. You can’t bring all your apps with you when you switch platforms. The good news is there are many apps that have their iPhone versions available on the Apple Store. But, if you have paid apps, then you have to purchase them again for your new device. Also, the iPhone versions of the apps you need won’t come with your data.

• Text Messages– If you have stored text messages on your Android phone, then they might not get transferred to your phone. However, if they are in stored in the cloud or in a third-party app, then you can access them by downloading the iPhone version of that app.

Part-III

What to Expect

The decision of switching from Android to iPhone is not easy. Getting used to a new operating system will take time and feel a little odd. So, be aware of what to expect from this transition. Let’s have a look at some benefits and drawbacks of moving to iOS to keep things realistic for you.

Benefits

• iPhone is easier to use compared to Android because the user interface is intuitive and simpler to master. If understanding technology is not your cup of tea, then you have taken the right decision to switch to an iOS. Also, the interface is consistent on all versions of iPhone.

• Unlike Android devices that are vulnerable to receiving malware, iPhones are more secure. The App Store contains legitimate apps only, thus safeguarding you from downloading malicious software or apps that secretly access data off your device.

• The hardware and software of the iPhone are optimized and controlled by Apple, thus maintaining a pre-defined standard. On the other hand, Google sells Android software to various smartphone manufacturing companies so the quality of hardware depends on the manufacturer. Therefore, when you switch to an iOS device, you’re sure of the quality of hardware and software you get.

• Even if your iPhone is lost or stolen, you can access and recover your data. The ‘Find My Phone’ setting allows you to locate your phone, extract the data using iPhone Backup Extractor, block your lost phone and delete the data so that no one else can access it.

Drawbacks

• iPhone has fewer customization options as you can’t change the home screen, add widgets of your choice, install apps from places other than the App Store and share files from other devices. Also, an iPhone doesn’t support all electronic accessories. For example, the latest iPhones don’t have headphone jacks so you have to buy Apple ear.

• You can not add an SD memory card to your iPhone as the device doesn’t support external storage.

• iPhone doesn’t offer to multitask, unlike Android devices that allow you to divide your screen and use two apps at the same time. Of course, you can listen to music and search something on the web simultaneously. But, you won’t be able to multitask.

• You won’t find as many apps on the Apple Store as there were on Google Play Store. Additionally, most apps on the Apple Store need to be bought and can’t be shared either.

Hopefully, the above-mentioned guide will help you make the transition from Android to iPhone easily and smoothly. Start with creating a backup and downloading the ‘Move to iOS’ app. Understand the type of files you can transfer before switching and be ready for the benefits and challenges that come with this move. To learn more about smartphones and other electronic accessories, give us a call or visit our electronics store in Mississauga.