Apple’s latest iOS 26 update, iOS 26.3, has eliminated a decades-old concern: transferring data to an Android phone, and it does so with a cool new tool for anyone looking to switch from iPhone to Android.
The clever iOS 26.3 feature for data migration was first spotted in a beta version in 2025. It allows users to easily migrate data such as messages, notes, photos, and contacts to an Android device in just a few steps.
Easy data migration between iPhone and Android
Before this emerged, 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 as much fiddling, as users simply need to place their devices side by side to get started.
Now, migrating data from iPhone to Android is easier than ever. 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.
Limitations of data migration between iPhone and Android
But that’s not without some limitations: the tool doesn’t transfer health data, paired Bluetooth devices, or protected items like locked notes.
The second limit is that both devices must be running the latest software versions with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
Google’s new tool for transferring data from Android to iPhone
This transfer tool comes from a collaboration between Apple and Google, simplifying data transfers for users who switch between Apple and Google. To even the score, Google has implemented a similar feature on Android to make data transfers easier for users moving to an iPhone.
The development ends Apple’s years of reluctance on 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 hassles that have existed for decades.
