Google adds iPhone-to-Android transfer tools in Android 17

Google is making one of the most annoying parts of changing phones less painful: moving personal data from an iPhone to an Android device. For investors watching the smartphone market, the update speaks directly to ecosystem lock-in, the friction that can keep a user tied to Apple or Android even when they want a different device.

The company said Wednesday that Android 17 includes a new migration experience built into the operating system. A migration tool is the setup process that copies a user’s data from an old phone to a new one, so the new device starts with familiar apps, settings, and personal information where supported.

Google said the new process lets users transfer more types of data wirelessly from an iPhone to Android without first downloading a separate app. That matters because each extra step in a phone switch can create another reason for someone to stay put, especially when the data involved includes photos, messages, passwords, and phone-service settings.

What can move from iPhone to Android

According to Google, the updated Android 17 setup flow supports transfers of core iPhone data that users already expect to bring with them, plus several newly supported categories.

• Photos
• Videos
• Contacts
• Messages
• Calendars
• Google Account information
• Passwords
• Wi-Fi credentials
• eSIM information

The added support for passwords, Wi-Fi credentials, and eSIM data is the more notable part of the change. Those are the kinds of settings that can make a new phone feel unfinished if users have to rebuild them manually after setup.

Google said the feature is designed to make switching from iPhone to Android easier by reducing the amount of work required during onboarding. Onboarding is the first-run setup flow a user goes through after turning on a new device.

Where the feature is available

The new transfer method has begun rolling out to select Pixel devices, according to Google. Pixel is Google’s own Android phone line, so it is the natural first stop for a built-in Android feature.

Google also said the migration experience is available on Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Flip8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 series. Those phones were unveiled Wednesday, according to the announcement.

The company said the feature will come to more Android devices soon, though it did not name additional manufacturers or give a specific schedule.

The update gives Google and Android hardware makers a cleaner pitch to iPhone owners who are considering a switch: the move should require fewer downloads and less manual setup than before. Google has not said how many users it expects the feature to convert, and the announcement did not include any financial targets tied to the rollout.

This story draws on original reporting from TechCrunch.