New Delhi: Switching from an Android phone to an iPhone can feel like moving houses. Carrying everything over, making sure nothing gets lost, and praying your WhatsApp chats survive. iPhone to Android users tell the same story. But a quiet change seems to be coming from both tech giants. Apple and Google are apparently working together to make that transition a lot more simple for everyone.
A report from 9to5Google points to a new Android Canary test build that has a feature allowing data transfer between iPhone and Android right at setup. Apple, too, is expected to add similar functionality in an upcoming iOS 26 beta version. This update could remove the need for separate transfer apps and help move more kinds of data that do not migrate today.
Apple and Google working on better phone-to-phone transfers
Right now, Android users rely on Apple’s Move to iOS app when shifting to an iPhone. iPhone users installing Google’s Switch to Android app do the opposite. The new solution will reportedly bring the capability into the setup process of both operating systems.
A Google representative confirmed the report is accurate, as shared by 9to5Google, but provided no extra details on how the feature will work. The update is still very early in development, so the final version may look different by the time it ships.
People sometimes hesitate to switch because they think it is too complicated. Messages, photos, accounts and files feel locked inside whichever phone you use. Regulators in many countries have started questioning this. They say companies should not trap customers inside a system. Making transfers easier is a clear move responding to that pressure.
More data types supported in the future
The report mentions that the collaboration aims to support more categories of data, though specifics are not clear yet. Today, things like app settings, WhatsApp chat backups, and some media do not always transfer smoothly. Anyone who has tried switching mid-life between Android and iPhone knows this pain.
The platforms are still in early testing stages
• Android Canary build includes a new transfer system
• iOS 26 developer beta is expected to include similar support
• Could remove dependency on separate apps
Developers say Android Canary is still at a very early phase. I have used Canary versions earlier and they can crash without warning. The feature will go through lots of polishing before reaching users.
What this means for everyday smartphone users
Every few months someone I know says they want to try the new Pixel or upgrade to iPhone. But then they decide to stay where they are because switching feels like a headache. A proper system level transfer tool is the kind of improvement that could encourage people to freely choose whichever device they want, rather than whichever ecosystem they are stuck inside.
It may even bring some family peace. No more arguments about who cannot join the iPhone group chat because they use Android.