Google silently soft launches app on iOS to help shift data to Android devices

Google has soft-launched a new application on the iOS store to move data from Apple to Android devices, wirelessly, according to a report by 9to5Google.   

Google has not given out a statement on when the application will be officially launched, for now, users can only access the application via a link.

“The Switch to Android app from Google helps you quickly and securely move your most important data types — photos, videos, contacts, and calendar events — to a brand-new Android device without fussy cables,” the description on the App store Preview reads.

Also read:Google will hide outdated Android apps on Play Store from November 2022

However, moving data from Apple to Android had not been much of a hassle before, only requiring a backup to Google Drive and restoring it to the Android device manually. The last Android iteration, Android 12, eased it a bit more by allowing the transfer of applications, media and contacts, but this can be done only through a physical cable connection between the devices.  

But Apple had its own “move to iOS" application since September 2015.  

The first rumours of Google building a Switch to Android app made the rounds in July 2021.   

9to5Google said that its team was able to install the application on the iPhone and run it.  

“However, while everything seems to be ready on the iOS side of things, Android’s setup and restore process is not yet prepared for the Switch to Android app’s availability,” the report said.