On Wednesday, shortly after iOS 9’s official release, Apple also released ‘Move to iOS,’ its first ever app for Android users, created with the sole intention to make them leave. Available now for free in the Google Play app store, Move to iOS securely transfers data stored on Android devices — contacts, calendars, bookmarks, email accounts, messages, photos—to an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.
With Move to iOS, Android users don’t even have to backup their devices because the transfer is not happening over the cloud. Instead, Apple syncs everything up by creating a private Wi-Fi network where the two devices can find each other (like modern-day star-crossed lovers but without the teen suicide).
When setting up their new iOS device, Android users can now select a “Move Data from Android” option in the Apps & Data setup screen. Previously the only options was to restore from iCloud backup, restore from iTunes backup, or setup as a new device. Once you choose to “Move Data from Android” on your iPhone, open the Move to iOS app on your Android device and wait for a ten-digit code to show up on the iPhone. You will need to input the code on your Android device to authenticate the transfer between the two devices.
From the transfer screen, you can select which content you’d like to transfer. Once the migration is complete, check to see that all the content has successfully transferred over. You can also migrate all this content manually in case there are any hiccups. And afterwards, Apple also uses this app-ortunity to remind you that you can recycle your Android device for free at any Apple Store.
Move to iOS requires Android 4.0 or later, and if you’re transferring your Chrome bookmarks, make sure you have the latest version of Chrome as well.