Switching between Android and iOS: Top tips for making the jump

Connecting your new phone to your old one with a cable is sometimes the easiest way to transfer all your data between the two. — dpa

Switching between Android and Apple phones can be a daunting task, and many a user will worry about losing data in the process. However, both platforms have apps that help you tackle the big migration.

Many people tend to choose an operating system – either Android or iOS – and then stay there. This is mostly due to the fact that the idea of switching between the two can be daunting. What if photos, music and contacts get lost in the process?

The switch from iOS to Android, and vice versa, can be difficult without help, which is why tech reporter Alexander Spier recommends using apps offered by smartphone manufacturers: "These tools should be tried first."

For example, Samsung offers the Smart Switch tool for people moving to a Samsung phone. You can transfer your data from the old phone (iPhone or Android) to the new phone by using a cable between the two phones, by using a PC or Mac or over iCloud (limited to contacts and calendar).

Transferring your data to a PC or Mac first has the advantage that your data is backed up on the computer; but connecting the old phone to the new one by cable is easiest. That said, the more manual method can save space, as you can decide individually on which photos, videos or music to move over to the new phone.

It's not always possible to transfer everything.

For example, WhatsApp chats backed up on iOS are not compatible with Android, so you can only transfer conversations with additional software and effort. The same is true if you're making the opposite move: WhatsApp messages will not be saved during the transfer to iOS, but your account will remain intact.

Those who completely turn their backs on the Apple world should remember to deactivate iMessage, Spier says. Otherwise, these messages might not reach the new phone. Similarly, users should cancel any subscriptions set up on their old smartphone and make sure to log in on the new device.

Of course, you might also be going from Android to iOS, in which case the App Store offers an app called Move To iOS. However, users should be aware that the iPhone you are switching to must be "new or reset", according to reporter Blasius Kawalkowski.

When moving to iOS, you should also make sure you have enough storage on the new iPhone, as these devices do not support SD cards, unlike Android phones. Therefore, it might be worth doing a good purge of unnecessary things, or backing up to your computer.

Move To iOS transfers contacts, messages, pictures, videos, bookmarks, email accounts and calendar entries. And the app also automatically searches for iOS versions of the apps on your old phone. However, if you have paid for certain apps, you will have to pay again for the new iOS version.

If the app in question was especially expensive, you can always contact the developer and ask if they can help you out.

Remember to switch on flight mode on the devices during the transfer – if someone tries to call you during the process, it is stopped automatically, and you'll have to start over.

If you don't want to use the app, then the easiest way is still the Cloud. If you have everything saved to Google Drive or Dropbox, then all you need to do is install the app on the new iPhone and synchronise. "Photos or music can also be transferred with iTunes," says Kawalkowski.

When it comes to messages, it's a bit of a mixed bag. Text messages will all be transferred safely, but if you use a different messaging service, things can get dicey: With Threema, be careful to save your ID, otherwise you may lose the account on the new device. – dpa