Google Drive was updated today to make it easier for users to transfer their content from iOS devices to Android devices, Google announced. The company also published a new web page on the Android website detailing how it works.

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Once a user downloads Google Drive from the App Store, they can navigate toward the backup wizard by going to Menu > Settings > Backup in the app. From there, users can choose to sync select contacts, calendar events and photos or everything. Google recommends that users backup when their iPhone is connected to power and is on Wi-Fi, as backing up can take several hours. Additionally, the Google Drive app must stay open and the screen must stay on.

When users sign into their Google account on their new Android device their content will automatically sync.

Google has tried to make it easier for iPhone users to switch to Android in recent months, packing in a "Quick Switch Adapter" with the Pixel, which quickly transfers data directly from an iPhone to a Pixel phone. While the Quick Switch Adapter only works with the Pixel phone, the Google Drive method will also work with non-Pixel Android phones.

iPhone users who want to switch to Android must turn off iMessage before they officially switch devices.

Google Drive is available in the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

TheRealTVGuy Avatar
85 months ago
But then you have to use Android... yuck.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bopajuice Avatar
85 months ago
Now that I'm not tied down by my iTunes purchases with Apple Music being available x-platforms, the notion of jumping ship even just temporarily is becoming more of a possibility had it not been for iMessage. Such a shame I don't want to be the green bubble amongst my friends..
So your issue is with social acceptance?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C DM Avatar
85 months ago
All my friends and family expect me to be able to see all the silly stuff they send. Like the poster above expressed, it sucks to be the odd green bubble.
It's interesting how something like the color of message bubbles might matter for some.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aussiephil Avatar
85 months ago
Now that I'm not tied down by my iTunes purchases with Apple Music being available x-platforms, the notion of jumping ship even just temporarily is becoming more of a possibility had it not been for iMessage. Such a shame I don't want to be the green bubble amongst my friends..
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dan110 Avatar
85 months ago
I just might be using this some time next year or so.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DaveOP Avatar
84 months ago
Yes they have. They are called Whatsapp, FB Messenger, Telegram, ...

Amongst my friends (Europe) nobody uses SMS (paid) or iMessage (too limited). Of all the reasons to stay with iOS, iMessage is the least of my concerns.
Here in the States, nobody in my circle uses Whatsapp or FB messenger, it seems. (Unless chatting with people outside of the country). The lock-in is that none of the iPhone users are going to install an app just to text with me properly, so we are stuck on iOS with iMessage.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)