Switching phones is always a pain, especially if you're switching from iOS to Android. In that context, Apple is testing AppMigrationKit, a new framework designed to enable apps to participate in more comprehensive data transfer when the user sets an Android phone as a destination.
Until now, tools like Move to iOS focused on contacts, photos, and basic settings, but left out the more delicate stuff: the information that lives inside each applicationThe new approach aims to package and move that local data—settings, saved games, offline files—whenever developers enable it.
What is AppMigrationKit and what problem does it solve?
AppMigrationKit is a framework introduced in iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1 betas This allows users to move app data when switching from an iPhone to a non-Apple platform, such as Android. Apple makes it clear that it's not intended for migrations between iOS and iPadOS, nor for apps running on macOS, VisionOS, or built with Mac Catalyst.
The advantage is that compatible apps will be able to include their own data in the migration process. relevant local data (settings, progress, offline downloads)It's not automatic by default: each developer decides whether their app exports, imports, or does both within the system.
How the transfer of information will work
On the iPhone, a native option will appear in Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone called Transfer to AndroidWhen you start the wizard, the system will show you which items can be transferred to your new phone and which ones are left out, facilitating a more transparent one-step process.
From the technical side, app creators will implement a AppMigrationExtension to manage export and import. When the user begins setting up their target device, iOS will package data from compatible apps and, if applicable, will allow you to complete the import of the information into the cloud later. linked to those applications.
Two-way migration and eSIM: fewer barriers
The initiative doesn't come alone. Google is working on the equivalent "Transfer to iPhone" feature, which will launch with the eSIM profile transfer and will be expanded to include more data. The goal is clear: to make the transition from one ecosystem to another a frictionless, two-way process.
With the new system versions, eSIM management will be more agile: It will be enough to generate a code and scan it to move the line without calling the operator or relying on external QR codes. It's a small detail on paper, but it eliminates a common hurdle when switching platforms.
Practical advantages for those who change their mobile phone
- Fewer manual steps and lower risk of losing progress or settings within apps.
- Greater user control: each app defines what data is migrated, reinforcing privacy and integrity.
- Complements existing tools such as Move to iOS for a more complete experience.
- It fits with the interoperability requirements requested by regulators in the European Union.
The relationship between Spain and the EU: interoperability and competition
In the European context, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) pushes large platforms towards a Greater interoperabilityAn app data migration system reduces ecosystem lock-in and can make the decision to stay on iOS or Android more flexible.
For the Spanish and EU markets, this could translate into more balanced competition: if changing hurts less, there are more incentives to choose for real benefits and not for fear of losing dataOf course, the impact will depend on effective adoption by the most widely used applications.
Availability, adoption and what remains to be polished
AppMigrationKit is in beta and its documentation is preliminary and subject to change. There's no official release date, and Apple cautions that everything must be tested with the final operating system software.
The implementation will be gradual: updates to the apps and Not all of them will adopt the framework from day oneIn any case, it's a significant step toward a simpler migration when switching from iPhone to Android.
For developers, Apple now details how to create extensions, define export and import operations, and query migration statistics, in addition to testing guidelines. The more widely adopted, the more complete the end-user experience will be.
What data could be moved and what are the limits?
The focus is on third-party data residing on the device: settings, saved games and offline files, among others. This is a layer that was missing until now and will be integrated into the new phone's configuration flow, complementing what basic migration solutions already offer.
It's important to be clear about the boundaries: the framework doesn't work for migrating between iOS and iPadOS, nor does it work with apps running on macOS, VisionOS, or created with Mac Catalyst. And the transfer of information will be conditioned by what each developer decides to enable and by user permissions.
With all the above, the picture that emerges is one of a more orderly and less tedious migration between iPhone and Android: a native system that reduces manual tasks, respects privacy and opens the door to easier platform changes in Spain and the rest of Europe.
