Switching between iPhone and Android phone can be quite a struggle, especially for new users. Half your logins vanish, saved game data disappears, and app settings rarely survive the switch. But Apple might finally be changing that.
In the beta for iOS 26.1, developers spotted a new framework called AppMigrationKit, designed to help apps move on-device data when users switch from iPhone to other platforms, including Android. It’s not public yet, but it hints that Apple is quietly building a more flexible migration system, one that doesn’t completely lock you into its ecosystem.
To use it, developers can opt in to support the toolkit, allowing saved preferences, offline files, or game progress to transfer when setting up a new phone. It builds on Apple’s existing Move to iOS feature, but this time in reverse—potentially letting Android users bring their data back the other way too.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
Meanwhile, Android’s next update reportedly includes a “Transfer to iPhone” feature, starting with eSIM data. Together, they suggest that both tech giants are finally warming up to the idea of frictionless cross-platform switching, something users have wanted for years.
For now, AppMigrationKit is still in early testing, and widespread adoption will depend on how fast developers embrace it. Support will likely roll out app by app, update by update. But if Apple stays the course, switching phones might soon stop feeling like starting your digital life from scratch.
The Takeaway
AppMigrationKit could mark the beginning of a more open Apple, one that recognizes users might leave and return. It also gives developers control over what data moves and how, while keeping privacy intact. If it works as promised, the days of losing your digital footprint every time you switch phones might finally be numbered.
The question now will be whether Apple’s rivals and app makers will follow through fast enough to make switching ecosystems as easy as switching devices.
Louis Eriakha
