There's plenty of evidence that some Android users are leaving for the world of Apple, especially in the US, where services like iMessage reign supreme. That said, it's not a one-way road. Whether someone's on the hunt for more affordable phones or interested in foldables, Android remains a tempting OS, even for converts. Google wants to make it easy for anyone to switch from an iPhone to some truly great Android phones, and now, the app is starting to go live for everyone.

Last month, we learned about a new Switch to Android app in the works, designed to give iOS users an easy route to their latest devices. The app was finally uploaded to the App Store this week, though you won't find it among Google's other services. Switch to Android is currently unlisted, but you can grab it on an iPhone using a direct link. Even with it installed, we weren't able to give it a full go — but it did deliver a preview of what to expect whenever Google decides it's ready for primetime.

Upon booting up the app and accepting the terms and conditions, you'll be met with a camera interface for capturing a QR code meant to appear on your Android phone. This section is the part of the interface we don't have access to just yet — though by using the manual option, it's easy to see that this QR code will create some sort of network connection between the two phones for transferring data.

By bypassing the first two steps — the second of which doesn't appear at all — we can view the rest of the process. Google invites you to disable iMessage from your settings menu to ensure you don't lose communication with your friends, a common problem for anyone jumping off the Apple ship. Finally, you're given the option to copy your photos and videos from iCloud to Google Photos by using Apple's data exporter. Once you've completed these steps, the app asks you to continue setup on Android.

It seems like a relatively straightforward process, though we'll have to wait and see how complicated it could become once it's actually usable. After all, moving from one platform to another often comes with plenty of hurdles and technical hiccups. We'll have to wait to see once the Android side of things goes live.

UPDATE: 2022/04/28 16:03 EST BY WILL SATTELBERG

Now live on iOS and Android

Google officially announced the arrival of its Switch to Android app for iOS on Twitter today, suggesting the app is now accessible to all users on the App Store without the need for a secret link. I can also confirm that the QR code is now available on Android when you're setting up a new Pixel device, though it's hidden under an option for those who don't have cables for their data transfer.

As of right now, Google is still preferring cable-based transfers between devices, both on Android itself and on its official website. Meanwhile, non-Pixel users will have to keep waiting until their phones support this method.

To use Switch to Android, you need to provide your location data and log into your Google account. After that, your new phone will flash the QR code, which you can scan with your iPhone or iPad using the Switch to Android viewfinder. You'll be prompted on your iOS device to join a Wi-Fi Direct network to transfer your data. Once your phones are linked, select what you want to transfer from iOS to Android, including contacts, calendar appointments, photos, and videos. Be prepared for a long transfer if you have a ton of images to move between phones.

You'll get an alert on your new Pixel phone when the transfer is finished, and you can continue setting up Android as usual. Google has promised that other OEMs will eventually support this app, though right now, it's selling it as a way to switch from iPhone to Pixel. Overall, it's a streamlined method for moving from one platform to the other, even if it doesn't offer any new functionality. It's great to see Google getting into the App Store with a "Switch to Android" app though, just as Apple offers a rival Move to iOS app on the Play Store.

UPDATE: 2022/04/19 13:21 EST BY WILL SATTELBERG

Rolling out to users

A week after the app was uploaded as an unlisted service to the App Store, Google has confirmed that Switch to Android is ready to start rolling out to users. According to a statement issued to TechCrunch, the company expects the app to reach 10% of users by the end of today, with it rolling out to everyone over the next couple of weeks.

As for what devices will be supported from the jump, as expected, Pixels are up first. That said, it doesn't seem like Google has updated its device setup yet to support the Switch to Android process. After factory resetting a Pixel 4a 5G, I was still prompted to use older methods, either connecting both phones through a USB cable or uploading everything to Google Drive. This app is supposed to simplify the process, removing the need to do either of these steps while still transferring over the same data. We'll have to keep waiting to actually test it out for ourselves.

For now, if you aren't one of the 10 percent of users who can access Switch to Android through the App Store, you can still grab it using this direct link on any iOS device.