Samsung’s just-launched Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8 are the first non-Pixel devices to get Android 17’s expanded iPhone migration tool, as reported by GSMArena. The update moves far beyond photos and contacts: passwords, passkeys, Wi‑Fi credentials, eSIM profiles, and even your home‑screen layout can now survive the jump from iOS.

For anyone who has hesitated to switch because rebuilding a digital life from scratch felt too painful, this is the most meaningful change to Android’s onboarding in years. It starts arriving just as Samsung’s new foldables hit shelves, making the timing anything but accidental.

What the Upgraded Android Switch Can Now Transfer

Android Switch—the utility that appears when you set up a new phone—has been able to pull some data from an iPhone for a while. But the Android 17 version dramatically widens the net. According to Google’s announcement and the GSMArena report, these categories now transfer:

  • Google Account sign-in and settings
  • Passwords and passkeys (where the flow supports them)
  • Wi‑Fi network credentials
  • Device settings, including accessibility preferences
  • Contacts, calendars, call history, alarms, and wallpaper
  • Photos, videos, files, and folders stored locally
  • Home‑screen layout (app placement and folder structure)
  • Voice Memos
  • SMS, MMS, and transferable iMessage text and media history
  • WhatsApp chat history and media (requires a cable connection during setup)
  • eSIM profile, subject to carrier and plan compatibility
  • Free Android equivalents of eligible iPhone apps

It is a recognition that a phone is not just a bucket of files but an identity hub. Migrating passwords and passkeys alone transforms the experience. A user can open their banking app, workplace tools, and travel accounts on the new device without the panic of forgotten credentials.

What This Means If You’re Eyeing a Samsung Foldable

Samsung’s latest foldables are positioned as productivity powerhouses. The Z Fold8 Ultra opens into a tablet-sized workspace; the Z Fold8 offers immersive media; the Z Flip8 shrinks into a compact square. But premium hardware needs a painless setup to feel worth the price.

The enhanced transfer means a former iPhone owner can arrive on a Fold8 Ultra with their Wi‑Fi logins, app layout, message history, and alarm schedule intact. That is a foundation to start using the device immediately—not a weekend project of searching for passwords and re‑entering network keys.

For Flip8 buyers, the upgraded process ensures that choosing a smaller form factor doesn’t mean accepting a smaller data migration. eSIM support alone could save a trip to a carrier store or a long support call.

How We Got Here: A Brief History of Android’s iPhone Migration

Android has offered an iPhone‑to‑Android transfer since the days of the Nexus, but early versions were limited to contacts, calendar, and media. Over time, app recommendations and SMS came along. Yet the process always left behind the most friction‑heavy items: passwords, network details, and eSIM.

Google signaled the ambition to close that gap at its Android Show I/O Edition in 2026. The company previewed a rearchitected Android Switch that could carry over credentials, home‑screen layouts, and carrier profiles. The rollout on Samsung’s foldables, together with the Pixel 8, 9, and 10 series running Android 17, makes good on that promise. Notably, older Pixels—the 6 and 7 lines—will not receive the full upgrade.

Your Pre‑Switch Checklist: 10 Steps for a Clean Transfer

Even with a smarter tool, a cross‑platform migration benefits from preparation. These steps come from the collective experience of switchers and the fine print of the transfer process:

  1. Update everything: Make sure both the iPhone and your new Galaxy device are running the latest available software.
  2. Charge both phones fully—and keep them plugged in if possible during the transfer.
  3. Use a USB‑C cable: Connect the iPhone and the Galaxy directly with a USB‑C‑to‑Lightning or USB‑C‑to‑USB‑C cable as the on‑screen instructions suggest.
  4. Check your iCloud storage: Many iPhone users use iCloud Photos with “Optimize Storage,” meaning full‑resolution originals live in the cloud, not on the device. Confirm what is local before you begin; cloud‑only content may need a separate export.
  5. Audit your password manager: If you rely on iCloud Keychain, know that not every credential will magically appear in Google Password Manager. Be ready to manually re‑enter logins for high‑security services, and have recovery methods handy.
  6. Don’t wipe your iPhone immediately: Keep the old phone alive until you’ve tested that calls, texts, mobile data, and all critical apps work on the new device.
  7. Disable iMessage and FaceTime after the transfer: This is the most common cause of lost messages. Go to Settings on the iPhone, turn off iMessage and FaceTime, and confirm that new texts from friends arrive on the Android phone as SMS/MMS or RCS.
  8. Handle WhatsApp with care: The migration requires a cable connection during setup. Do not erase or trade in your iPhone until you see your chat history on the Galaxy.
  9. Verify eSIM service: If your carrier supports eSIM transfer, the tool may move it. But test calls, texting, and data before you consider the old phone decommissioned. Carrier policies vary wildly.
  10. Audit subscriptions and paid apps: Purchases tied to Apple’s App Store don’t carry over. Subscriptions that bill through Apple may need to be restarted directly with the developer. Plan for new purchases or sideloading where needed.

The Limits: What Still Won’t Move

No migration tool can dissolve every platform boundary. Be realistic about these remaining gaps:

  • Apple ecosystem services: Apple Watch, Apple Pay, iCloud Keychain, FaceTime, Find My, and iCloud Drive remain iOS‑only. You’ll need to find Android alternatives and manually transition.
  • Purchased apps and media: Your App Store purchase history is locked to Apple. You’ll need to repurchase Android versions or find substitute apps.
  • Passwords and passkeys caveat: The transfer flow’s success with credentials depends on the source system (iCloud Keychain vs. third‑party manager), the app or site, and whether multi‑factor authentication complicates things. Expect some manual sign‑ins.
  • iMessage continuity: The tool can transfer historical iMessage texts, but it does not make Android an iMessage client. You must deregister iMessage to avoid future messages going into a void.
  • Home‑screen duplication: Even with layout transfer, Android and iOS use different widget systems and launchers. You’ll get a close resemblance, not a pixel‑perfect copy.

Outlook: More Devices, Fewer Excuses to Stay

Google says support for more Android devices will arrive “in the coming months.” For now, the feature is concentrated on Samsung’s newest foldables and recent Pixels—a calculated move that makes these premium devices even more attractive to the iPhone crowd. The industry has long understood that hardware is easy to swap; the digital life built around it is the real anchor. By carrying over passwords, eSIM, and home‑screen identity, Android 17’s Android Switch doesn’t eliminate the switching friction entirely, but it removes enough weight that the decision becomes about the phone you want, not the data you might lose.