Apple says it plans to make it easier for customers to switch to Android as a result of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into force today. Alongside support for alternative app stores, new business terms for EU app developers and mobile browser selection screens, among other things, the iPhone maker said it will also add to its data portability offerings, including making it more “friendly to the user” in moving data from an iPhone to another non-Apple device.
That solution isn’t available yet, but Apple is committed to having it ready by fall 2025, the company says. The announcement was made in a document detailing Apple’s plan to comply with new EU legislation that aims to increase competition in the app ecosystem by requiring Apple to loosen its control over the App Store and iOS. Apple has cleverly sidestepped the potential financial impact of DMA on its business by adding new fees for developers who want to switch to DMA rules, despite developer backlash.
Beyond the App Store, DMA also addresses data portability. On that front, Apple’s Data & Privacy website is being updated to allow users to export their App Store data to authorized third parties, the document says. Users today can request to transfer their iCloud Photos to Google Photos or download various data collected by Apple apps, such as Notes, Calendar, Contacts, Maps, Wallet Activity, Mail, Safari Bookmarks and Reading List, and more. Apple says users will also be able to schedule daily downloads of their App Store data for 30 days or weekly downloads for 180 days, and the data provided is constantly updated to be the most recent.
On the subject of moving to Android, Apple didn’t share much about the new project other than that its solution would help other “mobile operating system providers” create better solutions for transferring data from an iPhone to a non-Apple phone. Apple doesn’t actually use the term “Android” in the document, but it’s clear that Google’s mobile operating system will be the biggest beneficiary of such a system.
Additionally, another solution to export browser data to a new browser on the same device will be ready either later this year or in early 2025, Apple noted.
Today, Android users can use Google’s Switch to Android iOS app to transfer important content such as contacts, calendars, photos, videos, messages, and more to a new Android device. However, some less important data is still missing and users need to disable iMessage to make sure that their new messages arrive on their Android. It’s unclear whether Apple’s new solution will address these areas, as Apple hasn’t yet said what it aims to improve.
