Android 17 Update Overhauls Android Switch: iMessages, Passkeys, eSIMs

The Android 17 Update makes switching from iPhone to Android much easier. In the past, the main challenge was not the hardware or apps, but the data that could not be moved. iMessage history stayed locked in Apple’s system, passkeys couldn't be transferred, eSIM profiles required a call to your carrier, Wi-Fi passwords were lost, and home screens had to be set up again. The new Android Switch tool in Android 17 solves all these problems in one step by moving iMessages, passkeys, passwords, eSIM profiles, saved Wi-Fi networks, alarms, Apple Notes, and home screen layouts to your new Android device.

With Android 17, you no longer need to install a separate Switch to Android app on your iPhone. The migration tool is now built right into the Android 17 setup process and works with iOS, so you can start transferring your data as soon as you set up your new phone. Google Product Lead Paul Dunlop confirmed these updates as part of the Android 17 onboarding improvements.

This guide covers all the types of data the Android 17 Update’s Android Switch can transfer, why each is important for iPhone users considering a switch, and the full step-by-step migration process.

Android 17 Update: Android Switch now transfers iMessage conversations, SMS, MMS, RCS, group chats, passwords and passkeys, eSIM profiles, saved Wi-Fi networks, alarms, wallpapers and home screen layouts, accessibility settings, Apple Notes attachments and labels, calendar attachments, call history, documents and files, and third-party app data (if supported by the developer). No separate app installation is needed. Available for Pixel 6 and newer.

Android 17 Update Migration: Step-by-Step From iPhone to Android

Step	What Happens	Detail
Step 1	Start New Android 17 Setup	Power on the new Android 17 device and begin the setup wizard. No separate migration app is required.
Step 2	Select Data Source	Choose iPhone as the source device when prompted during setup.
Step 3	Connect Devices	Bring the iPhone close to the Android phone. The devices connect wirelessly without requiring a QR code scan.
Step 4	Select Data to Transfer	Choose which categories to migrate, such as messages, passwords, Wi-Fi networks, eSIM information, home screen layout, and other supported data.
Step 5	Transfer Over Wi-Fi	Data is transferred wirelessly. Android 17 improves transfer speeds, reducing migration time.
Step 6	Google Account Sign-In	Sign in to your Google Account. Apps and settings begin restoring automatically.
Step 7	Complete Setup	The Android device finishes setup with migrated data, accounts, and a familiar home screen layout.
After Switch	Deregister iMessage	On the iPhone, go to Settings → Messages → Send & Receive and remove your phone number so future messages are delivered via SMS/RCS instead of iMessage.

The iMessage deregistration step after switching is the one action the Android 17 Update's migration tool cannot automate. If the iPhone number remains registered with iMessage after switching to Android, contacts who send messages from an iPhone will have those messages delivered to Apple's servers as iMessages rather than as SMS to the new Android number. This can cause messages to go undelivered until deregistration is completed. Go to Settings, Messages, Send and Receive on the old iPhone and remove the phone number from the iMessage registration.

Every Data Type the Android 17 Update Now Transfers: Full Breakdown

Category	What Transfers	Practical Note
Messaging	iMessages, SMS, MMS, RCS, and group chats	Conversation history moves to Android. Future messages are delivered via SMS or RCS after switching.
Authentication	Passwords and passkeys	Both traditional passwords and modern passkeys can migrate to the new device.
Connectivity	Saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords	Previously used Wi-Fi networks reconnect automatically without re-entering credentials.
SIM	eSIM profiles (carrier dependent)	Supported carriers allow automatic eSIM migration without QR codes or carrier assistance.
Personalisation	Wallpapers, home screen layouts, and app placement	Android recreates a familiar device layout automatically.
System Settings	Alarm settings and accessibility preferences	Existing schedules and accessibility configurations are preserved.
Apple Data	Notes attachments, note labels, and calendar attachments	Additional Apple ecosystem content that was previously difficult to migrate now transfers.
Files	Documents, files, and folders	Local storage content moves alongside other personal data.
Third-Party Apps	App settings and in-app data	Available only when the app developer supports Android Switch migration.

The nine categories in the table above represent the complete scope of what the Android 17 Update's migration tool handles. The most meaningful additions over previous Android migration tools are in the messaging row (iMessage was previously untransferable), the authentication row (passkeys had no prior migration path on any platform), the SIM row (eSIM transfer required manual carrier intervention) and the Apple data row (Notes attachments and calendar attachments were previously inaccessible to any Android migration tool).

iMessage Transfer in the Android 17 Update: What It Does and Does Not Do

The Android 17 Update lets you transfer your iMessage conversation history, meaning your existing message threads move from your iPhone to your new Android device. You can read these conversations on Android as a record of your past messages. After switching, your Android phone will get new messages as SMS or RCS, since iMessage only works on Apple devices.

The Android 17 Update handles moving your message history, but you still need to deregister your phone number from iMessage yourself. This is a separate step. If you skip it, messages from iPhone contacts will go to Apple’s servers as iMessages and won’t reach your Android phone. You can deregister your number in a few minutes by going to Settings, Messages, Send and Receive on your old iPhone, or by using Apple’s online deregistration tool.

Why does iMessage history transfer matter when thinking about switching to Android? According to IDC research, losing message history is one of the top three reasons people hesitate to switch. Many users have years of important personal, work, and family conversations in iMessage. Not being able to bring this history to Android meant real data loss, not just a minor annoyance. By removing this barrier, the Android 17 Update takes away a major reason people stayed with the iPhone.

Android 17 Update

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Passkeys in the Android 17 Update: The New Authentication Migration

Passkeys are the security industry's replacement for traditional text-based passwords. Rather than a character string the user remembers and types, a passkey is a cryptographic key pair: the private key is stored on the device and the public key is registered with the website or app. Authentication happens when the device proves it possesses the matching private key, which cannot be phished, guessed, or stolen in a server breach. Google, Apple, Microsoft and most major websites now support passkeys.

Before Android 17, there was no way to move passkeys between different platforms or devices. Passkeys saved in Apple Keychain could not be transferred because the private keys were locked to Apple’s hardware. Now, the Android 17 Update adds passkey migration to the Android Switch tool, so your private keys and their linked services move securely to your new Android device. This means accounts protected by passkeys—such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, PayPal, and government sites—remain accessible right after you switch, with no need to set them up again.

eSIM Migration in the Android 17 Update: Carrier Context for India

eSIM (embedded SIM) is a software-based SIM that stores the carrier account directly on the phone's hardware rather than a physical card. In India, Jio, Airtel and Vi all support eSIM. When switching phones, eSIM profiles previously required contacting the carrier to request a new QR code or activation link for the new device, activating it through a carrier-specific portal and waiting for carrier processing. This process could take minutes to hours, depending on the carrier's support.

The Android 17 Update can now transfer compatible eSIM profiles automatically during the Android Switch process. This works if your carrier supports the automated eSIM transfer protocol. For users in India on Jio, Airtel, or Vi, the transfer may work right away. If it does not, you can still request a new QR code from your carrier. It’s a good idea to check with your carrier before switching to see if automated eSIM transfer is supported.

If the eSIM transfer does not work automatically, the Android 17 Update migration tool will still move all your other data, but your new Android device will not have an active SIM. You will need to contact your carrier and follow their usual eSIM activation steps to get a new QR code or activation link. Messages, passwords, and apps are still transferred, so a failed eSIM transfer does not stop the rest of the migration.

With the Android 17 Update, your Google Account is automatically signed in during the migration process. Before, you had to finish transferring your data and then sign in to your Google Account separately to restore apps, contacts, and services. Now, app restoration, contact syncing, and access to Google services start during or right after the data transfer, so you do not need to do this as a separate step.

If you are new to Android and do not have a Google Account, the setup process will create one for you. If you already have a Google Account, the migration uses your existing credentials to automatically sign you in. By the time the migration finishes, your device is already signed in, personalized, and restoring your apps, so you do not need to do extra setup.

Android 17 Update: Third-Party App Data Migration and Its Limitations

The Android 17 Update lets you transfer data from third-party apps, including in-app settings, progress, and preferences, to your new device. However, this only works if the app’s developer has enabled Android Switch migration. If an app does not support it, you will need to set it up manually on your new Android device.

Major apps from big developers, like banking, productivity, social, and streaming apps, are expected to add support for Android Switch in the months after the Android 17 Update is released. Smaller or older apps may take longer to add this feature. If you have important app data you want to keep, check if Android Switch is supported in those apps before switching, or be ready to set them up manually.

Here's a useful tip for third-party app data: back up each important app's data using its export or backup function, if it has one, before switching. No matter what, banking and money apps always need to be set up again with new safety checks. If you use Google Play Games cloud save to save your progress, it will be saved automatically, even if the app doesn't allow moving to an Android Switch.

Eligible Devices for the Android 17 Update Android Switch

Device Category	Eligibility Status
Pixel 6 Series	Google Pixel 6, Google Pixel 6 Pro, and Google Pixel 6a are the earliest Pixel devices eligible for Android 17
Pixel 7 Series	All Pixel 7 models are eligible
Pixel 8 Series	All Pixel 8 models are eligible
Pixel 9 Series	All Pixel 9 models are eligible
Pixel Fold Models	Google Pixel Fold and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold are eligible
Pixel Tablet	Google Pixel Tablet is eligible
Non-Pixel Android 17 Devices	Samsung, OnePlus, Realme, and other Android phones running Android 17 can use Android Switch features
Pixel 5 and Older	Not eligible for Android 17
Source Device	Any compatible iPhone running iOS; no separate migration app installation is required

Final Verdict

The Android 17 Update’s new Android Switch is the biggest improvement to Android’s iPhone migration tools since they first launched. Now, you can transfer iMessages, passkeys, eSIM profiles, Wi-Fi passwords, home screen layouts, and Apple Notes all at once, without needing a separate app. This update removes the five main data-loss worries that kept many people from switching from iPhone to Android.

The Android 17 Update is available for Pixel 6 and newer devices, and will come to Android 17 phones from Samsung, OnePlus, and other brands as they get the update. If you have been thinking about switching from iPhone to Android but were worried about moving your data, the new Android Switch features in Android 17 are the best solution Google has offered so far.

Bottom Line: No separate app needed. Transfers iMessages, passkeys, passwords, eSIM, Wi-Fi, alarms, home screen, Apple Notes, calendar attachments, call history, documents. Step-by-step: the new Android 17 device setup wizard connects wirelessly to an iPhone, migrates selected data over Wi-Fi, and auto-signs into a Google Account. Deregister iMessage number from iOS Settings separately. Available: Pixel 6+ and all Android 17 devices.

FAQs

1. What does the Android 17 Update add to Android Switch?

iMessage conversation transfer, passkey migration, automated eSIM transfer, saved Wi-Fi password migration, alarm settings, home screen layouts, wallpapers, accessibility settings, Apple Notes attachments, calendar attachments, call history and third-party app data (developer-enabled). The tool is now built into Android 17 setup without a separate app.

2. Does the Android 17 Update allow iMessage transfer to Android?

Yes. The Android 17 Update's Android Switch transfers iMessage conversation history to the new Android device. After switching, new messages route as SMS or RCS. Users must separately deregister their phone number from iMessage in iOS Settings > Messages > Send & Receive to ensure future messages from iPhone contacts are routed correctly.

3. Do I need to install Switch to Android on my iPhone for the Android 17 Update migration?

No. The Android 17 Update integrates the migration tool directly into the Android 17 setup wizard and into iOS, eliminating the need to download and install a separate Switch to Android app on the iPhone.

4. Can the Android 17 Update transfer eSIM from iPhone to Android?

Yes, for compatible carriers. The automated eSIM transfer works when the carrier supports the transfer protocol. In India, Jio, Airtel and Vi support eSIM but carrier-specific automated transfer compatibility should be verified. If automated transfer fails, the carrier's standard eSIM activation process is the fallback.

5. What is a passkey and why does passkey transfer matter in the Android 17 Update?

A passkey is a cryptographic key pair that replaces text passwords for authentication. The private key is stored on the device and cannot be phished or server-stolen. Before the Android 17 Update, passkeys had no migration path between platforms. The update adds passkey transfer, meaning accounts secured with passkeys on iPhone remain accessible immediately on the new Android device.

6. Do all apps benefit from the Android 17 Update's app data migration?

No. Third-party app data transfer requires the app developer to implement Android Switch support. Apps without this support require manual setup. Major app developers are expected to add support following the Android 17 Update; smaller or older apps may not implement it promptly.

7. Which Android phones get the Android 17 Update and Android Switch improvements?

Pixel 6 series and newer for guaranteed Android 17. Other Android manufacturers, including Samsung, OnePlus and Realme, will receive Android 17 on supported models through their respective update schedules.

8. Does the Android 17 Update transfer saved Wi-Fi passwords?

Yes. Saved Wi-Fi network names and passwords migrate to the new Android device, enabling automatic reconnection to previously joined networks without re-entering credentials.

9. What happens to my home screen layout after switching using the Android 17 Update?

The Android Switch tool recreates the home screen layout from the iPhone, including wallpapers, app placement and widget positioning where possible, on the new Android device. The familiar layout is available immediately after migration without manual rearrangement.

10. What should I do after using the Android 17 Update migration tool?

Complete iMessage deregistration on the old iPhone in Settings > Messages > Send & Receive by removing the phone number. Verify that eSIM activation is complete. Confirm key accounts are signed in. Check that app-specific data for important apps has transferred, or set them up manually if they do not support Android Switch migration.

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