Android Switch. Another app that Google has installed on your phone and this is the important thing it does
Google has been making a mess of things lately with the system apps included in its Android services. The chaos erupted when Android System SafetyCore installed itself, leading to a lot of questions. Soon after, the same thing happened with Android System Key Verifier, and if you check the apps on your Android device, you’ll notice that Android Switch has also magically arrived, without being installed or approved.
We can already tell you that there is no reason to worry about having Android Switch on your phone. It is a harmless application created by Google to facilitate the transition between Android and iOS. You do not need to delete or disable it. However, it does not hurt to know exactly what this application does on your mobile phone, what it is used for and why it is interesting to have it.
- What is Android Switch and why did it appear on my phone?
Android Switch is the new name for Switch to Android, Google's app for switching from iPhone to Android phone. It was originally released in 2022 and is available on both the Google Play Store and the App Store, although Android devices with Google services don't need to download it as it's included as standard.
It was renamed Android Switch in late 2024, but that wasn’t the only thing that changed: it also underwent a redesigned interface, received a new logo, and improved performance. This led many people to think it was a new app when, in fact, it didn’t take up any new space on the mobile.
- This is how Android Switch works: It's very easy to use, even if it doesn't look like it.
Android Switch doesn’t normally show up in your phone’s app drawer. To open it, you’ll need to go to Settings > Apps > Android Switch and tap Open. It likely won’t open and will say “App unavailable” because it can’t be used after you’ve finished the initial setup of your phone, except on the Pixel 9s (Google says it’ll be expanding this functionality to more phones in the future).
This way, you can transfer photos, videos, contacts, calendar events, and even WhatsApp chats from your iPhone to Android wirelessly. It's a very simple process and doesn't involve any complications, as Android Switch guides you through all the steps.