Apple and Google aren’t precisely identified for his or her collaboration, however they have been taking part in nicer up to now couple of years, together with with Apple bringing RCS to its Messages app. Now, the iOS 26.3 beta affords an choice to simplify the swap from iPhone to Android.
Apple launched the first beta of iOS 26.3 In December, a number of days after the corporate launched iOS 26.2. That replace included extra methods to customise your iPhone’s Liquid Glass design, and iOS 26.3 might make it straightforward to switch your iPhone knowledge to an Android system. Builders and public beta testers can entry this characteristic now.
Since this can be a beta, I like to recommend downloading it on a tool aside from your major one. This is not the ultimate model of iOS 26.3, so the replace could also be buggy and have a brief battery life, and it is best to maintain these points on a secondary system.
Additionally, keep in mind that extra options could also be added to your iPhone when model 26.3 is formally launched. There is not any phrase on when Apple’s replace shall be obtainable to most of the people, but it surely’s more likely to be in early 2026.
Within the meantime, this is what options builders and beta testers can strive now earlier than Apple releases iOS 26.3.
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Switch from iPhone to Android
The most important change within the iOS 26.3 beta to this point is a simple method to switch your knowledge from an iPhone to an Android system.
In the event you’ve thought of switching from iPhone to Android, you’ll have been deterred by the switch course of. Android affords a five-step process to make this swap straightforward, however a number of the steps embrace getting ready your system by turning off FaceTime and Messages and connecting each gadgets utilizing a cable.
With the iOS 26.3 beta, a brand new choice lets you join your iPhone and Android gadgets.
Go to Settings > Common > Switch or Reset iPhone. Close to the underside of this web page is an choice known as Switch to Android. Faucet this and observe the on-screen directions to switch photographs, messages, apps and extra to your Android system.
Transferring your iPhone knowledge to an Android might be simpler in iOS 26.3.
Notification forwarding to different gadgets
The primary iOS 26.3 beta additionally introduces the flexibility to ahead notifications to different gadgets, like non-Apple Watch smartwatches. In the event you choose the Galaxy Watch 8 over newer Apple Watches, you need to use it together with your iPhone.
You may entry this by going to Settings > Notifications > Notification Forwarding.
You may have the ability to use different smartwatches, just like the Galaxy Watch 8, together with your iPhone quickly.
“Notifications may be forwarded to 1 accent at a time,” Apple writes within the menu’s description. “Notifications won’t seem on Apple Watch whereas Notification Forwarding is turned on.”
These are a number of of the brand new options builders and public beta testers can strive now with the primary public beta of iOS 26.3. There’ll seemingly be extra betas earlier than the OS is launched to the general public, so Apple has loads of time to refine these options and add others. Once more, Apple hasn’t confirmed when it should launch iOS 26.3 to most of the people.
For extra iOS information, this is all the things it is best to find out about iOS 26.2, the brand new options that have been included in iOS 26.1 and my review of iOS 26. You can even try our iOS 26 cheat sheet.
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