How to Switch From Android to iPhone
Controlling Your New iPhone
On the iPhone iOS operating system, there are no “back” or “multitasking” buttons that remain onscreen like there are on Android. Rather, you access these functions via gestures or hard button presses (depending on which iPhone model you have).
If your iPhone lacks a physical Home button (like iPhone X, 11, or later), swipe up from the bottom of the screen to go to the Home screen. To access the app switcher menu, swipe up and hold. To go back, you can swipe left-to-right from the edge of the screen. You can quickly switch between apps by swiping left and right on the virtual Home button bar at the bottom of the screen.
If your iPhone has a physical Home button with Touch ID (like iPhone 8 or the new SE) press it to go to the Home screen. Double-press the Home button to view the app switcher and flick between apps. Swiping from the left edge of the screen will take you back one step in most menus and apps.
Control Center is a useful feature that provides quick access to Airplane mode, media controls, Bluetooth devices, and system shortcuts. On an iPhone without a physical Home button, swipe down from the top-right corner (where the clock is). On other iPhone models, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
Many iPhone functions can be performed with voice commands and Siri. To access Siri, press and hold the side (power) button on newer Face ID iPhones. Press and hold the physical Home (Touch ID) button if your iPhone has one.
Understanding Apple’s Limitations (and Benefits)
iOS is a fairly locked-down operating system due to Apple’s “walled garden” approach to mobile devices. The company maintains a high degree of control over what people can do on its products and the type of software that’s allowed.
The most obvious difference is that you can’t install apps from just anywhere on an iPhone. The vast majority are limited to the App Store, Apple’s curated catalog of software, all of which have been vetted and approved. These apps are also bound by Apple’s strict rules.
However, there are definitely some upsides to Apple’s cautious approach. Because of the rigidly enforced App Store policies, you don’t have to worry too much about malware sneaking its way onto your device.
On iOS, apps are also sandboxed to prevent them from accessing your data unnecessarily or damaging your device. Apps must ask permission to access things like your location or contacts list. You also have to grant apps access to the camera or microphone.
Familiarize Yourself with Apple’s Services
Now that you own an iPhone, you have access to many services reserved for Apple customers, including FaceTime, Apple’s voice- and video chat service. FaceTime works between Apple devices, so anyone with an Apple ID and device can chat for free. You can use the dedicated FaceTime app or, in the Phone app, find the contact you want to talk to, and then tap the FaceTime icon.
Similarly, iMessage is Apple’s device-to-device instant-messaging protocol. The service seamlessly integrates with the Messages app. If you’re chatting to someone and seeing blue chat bubbles, you’re communicating via iMessage. Green bubbles indicate messages received via SMS. iMessage is free and works anywhere you have an internet connection.
iCloud is Apple’s cloud storage service. You can use it to back up your device on the cloud, store files, or sync data between devices. You can access many of these features via the web at iCloud.com. You’ll probably have to pay for some additional storage if you want to use iCloud to back up your device regularly you only get 5 GB of space for free.
To upgrade, head to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud. There, you can see how your iCloud storage is being used. Tap “Manage Storage” to get more space, or enable or disable iCloud sync for apps and services.
The Home Screen, Search, and Widgets
Since you can’t replace or customize the iOS “launcher” like you can on Android, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the few options you have available.
You can move an app around by tapping and holding its icon and waiting for it to wobble. When app icons are wobbling, you can rearrange them as you see fit. Use the Home gesture or press the Home button to save your changes. If you drag one icon on top of another, it creates a folder. This is about as deep as the app organization goes on iOS.
That’s why the search bar is a godsend you don’t have to remember where you stored an app or which folder it’s in. Simply swipe down from the top to reveal the search bar and start typing. You can search for apps, people, preference panels, or items within apps (like Notes in Evernote or documents in Google Drive). You can even perform sums and start conversations.
Carry on Using Google Services via Apps
Just because you’ve left Android behind doesn’t mean you’ve left Google. In fact, Google’s apps for iOS are among some of the best third-party services the platform has to offer.
