Google Simplifies iPhone-to-Pixel Migration with Burst Photo Support

For most people, switching from an iPhone to Android is a big task, and app and app data switching is especially challenging. Indeed, Google is perfectly aware that there is no universal solution for app migration. Still, they are proficient in a modern way of gradually improving the general transition experience, especially for Pixel user switchers. Like most Live photo additions, Google has added burst photo transfers to its iPhone-to-Pixel migration toolkit.

What’s New: Burst Photo Transfers

Google’s product lead for Android onboarding and settings, Paul Dunlop, announced a new feature enabling iPhone users to transfer their burst photos to a Pixel device quickly. After migration, all the rapid-fire photos taken on an iPhone (enabling users to pick the best shot from a series) will continue to be functional on a Pixel.

How It Works

• If Google Photos’ feature is enabled, bursting photos transferred from an iPhone will appear as stacks and for other devices as word clouds.
• The Android Switch app catches burst photos during migration, with potential variations between how Apple Photos and Google Photos treat stacks. The mapping still isn’t perfect, but it retains the core functionality of burst photos.

Availability

That feature is already running for Pixel devices running the latest software. It can be accessed after the initial device setup or through the Android Switch app.

Why Burst Photo Transfers Matter?

Burst photo migration isn’t necessarily a big deal, but it is a key pain point for people who want their photo libraries at their fingertips. Often, memories are captured by memory in burst mode, leaving you with what you can’t easily recreate, such as action shots, group shots, or candid moments.

By moving burst photos around, Google increases the migration experience and usability by keeping users’ memories in working format.

Future Expansion Beyond Pixel

The Pixel devices are the only ones that use burst photo migration. However, Google will add it to other Android phones in 2025, making the migration process slightly less painful for users of different devices.

Pixel 9 Features Set to Roll Out Early in 2025

• The Pixel 9’s flexible data transfer tool debuted with this year’s device and will also be available on more Android devices.
• Moving beyond the burst photo transfers, this tool will enable users to pick only what they want to migrate.
• Users can initiate data migration long after their Android phone is set up.

The Bigger Picture

Google’s progress to date—like its Live Photos and burst photo import upgrades—doesn’t solve the app and app data transfer inappliciencies when moving from iPhone to Android. Still, it represents steady work towards reducing friction.

These updates cater to one of the most emotional aspects of migration: preserving irreplaceable memories. Google wants to make that transition easier for users who might otherwise be reluctant to break free of the Apple ecosystem, so it will continue to focus on photos and other personal data.

Burst Photo Transfer Tool Usage

During Setup:

• When setting up your new Pixel phone, connect your iPhone to it using the instructions given during this initial setup.
• The migration is started from the Android Switch app.

After Setup:

• Go to the Android Switch app on your Pixel device.
• Transfer of burst photos and the data types.

Verify in Google Photos:

• Ensure that burst photos appear as a stack in your Google Photos app.
• Change the settings (to organize better).

Looking Ahead

Google continues to improve, and Pixel users’ transition from iPhone to Android has improved. Burst photo transfer, support for live photos, and other features that show Google’s intention to configure this migration thoroughly illustrate that even the bigger pains of app data transfers remain.

These advancements are now gracing the frontlines for Pixel users and will be much smoother for everyone in 2025 as they roll out to more Android devices. Over the next while, if Google continues on this trajectory, switching from iPhone to Android could become significantly less daunting.