A few days ago, Apple published documentation for a new framework designed to simplify the transfer of third-party app data between iOS and Android. Here’s how it’ll work.
AppMigrationKit to allow ‘a one-time transfer of app data between Apple and non-Apple platforms’
Apple has been working on a new framework called AppMigrationKit , which will be compatible with devices running iOS 26.1 and later, as well as iPadOS 26.1 and later.
Like iOS and iPadOS 26.1, the framework is currently in beta and will allow developers to include their app’s data during the migration process between Apple and non-Apple devices (which, for now, essentially means Android).
Interestingly, Apple notes that this framework is not intended for data migration between iOS and iPadOS, but rather exclusively to and from non-Apple devices:
“ AppMigrationKit only supports migration to and from non-Apple platforms, such as Android. The system doesn’t use the framework for migration between iOS or iPadOS devices. The framework also has no functionality in iOS apps running in visionOS or in macOS on Apple silicon. The framework ignores calls from Mac apps built with Mac Catalyst.”
The AppMigrationKit documentation states that developers can define whether their apps will import data, export data, or both. They do that by creating “an app extension that conforms to the AppMigrationExtension protocol and at least one of its subprotocols.”
Then, when the user decides to set up a new device, all apps implementing AppMigrationKit will have their data included in the package. Apple notes that once the transfer is complete, the developer can also import cloud-stored data onto the target device.
Transfer to Android
The AppMigrationKit API will work alongside the new “Transfer to Android” feature, which was first reported on in May.
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