How to Move From Windows Phone to Android (Guide)

Smartphones have become an integral part of our life and that's why nosotros tend to choose our phones carefully. At that place are a lot of factors that nosotros retrieve most when nosotros want to buy a new smartphone. The design, brandish, cameras (front and rear), processing ability and nearly importantly the platform and its ecosystem. The platform is the most important detail considering that's what decides your experience, apps and services. So, moving to a new platform tin can be a hassle, as you are already quite invested in some other platform. Well, if yous have been thinking of moving to a new platform, nosotros already took the plunge for y'all.

I accept been using a Windows Phone smartphone (Lumia 920) for almost 2 years and although I have had some experience with Android devices, the Lumia has ever been my master smartphone. Well, I had been planning to motion to Android for quite some time now and I finally did it. Then, if you have been wondering how to move your contacts, files and what alternative apps to utilise, we have got you lot covered.

The Reason for Moving to Android

While I loved Windows Phone for the fluid functioning, live tiles and Microsoft'due south services similar Cortana, the app situation is what really made me move to Android. The lack of popular & trending apps is a problem indeed and the quality of apps too leave a lot to exist desired. For example, there are official apps for Twitter and Instagram merely they haven't been updated with new features since what seems like an eternity.

The platform is nonetheless missing a number of essential apps that nosotros use daily and I'm done living without them. Yes, there are some great third political party clients but they don't cover for the lack of official apps. Another problem is when a trending app or game finally arrives on Windows Phone, they have already lost their appeal. Moreover, Windows Phone had a slew of exclusive Microsoft apps previously but Microsoft has brought all those apps on Android and iOS, and then at that place's no real incentive for people to stick to Windows Phone. Well, these are strong enough reasons for me to move to Android.

Syncing your Outlook Contacts & Calendar on Android

If you lot accept used a Google business relationship to save your contacts in Windows Phone, there volition be no issues when you motion to Android but chances are you lot used a Microsoft (Outlook) account. And so, here's how you can sync your Outlook contacts and agenda on Android:

1. Go to Settings->Accounts.

ii. Tap on "Add business relationship".

three. Select "Exchange".

4. Enter your Microsoft e-mail address and countersign.

5. Then, you volition be asked to set up up your account. Just tick on the options of "Sync contacts" and "Sync agenda".

half-dozen. Your Microsoft account will then sync to your device and you lot will accept your contacts & agenda details on your Android device.

7. If you don't find your Outlook contacts. Become to Contacts->Contacts to display and select your Substitution Microsoft account.

Transferring your data from Windows Telephone to Android

You can easily transfer your data from a Windows Phone device to an Android device through your PC in the conventional drag and drop way just there'southward nothing to worry if you don't have a PC. You can employ the third party app SHAREit by Lenovo , which is available on both Windows Phone and Android. Here's how you can transfer files between Windows Phone and Android through SHAREit:

1. Open the SHAREit app on your Android device and tap "Receive" to receive files from other device.

two. Then, open up the SHAREit app on your Windows Phone and tap "Ship" to transport files.

3. You will need to connect to a WiFi Hotspot created by SHAREit on Windows Phone to transport files.

4. Once continued, select the files you desire to send and tap ship.

5. Y'all will encounter the other device in the range, just tap the device proper noun and the files will be sent.

6. Y'all can use the aforementioned process to send files from Android to Windows Phone.

SHAREit – Google Play Store (Free) / Windows Store (Free)

There's i more manner to transfer files from Windows Telephone to Android. Windows Phone comes with OneDrive integration, so if you take some files on the cloud storage service, you tin sync your OneDrive account in Android'southward OneDrive app to get the files.

Note:

While you can move the files from Windows Telephone to Android, there's no way to move app data. And then, if you have been wondering on how to move your WhatsApp data from Windows Phone to Android, sadly y'all can't. Not only WhatsApp, yous can't transfer any app'southward or game's information, every bit Windows Phone does not lets users access the app information.

App Alternatives to Use on Android

If you lot want to stick to Microsoft's services, you can use Microsoft's apps on Android merely if you are ready to move on, you can requite Google's alternative apps a try:

• Google Now for Cortana

Microsoft's Cortana virtual banana, which is powered by Bing is nifty just Google Now is more informative and smart. Google Now is evidently superior on Android, as it works in sync with all Google services and information technology'southward integrated right in the OS. The latest Android six.0 update has as well brought a new "Google Now on tap" characteristic, which brings relevant data with simply a tap depending on the app you are in. Google Now is certainly 1 of the killer features of Android and yous are going to dear it. If you do miss Cortana'southward personality and banter, you can endeavor out Cortana'south beta version for Android or you can as well check out our list of voice administration for Android.

• Gmail for Outlook

Microsoft has an Outlook app on Android and it's pretty skillful simply Google'due south Gmail app is the more superior of the two. It is fast and pretty simple to employ, which does the trick. We simply love the simplicity and performance of the official Gmail app. If yous want to try some more than email clients, you can check out our listing of best email apps for  Android.

• Google Chrome for Net Explorer

Cyberspace Explorer on Windows Telephone was good but information technology only did non return some websites correctly. Some other issue was information technology'due south non very feature rich with lack of a download manager and more. Yep, Microsoft Border is on its way with Windows x Mobile and if Edge on Windows 10 is any indication, it'll be some time earlier we can utilize it equally our primary browser. Google Chrome is the default browser on Android and after using terrible browsers on Windows Telephone, it'south a welcome alter. Chrome is great but the skillful thing with Android is, nosotros have a agglomeration of third party browsers as well.

• Google Drive for OneDrive

OneDrive is arguably the amend cloud storage service of the 2 simply on Android, Google Drive has the advantage of integration with the apps and OS. So, if you desire that, y'all can utilise Bulldoze but if you don't want to move from OneDrive, Microsoft's OneDrive app on Android is pretty capable. Dropbox also has a neat app on Android, so it's up to you to decide which cloud storage service you actually like. At that place are as well a slew of other alternatives similar Box, Copy etc.. to choose from.

• Google Maps for Here Maps

Both Google Maps and Hither Maps are great mapping services and with the arrival of Hither Maps on Android recently, Android users have a cracking alternative. Again, Google's offer has an reward that information technology syncs with other Google services on Android. Here Maps and Google Maps are kind of similar when it comes to features but Here Maps brings offline navigation, which might attract people who don't really accept a consistent internet connection. Other than Google and Hither, Android features a number of corking mapping apps on the Play Store also, then you have a lot of options.

• Google Play Music for Xbox Music

Windows 10 Mobile will bring a new Groove Music app that seems way better than the music app Windows Telephone 8.ane currently offers. Frankly, the default music player app on Windows Phone viii.i is terrible, and so moving to Google Play Music is like a breath of fresh air. Google Play Music offers a beautiful interface, polish operation, better selection of tracks and mode superior app feel than Microsoft'due south Music offering. Moreover, Android has a slew of great music player apps and music streaming apps you tin can choose from.

• 3rd political party apps

There's no comparing here, Android 3rd political party apps are manner superior than their Windows Phone counterparts. If you are moving from Windows Telephone to Android, you will so love the quality of apps on Android. WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, yous proper name it, all of them are vastly superior than their Windows Telephone counterparts. Windows Phone besides lacks various new apps and popular apps like Snapchat, Dubsmash etc.. so you will be pleased to finally use them on Android. Plus by and large all major apps are first launched on iOS and Android, so you finally get to use all the new apps.

Things I Miss from Windows Phone

This might surprise a few people only I do miss some things from Windows Phone:

• Cortana

Microsoft is bringing Cortana to Android but it's still in beta and the Cortana integration on Windows Phone is neat. I love Cortana and there are a number of bully features it brings. Windows x Mobile will make Cortana fifty-fifty better, as information technology volition sync with your Windows 10 PC to bring you lot missed call alerts and the ability to send texts right from your PC. Forth with that Cortana's ease of utilise, fluidity and features on Windows Phone are cracking. Well, hopefully Microsoft can bring an equally featured Cortana on Android some day.

• Windows Phone's keyboard

I have used Android in the past as well and it does take a pretty decent keyboard. At that place are some good third political party keyboards but Windows Phone's stock keyboard is simply slap-up. The period typing, auto correction, suggestions and its learning are fashion ameliorate than Android.

• Fluid feel

Android'due south smoothness has been enhanced a lot afterwards Android 5.0 Lollipop'south arrival only Windows Phone has ever been known for its fluidity and smoothness. While the Android experience does get sluggy at times, Windows Phone has e'er been very smooth when it came to most operations.

• Double tap to unlock & Glance screen

Some Android smartphones do support the double tap to unlock characteristic merely it's not a part of Android'southward native experience. People who accept used this would know how easy it makes to unlock the telephone. Yes, the fingerprint scanner is now supported natively past Android just non all devices come with one yet. Then there's Glance screen, which has likewise been implemented by certain Android makers like Motorola with Moto Display but it's not every bit good as Windows Phone's Glance feature.

Things I Love on Android

Android brings a lot of great things and its apps are way alee than what Windows Phone offers. Hither are some things I love about Android:

• Widgets

Windows Telephone does take Live Tiles that show you information right on the Showtime screen but it does non bring much functionality. Android'due south widgets have always been known for their functionality and widgets are available for almost all your tasks. You can have a widget to show detailed battery, information usage, conditions and more.

• Customization

Android has e'er been loved for its customization and flexibility and it'due south no wonder that people love tinkering with it. You lot can change the whole look of the OS, thank you to various third party launchers. And so there are icon packs, third party lockscreen apps and more. If you are the tinkering type, you tin fifty-fifty install custom ROMs, which bring a lot more than functionality and features.

• Material Pattern UI

Windows Phone brought an intuitive interface when it launched but things have become stagnant now and Windows 10 Mobile looks like an Android ROM. On the other manus, Android 5.0 brought the Textile Design UI which totally inverse the looks of Android and it at present looks amazing. The colours, aesthetics and animations look and experience astonishing on Android.

• Multitasking

Windows Phone's multitasking interface is skillful merely it'south non very functional. Sometimes the apps just keep loading when you switch from the multitasking UI or at that place's the infamous "Resuming…". There's no such problem with Android, equally apps tin can cull to run in the background. The apps switch quickly and the new interface looks & works beautifully.

• Apps

Well, this is quite obvious just I can at present finally get hands on with the latest apps that are announced instead of waiting for them. Google's own apps are smashing and they brings smashing functionality along with adept looks. Tertiary party apps are equally great and developers make sure their apps are upwardly to engagement, which makes up for a great feel.

SEE ALSO: Looking for Android Alternative? Here are the best ones

There are quite a lot more features on Android that I love but that's another story for a whole different day. So, have you been thinking of moving from Windows Phone to Android? If and then, let us know your experience in the comments section below.

Source: https://beebom.com/windows-phone-to-android/

Posted by: fauntleroysularoat68.blogspot.com

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