The Switch How to switch from iOS to Android

An attendee demonstrates the S Pen stylus with the Samsung Electronics Co. Galaxy Note 8 smartphone during a media event in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. Samsung's President of Mobile Communications DJ Koh said the South Korean electronics maker isn't pressured to alter its business timetable by Apple Inc.'s new iPhones, and that it expects its new Note 8 smartphone to do well globally. Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg
It's been a big season for smartphone launches, with Apple, Samsung, LG and others releasing some new and improved hardware. If you weren't wowed by what Apple had to offer with the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, you may be tempted by what some of the Android-based phone makers have to offer.

Whether you’re looking for a little more flexibility or maybe for a cheaper smartphone, switching to Android has its appeal. But switching platforms can be daunting, particularly if you're worried that you'll lose valuable information in the move. Here's a quick guide to making that process less stressful if you want to switch from iOS:

1) Set up a Google account and download Google Drive: If you don't have a Google account already, this should be your first priority. Making a Google account while you still have your iPhone makes it much easier to sync contacts, calendars and documents that you may need to keep. You can sync your contacts through your iPhone's settings menu, though you may also want to export your iPhone's contacts by connecting them to a computer for safe keeping.