Can Android and
Apple iOS work
together?

20 Jun 2018

How to get Android and Apple iOS working together

It's not hard to share stuff across both. Some people won’t budge from their Android device. Others swear by Apple. Thankfully, there are ways for both devices to talk to each other. Check out the cool things you can do.

How do I sync my contacts?

You have two main choices: Google Contacts and Apple iCloud.

If you use Android only, Google Contacts is the way to go. If you use both Android and Apple, Google Contacts is still a good choice as it works with both.

If Apple is your only device, you can choose between Google Contacts or iCloud. iCloud is obviously best if you already have it for email or use Apple’s Mail app.

What if you have an iPhone and/or iPad and use web-based Gmail? It's probably better to use Google Contacts so you can sync contacts across phones, tablets, and your Gmail account.

What do I do?

First you'll need an iCloud Account or Google Account. On both iCloud and Android, you'll have to go into Settings and Contacts.

Sync iCloud on iPhone

Go to Settings and Accounts & Passwords. Make sure contacts are on. Do this for every device you want to use. And that's it!

Sync Google Contacts on Android

Drag down the top notification bar and tap the cog to reach Settings. The steps are slightly different according to the version of Android, but generally the process is: go to Accounts > [Your Google Account] > Account Sync > Enable Contacts.

Sync Google Contacts on Android

Go to the Settings menu and select Accounts and Passwords. Tap Add New Account, then Google. Sign in with your Google account, then turn on Contacts. Tap Save.

How do I move Contacts from Google to iCloud?

Doing it manually from your computer is simplest. Sign in to Google Contacts on the web. If you’ve got the new Contacts Preview, switch to the old version. Then:

1. Tap More at the top, then select Export
2. Choose vCard, then click the Export button. Save the file on your computer
3. Sign in to iCloud and choose Contacts
4. On the bottom left corner, click the cog icon and select Import vCard. Select the vCard you just saved.

Wait a few minutes to let it set up.

How do I move Contacts from iCloud to Google?

Again, the easiest way is manually via your computer. Sign in to your iCloud account, and click Contacts. Then:

1. On the bottom left corner, click the cog icon and select Export vCard. Save the file on your computer
2. Sign in to Google Contacts. Click More, then Import.
3. Select CSV or vCard file, then the vCard you just saved. Wait a few minutes to let it set up.

Can I share my music?

Yes. Apple Music and iCloud Music Library let you listen to songs from any device. Ensure you're signed in with the same Apple ID and iCloud Music Library is turned on.

What about photos and files?

The simplest way to share stuff is via cloud storage. These include:

• Microsoft OneDrive
• Google Photos and Google Drive
• Dropbox

Another method is with an app that directly transfers files between devices, on the same network. Generally you need to install these apps on both devices to transmit documents wirelessly. You can also send photos directly to friends with messaging apps like WhatsApp.

Can I communicate with others?

If you want to message and video call across devices, there are plenty of apps to help like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Apple iMessage and Apple Facetime.