Starting with iOS 27.2, developers will be able to offer users a way to move their data and settings from an existing app to its designated replacement. Here are the details.

While uncommon, developers occasionally retire an existing app and launch a new one in its place, requiring users to move over to a separate app.

Even though most developers try to make that transition as seamless as possible, migrating can still require some work from the user, particularly when it involves data that isn’t stored in the cloud.

With iOS 27.2, Apple will address this with a new system-managed migration flow that can move an app’s data and supported settings to its designated replacement before deleting the old app.

Based on existing code in iOS 27.2 beta 1, users will be presented with an alert that says:

The developer recommends moving your existing “%1$@” app data and settings to the new “%2$@” app.

iPhone can do this for you now, before you start using your new app. Afterwards, the old app will be deleted from this iPhone.

Users will then be able to choose either “Move App Data and Settings” or “Don’t Move Anything.” If the user rejects the migration, iOS will present a second confirmation warning that some preferences, including notification and location settings, may need to be configured again.

To be clear, the feature appears to be limited to cases where a developer replaces one of its own apps with a designated successor, rather than migrating data between apps from different developers.

Based on the current implementation, iOS can migrate a range of system-level settings and permissions, including:

• Privacy, location, and Health authorization decisions
• Notification settings, including accessory notification settings
• Per-app Do Not Disturb and Focus settings
• App locking and protection settings
• CarPlay icon order and compatible widget layouts
• Live Activities and accessory Live Activities
• Access to associated accessories
• LaunchServices preferences, fonts, capture-related defaults, telephony data, and Secure Element services

We will keep an eye out for changes to this framework during the iOS 27.2 beta cycle and report back if we learn more about how developers will be able to implement it.

• AirPods Pro 3
• AirTag (2nd Generation) – 4 Pack
• MacBook Neo
• David Pogue – ’Apple: The First 50 Years’ book
• Logitech MX Master 4
• Wireless CarPlay adapter