How to transfer data from one Samsung phone to another: all methods 2026

Moving to a new smartphone Samsung is always an exciting moment, but transferring data often turns into a headache. Photos for 5 years, hundreds of contacts, saved messages in instant messengers and application settings - all this needs to be transferred to a new device without loss. Fortunately, device owners have several reliable migration methods, from a proprietary solution to universal cloud services. Galaxy-devices have several reliable migration methods, from a proprietary solution Smart Switch to universal cloud services.

In this article we will look at transferring data between phones, including wireless and wired options, taking into account the features of the latest versions 7 proven methods transfer data between phones Samsung, including wireless and wired options, taking into account the features of the latest versions One UI 6.1 i Android 14. You will learn how to save even call history and data from Samsung Health, what errors most often occur during synchronization, and how to avoid them. And if you are coming from iPhone —there is also a separate section for you with nuances.

1. Smart Switch: the official method from Samsung

Samsung Smart Switch is a proprietary migration application that is installed by default on all modern Galaxy-smartphones. It supports transferring almost all types of data: from contacts and messages to lock screen settings and data Samsung Pay. The main advantage is the preservation of the folder structure and file metadata (for example, the date the photo was created).

The application works using three protocols:

• 🔌 Wired connection (via a USB cable or OTG adapter) - the fastest and most stable method, recommended for large amounts of data (from 50 GB).
• 📶 Wi-Fi Direct — wireless transfer without a router, but requires a stable signal (can be interrupted at a distance of more than 5 meters).
• ☁️ Cloud backup — data is first uploaded to Samsung servers and then downloaded to a new phone (suitable for long-distance migration).

To to use Smart Switch, follow these steps:

1. Open the application on both phones (if it is not there, download from Galaxy Store or Google Play).
2. On the old phone, select Send data, on the new one - Receive data.
3. Connect your devices with a cable (or select wireless mode) and follow the instructions on the screen.
4. Select the types of data to transfer (you can check all or select individual categories).
5. Wait for the process to complete - the time depends on volume (for example, 64 GB of photos and videos are transferred ~40–60 minutes via cable).

Make sure that both phones have enough charge (at least 50%)

Use an original Samsung USB cable (cheap cables may cause errors)

Disable VPN and modes energy saving on both devices

Close all background applications, especially instant messengers and cloud services-->

⚠️ Attention: If when transferring via Smart Switch The error “Could not connect” appears, try restarting both phones and changing the connection type (for example, from Wi-Fi to cable). Also check if the data transfer is not blocked Bixby button —it must be held when confirming the connection on some models.

2. Transfer via Google Account: universal method

If you use the services Google, then most of the data is already synchronized with the cloud automatically. This method is suitable for transferring contacts, calendars, notes Google Keep, mail Gmail, as well as some application settings. However, it has limitations:

• 📁 Photos and videos sync only if backup is enabled Google Photos (free up to 15 GB, then a paid subscription is required).
• 📱 SMS messages and call history are not transferred automatically (you need to use additional applications like SMS Backup & Restore).
• 🎮 Game data will be saved only if the games support cloud saving via Google Play Games.

How to transfer data via Google Account:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts and archiving → Backup and recovery.
2. Enable Backup data and select yours Google account.
3. On a new phone, when you turn it on for the first time, select Copy data and log into the same account.
4. Confirm restoring data from backup.

Type data	Transferred via Google Account?	Notes
Contact	✅ Yes	Syncs automatically if saved to Google Contacts
Photos/videos	⚠️ Partially	Only if backup to Google Photos is enabled
SMS messages	❌ No	Requires a third-party application
Applications	✅ Yes	Lists of installed applications are transferred, but not them data
Wi-Fi settings	✅ Yes	Including saved passwords

Smart Switch from Samsung|Google Account|Manual transfer via cable|Cloud services (Dropbox, Yandex Disk)|Other-->

⚠️ Attention: If you used Samsung Knox on your old phone to work with confidential data (for example, in Secure Folder), these files are not synchronized with Google Account. They must be transferred separately via Smart Switch or manually.

3. Transfer via OTG cable or adapter

If you do not have access to Wi-Fi or prefer a physical connection, you can use USB-OTG adapter (or cable USB-C to USB-C for new models Galaxy). This method allows you to copy files directly, like from a flash drive, but has limitations:

• 📂 Only media files (photos, videos, music), documents and APK application files are transferred.
• 🚫 Not transferred contacts, messages, settings and application data.
• ⚡ Required file manager (for example, My Files from Samsung or Solid Explorer).

Instructions for transferring via OTG:

1. Connect the OTG adapter to the new phone, and to it the old phone via a USB cable.
2. On the new phone, open My Files and select USB device in the menu.
3. Copy the necessary folders (DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, etc.) to the internal memory or SD card of the new phone.
4. To transfer applications, copy APK files from the folder /data/app (root access required).

This method is suitable for quick transfer of large files (for example, 4K videos or backups), but does not replace a full migration. For complete data transfer, it is better to combine it with Smart Switch or Google Account.

4. Wireless transfer via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct

If you do not have a cable or OTG adapter, you can use wireless technologies. However, this method has significant disadvantages:

• 🐢 Low speed: Bluetooth transfers data at a speed of ~2–3 MB/s (64 GB photos will be copied in ~6 hours!).
• 📶 Limited volume: Wi-Fi Direct is faster, but can be interrupted if the signal is weak.
• 📁 Limited file types: Folders cannot be transferred via Bluetooth - only individual files.

How to transfer files via Wi-Fi Direct:

1. On both phones, enable Wi-Fi Direct in the settings (Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct).
2. Connect the devices to each other (on one, click "Search for devices", on the other, confirm the connection).
3. Open My Files, select the files and click "Send" → "Wi-Fi Direct".
4. Receive the files on the second phone.

Why does Bluetooth transfer files so slowly?

Bluetooth speed is limited by the protocol: even in version 5.0, the actual speed rarely exceeds 2–3 MB/s due to encryption and error control overhead. For comparison, USB 3.0 transfers data at speeds of up to 600 MB/s, and Wi-Fi 6 - up to 100 MB/s.

⚠️ Attention: When transferring via Wi-Fi Direct on some models Samsung (for example, Galaxy S22 Ultra), the error "Could not send files due to security restrictions" may occur. In this case, resetting the network settings will help (Settings → General management → Reset → Reset network settings).

5. Transfer from iPhone to Samsung: features and nuances

If you switch from iPhone to Galaxy, the migration process will be more difficult due to the difference in ecosystems. Smart Switch supports transfer from iOS, but with limitations:

• 📱 Contacts, calendars, photos and videos are transferred completely.
• 💬 iMessages are not transferred - only SMS and MMS (if they are saved in the iPhone memory).
• 🎵 Musicpurchased in iTuneswill not be transferred due to DRM protection (you need to download it again).
• 📱 Applications from App Store are not transferred - Smart Switch will offer analogs from Google Play.

Step-by-step guide for switching from iPhone:

1. On iPhone install Smart Switch from App Store.
2. Connect iPhone to the new Samsung via cable (use adapter Lightning to USB-C).
3. On Galaxy select Get data → iPhone/iPad.
4. On iPhone confirm trust in the device and select the data to transfer.
5. Wait for completion - the process can take up to 2-3 hours with a large volume.

After the transfer, be sure to:

• 🔧 Disable iMessage in the iPhone settings, otherwise SMS will only be sent to the old number.
• ☁️ Transfer backups WhatsApp (instructions below).
• 🎧 Reconnect all Bluetooth devices (headphones, smart clock).

6. Transferring data from specific applications (WhatsApp, Telegram, games)

Some applications require special attention during migration. For example, WhatsApp does not transfer chats via Smart Switch —to do this, you need to make a backup copy manually.

How to transfer WhatsApp history:

1. On your old phone, open WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → Chat → Backup.
2. Create a backup in Google Drive (make sure you are signed in to the same account as on the new phone).
3. Install WhatsApp to a new phone and log in to the same account.
4. When prompted, restore chats from a backup.

Transfer data from Telegram:

• ☁️ Cloud chats transferred automatically when you log into your account.
• 📁 Local files (downloaded media) must be copied manually via Settings → Data and memory → Telegram folder.

Saving progress in games:

• 🎮 If the game supports Google Play Games, progress is synchronized automatically.
• 🔗 For games with your own accounts (for example, Clash of Clans), link the game to Supercell ID or a similar system.
• 📱 If the game does not support cloud saves, use Titanium Backup (required root access).

⚠️ Attention: When transferring Samsung Health data on steps, pressure and training are not synchronized via Google Fit. To save them, export the history manually via Samsung Health → Settings → Export data (the file will be in the format .csv).

7. Manual transfer via cloud services (Dropbox, Yandex Disk, OneDrive)

If you need to transfer only individual files or backups, you can use third-party cloud services. This method is universal, but requires stable Internet and free space in the cloud.

How to transfer data via the cloud:

1. Install a cloud service application (for example, Yandex Disk) on both phones.
2. On the old phone, upload files to the cloud (for example, a folder DCIM/Camera with a photo).
3. On the new phone, download files from the cloud to the internal memory.

Service	Free space	Max. file size	Download speed
Google Drive	15 GB	5 TB	Limited by quotas
Yandex Disk	10 GB	50 GB	Up to 10 MB/s
Dropbox	2 GB	50 GB (via desktop)	Up to 5 MB/s
OneDrive	5 GB	100 GB	Up to 15 MB/s

Advantages of cloud transfer:

• 🌍 Access files from any device.
• 🔄 Possibility of selective transfer (for example, only photos from the last year).
• 🛡️ Additional backup in case of losing your phone.

Disadvantages:

• ⏳ Long upload/download times with large volumes.
• 💰 Limited free space (for example, Google Drive only 15 GB).
• 🔒 Risk of data leakage when using unreliable services.

Frequent errors and their solutions

When transferring data between phones Samsung users often encounter typical problems. Here are the most common errors and ways to eliminate them:

1. Smart Switch does not see the old phone

• 🔌 Check the cable - use the original USB-C from Samsung.
• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 📱 On the old phone, turn on USB Debugging (Settings → About phone → Build number — press 7 times, then go back to Settings → Developer → USB Debugging).

2. The transfer is interrupted in the middle

• 🔋 Make sure that both phones have enough charge (at least 30%).
• 📶 Turn off the mobile data and leave only Wi-Fi.
• 🚫 Close all background applications, especially instant messengers.

3. Messages or contacts are not transferred

• ☁️ Check if synchronization with Google Account is enabled (Settings → Accounts → Google → Synchronization).
• 📱 Make sure that contacts are saved in Google Contacts, and not in the phone memory.
• 🔄 Try transferring data via Samsung Cloud (if available in your region).

4. After transfer, applications do not work

• 🔄 Reboot the new phone.
• 📥 Update applications via Galaxy Store or Google Play.
• 🔧 If the application requires a license (for example, paid games), log in to the same account as on the old one phone.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to transfer data from a Samsung phone to iPhone?

Yes, but with limitations. Apple offers an application Move to iOSthat transfers contacts, messages, photos, videos, email accounts and calendars. However, applications and their data (such as game progress) are not transferred. Also Move to iOS works only during the initial setup of the iPhone - if it is already configured, you will have to reset it to factory settings.

How long does it take to transfer 100 GB of data via Smart Switch?

Time depends on the connection method:

• By cable: ~1–1.5 hours (speed ~15–20 MB/s).
• By Wi-Fi Direct: ~2–3 hours (speed ~5–10 MB/s).
• Via the cloud: from 3 hours or more (depending on the speed Internet).

To speed up the process, turn off background tasks and do not use phones during the transfer.

Will data from Secure Folder be transferred to the new phone?

Yes, but only if you use Smart Switch or Samsung Cloud. Data from Secure Folder is not synchronized with Google Account. To transfer them:

1. Open Secure Folder on your old phone.
2. Go to Settings → Backup and restore.
3. Create a backup copy (the file will be saved in the internal memory).
4. Transfer this file to a new phone via Smart Switch.
5. On the new install Secure Folder on your phone and restore the data from the backup.

Is it possible to transfer data from a Samsung phone to a phone of another brand (Xiaomi, Huawei, Google Pixel)?

Yes, but not in all ways. Recommended methods:

• Google Account: will transfer contacts, calendars, mail and some settings.
• Cloud services: upload files to Google Drive or Dropbox, then download to a new one phone.
• Third-party applications: to transfer SMS and calls, use SMS Backup & Restore.

Smart Switch does not work with phones of other brands, except for some models Huawei (adapter required).

What to do if after transferring some photos are missing on the new phone?

Possible reasons and solutions:

• Photos are saved on SD card: Remove the card from the old phone and insert it into the new one.
• Smart Switch did not transfer all folders: check hidden directories (for example, .thumbnails or Pictures/Screenshots).
• Photos in the cloud: check Google Photos or Samsung Cloud - they may not have been downloaded to the device.
• Damaged files: try opening them on your old phone - if they don’t open, restore them from a backup.

If the photos were in Galaxy Gallerybut were not transferred, try exporting them manually via Selection → Export.