How to transfer data from Android to Android when changing phone: a complete guide 2026

Replacing a smartphone with a new model is always an exciting time, but transferring data often turns into a headache. According to statistics, 68% of users lose some information when switching to another Androiddevice, without even knowing it. Contacts are duplicated, photos disappear, and application settings are reset - is this a familiar situation?

In this article we will analyze all current methods of data transfer between Androidsmartphones: from standard tools Google to proprietary solutions Samsung Smart Switch i Xiaomi Mi Mover. You will learn how to transfer not only contacts and photos, but also call history, Wi-Fi passwords, application settings and even data from games. And also - how to avoid typical mistakes due to which gigabytes of valuable information are lost. SMS/MMS, call history, Wi-Fi passwords, application settings and even game data. And also - how to avoid typical mistakes due to which gigabytes of valuable information are lost.

Important: methods differ in speed, reliability and supported data types. We have compiled a comparison table of all methods indicating their pros, cons and limitations - it will help you choose the best option specifically for your situation.

1. Preparing for the transfer: what needs to be done BEFORE replacing the phone

The first step is data audit. Make a list of everything you want to move. A typical user stores on a smartphone:

• 📞 Contact (including groups, contact notes, profile photos)
• 📷 Photos and videos (including hidden folders and messenger backups)
• 💬 Messages (SMS, MMS, chat history in WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber)
• 🎮 Application data (game saves, social network settings, browser bookmarks)
• 🔑 Passwords and keys (Wi-Fi, accounts, two-factor authentication)

Most users forget about system settings: wallpaper, sound patterns, desktop shortcuts, health data (Google Fit, Samsung HealthThese little things take about 10 minutes to set up, but their loss noticeably spoils the impression of the new one). phone.

Check free space on both devices|Update software to the latest version|Make sure the Internet connection is stable|Charge both phones at least 50%|Disable screen lock (if cable transfer is used)-->

Critical error - transferring data from a dead phone. If the process is interrupted due to the device being turned off, some of the files may be damaged. For example, databases WhatsApp if copied incorrectly turn into unreadable files with the extension .crypt14.

⚠️ Attention: If you use Samsung Knox or a corporate profile at work, some data may be blocked from transferring by security policies. Check this with the IT department administrator before start the procedure.

2. Method 1: Automatic transfer via Google Account (the most universal)

This is a basic method that works all Android devices regardless of the manufacturer. The data is synchronized with the cloud Google and automatically downloaded to the new phone when you turn it on for the first time. What exactly is transferred:

Data type	Is transferred?	Limitations
Contact	✅ Yes	Only if saved in Google Account, not in the phone memory
Calendar	✅ Yes	Only events from Google Calendar
Photo/Video	✅ Partially	Only if auto-upload to Google Photos is enabled (up to 15 GB free)
Applications	✅ Yes	Only a list of installed ones, without data inside them
SMS/MMS	❌ No	Separate backup required

How to set it up:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Enable option Upload to Google Drive and click Create a backup now.
3. On a new phone, when you turn it on for the first time, select Copy data from old device → From the cloud.
4. Login to the same account Google and select the latest backup.

Speed ​​depends on the amount of data and Internet speed. For example, a 5 GB backup on Wi-Fi (100 Mbit/s) will download in ~10 minutes, and on mobile data (4G) - up to 40 minutes.

⚠️ Attention: Google backups do not save data from most games and some applications (for example, BankID, Government services). They will require separate methods.

3. Method 2: Branded utilities of manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei)

Large brands develop their own migration tools, which often work faster and more reliablethan standard solutions Google. Let's consider the three most popular:

Samsung Smart Switch (for gadgets Galaxy)

• 🔌 Supports wired (via USB-C/OTG) and wireless transfer
• 📁 Transfers: contacts, SMS, photos, videos, music, documents, system settings, data of some applications
• ⚡ Speed: up to 1 GB/min cable

How to use:

1. Install Smart Switch with Galaxy Store or Google Play on both phones.
2. On the new phone, select Get data → Android.
3. Connect your phones with a cable (recommended) or via Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Select data types to transfer and wait until complete.

Xiaomi Mi Mover (for Redmi, POCO, Mi)

• 📶 Works only on Wi-Fi Direct (without the Internet)
• 🔐 Even transfers data from MIUI-specific applications (themes, notepad, calculator)
• ⚠️ Does not support transfer to devices of other brands

Huawei Phone Clone (for Huawei and Honor)

• 🔗 Supports transfer from iPhone and others Androiddevices
• 📂 Maintains the location of icons on the desktop
• ❌ Does not transfer data from Google Pay and some banking applications

The advantage of proprietary utilities is that they often transfer application data, which ignores Google. For example, Smart Switch can save progress in games Samsung Game Launcher, and Mi Mover - settings MIUI-themes.

What to do if the proprietary utility does not see the old phone?

1. Make sure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on on both devices.

2. Reboot both phones.

3. developer (Settings → About phone → Build number - tap 7 times) enable USB debugging (for wired transfer).

4. If you are using a cable, try a different one (preferably the original USB-C).

5. For Xiaomi: in Mi Mover click "I don't see the device" and follow the prompts.

4. OTG or adapter (maximum speed)

This is the most fast and reliable method, if you have:

• 🔌 USB-C → USB-C cable (for modern phones)
• 🔄 OTG adapter + regular USB cable (for older models)
• 📱 Both phones support USB Host Mode (most devices after 2018)

Step-by-step guide:

1. Connect the phones with a cable. On the screen of the old device, select the mode File transfer (MTP).
2. On the new phone, open File manager (for example, Files by Google).
3. In section Devices or Connected devices find the folders of the old phone.
4. Copy the necessary files manually (we recommend starting with folders DCIM, Downloads, WhatsApp).

Speed copying via cable reaches 40-60 MB/s (versus 5-10 MB/s via Wi-Fi). The main disadvantage is settings and application data are not transferred.only files.

⚠️ Attention: When copying the folder Android (where application data is stored), some files may not open on the new phone due to differences in OS versions or processor architecture. (ARM vs ARM64).

5. Method 4: Transferring messages, contacts and calls through specialized applications

Standard methods are often ignored SMS/MMS i Call log. To transfer them, you will need third-party utilities:

Application	What it carries	Limitations
SMS Backup & Restore	SMS, MMS, call log	Not transfers attachments from MMS
Super Backup	SMS, contacts, magazine, applications (APK)	Advertising in the free version
Dr.Fone — Phone Transfer	Everything, including WhatsApp	Paid (from 300 rub.)

Instructions for SMS Backup & Restore (free solution):

1. Install the application on both phones.
2. On the old phone, press Backup and save the backup copy to Google Drive or to a memory card.
3. Transfer the backup file to the new phone.
4. On the new phone, press Restore and select the file.

To transfer WhatsApp:

1. Make a backup copy in Settings → Chat → Backup.
2. Copy the folder /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases to the new phone.
3. Install WhatsApp on the new phone and restore from local copies.

6. Method 5: Cloud storage (Google Drive, Yandex Drive, Dropbox)

Cloud services are convenient for transfer selected data or if the phones are in different places. Comparison of popular services:

Service	Free space	Max. file size	Download speed
Google Drive	15 GB	5 TB (with limitations)	Depends on the Internet
Yandex Disk	10 GB	50 GB	Up to 100 MB/s
Dropbox	2 GB	50 GB (for free accounts)	Limited

How to transfer data via Google Drive:

1. On your old phone, open the application Google Drive.
2. Click + → Download and select files/folders.
3. On the new phone, open Google Drive, find the downloaded files and download them.

To automatically synchronize photos, use Google Photos:

1. Enable Backup and synchronization in the application settings.
2. Select quality (Original or High).
3. On the new phone, log into the same account - photos will be uploaded automatically.

⚠️ Attention: When uploading to Google Photos mode, photos are compressed to a resolution of 16 MP, and videos to 1080p. To preserve the original quality, select High quality photos are compressed to 16 MP resolution, and videos to 1080p. To maintain original quality, select Original (counts towards the 15 GB quota).

7. Method 6: Transfer via computer (for advanced users)

If you have there PC or Mac, you can use it as an intermediary. This method is useful for:

• 🔄 Transferring data between phones from different connectors (for example, Micro-USB and USB-C)
• 📂 Backup all data to hard drive
• 🔧 Working with files that are not visible through standard managers

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect the old phone to the PC via USB, select mode File transfer (MTP).
2. Copy all folders from the internal memory (DCIM, Downloads, WhatsApp etc.) to the hard drive disk.
3. Disconnect the old phone, connect the new one.
4. Transfer the copied files back.

For Mac you will need Android File Transfer (official utility from Google). Download it from the website google.com/android/filetransfer.

The advantage of the method is full control over the process. For example, you can: Full control screenshots)

• 🔍 View hidden folders (for example, .thumbnails with miniatures)
• 📊 Sort files before transferring (remove duplicates, unnecessary screenshots)
• 🔒 Encrypt the backup before saving to PC

How to transfer Wi-Fi passwords?

Wi-Fi passwords are stored in a file wpa_supplicant.conf, but it cannot be simply copied - it is needed root access. Alternative methods:

1. Use the application WiFi Password Viewer (requires root).

2. On phones Samsung enable the option "Copy Wi-Fi network data" to Smart Switch.

3. Take a photo of the QR codes of the networks from your old phone (in the Wi-Fi settings there is a “Share” button next to the network name).

8. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when using proven methods, users encounter problems. Here TOP-5 errors and their solutions:

1. There is not enough space on the new phone

   Before transferring, check the free space in Settings → Memory. If space is low, delete unnecessary files or transfer them to a memory card. On new phones (for example, Samsung Galaxy S23) part of the memory is occupied by system files - take this into account.

2. Data is not transferred due to different versions of Android

   If the old phone is on Android 8, and the new one on Android 14, some applications may not recover their data. Solution: update the software on your old phone before transferring.

3. Lost messages from instant messengers

   WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram require a separate backup. For WhatsApp check that a backup has been created (Settings → Chat → Backup) and the file msgstore.db.crypt14 copied.

4. Photos and videos take up too much space

   Use Google Photos in High quality mode for automatic compression without loss of visible quality. Or convert files to HEIF/HEIC (take up 2 times less space than JPEG).

5. Applications are not restored

   B Google Play go to Library → Installed and click Update all. If applications do not appear, check that you are logged into the same account Google.

If after the transfer the phone becomes slow down, the reason may be:

• 🔄 Background data synchronization (check Settings → Accounts)
• 📱 Transferring unnecessary cached files (clear in Settings → Memory → Cache)
• 🔋 System optimization (on new phones it happens in the first 24 hours)

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to transfer data from Android to Android without the Internet?

Yes, there are three ways:

1. Through OTG cable or an adapter (direct connection of phones).
2. Using memory card (copy the data to SD, then insert it into the new phone).
3. Via branded utilities like Samsung Smart Switch or Xiaomi Mi Mover via Wi-Fi Direct.

The most reliable option without the Internet is a cable connection.

How to transfer data from Android to iPhone?

Use the official application Move to iOS from Apple:

1. On the new iPhone when setting up, select Transfer data from Android.
2. On the old Android install Move to iOS from Google Play.
3. Connect to the temporary Wi-Fi network created iPhone.
4. Select data to transfer (contacts, messages, photos, videos, bookmarks, email accounts).

Restrictions: applications, music are not transferred (except for purchases in Google Play Music), system settings.

Why do some applications not work after the transfer?

Causes and solutions:

• 🔒 The license is tied to the device (for example, banking applications). Solution: uninstall and install again.
• 📱 Incompatibility with the new version of Android. Solution: check for updates in Google Play.
• 🔑 Application data is lost. Solution: restore from a backup (if one was made).
• 🚫 Blocked by the manufacturer (for example, Huawei does not support Google Mobile Services). Solution: use alternative applications.

How to transfer data from games (for example, progress in Genshin Impact or Clash of Clans)?

Methods depend on the game:

• 🎮 Account linking (for example, Genshin Impact — k miHoYo, Clash of Clans — k Supercell ID). Just log into your account on the new phone.
• 🖥️ Backup via Google Play Games (for games with support Google Play Games Services).
• 📱 Manual save transfer (requires root or folder access /data/data). data-i="430">On the new phone, install the game and log in through the linked email. Titanium Backup (for advanced users only).

For Genshin Impact:

1. On your old phone, link your account to your email in the game settings.
2. Install the game on your new phone and log in via your linked email.

Is it possible to transfer data from a phone that does not turn on?

Possible solutions:

1. Recovery mode: if the phone boots into Recovery Mode, connect it to the PC and copy the data via ADB:

   adb pull /sdcard/ C:\Backup\

2. Removing a memory card: if the data was on SD, insert it into a new phone or card reader.
3. Service center: technicians can connect to the phone memory via JTAG or chip eMMC (expensive, but saves critical data).

If the phone is completely dead (does not respond to charging, does not vibrate), the chances of data recovery are minimal.