Buying a new flagship or mid-range smartphone from the South Korean giant is always accompanied by pleasant excitement and the inevitable routine of transferring data accumulated over the years. The question of how to transfer information from Android to Android when buying a new phone Samsungbecomes relevant from the first minute of unpacking the device. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem, and especially the shell One UIoffers powerful built-in tools that make this process as simple and safe as possible even for inexperienced users.
Unlike chaotic methods of copying files manually through a computer, modern solutions allow you to migrate not only media files, but also system settings, the location of icons on the desktop, and even passwords from Wi-Fi networks. The correct choice of transfer method depends on the condition of your old device, the amount of memory and the availability of a stable Internet connection. In this article, we will analyze in detail all available methods, from proprietary utilities to cloud services, so that you can start using your new gadget immediately after turning it on.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you launch any transfer software tool, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready to go. Charge both devices to at least 80%, as active data transfer via Wi-Fi Direct or cable can consume significant energy. If the battery runs out at a critical moment, the procedure will be interrupted and you will have to start all over again, which increases the risk of file damage.
Free up space on the receiving device, although newer models Galaxy usually have sufficient internal memory. Remove unnecessary temporary files or dummy applications that may have come pre-installed. Also check the version of the operating system on the old phone: for most modern transfer protocols to work correctly, it is desirable to have Android version no lower than 6.0, although basic functions also work on older builds.
⚠️ Attention: If custom firmware is installed on an old device or received root access, standard transfer methods may not work correctly. In such cases, it is recommended to first make a full backup of important data to an external storage device manually.
Don't forget to disable the screen lock on both devices during setup so that the system does not interrupt the connection due to an inactivity timeout. This is especially important when using wireless methods where you need constant confirmation of actions on the screen.
☑️ Ready to transfer
Using the proprietary Smart Switch application
The most effective and preferred way is to use the utility Smart Switch Mobile. This is a proprietary solution from Samsung, which is preinstalled on all new devices of the brand and is available for download in Google Play for any other Android smartphones. The app supports transferring contacts, messages, call logs, photos, videos, music, documents and even home screen settings.
The process begins by launching the app on both phones. On the new Samsung you need to select the Data Receiver role and on the old device you need to select the Data Sender role. The system will automatically prompt you to select a connection method: wireless connection, USB cable or external storage. The wireless method is the most convenient, as it does not require additional accessories and works using technology Wi-Fi Direct, providing high transfer speeds.
After the connection is established, you will be asked to select the types of content to transfer. You can check everything at once or select only specific categories, for example, only gallery and contacts. This is useful if you want to start with a clean slate in terms of applications, but keep all your personal memories. The process can take from 10 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of information.
It is important to note that Smart Switch is capable of converting data from iOS if you are coming from an iPhone, but for our topic we are focusing on the Android-Android combination. The utility can also transfer security settings, including fingerprints and Samsung Pass data, if they are supported on both devices.
When connecting wirelessly, keep the phones close to each other and do not minimize the Smart Switch application until the process is complete to avoid losing the connection.
Transfer via USB-C cable and adapters
If you have very a large amount of data (more than 50-100 GB) or an unstable wireless module on one of the devices, using a cable is the most reliable option. New Samsung smartphones are often equipped with an adapter from USB-C to USB-C or from USB-C to the old connector Micro-USB in a box. This allows you to create a physical bridge connection between the devices.
Connect the cables to the bottom connectors of both smartphones. The Android system will automatically recognize the connection and offer to launch Smart Switch in cable mode. The transmission speed in this mode is usually higher and more stable than over the air, since interference from other Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices on the air is eliminated.
The cable method is especially relevant when transferring heavy video files in resolution 4K or large archives with documents. Unlike the wireless method, there is virtually no risk of losing data packets due to a weak signal. However, it is worth remembering that not all third-party cables support data transfer; some are intended only for charging.
| Connection method | Transmission speed | Stability | Required equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless (Wi-Fi Direct) | Medium/High | Depends on interference | No |
| USB-C to C cable | Very high | Maximum | Cable + adapter |
| External storage | High | High | Flash drive with OTG |
| Google Account | Depends on the Internet | Average | Network access |
Using a wire also saves battery power on both devices, since during the transfer process one device can be recharged from another, if this is supported by the controllers power supply.
Synchronization via Google account
An alternative to local transfer is cloud synchronization through the ecosystem Google. This method is ideal if your old phone is no longer accessible, broken, or you want to set up a new device without directly contacting the old one. All you need is to know the login and password for your Google account.
When you turn on your new Samsung for the first time, the setup wizard will prompt you to log in to your existing account. After authorization, the system will automatically start pulling up contacts, calendar events, Keep notes and Chrome browser history. Photos and videos, if synchronization was enabled in the application Google Photos, will appear in the gallery as they are downloaded from the cloud.
This approach ensures that your data will be saved even if you physically lose your old device. However, it is worth considering that free space in Google Drive is limited to 15 GB. If you have a large media archive, some of the data may not be synchronized until you purchase additional space.
⚠️ Attention: Applications installed from Google Play may not transfer their internal data (logins, progress in games) when using only cloud synchronization, if the developer has not provided this function.
For complete migration of settings, it is also recommended to check section Settings → Google → Backup on the old device before resetting. Make sure that the “Back up data” switch is active and the last backup was performed recently.
What to do if you forgot your Google password?
If you don’t remember your password, use the recovery function on the accounts.google.com page. You will need access to the backup email or phone number associated with your account. Without restoring access, you will not be able to log into your account on the new device.
Transferring data using an SD card
If both smartphones support memory cards of the format microSD, this media can be an excellent intermediate link. Insert the card into the old phone, copy all the necessary files to it via the file manager, and then move it to the new Samsung. This is an "old-fashioned" but extremely reliable method for transferring heavy media files.
In the file manager of your old device, select folders DCIM (photos and videos from the camera), Download, Music and other directories with important documents. Use the "Copy" function rather than the "Cut" function to avoid data loss if there is a write error to the card. Once copying is complete, safely remove the drive.
On a new Samsung phone, the system may prompt you to format the card as internal memory or as portable storage. For transfer purposes, it is better to select portable storage mode to keep the file structure clear for PC and other devices. After this, you can manually move the files to the internal folders of the new device.
It is worth noting that applications and their data cannot be transferred in this way, since they are tied to the system partition of a specific device. This method is suitable exclusively for user content: photos, videos, music and documents.
Solving possible problems and errors
During the migration process, users may encounter various difficulties, from the progress bar freezing to the “Not enough space” error. Most often, the problem lies in the incompatibility of Android versions or a software shell conflict. If the transfer is interrupted at a certain percentage, try excluding applications from the list of transferred data - often they are the ones that cause the failure.
Another common problem is the inability to find the device during a wireless search. Make sure that both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetoothmodules enabled, and they are not connected to third-party networks at this moment. Sometimes it helps to restart both smartphones before trying to start again Smart Switch.
If you are transferring data from a very old Android (version 4.x or 5.x), some modern file formats or settings may not be supported by the new interface One UI. In this case, the system will offer to skip incompatible elements. Don't panic, this is a normal practice in software evolution.
In 90% of cases, transfer failures are resolved by restarting the Smart Switch application and reconnecting using a cable instead of the wireless method.
⚠️ Attention: Interfaces and menu names may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the model of your smartphone. Always consult Samsung's official help materials when unusual situations arise.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will my passwords from sites and applications be transferred?
Passwords saved in the Chrome browser and synced with a Google account will be transferred automatically after login to your account. Passwords from the applications themselves (banks, social networks) are not transferred for security reasons; they will have to be entered again.
Is it possible to interrupt the transfer process and continue later?
Unfortunately, most tools, including Smart Switch, do not support the pause and resume function. If the process is interrupted, you will have to start it again, but already transferred files are usually not duplicated, but are checked for presence.
Will information be deleted from the old phone after the transfer?
No, the copying process does not affect the original data on the old device. All files remain in place. If you are planning to sell or give away your old phone, you will need to perform a manual factory reset after successfully verifying the data on the new device.
How long does it take to transfer 100GB of data?
If using a USB-C cable, the process may take between 30 and 60 minutes. With a wireless connection, the time can increase to 2-3 hours, depending on the speed of Wi-Fi modules and the number of small files.
What to do if a new application does not open after transfer?
Some applications require re-authorization or updating through the Google Play Store after transferring to new hardware. Go to the application store and update all apps to the latest versions.