Buying a new smartphone is always a joyful event, especially when it comes to flagship models Samsung Galaxy. However, joy quickly gives way to mild panic when you realize the scale of the work ahead: thousands of photos, important contacts, passwords for banking applications and correspondence in instant messengers. Fortunately, the era of manually transferring information via Bluetooth or old memory cards is irrevocably a thing of the past. Modern ecosystems Android and proprietary utilities from the manufacturer allow you to migrate data in just a few clicks.
The transfer process depends on which device you are moving from: it could be an old Samsung, another phone based on a clean Android or even an iPhone. Regardless of the source platform, the key tool in most cases will be the application Smart Switch. It is designed specifically for seamless synchronization and is capable of copying not only media files, but also the home screen layout, alarms and system settings. It is only important to properly prepare both devices before starting the procedure.
Preparing devices and choosing a migration method
Before you start the copying process, you need to make sure that both phones are ready for use. First of all, check the battery level. It is optimal if both devices have more than 50% charge, or even better, connect them to power sources for the duration of the procedure. A sudden power outage while writing system files can damage the database on the new device.
It is also critical to free up space on the receiving device. If you're moving from an old phone that had 128GB of storage capacity, and the new one has 64GB of storage, a full transfer won't be possible without cleaning it first. Delete unnecessary videos, duplicate photos, or apps you haven't used for a long time. This will save time and eliminate errors in the process.
There are several main ways to transfer information:
- 📱 Wireless method via Wi-Fi Direct (the most popular and convenient).
- 🔌 Wired connection via a USB cable (the most stable and fastest option).
- ☁️ Restoring from a Google Drive backup (good for basic settings and contacts).
- 💾 Using a microSD card (suitable for media and documents only).
⚠️ Note: If you are using the wired method with a USB-C to USB-C adapter, make sure the cable supports data transfer and not only charging. Cheap cables often lack internal contacts for transmitting information.
Using Samsung Smart Switch for complete transfer
The application Smart Switch is the gold standard for owners of equipment from the South Korean giant. On most new models Samsung it is preinstalled by default. If your old device does not have this utility, you need to download it from Google Play Store or Galaxy Store. The app can work both between two Samsung devices, and between Samsung and any other Android smartphone.
Launch the application on both phones. On the new device, select the “Data Receiver” role, and on the old device, “Data Sender”. The system will automatically prompt you to select a connection method. For Samsung phones, it is recommended to use a wireless connection as it automatically sets up a secure communication channel. For devices from other brands (Xiaomi, Pixel, Honor), a cable connection is often more reliable.
After the connection is established, you will be offered a list of categories to transfer. You can select everything at once or tick only the necessary items. The process can take from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of information. During this time, device screens may go dark - this is normal, but do not block them completely if the process requires confirmation.
☑️ Ready for transfer via Smart Switch
Particular attention should be paid to transferring accounts. Smart Switch can transfer the list of your accounts, but for security you will still have to enter passwords manually upon first login. This is done to protect your personal data from unauthorized access in case of loss of the device.
Data transfer via USB cable: speed and reliability
Although wireless transfer is convenient, it is susceptible to interference and the speed of Wi-Fi modules. If you need to transfer more than 100 GB of data, for example, a high-definition video archive, using a cable will be the most rational solution. To do this, you will need a USB-C to USB-C cable or an adapter, which is often included with new flagships Samsung Galaxy S or Note.
Connect the cables to the charging connectors of both smartphones. A request for permission to access data may appear on the screen of your old phone - be sure to click “Allow”. On a new device Smart Switch automatically recognizes the wired connection and prompts you to start importing. The transmission speed via cable is usually 3-5 times higher than over the air.
| Connection type | Average speed | Stability | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Direct | 10-20 MB/s | Average | Proximity |
| USB Cable | 40-100 MB/s | High | Availability cable/adapter |
| Google Drive | Depends on the Internet | High | Stable Wi-Fi |
| SD Card | 20-50 MB/s | High | Card reader or slot |
After copying is complete, do not rush to disconnect the cable. Wait for the success message and data integrity check. Sometimes the system performs additional indexing of files, which may take a few more minutes. Only after this can you safely remove the wires and start setting up a new interface.
What to do if the cable is not detected?
If the phone does not see the cable, try changing the USB mode in the developer settings or simply reconnect it to another port (if you are using a PC as an intermediate link). Also check if there is dirt in the USB-C connector of your old phone - a common cause of poor contact.
Synchronization via Google account and cloud services
If you do not have a cable at hand or the application Smart Switch gives errors, the Google ecosystem comes to the rescue. This method is ideal for transferring contacts, calendar, notes, and a list of installed applications. However, photos and heavy files may require special attention, since free space in Google One is limited to 15 GB.
On your old phone, go to settings and find the section Accounts and archiving. Make sure that synchronization is enabled for all important items: Contacts, Drive, Calendar, Keep. Click the Sync button and wait for the icons to update. This ensures that the latest version of your data is uploaded to Google servers.
When you first set up a new one Samsung you will be asked to sign in to your Google account. Enter the same username and password as on the old device. The system will offer to restore data from a backup copy. You will see a list of available backups with the creation date. Select the most recent one and confirm the restoration. Phones, applications and Wi-Fi settings will begin to update automatically as you connect to the network.
For photos, it is better to use the application Google Photos. Enable Backup and Sync on your old device and wait for the process to complete. On a new phone, you just need to log into the application with the same account, and your entire media library will be available in the cloud, without taking up space in the internal memory.
⚠️ Attention: Backups in Google Drive are not stored forever. If you haven't logged into your account for more than 2 years, Google reserves the right to delete old backups. Regularly check the status of your backup in your settings.
Before logging into your Google Account on a new device, make sure you remember your password or have access to your recovery phone number. Blocking an FRP account can render the phone useless.
Transferring messages and call history
One of the most painful topics when changing a phone is saving the history of SMS correspondence and call logs. Standard Android tools are not always willing to share this information between devices from different manufacturers. Here again comes to the rescue Smart Switch, which specializes specifically in transferring system logs.
When selecting content to transfer to the utility menu, select the “Messages” and “Call Log” items separately. Please note that correspondence from third-party instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) is not transferred through a standard system backup. They have their own built-in export functions.
For example, for WhatsApp you need to go to the settings of the messenger itself on your old phone, select “Chats” → “Backup chats” and click “Create”. On a new device, when installing, WhatsApp will offer to restore the history from the found copy. A similar principle works for other popular applications.
The subtleties of transferring from iPhone to Samsung
The transition from iOS to Android has become much easier in recent years. The application Smart Switch has a special version for iPhone, which allows you to transfer contacts, photos, videos and even calendars. However, there are limitations: iMessages, App Store apps, and in-game purchases cannot be transferred due to the closed nature of the Apple ecosystem.
To begin the process, you will need a Lightning to USB-C cable. Connect iPhone to new Samsung. The iPhone screen will ask you “Trust this computer?” — click “Trust” and enter the screen unlock password. Next, follow the instructions on the screen of your Android smartphone.
After transferring the data, you will have to re-download all applications from Google Play. Many popular services (Instagram, Spotify, banking apps) have versions for both platforms, and your progress will be saved when you log in to your account. But games that do not support cross-platform functionality will have to start from scratch.
When switching from an iPhone, disable iMessage in the settings of the old phone, otherwise SMS from other iPhone users may continue to arrive on the old device and not on the new Samsung.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Despite the streamlined processes, sometimes there are glitches. The most common problem is that the process freezes at a certain percentage. This is usually due to a corrupted file in the old phone's database. In this case, try to transfer selectively: first contacts, then photos, excluding the problematic data type.
Another common error is “Not enough memory.” Even if visually there is space, the system can reserve part of the space for cache and system needs. Free up at least 5-10 GB beyond the amount of transferred data to successfully complete the operation.
If after the transfer you notice that some applications do not work correctly or crash, try clearing their cache or reinstalling them again. Old versions of applications optimized for a previous version of Android may conflict with the new interface One UI.
⚠️ Attention: Menu interfaces and item names may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the One UI shell. If you do not find the item you need, use a search in the settings using keywords.
Why are some photos not transferred?
Some files may be DRM protected or located in hidden system folders. Such images are not visible to the migration utilities. Check the gallery manually after migration.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will data be deleted from the old phone after the transfer?
No, the transfer process works on the principle of copying. All your files, contacts and settings will remain unchanged on your old device. You can safely sell it or use it as a backup phone after the procedure is completed.
Is it possible to interrupt the data transfer and continue later?
Unfortunately, most transfer methods, especially through Smart Switch, do not support pausing. If the process is interrupted, it will have to start again. The exception is synchronization via Google Photos, which can resume where it stopped when a network appears.
Are passwords from Wi-Fi networks transferred?
Yes, when using Smart Switch or restoring from a full Google backup, passwords from saved Wi-Fi networks are usually transferred automatically. You won't have to enter them again when you connect to your home network.
What to do if your new phone runs out of space in the process?
The transfer will stop with an error. You will need to delete some of the data that has already been copied (for example, duplicate videos) or clear the cache to free up space, and then start the process of transferring the remaining files again, selecting only the missing categories.
Is it safe to transfer banking data through Smart Switch?
The application does not transfer logins and passwords from banking applications themselves for security purposes. It can transfer application shortcuts, but the first time you launch the bank on a new device, you will have to go through full authorization and linking the device again.