Transferring data from Android to Android via a computer: Expert guide

Replacing an old smartphone with a new model is always stressful, associated not so much with finances, but with moving a digital “home”. Losing contacts, photos or correspondence can become a critical problem if you do not prepare in advance. While wireless transfer methods are often unstable or too slow for large volumes, a wired connection via a computer remains the most reliable and controlled method of migration.

Using a PC as an intermediary gives you complete control over the process: you see the file structure, you can selectively copy the desired folders and create local backups that will remain with you even after resetting your devices. This method is especially relevant when switching to devices with increased memory or if you need to “clean” the system of garbage before installing it on a new phone.

In this article we will analyze in detail all the stages of preparation, debugging setup and direct copying of information. We will cover both standard methods of working with a file manager, as well as more advanced techniques using console utilities for complete system cloning.

Preparing devices and workspace

Before starting any transfer procedure, it is critical to ensure that the connection is stable and the batteries are sufficiently charged. Connect both devices to the network or make sure that their charge exceeds 50%, since the process of transferring gigabytes of data can take from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the speed of the interface.

You will need a high-quality USB cable, preferably original or certified, that supports data transfer, and not just charging. Cheap cables often cause connection breaks at the most inopportune moment, which can lead to damage to the file system or loss of part of the archive.

Make sure that your computer has enough free space on the hard drive. If you plan to create a full backup of your old smartphone before transferring to a new one, the amount of free space should exceed the amount of occupied memory on the phone by at least 10-15%.

⚠️ Attention: When connecting your phone to a PC, always select the File Transfer (MTP) mode in Android notifications. The “Charge only” mode will not allow the computer to see the internal memory of the device.

Setting up USB debugging mode and installing drivers

For deep interaction with the file system Android, especially if the standard Explorer does not see hidden folders or you plan to use the ADB utility, you need to activate developer mode. This is a basic setting that opens up advanced options for managing the device.

Go to Settings → About phone and find the “Build number” item. Click on it 7 times in a row until the “You have become a developer” notification appears. After this, a new section will appear in the main settings menu For developers.

Inside this menu, find the switch USB debugging and activate it. Confirm the action in the pop-up window. Now, when you connect your smartphone to the computer, the system will ask for permission to debug - be sure to check the “Always allow from this computer” checkbox and click “OK.”

If the computer does not see the device even after enabling debugging, specific drivers may be missing. For devices based on Qualcomm or MediaTek processors, you may need to install universal ADB drivers or proprietary utilities from the manufacturer, such as Samsung Smart Switch (for drivers) or Xiaomi USB Drivers.

What if the PC does not see the phone?

Try another USB port, preferably USB 3.0 (blue). If this does not help, check the Windows Device Manager: if the device is displayed as “Unknown”, right-click → Update driver → Find drivers on this computer → Select a driver from the list of available drivers → MTP USB Device.

Manually copying media files and documents

The easiest and most straightforward transfer method is to use a standard operating system file manager. After connecting your old smartphone, open “This PC” and go to the device’s memory.

Create a temporary folder on your computer desktop, for example Backup_Old_Phone. Copy key directories there: DCIM (photos and videos from the camera), Pictures (screenshots and images from messengers), Download (downloads) and Documents.

When copying large amounts of data (more than 50 GB), the system may temporarily “freeze”, showing zero speed. This is normal for a FAT32 or exFAT file system when processing many small files. Do not interrupt the process and wait until the operation is completed.

After the data is saved to the PC, disconnect the old phone and connect the new one. Create a similar folder structure on it and drag the contents from the computer backup to the internal memory of the new device.

Data type	Source folder	Where to insert on the new one	Importance
Photo and Video	/DCIM/Camera	/DCIM/Camera	High
WhatsApp media	/Android/media/com.whatsapp	/Android/media/com.whatsapp	Average
Downloads	/Download	/Download	Average
Documents	/Documents	/Documents	High

Using ADB for a complete backup of applications and settings

For users who want to transfer not only files, but also installed ones applications along with their data (logins, game progress, settings), standard file copying is not enough. This is where the tool Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

Download platform tools (Platform-Tools) from the official Android developer site and extract them to the root of drive C. Open a command prompt in this folder by holding Shift and right-clicking, select "Open PowerShell window here."

Enter command to create a full backup:

adb backup -apk -shared -all -system -f backup.ab

A request to confirm the creation of the backup will appear on the phone screen. Enter your password (if required) and click “Backup.” The process may take a long time.

To restore data on a new device, connect it, make sure debugging is enabled, and enter the command:

adb restore backup.ab

This method allows you to clone the system state with high accuracy, although compatibility between different versions of Android is not always 100% guaranteed.

⚠️ Attention: The command adb backup may not work on some modern devices (Android 12+), where manufacturers have limited access to a full backup of application data for security purposes. Check feature support for your specific model.

Transferring contacts and messages through file export

Contacts and SMS messages are often stored in system databases, which cannot be accessed through a regular explorer. The most reliable way to transfer them via PC is to use the export function in the standard Contacts application.

Open the contacts application on your old phone, go to settings and select “Export contacts”. Save the file in .vcf format to internal memory. Copy this file to your computer, and then transfer it to your new smartphone.

On the new device, open the file .vcf through the contacts application - the system will automatically offer to import all entries into your phone book or Google account. For messages, you can use third-party utilities like SMS Backup & Restore, which create an XML backup file that can also be easily transferred via a PC.

An alternative option for advanced users is to extract the contact database directly via ADB, if root access is not required to read a specific table, but exporting through the interface is much safer and faster.

Completing the migration and checking data integrity

After all the files have been copied, do not rush to format the old phone. Take the time to thoroughly check your new device. Open the gallery and make sure that all photos are displayed correctly, without compression artifacts.

Launch key applications, especially banking and instant messengers. Check if media files from chats have been retrieved. If you used the ADB method, make sure that the system settings (brightness, sounds, wallpaper) were transferred correctly.

Only after fully verifying the functionality of the new smartphone and confirming the presence of all important data can you begin to reset the settings on the old device. This ensures that you always have a fallback point if problems are discovered.

⚠️ Attention: Menu interfaces and item names may differ depending on the manufacturer’s shell (MIUI, OneUI, ColorOS). If you do not find the described function, use the search in the phone settings.

Is it possible to transfer data if the screen of the old phone is broken?

Yes, this is possible if the phone turns on and is recognized by the computer. Connect a USB hub with OTG support to your smartphone, connect a mouse to it to control the interface and a cable to connect to a PC. If the sensor does not work, the mouse will allow you to confirm permission to transfer files.

Why does copying speed drop to several kilobytes per second?

Most often this is due to the use of a USB 2.0 port on a computer or a low-quality cable. Also, the speed decreases sharply when transferring thousands of small files (for example, instant messenger cache). Try to archive the files on your phone before copying, if possible.

Is it safe to use third-party apps for synchronization?

Official utilities from manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei) are safe. However, third-party software from unknown developers may request excessive access rights. When working through a computer, it is preferable to use a standard OS explorer or proven ADB tools.

What to do if the computer sees the phone only as a charger?

Try a different cable. If this does not help, go to the developer settings and find the “Default USB configuration” item, selecting “File transfer” there. Also check if the phone screen is locked during connection.

Do I need to do a full reset of the new phone before transferring?

It is advisable. Transferring data via a computer often involves a clean installation of the system. If you have already set up your new phone as new, some data may be duplicated or conflict when manually copying folders. Resetting ensures that the directory structure is clean.