Moving to a new smartphone is always an exciting moment. Even if both devices work on Android, transferring personal data can seem like a difficult task: contacts, photos, notes, application passwords - all this needs to be saved and transferred correctly. Fortunately, Google Account offers built-in tools for automatic synchronization that simplify the process to just a few clicks.

In this article we will look at not only the basic steps for transferring data through Google Account, but also nuances that are often missed: what to do if synchronization is frozen, how to transfer SMS and call log (this does not always work automatically), and why some applications are not restored. You will also learn how to check exactly what data is already saved in your account and how to avoid duplicating information.

Important: the method via Google Account is suitable for most modern smartphones (starting from Android 5.0 Lollipop), but some manufacturers - for example, Samsung, Xiaomi or Huawei —add their own proprietary solutions. We will indicate where standard Google settings may conflict with brand skins.

What can be transferred through a Google Account?

Google automatically synchronizes not all data from your smartphone. Here is a complete list of what will be transferred if configured correctly: Guaranteed (including groups and additional fields like birthdays) and events (including reminders from Calendars data-i="55">from guaranteed will be transferred if configured correctly:

  • 📇 Contact (including groups and additional fields like birthdays)
  • 📅 Calendars and events (including reminders from Google Calendar)
  • 📎 Notes from Google Keep (if you use them)
  • 📁 Photos and videos from Google Photos (provided that backup is enabled)
  • 🎮 List of installed applications (but not their data!)
  • ⚙️ Some system settings (Wi-Fi networks, wallpaper, language preferences)
  • 🔑 Passwordssaved in Google Smart Lock or Chrome

And here's what not transferred automatically (additional steps will be required):

  • 💬 SMS and MMS (need to be used Google Messages or third-party applications)
  • 📞 Call log (synchronized only via Google Contacts on some devices)
  • 📂 Files and documents outside folders Download and Documents (need to be uploaded to Google Drive manually)
  • 🎵 Music and podcasts (if they are not uploaded to YouTube Music or Google Play Music)

If you need to transfer everything without exception, including messages and files, consider alternative methods: cable USB-OTG, applications like Send Anywhere or manufacturer's proprietary utilities (for example, Samsung Smart Switch). But for 80% of users, the capabilities Google Account will be enough.

📊 How much data do you usually transfer to a new smartphone?
Only contacts and photo
Contacts, photos and applications
Everything, including SMS and files
I don’t transfer anything, I’m starting from scratch

Preparing an old smartphone: turn on synchronization

Before transferring data, make sure that synchronization with old device synchronization with Google Accountis enabled. Without this step, no data will be saved to the cloud.

Open Settings → Accounts and archiving → Google (on some devices the path may differ: Settings → Users and accounts → Google). Select your account, then click "Account synchronization". Here you will see a complete list of data that can be synchronized:

Is contact synchronization enabled|Is Google Photos backup activated|Are passwords saved in Google Smart Lock|Are apps on Google Play updated|Is there enough space in Google Drive (if you are transferring files)-->

Pay attention to the points:

  • 🔄 "Contacts" — must be enabled (otherwise you will lose everything phone numbers).
  • 📸 "Google Photos" — if you want to transfer media files, make sure backup is enabled (Settings → Google → Backup).
  • 📱 "Application data" — this item is responsible for saving the settings of some apps (for example, progress in games, if they support Google Play Games).

If any of the items is disabled, activate it and wait for synchronization to complete. The time depends on the amount of data: contacts are synchronized almost instantly, and photos can take hours to download (especially if they are thousands).

⚠️ Attention: If your old smartphone has two SIM cards, check that the contacts are saved in Google Accountand not on the SIM. Contacts from the SIM card are not automatically synchronized!

Setting up a new smartphone: data recovery

When you turn on your new Androidsmartphone for the first time, the system will offer to restore data from a backup. This step is critical - if you skip it, then you will have to reset the device to factory settings.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Turn on your new smartphone and connect to Wi-Fi.
  2. On the welcome screen, select "Copy data" (or a similar item like "Restore from backup").
  3. Login the same Google Accountthat was used on the old device.
  4. The system will prompt you to select a backup. Select the most recent one (the creation date must coincide with the time of the last synchronization on the old phone).
  5. Tick the data that you want to restore. (contacts, applications, Wi-Fi settings, etc.).
  6. Click "Restore" and wait for the process to complete.

Recovery time depends on the amount of data and Internet speed. Applications will be installed in the background. so don't be alarmed if they don't appear right away. To speed up the process, you can manually open Google Play Store and click My apps and games → Library → Update everything.

⚠️ Attention: If you skipped the restore step when you first set it up, don't panic. Go to Settings → System → Backup and click "Restore data". However, some settings (for example, wallpaper or shortcuts on the home screen) may not be restored.

Transfer photos and videos via Google Photo

Google Photos is one of the most convenient solutions for transferring media files, but there are nuances here. By default, the service saves photos and videos in "high quality" (compressed, but with a resolution of up to 16 MP for photos and 1080p for videos), which allows you to store an unlimited number of files for free. However, if you need to save original quality, you will have to use the tariff plan Google One (from 100 GB for 139 ₽/month).

To transfer photos:

  1. On your old smartphone, open the application Google Photos.
  2. Go to Settings → Backup and synchronization and turn on function.
  3. Select backup quality:
    • 📸 "High quality" - free, but compression.
    • 🎞️ "Original quality" - without compression, but takes up space in Google Drive.
  • Wait for the download to complete (you can track progress in notifications).
  • On the new smartphone, log in to the same account Google i open Google Photos —all media files will be available.

    • If there are a lot of photos (tens of thousands), downloading may take several days. To speed up the process:

    • 📶 Connect to Wi-Fi (downloads over a mobile network can be slow and expensive).
    • 🔋 Charge must be at least 50% (or connect your smartphone to the network).
    • ⏸️ Do not interrupt the process - if you close the application, the download will pause.
    💡

    If you need to transfer only part of the photos, create a separate album in Google Photos and share it with your new account (if you use different ones).

    Transfer SMS, call log and others "non-obvious" data

    Unfortunately, Google does not synchronize SMS and call log by default. There are two reliable ways to transfer them:

    Method 1: Application Google Messages (for SMS only)

    If you use Google Messages as the main SMS application, your messages are automatically archived in Google Drive. To enable this feature:

    1. Open Google Messages.
    2. Click on your profile avatar → Message settings → Backup and restore.
    3. Enable "Backup to Google Drive".
    4. On a new smartphone, install Google Messages and restore messages from the backup.

    Method 2: Third-party applications (for SMS and calls)

    If you need to transfer both SMS and call log, use specialized utilities:

    • 📲 SMS Backup & Restore - saves SMS and MMS to an XML file that can be transferred to a new phone.
    • 📞 Call Logs Backup & Restore —works similarly with the call log.
    • 🔄 Samsung Smart Switch (only for devices Samsung) - transfers everything, including messages and calls.

    Important: when using third-party applications do not save backups to cloud services (for example, Google Drive or Dropbox) without encryption - the files may contain confidential data.

    What to do if SMS are not restored?

    If messages do not appear after recovery, check:

    1. Are you using the same application for SMS on a new smartphone (for example, if the old one had Google Messages, and the new one had the standard application Samsung Messages, the restoration may not work).

    2. Is synchronization enabled in Google Drive (go to Settings → Google → Backup and check the last date the copy was created).

    3. Have you changed your phone number - some backups are tied to the SIM card.

    Transferring applications and their data

    Google saves list of installed applicationsbut not their data. This means that on a new smartphone, when you restore from a backup, you will receive the same apps, but:

    • 🎮 In games you will have to start from scratch (if they do not support Google Play Games).
    • ⚙️ Application settings (for example, themes in Telegram or filters in Instagram) will not be saved.
    • 📥 Downloaded files inside applications (for example, offline maps in Google Maps) will have to be downloaded again.

    To transfer application data, check:

    1. Whether the application supports synchronization via account (for example, WhatsApp saves chats in Google Driveif you enable backup in its settings).
    2. Does the application have a function export/import (for example, KeePass or 1Password allows you to save databases in file).
    3. Does the application cloud storage (for example, Spotify or Netflix synchronize your playlists and settings via the server).

    For games with support Google Play Games:

    1. Open Google Play Games on your old smartphone.
    2. Go to Settings → Account and make sure the game is linked to your account.
    3. On a new smartphone, install the game and log into the same account Google Play Games - progress should be restored.
    ⚠️ Attention: Some applications (for example, banking or instant messengers like Viber) require additional authorization on the new device. Check in advance whether they have a data transfer function, or prepare for manual setup.

    Problem solving: why is the data not transferred?

    Sometimes synchronization via Google Account does not work correctly. Here are the most common problems and their solutions: Google Account data-i="274">Contacts are saved on the SIM card or in the phone memory

    Problem Possible reason Solution
    Contacts are not syncing Contacts are saved on the SIM card or in the phone memory Export contacts to a VCF file and import into Google Contacts
    Photos are not loaded into Google Photos Not enough space in Google Drive or backup is disabled Clean up space in Google Drive or select "High quality" instead of "Original"
    Applications are not restored The backup is out of date or damaged Create a new backup on your old smartphone and repeat the restore
    SMS were not transferred Not used Google Messages or a third-party application for the backup copying Use SMS Backup & Restore (see instructions above)
    The new smartphone does not offer data recovery The device has already been configured without recovery Reset the smartphone to factory settings and start configuring again

    If none of the solutions helped, check:

    • 🔗 Is the smartphone connected to the Internet (synchronization only works with a stable connection).
    • 🔄 Is the firmware on both devices updated (outdated versions Android may not support new backup functions).
    • 🛡️ Are there any restrictions from the manufacturer (for example, Huawei on some models blocks backup to Google).
    💡

    If the data is critical (for example, work contacts or unique photos), do not rely only on Google Account. Make an additional backup a copy to a computer or external drive.

    Alternative methods of data transfer

    If transfer via Google Account for some reason is not suitable, consider alternative methods:

    • 🔌 USB-OTG cable — connect the old smartphone to the new one via an adapter and copy files manually (suitable for photos, videos, documents).
    • 📡 Local network (Wi-Fi Direct) — some smartphones (for example, Samsung or Xiaomi) support direct data exchange without the Internet.
    • 🖥️ Computer as intermediary - copy data from one phone to a PC, and then to a new smartphone.
    • 📦 Third-party applications:
      • Send Anywhere - file transfer over Wi-Fi or via the cloud.
      • Xender - similar, but with support for cross-platform transfer.
      • CLONEit - specializes in transferring applications and their data.
    • 🏭 Manufacturers' proprietary utilities:
      • Samsung Smart Switch (for Samsung).
      • Mi Mover (for Xiaomi).
      • Huawei Phone Clone (for Huawei and Honor).

    Each of these methods has its pros and cons. For example, USB-OTG is the fastest way for large amounts of data, but requires an adapter. Wi-Fi Direct convenient, but may be unstable on some devices. Third-party applications are often easier to use, but may collect your data (read the privacy policy carefully!).

    If you are transferring data from your device to Android 12 and newer, check the permission settings for transmitter applications. Starting with this version, control over access to files has been tightened, and some utilities may not work without additional permissions. Google has tightened file access controls, and some utilities may not work without additional permissions.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about transferring data via Google Account

    You can Is it possible to transfer data from Android to iPhone via Google Account?

    Partially. Contacts, calendars and photos (via Google Photo) will be transferred, but applications, SMS and settings will not. For a complete transfer, use the application Move to iOS from Apple.

    How long does data transfer take?

    Depends on the volume:

    • Contacts and settings - 5-10 minutes.
    • Photos (1000 pcs.) - 1-2 hours (with good Wi-Fi).
    • Applications - from 30 minutes to several hours (installed in the background).

    What to do if there is not enough space for recovery on your new smartphone?

    Clean up space before restoring:

    1. Delete unnecessary applications (Settings → Applications).
    2. Transfer photos/videos to a memory card (if there is a slot).
    3. Use cloud services to store files (for example, Google Photo in "High Quality" mode).

    Is it possible to transfer data from a broken screen?

    If the smartphone turns on, but the screen does not work:

    • Connect it to the computer via USB and copy the data manually.
    • Use ADB (for experienced users) or specialized services like Dr.Fone.
    • If the screen responds to touches, try connecting the mouse via USB-OTG.

    How to check what data is saved in my Google Account?

    Go to website myaccount.google.com (in the browser on your computer or smartphone) and select:

    • "Data and personalization" → "Managing your data and personalization" → scroll to the section "Download data".
    • Here you can see all categories of saved data and, if necessary, download the archive.