Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, associated not only with the joy of a new gadget, but also with the need to transfer important data. Among them, a special place is occupied by text messages, which may contain confirmation codes, business correspondence, or simply a personal communication story dear to the heart. Unfortunately, Google's built-in synchronization mechanisms sometimes work selectively, and users are faced with a situation where contacts and photos were transferred, but remained on the old device. SMS archive stayed on the old device.
Fortunately, the ecosystem Android offers many tools to solve this problem, from standard tools recovery to specialized utilities. The choice of a specific method depends on the version of the operating system, the presence of root access and the user's personal preferences regarding privacy. In this article, we will analyze in detail the most effective ways to move SMS from one phone to another Android so that not a single message is lost during the migration process.
Using the built-in Google One backup tool
The simplest and most reliable way, which does not require installing third-party software, is to use a cloud service Google One. This function is activated by default on most modern smartphones and allows you to create complete backups of the system, including the list of applications, settings and message text. Before starting the process, make sure that both devices are logged into the same Google account, since this is the key to decrypting and restoring data.
On your old phone, you need to go into the settings and find the section responsible for backup. The path may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer's shell, but usually it looks like this: Settings → Google → Backup. Here you will see the status of the last save and the option to start the process manually. Click the "Start copying" button and wait for the operation to complete, making sure that "SMS messages" is checked in the list of saved data.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure that you have enough free space on your Google Drive. The basic plan provides 15 GB, which is divided between mail, photos and backups. If the space runs out, the process will be interrupted, and the data may not be completely saved.
After the backup has been created, we proceed to setting up a new device. When you turn on your new smartphone for the first time, the system will offer to restore data from the cloud. Select the desired restore point by date and wait for it to download. It is important to understand that this method restores messages to the standard Messages application, and they will appear in the general feed, and not as a separate archive.
To save traffic and time, it is recommended to backup and restore via a stable Wi-Fi connection, and not via the mobile data.
Transferring messages through specialized applications (SMS Backup & Restore)
If the cloud method seems too slow for you or you want full control over the backup file, the best solution is to use an application SMS Backup & Restore. This utility is the gold standard in the Android world for working with text messages and call logs. It allows you to create a local XML file that can be transferred in any convenient way: via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, or even copied to a computer.
The process begins by installing the application on both smartphones from the store Google Play. On your old device, launch the app and click the big "Backup" button. In the settings, select what exactly you want to save: only SMS, only call logs, or all at once. After completion, you will receive a file with the extension .xml, which by default is saved in the folder SMSBackupRestore in the internal memory.
- 📱 Transfer the created file to the new phone with any file hosting service, for example, through Quick Share or messenger.
- 📂 Make sure that the file is in the available memory of the new device, preferably in the same folder or in the root of the storage.
- 🔄 Launch the application on the new phone, click "Recover" and specify the path to the transferred file.
- ✅ Confirm that the application is set as the default SMS handler for the duration of the recovery (the system will prompt you to do this automatically).
One of the key features of this method is the ability to encrypt the backup with a password. This is critically important if you are transferring confidential correspondence or codes from banking services. After restoration, do not forget to return the standard messaging application back to the role of the main one, if the system did not do this automatically.
☑️ Preparing for transfer through the app
Data migration during initial setup of a new device
Most smartphone manufacturers based on Android offer their own proprietary utilities for data migration, which often work faster and more stable than universal solutions. Tools such as Samsung Smart Switch, Xiaomi Mi Mover or Clone Phone from OPPO allow you to transfer SMS, contacts, photos and even the arrangement of icons on your desktop in one session.
Usually these apps are already pre-installed on new devices or are available for download in the application store. The way they work is similar: you launch the app on both phones, scan a QR code to create a secure communication channel, and select the types of data to transfer. Unlike cloud methods, it uses a direct connection (Wi-Fi Direct or cable), which provides high speed and does not consume Internet traffic.
| Manufacturer | Utility name | Cable support | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Smart Switch | Yes (USB-C) | Transferring home screen and alarm settings |
| Xiaomi / Redmi | Mi Mover | No (Wi-Fi only) | High speed transfer of large amounts of data |
| OnePlus / OPPO | Clone Phone | No | Cross-platform (works with iOS) |
| Huawei / Honor | Phone Clone | No | Works without an Internet connection |
The use of proprietary utilities is especially important when moving between devices of the same brand. In this case, the likelihood of data format conflicts is reduced to zero, and messages are displayed correctly in the native dialog interface. However, if you are changing brands (for example, from Xiaomi to Samsung), universal applications like the one discussed above SMS Backup & Restore may be more reliable.
Copying SMS to SIM card: outdated, but working method
In the era of cloud technologies, the method of copying messages to SIM card seems archaic, but it still has the right to life in emergency situations when there is no access to the Internet or the ability to install applications. The main limitation of this method is the extremely small capacity of the chip. Most modern SIM cards can store no more than 20-50 messages, and only text messages, without attachments and long chains of correspondence.
To use this method, open the standard Messages application on your old phone. Go to the settings or menu (three dots in the corner) and select "Manage SIM card" or "Copy to SIM card". You will have to manually mark the messages you want to keep. After copying, insert the SIM card into the new phone and in the messages menu select the "Show messages from SIM card" option.
⚠️ Attention: When copying to a SIM card, information about the sender is often lost (the number may be replaced by the contact name or disappear) and the date of sending. Long messages (SMS more than 160 characters) can be split into several parts or cut off.
This method is absolutely not suitable for mass transfer of a correspondence archive. It should only be considered as a temporary solution to save a few critical codes or notifications if other methods are unavailable for some reason. Modern smartphones often hide this feature altogether, as it is considered outdated.
Why is the SIM message limit so small?
SIM card memory was designed decades ago solely to store the phone number (ICCID), encryption keys, and a small telephone directory. Text messages were not a priority, so only a few kilobytes of memory were allocated for them, which is negligible in modern realities.
Manual export and import through file managers
For advanced users who do not trust automated scripts, there is the possibility of manually managing message databases. In the system Android all SMS are stored in a special SQLite database, access to which is usually closed. However, if you have root accessyou can directly copy the file mmssms.db from the directory /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/.
Without root access, this method can only be implemented through the intermediate creation of an export file using the applications we talked about earlier, but with subsequent manual processing. You can open the backup XML file on your computer, check its integrity, edit or delete unnecessary threads before downloading it to your new phone. This gives complete control over what kind of content gets to the new device.
When transferring manually, it is important to follow the file structure. If you decide to rename the backup file, make sure that the recovery application can recognize it. Some utilities search for files by strictly defined names or hash sums. It is also worth remembering that direct copying of databases between different versions of Android can lead to reading errors due to changes in the database schema.
Direct copying of system databases is only possible if you have root access and carries the risk of damaging the system if access rights are incorrectly restored.
Solving problems and possible errors during transfer
Even when following instructions, users may encounter unexpected difficulties. One of the most common problems is that messages have been restored, but are not displayed in the application. Most often this is due to the fact that the new SMS application is not assigned by the app by default. Go to Settings → Applications → Default → SMS and select the desired application.
Another common situation is partial loss of messages or failure during recovery. This may occur due to insufficient RAM at the time of importing a large archive. Try closing all background applications before starting the process. Also check to see if your new phone has power saving mode enabled, which may limit background recovery processes.
- 🔋 Turn off power saving mode on both devices during the transfer.
- 📶 Make sure the phone screens don't go blank during the process (increase the screen timeout).
- 🔄 Reboot both smartphones before trying again if the first session failed.
If you use third-party launchers or custom firmware, standard methods may not work correctly. In such cases, it is recommended to temporarily return the stock launcher or use the most universal tools, such as SMS Backup & Restore, which are less dependent on system shells.
⚠️ Attention: Settings interfaces and menu item names may differ depending on the version of Android and the manufacturer's shell (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS). If you do not find the specified item, use the search in the settings.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will messages from instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) be transferred?
No, the methods described above only work with classic SMS and MMS. Messages from instant messengers are stored in their own databases and require separate backups within each application. For example, for WhatsApp, you need to create a backup in the chat settings of that particular application.
Is it safe to transfer SMS through third-party applications?
Apps with high ratings and a large number of downloads, such as SMS Backup & Restore, use local data storage. The backup file is not sent to the developer’s servers unless you configure synchronization with the cloud yourself (Google Drive, Dropbox). When transferring locally via Wi-Fi Direct, the data also does not leave the perimeter of your devices.
What should you do if messages are displayed as “crazy” on your new phone?
This is an encoding problem. This usually occurs when transferring messages from very old phones or when using incompatible export methods. Try updating the application for working with SMS on a new device or use another tool to convert the backup file to UTF-8 format.
Is it possible to transfer SMS from iPhone to Android?
This cannot be done using standard Android tools due to the closed nature of iOS. However, there are special adapter applications (for example, Move to iOS from Apple works in the opposite direction, and to switch to Android you need utilities like iSMS2droid), which require an iTunes backup on your computer and are often unstable.
Will messages be deleted from the old phone after the transfer?
No, the copying or restoring process creates a duplicate data. Your messages will remain unchanged on your old device unless you delete them manually or perform a full Factory Reset before selling or disposing of the gadget.