Moving to a new smartphone is an event that should bring the joy of owning modern technology, and not the headache of losing important memories. Samsung Galaxy A51 has become one of the most popular mid-range devices with many users choosing it as an upgrade to their old gadgets. The key task when changing a phone is to maintain the integrity of your digital life: contacts, photos, correspondence and application settings.
Fortunately, the Android ecosystem and its own developments Samsung offer several reliable ways to migrate information. You don't need to be an IT expert to perform this procedure, but it is important to choose the right method depending on the condition of your old device and the resources available. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the available options, from a proprietary utility to cloud services.
The process of transferring data to Samsung Galaxy A51 can take from several minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of information stored. We'll look at the nuances of each method so you can avoid common mistakes and file loss. Let's start with the most effective and recommended method by the manufacturer.
Using the Samsung Smart Switch application
The most convenient and comprehensive solution for owners of Korean brand devices is the utility Smart Switch. This app comes pre-installed on most new Samsung phones, including the A51, and allows you to transfer almost all the contents of your old phone. Both wireless and cable connections are supported, providing flexibility of choice.
To get started, make sure you have the Smart Switch app installed on both devices. If your old phone doesn't have it, download it from Google Play Market. Launch the app on both gadgets. On the new Samsung A51, select the "Get Data" option and then select the source - "Galaxy/Android". The system will prompt you to select the type of connection: wireless or cable.
- 📡 A wireless connection is convenient if you do not have a cable at hand, but the transfer speed will be lower.
- 🔌 A cable connection (USB-OTG) guarantees maximum speed and stability when transferring large amounts of data.
- 🔋 Both devices must be charged at least 50% or connected to a power source.
Once the connection is established, the system will scan the old phone and prompt you to select the types of data to transfer. You can check boxes for contacts, messages, call logs, images, videos, audio files, documents, and even home screen settings. Click the "Transfer" button and wait for the process to complete. It is not recommended to interrupt the operation.
⚠️ Attention: When wirelessly transferring large amounts of data (more than 20 GB), the connection may become unstable. In this case, we strongly recommend using a USB-C to USB-C cable or an OTG adapter.
☑️ Preparing for transfer via Smart Switch
It is important to understand that some specific application settings may not be transferred due to differences in Android versions on the old and new device. However, the main body of user information will be saved in full. This the most preferred method for migration within the Samsung ecosystem, since it takes into account the specifics of the One UI shell.
Restoring from a Google Account backup
If your previous phone was synchronized with Google services, the Samsung A51 setup process will become as automated as possible. When you turn on your new smartphone for the first time, the system will prompt you to sign in to your Google account. After authorization, you will be able to choose a backup copy for data recovery.
Google saves contacts, call history, SMS messages, Wi-Fi network settings and a list of installed applications in the cloud. The process of downloading applications occurs automatically in the background after the initial setup is completed. This saves time, since you do not need to manually search for and download each software.
However, there is an important nuance: photos and videos are not always included in the standard system backup if synchronization with Google Photosis not activated. Check your old device's settings before resetting. Go to the Google Photos app and make sure that the cloud icon shows the status “Sync Complete.”
| Data Type | Automatic Transfer | Manual Verification Required |
|---|---|---|
| Contact | Yes | No |
| Applications | Yes (list) | Login to accounts |
| Photos and videos | Only via Google Photo | Yes, if the cloud is disabled |
| Files in memory | No | Yes |
Using the Google cloud is convenient because it does not require the physical presence of the old phone next to the new one. You can recover your data even months after purchasing your Samsung A51 by simply logging into your account. But the speed of recovery directly depends on the quality of your Internet connection.
Before logging into your account on a new device, check Google's two-factor authentication on your old phone so as not to lose access to verification codes.
Manually transferring files through a computer
Sometimes automatic methods fail or the user needs to transfer only specific files, for example, heavy video archives or work documents. In such cases, the classic method of connecting to a PC remains the most reliable. You will need a computer with a Windows or macOS operating system and a working USB cable.
Connect your old phone to the computer and select the file transfer mode MTP in the notification on your smartphone screen. Open Explorer on your PC, find the device and copy the necessary folders (usually for photos, for downloads, for downloads) to your computer’s hard drive. Then disconnect the old phone and connect the Samsung A51. Select the same USB operation mode. Copy previously saved folders from your computer to the internal memory of your new device. The folder structure on Android is standardized, so the files will fall into place, and the gallery will immediately see them. DCIM for photos, Download for downloads, Documents) to your computer's hard drive.
Then unplug your old phone and plug in your Samsung A51. Select the same USB operation mode. Copy previously saved folders from your computer to the internal memory of your new device. The folder structure on Android is standardized, so the files will fall into place and the gallery will see them right away.
⚠️ Attention: When copying large files on macOS, you may need to install the additional Android File Transfer utility, since the Finder does not see Android devices natively.
This method gives complete control over what exactly ends up in the memory of the new one. gadget. You can “clean” the data at the copying stage, getting rid of unnecessary garbage that has accumulated in the memory of the old device for years. This is a great opportunity to start using Samsung Galaxy A51 from scratch.
What to do if the computer does not see the phone?
Make sure that the cable is working and supports data transfer, not just charging. Try a different USB port. On your phone in developer mode, enable USB debugging if the standard connection does not work.
Transfer contacts via SIM card and Bluetooth
Despite the development of cloud technologies, good old methods sometimes help out in hopeless situations. If you have a very old feature phone or a smartphone with a damaged screen that does not allow you to install applications, a SIM card becomes a lifesaver. Most modern devices, including the A51, support importing contacts directly from the chip.
Insert the SIM card from your old phone into the Samsung A51. Open the Contacts app, tap the menu (three bars) and select Manage Contacts. Find the item “Import contacts” and specify the source SIM card. The system will prompt you to select a Google account or phone memory to save.
You can use Bluetooth to transfer photos or small documents. On both devices, turn on visibility in the Bluetooth settings. On your old phone, select your files, tap Share, and select Bluetooth. On Samsung A51, confirm the request to pair and receive files.
- 📇 The SIM card holds a limited number of contacts (usually up to 250) and does not store additional numbers or photos of subscribers.
- 🐢 The transmission speed via Bluetooth is extremely low, the method is only suitable for single files.
- 🔒 This is the only method that works even on devices that are completely “dead” in terms of the Internet.
Use these methods as auxiliary ones. They are not suitable for a complete system migration, but they allow you to quickly restore the number database or transfer a couple of urgent documents without setting up complex software. For the owner Samsung A51 this is more of an emergency option than the main scenario.
Features of transferring messages and call logs
SMS correspondence and call history often contain important information that you want to save. Standard Android tools sometimes restrict access to this data to third-party apps for security reasons. Here again, a proprietary solution from Samsung comes to the rescue.
The Smart Switch application has special permissions to access the message database, which are not available to regular apps from the market. If you use other tools, make sure they ask for the appropriate permissions. When restoring from a Google backup, messages are also returned automatically, but only if this option was enabled on the old device.
Pay attention to the message format. If you are switching from a phone that uses standard SMS to a Samsung A51, everything will be saved correctly. However, when switching from devices that use proprietary instant messengers (for example, older versions of Samsung Messages on very old models), formatting or attachments may be lost.
For users of instant messengers like WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, the procedure is different. These applications store correspondence history on their servers or in their own clouds. You need to create a backup copy of the chats within the application itself on the old phone, and then restore it the first time you launch it on the new Samsung.
⚠️ Attention: Application interfaces and settings menus may differ depending on the version of Android and the manufacturer's shell. Always check the latest instructions inside the messenger applications themselves.
To fully preserve the history of correspondence in instant messengers, be sure to create a local or cloud backup within the application itself before transferring.
Solving problems and common errors during migration
Even if you follow the instructions, technical issues may arise complexity. One of the most common problems is lack of space on a new device. Before starting the transfer, check the available memory on your Samsung A51. If there is more data than free space, the process will abort or fail.
Another common situation is a process freezing at a certain percentage. This usually happens when transferring a large number of small files (for example, thousands of photos). In this case, try breaking the transfer into stages: first contacts and settings, then media files.
If the phone overheats while transferring data via cable, this is normal due to the high load on the power controller and processor. However, if the device becomes scalding, you should pause. Let the gadgets cool down before continuing the operation to avoid throttling and slowdown.
If some applications do not work or crash after the transfer, try clearing their cache. Go to Settings → Applications, select the problematic app and click “Storage”, then “Clear cache”. This often resolves configuration file conflicts.
Why are some applications not migrated?
Some banking applications and highly secure apps are not automatically migrated for security reasons. They need to be downloaded again from Google Play and set up login manually.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will passwords from Wi-Fi networks be transferred to the new Samsung A51?
Yes, if you use Smart Switch or restore via Google Account, saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords will be transferred automatically. You will not have to enter them again.
Can I interrupt the data transfer process and continue later?
No, the Smart Switch transfer process is a single transaction. If interrupted, you will have to start the procedure over again. Make sure you have enough time and battery charge before starting.
Will the data on the old phone be erased after the transfer?
No, the transfer procedure creates a copy of the data. The information on the old device remains completely safe. If you plan to sell or give away your old phone, perform a manual factory reset after a successful migration.
What to do if the touch screen on your old phone does not work?
Try connecting a USB mouse to your old phone via an OTG adapter to control the interface. If this is not possible, remove the SD card (if any) and SIM card to transfer contacts, and the remaining data will have to be restored through cloud services, if they were previously enabled.
Do I need to update the software before transferring data?
Preferable. Make sure both devices have the latest available system updates and the Smart Switch app. This will minimize the risk of compatibility errors and increase the transfer speed.