How to transfer data from Android to Samsung via USB: 5 proven methods

Moving to a new smartphone Samsung is always an exciting moment, but transferring data from an old one Android devices can turn into a real headache. Especially if you prefer to use USB cable instead of cloud services or wireless technologies. Why? Because not everyone knows about hidden nuances: from protocol incompatibility to manufacturer limitations.

In this article we will examine all possible methods of transferring data via USB, including official tools Samsung Smart Switch, manual copying files and even workarounds for older models. You will learn how to avoid data loss, why sometimes your smartphone is not visible on your PC, and what to do if Galaxy refuses to accept files from the old one Xiaomi or Huawei.

Spoiler: the most reliable method is a combination Smart Switch and direct USB connection, but it does not work on all firmware. If your old phone was released before 2018, you will have to use alternative solutions. We will also reveal the secret of how to transfer applications with their data (for example, saving in games or setting up instant messengers) - this is possible, but requires additional manipulations.

Before you start, check two key points:

1. Do you have original USB cable with support for data transfer (not all charging cables are suitable!).
2. Are the firmwares on both devices updated? Outdated versions Android may block direct transfer.

1. Preparing devices: what needs to be done before connecting

Data transfer via USB begins long before the phones are physically connected. If you skip this step, you risk encountering errors like "Device not recognized" or "No access to memory". Here's what you need to check:

On an old Android device:

• 🔓 Unlock Developer mode (if it is not there, go to Settings → About phone → Build number and tap 7 times).
• 🔌 Enable USB debugging in the menu for developers - this will allow Samsung "see" the file system of the old phone.
• 📁 Check if memory access is allowed: Settings → Memory → Three dots → USB connection → File transfer (MTP).

On the new Samsung:

• 📱 Install the latest version Smart Switch from Galaxy Store (not from Google Play!).
• 🔄 Update the firmware to the latest version (path: Settings → Software update).
• 🛡️ Disable Knox protection during the transfer (if it is active), as it can block access to system folders.

Critical point: if the old phone has Android 8.0 or below, Smart Switch via USB may not work. In this case, you will have to use alternative method with connection via PC (more on this in section 4).

2. Method 1: Smart Switch via direct USB connection (official method)

Samsung Smart Switch is a proprietary data migration tool, and it supports direct transfer via USB between two Android devices. However, there are some caveats: the app does not work with all models and versions. For example, if your old phone is from Android. For example, if your old phone is from Meizu or Nokia, additional configuration may be required.

Step by step instructions:

1. Connect both phones to charge (transferring data drains the battery!).
2. Run Smart Switch on new Samsung.
3. Select "Get data" → "Android".
4. On the old phone, allow access to data (a connection request will appear).
5. Connect the phones with a cable via USB-OTG adapter (if the old phone has a connector Micro-USB).
6. Select data types to transfer (contacts, messages, photos, applications) and wait for completion.

What is transferred via Smart Switch:

Data type	Supported?	Notes
Contact	✅ Yes	Including groups and notes
Messages (SMS/MMS)	✅ Yes	Without media files in MMS
Photos and videos	✅ Yes	Keeps the folder structure
Applications	⚠️ Partially	APK files only, without data
Calls (log)	✅ Yes	Without call recordings

Problems and solutions:

• 🚫 "The device is not supported" → Check compatibility on Samsung official website.
• 🔄 "Transfer interrupted" → Disable battery saver on both phones.
• 📵 "The cable is not recognized" → Try a different cable or port.

Install Smart Switch on the new Samsung|

Allow USB debugging on the old phone|

Connect both phones to charge|

Use the original USB cable|

Select "File transfer (MTP)" in the USB settings-->

3. Method 2: Manually transfer files via PC (universal method)

If Smart Switch refuses to work (for example, due to incompatibility firmware), the most reliable way is to use a computer as an intermediary. This method is suitable for any Android modelsincluding outdated Samsung Galaxy S5 or Note 4.

What you will need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows 10/11 or macOS.
• 🔌 Two USB cables (original ones are better).
• 📂 Enough free space on your PC (photos and videos take up a lot of space!).

Instructions:

1. Connect to your PC and select the "Old Android" mode computer. old Android to PC and select "File Transfer (MTP)".
2. Copy the necessary files (folders DCIM, Downloads, Pictures) to the computer.
3. Disconnect the old phone, connect new Samsung.
4. Transfer the files to the appropriate folders on the new device.

Where to look for data on the old phone:

• 📸 Photo/video: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/ or /Pictures/.
• 🎵 Music: /Music/ or /Media/Audio/.
• 📄 Documents: /Documents/ or /Download/.
• 📞 Contact: export to file .vcf via the app "Contact".

How to transfer contacts without Smart Switch?

1. Open the application "Contact" on your old phone.

2. Click "More (⋮) → Manage contacts → Import/export → Export to .vcf file".

3. Save the file to a memory card or internal memory.

4. Transfer the file .vcf to a new Samsung and import it through the same menu.

Method limitations:

• ❌ Applications cannot be transferred (only APK files without data).
• ❌ System settings (Wi-Fi, wallpapers, shortcuts) not will be saved.
• ⚠️ Messages and call log will have to be exported separately (for example, via SMS Backup & Restore).

4. Method 3: Transferring applications with data (for advanced users)

Conventional transfer methods do not save application data - for example, progress in games, messenger settings or browser bookmarks. To transfer applications along with their datayou will need a tool ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and root access (not necessary, but desirable).

⚠️ Attention: this method requires technical skills. Incorrect actions may result in system failure or data loss. We recommend making a backup copy before starting.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on PC (download Platform Tools from the website Android Developers).
2. Connect old phone to the PC and enable USB debugging.
3. Run the command to create a backup:

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

   (where backup.ab is the file name backup).

4. Connect new Samsung and restore data:

   adb restore backup.ab

What is transferred:

• 📱 APK files of applications (the apps themselves).
• 🗃️ Application data (saves, cache, settings).
• 🔗 Links to OBB files (additional data for games).

Limitations:

• ❌ Not all applications support backup via ADB (for example, WhatsApp blocks database copying).
• ❌ On new versions Android (11+) requires root access for a full backup.
• ⚠️ Some data (for example, Wi-Fi passwords) are not transferred due to security restrictions.

5. Method 4: Using an OTG adapter for direct copy

If you don't have a computer at hand, you can transfer data directly between phones using USB-OTG adapter. This method works even with very old devices, but requires additional equipment.

What you will need:

• 🔌 OTG adapter (for example, USB-C → USB-A or Micro-USB → USB-A).
• 📱 File manager (for example, Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
• ⚡ Sufficient battery charge (minimum 50%).

How to transfer data:

1. Connect OTG adapter for new Samsung.
2. Connect old Android to the adapter (it will be detected as an external drive).
3. Open the file manager on Samsung and copy the necessary files from the connected phone.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Works without a PC and the Internet.
• ✅ Supports large files (videos, backups).
• ✅ Compatible with any version Android.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Slower than transfer via PC (speed limited by USB 2.0).
• ❌ Does not transfer applications and system settings.
• ⚠️ On some phones (for example, Xiaomi), you need to manually allow access to memory.

How to speed up transfer via OTG?

Use a file manager with support for multi-threaded copying (for example, MixplorerThis will also help). disabling energy saving in the battery settings.

6. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems. Here are the most common errors and their solutions:

Error 1: "Device not recognized" (on PC)

• 🔹 Install drivers for your phone (download from the manufacturer's website, for example, Samsung USB Driver for Galaxy).
• 🔹 Try another USB port (better USB 3.0 on the back panel of the PC).
• 🔹 Disable the antivirus - it may block the connection.

Error 2: Smart Switch does not see the old phone

• 🔹 Check if the mode is enabled MTP on the old phone.
• 🔹 Update Smart Switch to the latest version.
• 🔹 Reboot both devices.

Error 3: Files are not copied (error input-output)

• 🔹 Check the cable - it may be damaged.
• 🔹 Free up space on the new phone (at least 10% of free memory).
• 🔹 Try copying files in small portions (1-2 GB).

⚠️ Attention: if you are transferring data from a phone based on Android 4.x or lower Smart Switch may not work work. In this case, use manual transfer via a PC or OTG adapter.

Another important point: if data encryptionwas enabled on your old phone, some files may not be copied. To remove encryption, go to Settings → Security → Encryption → Remove encryption (reset to factory settings will be required!).

7. Alternative methods: when USB does not work

If transfer via USB is not possible for some reason, consider alternative options. They are less reliable, but sometimes they save in critical situations. situations.

Method 1: Wireless transmission via Wi-Fi Direct

• 📶 On both phones, turn on Wi-Fi Direct (Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi Direct).
• 🔗 Connect the devices and use a file manager to transfer data.
• ⚡ The speed is lower than USB, but does not require cables.

Method 2: Cloud services (Google Drive, OneDrive)

• ☁️ Upload files to the cloud from your old phone.
• 📥 Download them to a new one Samsung.
• ⚠️ Suitable only for small volumes (up to 15 GB on the free plan).

Method 3: Memory card (MicroSD)

• 📁 Copy the files to the memory card on the old phone.
• 🔄 Insert the card into the new one Samsung (or via an adapter).
• ✅ The simplest method, but requires a card slot.

⚠️ Attention: if you use Google Photos to transfer media files, please note that compression quality may reduce the resolution of the original photos. To avoid this, select the "Original quality" option in the synchronization settings.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp with all chats via USB?

Yes, but not via Smart Switch. You will need:

1. Make a backup of chats in WhatsApp (Settings → Chat → Backup).
2. Copy the folder /sdcard/WhatsApp/ to a new phone.
3. Install WhatsApp on a new one Samsung and restore chats from a local backup.

⚠️ Important: the phone number must remain the same!

Why does Smart Switch not transfer some applications?

Samsung Smart Switch does not tolerate:

• Applications installed from unknown sources (not from Google Play).
• System applications (for example, proprietary utilities Xiaomi or Huawei).
• Applications with DRM protection (for example, banking or streaming services).

Solution: transfer APK files manually or install applications again.

How to transfer Wi-Fi passwords?

Wi-Fi passwords are not transferred via Smart Switch or manual copying Options:

• Use the app WiFi Password Viewer (requires root).
• Take a photo of the network QR code on your old phone and scan it on your new one.
• Manually re-enter your passwords (the most secure way).

Is it possible to transfer data from iPhone to Samsung via USB?

No, direct transfer via USB between iOS and Android is not possible. Use:

• Smart Switch with connection via Lightning cable (adapter required).
• Cloud services (iCloud → Google Drive).
• apps like Move to iOS (but they only work in one direction).

What to do if the new Samsung does not see the old phone via USB?

Check the following:

• The cable must support data transfer (not all charging cables are suitable).
• The old phone must be enabled mode MTP or PTP.
• Try to connect the phones via hub with external power supply (sometimes there is not enough power).
• If you are using an OTG adapter, check its compatibility with yours model.