Users who decide to replace their old smartphone with a new one Samsung Galaxy A51are often faced with the daunting prospect of manually transferring hundreds of contacts, photos and applications. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem and specialized utilities from the Korean giant make this process as automated and safe as possible, even for inexperienced users. In this article, we will analyze in detail all available migration methods, from wireless technologies to cable connections, so that you can start using your new device without losing important information.
The choice of a specific method depends on the condition of your old device, the availability of the necessary cable and personal preferences in transfer speed. Modern tools allow you to clone not only basic data such as your phone book and calendar, but also your home screen layout, alarm settings, and even call history. The main thing is to properly prepare both devices before starting the procedure in order to avoid synchronization errors and loss of files during the process.
Preparing devices for information migration
Before running any transfer tool, you need to make sure that both smartphones have sufficient battery power. The data cloning process, especially when using Wi-Fi Direct wireless modules, consumes a significant amount of power, and suddenly turning off one of the devices can lead to database corruption. The best solution would be to connect both gadgets to power sources or make sure that their charge level is at least 50-60%.
It is also critical to free up space on the target device, although Samsung A51 usually comes with sufficient internal memory. Check how much space your media files take up on your old phone and compare it to the free space on your new one. If you plan to transfer heavy video archives or a large number of games, it may make sense to clear the cache or delete unnecessary files on the source first.
Make sure that USB debugging is enabled on both devices (if using a cable) and wireless modules are activated. For stable operation of the system Smart Switch it is recommended to update the operating system on your old phone to the latest available version, as this ensures compatibility of transmission protocols. Ignoring software updates may result in some specific settings not being recognized by the new device.
⚠️ Attention: If your old device has custom firmware installed or root access is obtained, standard transfer tools may not work correctly or be blocked by Samsung's security system. In such cases, it is recommended to use manual copying via a computer.
Using the Samsung Smart Switch application
The most effective and recommended method by the manufacturer is to use a proprietary utility Samsung Smart Switch. This application is pre-installed on all modern gadgets of the brand, but it can also be downloaded for free from the store Google Play or Galaxy Store to the device from which you plan to transfer. The app supports transferring contacts, messages, photos, music, notes, alarms, and even home screen layouts.
The process begins by launching the application on both smartphones. On the new Samsung A51 select the role “Receiver”, and on the old device - “Sender”. The system will automatically prompt you to select the type of connection: wireless or via cable. The wireless method is convenient because it does not require additional accessories, but it can be slower when transferring large amounts of data, such as high-definition video.
For a cable connection, you will need a special USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to Micro-USB adapter, depending on the connector of your old phone. Connect your devices to each other and the app will automatically recognize the connection and begin scanning the content. You will be able to select specific categories of data to transfer, which allows you to eliminate unnecessary garbage and speed up the process.
☑️ Ready for Smart Switch operation
Transfer via Google account and cloud services
An alternative method that does not require the installation of additional software is to use the capabilities of Android itself and cloud storage Google Drive. When setting up a new one for the first time Samsung Galaxy A51 the system will prompt you to log in to your existing Google account. If you choose this option, your phone will automatically prompt you to restore data from the latest backup created on your old device.
This method is ideal for transferring contacts, calendar events, Wi-Fi passwords, and a list of installed applications. However, it is worth considering that photos and videos may not be included in the standard backup if you do not have a Google One subscription or have synchronization enabled in the application Google Photos. In this case, you will have to download media files separately or use other cloud services, such as Yandex.Disk or Dropbox.
Limitations of the free Google cloud
The free Google Drive plan provides only 15 GB of space, which is divided between Mail, Drive and Photos. If your archive exceeds this limit, some of the data will not be uploaded to the cloud until you purchase additional space or manually clear it.
To create a backup manually before changing your phone, go to the settings of the old device, find the section System → Backup and click the “Start copying” button. Make sure that the switch next to “Upload to Google Drive” is active. Once the process is complete, simply enter the same credentials on the new device, and the data will begin to pull up in the background.
Cable connection and direct file transfer
For users who value maximum speed and reliability, a direct connection via cable remains golden standard." An adapter may be supplied with some versions, but if it is not available, you can use any high-quality cable that supports data transfer (not just charging). This method is especially relevant if the old device has a damaged Wi-Fi module or is unstable. Samsung A51 An adapter may have been supplied, but if it is not, you can use any high-quality cable that supports data transfer (not just charging). This method is especially relevant if the old device has a damaged Wi-Fi module or is unstable.
The connection is made by connecting the ports (USB-C) of both phones. The interface Smart Switch in this mode works most stably, since it is not affected by external radio interference and does not depend on the speed of the wireless network. Transfer speeds can reach tens of megabytes per second, which allows you to copy 64 GB of data in a relatively short time.
| Data type | Speed (Wi-Fi) | Speed (Cable) | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts and SMS | Instant | Instant | High |
| Photos (10 GB) | 10-15 minutes | 2-4 minutes | Average |
| Applications | Depends on the Internet | Fast (files) | High |
| System settings | Instant | Instant | High |
When using a cable, it is important not to interrupt the connection until a success message appears on the screen of the new phone. Even if the progress bar is frozen at 99%, the process can run in the background, finalizing the databases. Disconnecting the cable prematurely may result in some applications remaining in a "half-installed" state.
Use an original Samsung cable or a certified SS (SuperSpeed)-labeled equivalent to ensure maximum data transfer speeds and avoid port overheating.
Transfer multimedia and specific data
On your own The bulk of the migration usually includes photos, videos and music files. Applications like Smart Switch do a great job of transferring standard DCIM and Pictures folders, but may miss files stored in specific directories of third-party applications. For example, media files from instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) are often stored in separate protected folders, access to which requires additional permissions.
To transfer correspondence history to WhatsApp you need to use the built-in backup function inside the messenger itself, and not rely only on system transfer. Create a backup in the chat settings of your old phone, and then when installing WhatsApp on Samsung A51 restore it from a local file or the cloud. This guarantees the safety of all media attachments and the history of voice messages.
System tools transfer files, but cannot always correctly transfer settings inside third-party applications, such as banking clients or games with progress.
File formats deserve special attention .HEIC (often used in the iPhone, if the transition is made from it) or specific video codecs. Samsung A51 supports most modern formats, but for full compatibility it is better to convert rare formats to universal ones JPG or MP4 before transferring, if the old device allows it do.
⚠️ Attention: When transferring encrypted files or data from a Secure Folder on your old device, they will not be automatically unlocked on the new one. You will need to reconfigure biometrics and passwords to access this data.
Solving common problems and synchronization errors
Despite the smooth running of the processes, users sometimes encounter errors like “Unable to connect” or “Transfer interrupted.” Most often, the problem lies in incompatible Android versions or outdated Smart Switch application software. In this case, you need to go to the application store on both devices and forcefully update the utility to the latest version.
If the wireless connection is constantly interrupted, try restarting both smartphones and disabling the power saving mode on them, which may limit the operation of the Wi-Fi module in the background. You should also make sure that your old phone does not have Do Not Disturb mode or aggressive memory cleaning settings enabled, which could kill the transfer process.
What to do if applications do not open after the transfer?
Some applications, especially banking and system utilities, are tied to a specific device identifier (Device ID). After transferring them to a new phone, you will have to delete them and download them again from the store, and then log in again for security purposes.
In rare cases, resetting the network settings on the receiving device before starting the procedure helps. To do this, go to Settings → General settings → Reset → Reset network settings. This action will not delete your personal files, but it will clear saved Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth pairs, which can eliminate communication protocol conflicts.
⚠️ Attention: The menu interface and item names may vary slightly depending on the version of One UI installed on your Samsung A51. If you do not find the item you need, use the settings search.
Completing setup and checking integrity
After the progress indicator reaches 100% and a message about successful completion appears, do not rush to immediately start actively using the new smartphone. The system can continue background optimization of applications and indexing of media files for several hours. This is normal behavior, which may be accompanied by slight heating of the case and increased battery consumption.
Go through the main sections: check the phone book, open the gallery and make sure that all albums are in place. Pay special attention to the settings of alarms and recurring calendar events, as these are critical data that users often forget to double-check. If you used screen layout transfer, give the system time to load all icons and widgets.
After transferring the data, go to the display and brightness settings, since the screen calibration on the new Samsung A51 may differ from your old device, and the old settings may be uncomfortable for the eyes.
Only after complete verification of the data can you begin to delete information from an old device. It is recommended not to format the old phone right away, but to use the new device for a couple of days as usual to make sure there are no hidden problems with synchronization or loss of individual files.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to transfer data if the old phone does not turn on?
If the device does not turn on turns on at all, software transfer is impossible. In this case, you need to remove the memory card (if the data was stored on it) or connect the phone to the computer in storage mode if the system at least partially responds to the connection. In difficult cases, you will need the help of a service center to temporarily restore the functionality of the motherboard.
Will passwords from saved sites be transferred to the browser?
Yes, if you use the Samsung Internet or Google Chrome browser with account synchronization enabled. When you log into the same account on a new device, all saved passwords, browsing history and bookmarks will be automatically downloaded from the cloud.
How long does it take to transfer 100 GB of data?
When using a USB-C cable, the transfer time is approximately 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the write speed of the new phone's memory. With a wireless connection, this process may take 1 to 2 hours due to Wi-Fi Direct bandwidth limitations.
Do I need to delete my Google account from my old phone before selling it?
Absolutely. Before transferring your old device to another person, you must perform a full factory reset by logging out of your Google account and removing the FRP lock. Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to activate the phone.
What to do if part of the SMS is missing after the transfer?
Sometimes old SMS formats on very ancient versions of Android are not compatible with new database standards. Try transferring again by selecting only the “Messages” category in the Smart Switch settings, or use third-party applications to backup SMS in XML format.