Transferring information between smartphones Samsung is a task that every user faces when purchasing a new device. Even if both phones work on Android, the risk of losing valuable data - contacts, photos, messages or application settings - remains high. This is especially true for gadget owners Galaxywhere standard transfer tools often conflict with proprietary functions One UI.

In this article we will analyze 5 reliable ways to data migration between two Androiddevices Samsung - from the official solutions Smart Switch to alternative methods using cloud services and physical media. You'll learn how to avoid common mistakes (for example, interrupt the transfer due to insufficient memory on the target device), what file formats are supported, and what to do if standard tools refuse to work. The instructions are relevant for models from Galaxy S22 to Galaxy S24 Ultra, as well as for budget series Galaxy A and Galaxy M.

1. Official method: Samsung Smart Switch

Samsung Smart Switch is a proprietary application for transferring data, which is installed by default on all modern smartphones Galaxy. It supports the transfer of almost all types of information: from contacts and SMS to Wi-Fi settings and call history. The main advantage is saving the folder structure file metadata (for example, the date the photo was created).

To use Smart Switch, follow these steps:

  • 📱 Install the application on both devices (if it is missing) from Galaxy Store or Google Play.
  • 🔌 Connect the phones using the original USB-C cable (or adapter USB-C to USB-Cif ports are different). The use of uncertified cables can lead to connection loss at 80-90% of the process.
  • 🔄 On the old phone, select the option Send data, on the new one - Receive data.
  • 📋 Select the types of data to transfer (it is recommended to leave all checkboxes except Applicationsif the new device does not have enough memory).

The process can take from 10 minutes to several hours - it all depends on the amount of data. For example, transfer 100 GB of photos and videos in format HEIF/HEVC takes an average of 40-50 minutes when using a cable USB 3.2.

Make sure that the new phone has enough memory (at least 20% more than the volume of transferred data)|

The battery charge of both devices is at least 50%|

Disable VPN and power saving modes|

Use an original Samsung cable or a certified USB-C 3.2-->

⚠️ Attention: If the new phone already has data (for example, you started using it before the transfer), Smart Switch will offer to reset the device to factory settings. In this case all existing files will be deleted. We recommend that you first create a backup copy on Google Drive or Samsung Cloud.

2. Transfer via Google Account (for contacts, calendar and applications)

If you use Google Account on both devices, most system data is synced automatically. This method is suitable for transferring:

  • 📇 Contacts (including groups and notes)
  • 📅 Calendar (events, reminders)
  • 📱 Application list (but not their data!)
  • 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords (if synchronization is enabled Settings → Google → Google services → Autofill)

To activate synchronization:

  1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Accounts and archiving → Account management.
  2. Select yours Google Account and enable synchronization for everyone categories.
  3. On the new device, sign in to the same account and wait for synchronization to complete (may take up to 15 minutes).

Method limitation: photos and videos sync only if they were downloaded to Google Photos manually. Also not transferred:

  • ❌ SMS and MMS (separate backup required)
  • ❌ Lock screen settings (fingerprints, PIN code)
  • ❌ Data of some applications (for example, games or banking apps)
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If contacts do not appear after synchronization, check the display settings in the application Contact: go to ☰ → Settings → Contacts to display and select your Google Account.

3. Using an OTG cable and an external drive

If you do not have access to Wi-Fi or a cable USB-C to USB-C, you can use with an OTG adapter an external drive (flash drive or SSD). This method is suitable for transferring large amounts of data (for example, a collection of films or RAW photos) without depending on Internet speed.

Instructions:

  1. Connect OTG adapter to your old phone and insert a USB flash drive (recommended format exFAT for files >4 GB).
  2. Copy the data manually through any file manager (for example, My Files from Samsung).
  3. Disconnect the flash drive, connect it to the new phone and transfer the files to the internal memory.

Advantages of the method:

  • ⚡ High speed (up to 400 MB/s when using USB 3.2 OTG i SSD drive)
  • 🔒 Security (data is not transferred over the Internet)
  • 📁 Selective transfer (you can copy only the necessary folders)
⚠️ Attention: Some system application files (for example .nomedia or cache Galaxy Store) may not open on the new device. Also avoid copying folders Android and data as this may lead to application failures.
Data type Smart Switch Google Account OTG + flash drive
Contact ✅ ✅ ❌ (only export to .vcf)
Photo/video ✅ (with metadata) ⚠️ (only if uploaded to Google Photos) ✅
SMS/MMS ✅ ❌ ❌ (only via backup)
Applications (+ data) ✅ (partially) ❌ (only list) ❌
Wi-Fi settings ✅ ⚠️ (only if synchronization is enabled) ❌
📊 Which data transfer method do you use most often?
Smart Switch
Google Account
OTG cable + flash drive
Cloud services (Dropbox, Yandex Disk)
Other

4. Cloud services: Dropbox, Yandex Disk, Samsung Cloud

If you have slow Internet or do not have physical access to both phones at the same time, you can use cloud storage. For owners Samsung available:

  • 🌥️ Samsung Cloud (15 GB free, integrated into One UI)
  • ☁️ Google Drive (15 GB, synchronization with account)
  • 📦 Yandex Disk (10 GB, convenient for users from Russia)
  • 🗄️ Dropbox (2 GB, but high download speed)

To transfer via Samsung Cloud:

  1. On the old phone, go to Settings → Accounts and backup → Samsung Cloud.
  2. Select Data backup and mark the desired categories.
  3. After the copying is complete, log in to the same account Samsung on a new device and restore the data.

Cloud service limitations:

  • 🕒 Long download times (for example, 50 GB of photos can be downloaded 24 hours at a speed of 10 Mbit/s).
  • 💰 Limited free space (transfer >15 GB will require a paid subscription).
  • 🔄 Not all data is recovered (for example, Samsung Cloud does not transfer settings Bixby or Secure Folder).
What to do if Samsung Cloud does not see the backup?

1. Check that both phones are using one account Samsung (not Google!).

2. Update the application Samsung Cloud in Galaxy Store.

3. Go to Settings → Accounts and archiving → Samsung Cloud → Synchronization and backup data and click Synchronize.

4. If the copy is still not displayed, try creating a new one with a different name (the old one may have been damaged).

5. Transferring applications and their data (including games)

Standard methods (Smart Switch or Google. Account) are transferred only list of installed applications, but not their data. For example, progress in games (Genshin Impact, Honor of Kings) or settings WhatsApp will require additional steps to migrate them:

Method 1: Backup via application

  • 🎮 For games: use the built-in cloud saving functions (for example, Google Play Games or developer account).
  • 💬 For messengers: in WhatsApp go to ⋮ → Settings → Chat → Backup and save the history in Google Disk.
  • 📊 For work applications (for example, Trello or Notion): export data manually through the app menu.

Method 2: ADB (for advanced users)

If the application does not support cloud backup, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge):

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

This command will create a complete backup of all applications and their data to a file backup.ab. To restore it on a new phone, use:

adb restore backup.ab
⚠️ Attention: Not all applications allow backup via ADB. For example, banking apps (SberBank Online, Tinkoff) block this function for security reasons. Also, the backup .ab may not be restored to another version Android (for example, from Android 13 to Android 14).

6. Transferring data from a damaged or locked phone

If the old smartphone Samsung does not turn on, is locked or has a damaged screen, standard transfer methods will not work in this case:

Option 1: Removing the memory card (if data is on SD)

  • 📱 Turn off the phone (if possible) and remove the card microSD.
  • 🔌 Insert it into a new phone or use a card reader to copy files to a PC.

Option 2: Connecting to a PC in recovery mode

  1. Turn off the phone and press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery Mode.
  2. Select Mount /system or Apply update from ADB.
  3. Connect the phone to the PC and use ADB pull to extracting files:
adb pull /sdcard/DCIM ~/Downloads/samsung_photos

Option 3: Contacting a Samsung service center

If the phone is physically damaged (for example, a broken screen or a flooded circuit board), do not try to unlock it yourself this may lead to irretrievable data loss. At official service centers. Samsung there is equipment for extracting information even from non-working devices (the service is paid, the cost is from 3,000 to 10,000 rubles depending on the complexity).

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If the phone is locked (forgotten PIN or pattern), but the screen works, try unlocking it via Find My Mobile (Samsung service). To do this, the device must be linked to an account and have access to the Internet.

7. Checking the integrity of data after migration

After the migration is completed be sure to checkthat all data was transferred correctly. Typical problems:

  • 📸 Photo without date (if the metadata is not saved, use applications like Exif Viewer to restore).
  • 📞 Missed contacts (check groups in Google Contacts).
  • 🎵 Unplayable music (licenses may not have been copied DRM).
  • 📱 Errors in applications (for example, WhatsApp asks for repeat authorization).

For automatic checking:

  1. Compare the number of files in folders DCIM, Downloads and Documents on both phones.
  2. Open Galaxy Store and update all applications (sometimes the transfer breaks their versions).
  3. Check the operation of key functions: camera, fingerprint sensor, Samsung Pay.
💡

If after the transfer the phone starts to slow down, go to Settings → Device care → Memory and clear cache. It is also recommended to reboot the device - this eliminates most temporary failures.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

❓ Is it possible to transfer data from Samsung to another brand (Xiaomi, Google Pixel)?

Smart Switch officially supports transfer only between devices Samsung. For other brands, use:

  • Google Account (contacts, calendar, applications).
  • OTG cable + manual copying of files.
  • Third-party applications like Clone Phone (from Xiaomi) or Copy My Data.

Please note: on Google Pixel some functions One UI (for example, Secure Folder) are not transferred.

❓ Why does Smart Switch not see the new phone?

The problem may be related to:

  • Incompatible cable (use the original USB-C 3.2).
  • Outdated version of the application (update Smart Switch in Galaxy Store).
  • Disabled debugging USB (enable in Settings → About phone → Software information → Build number (7 taps) → Developer options → USB debugging).
  • Blocking antivirus (temporarily disable protection on both phones).
❓ How to transfer data from Android to Samsung if your old phone is an iPhone?

Use Smart Switch with an adapter Lightning to USB-C:

  1. On iPhone install Smart Switch from App Store.
  2. Connect your phones with a cable and follow the instructions on the screen.
  3. Select data to transfer (contacts, photos, notes). Please note: music from iTunes and iMessages are not transferred..

Alternative: upload the photo to Google Photos, and export contacts via iCloud in .vcf.

❓ How long does it take to transfer 64 GB of data via Smart Switch?

Time depends on the connection type:

  • USB 3.2 cable: ~30-40 minutes (speed ~30-40 MB/s).
  • Wi-Fi Direct: ~1.5-2 hours (speed ~10 MB/s).
  • USB 2.0 cable: ~2-3 hours (speed ~5 MB/s).

To speed up the process:

  • Close all background applications.
  • Connect your phones to charge.
  • Use a cable no longer than 1 meter (long cables reduce speed).
❓ Is it possible to transfer data from Samsung to Samsung without resetting the new phone?

Yes, but with caveats:

  • If the new phone has already been used, Smart Switch will offer to reset it to factory settings. Refuse this if you do not want to lose existing data.
  • In this case, transfer data selectively: contacts via Google Account, photos - via Google Photos or a flash drive.
  • Applications can be reinstalled from Galaxy Store, and their data can be restored from backups (if any).

If the new phone has critical data, back them up first!