How to transfer all data from one Android smartphone to another: 7 proven methods

Moving to a new smartphone is always an exciting time, but transferring data often turns into a headache. Contacts, photos, messages, applications and even screen settings - all this needs to be saved so as not to start from scratch. Fortunately, Android offers several migration methods, from built-in tools to third-party services. The main thing is to choose the method that suits you: with or without a cable, via the cloud or locally, with a full backup or selective transfer.

In this article we will analyze all current methods of data transfer between devices on Android, including nuances for different OS versions (from Android 10 to Android 15). You will learn how to avoid losing files, why some applications are not transferred automatically, and what to do if the new phone is from a different manufacturer (for example, from Samsung to Xiaomi or Google Pixel). We will also look at hidden Android functions that speed up the process by 2-3 times - few people know about them, but they save hours of time.

Before you start, check two key points: battery charge on both devices (at least 50%) and free space on the new smartphone. If you transfer data via a cable, use the original cord - cheap analogues may interrupt the transfer due to an unstable connection.

1. Automatic transfer via Google Account (the most reliable method)

This is basic methodwhich works on all devices with Android 6.0+. Data is synchronized via Google Drive, so you don't need cables or additional apps. Suitable for transferring:

• 📇 Contacts (including groups and tags)
• 📅 Calendars and events
• 📎 Notes from Google Keep
• 🎵 Music and movies (if they are downloaded to Google Play Music/Movies)
• 📱 System settings (Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper, screen brightness)

How it works:

1. On old smartphone open Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Enable the option Upload to Google Drive and press Create a backup now.
3. On new device when you turn it on for the first time, select Copy data from old devices → From the cloud → enter the same Google Account.
4. Select the latest backup and wait for it to complete (may take from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data).

⚠️ Attention: This method does not transfer SMS, call log, application files (for example, saving to games) and some manufacturer settings (for example, camera modes Samsung or Xiaomi). They will require additional steps (see section 4).

2. Transfer data via cable (quickly and without the Internet)

If you do not have a stable network connection or need to transfer large files (video, RAW photos, archives), use direct connection via cable. To do this you will need:

• 🔌 Cable USB-C — USB-C (or adapter, if the ports are different)
• 📱 Both smartphones with at least a charge 30%
• ⚡ Time: 15–40 minutes (depending on the amount of data)

Instructions for Android 12–15:

1. Connect both phones with a cable. On the screen of the old device, select the mode File transfer (MTP).
2. On new smartphone in the quick settings menu, tap on the notification USB charging → Transferring data from an Android device.
3. Follow the instructions in the transfer wizard (it usually starts automatically). If not, open the application Files (Google Files) and select Data Transfer.
4. Select what data to copy: photos, videos, music, documents or all at once.

⚠️ Attention: Some manufacturers (for example, Huawei or Oppo) block direct transfer via cable due to proprietary protocols. In this case, use PC as an intermediate link: copy files from the old phone to the computer, and then to the new one.

Transfer method	Speed	Internet required	Transfers applications	Suitable for different brands
Google Account	Slow (depends on the network)	Yes	No (settings only)	Yes
USB-C cable	Fast (up to 1 Gb/min)	No	No	Partially (depending on the brand)
Third-party applications (ShareIt, Xender)	Average (100–300 Mb/min)	No (Wi-Fi Direct)	Yes (APK files)	Yes
SD card	Slow (depending on the card class)	No	No	Yes

3. Transferring through third-party applications: pros and cons

If the built-in tools Android do not suit you, you can use specialized apps. The most popular:

• 📲 ShareIt (fast transfer via Wi-Fi Direct, supports files up to 200 GB)
• 🔄 Xender (analogous to ShareIt, but with less advertising)
• 📎 Send Anywhere (generation of a 6-digit code for secure transfer)
• 🔗 CLONEit (clones even SMS and call log)

How to use (for example CLONEit):

1. Install the application on both phones from Google Play.
2. On old smartphone select Sender, on new — Recipient.
3. Scan the QR code or connect via Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Select data to transfer (you can check everything, including applications and their data).
5. Wait for completion (do not interrupt the connection!).

⚠️ Attention: When transferring applications through APKfiles, some apps may not work due to:

• 🔒 Incompatibility with the new version Android;
• 🛡️ Manufacturer restrictions (for example, Samsung Knox blocks installation from unknown sources);
• 🔄 Outdated data (for example, game saves may not be suitable for the new version of the application).

What to do if the application does not install on a new phone?

If the APK file does not install, try:

1. Enable installation from unknown sources in Settings → Security.

2. Update the application Google Play after installation.

3. Use APKMirror to download the current version.

4. Transfer only application data (without APK) via Titanium Backup (requires root access).

4. Transferring SMS, call logs and application data

This data are not copied through standard tools Googleso you will have to use additional methods.

Method 1: Via Google Drive (for SMS and MMS)

1. Install the application SMS Backup & Restore from Google Play.
2. Run a backup on your old phone and save the file to Google Drive.
3. On a new device, restore data from this file.

Method 2: Export to XML (for call log)

1. Use the application Call Logs Backup & Restore.
2. Create a backup copy in format .xml and transfer it to new phone.
3. Restore the log through the same application.

Method 3: For application data (game saves, settings)

• 🎮 If the game supports Google Play Games, saves are synchronized automatically when you log into the same account.
• 📱 For other applications, use Titanium Backup (requires root access) or Swift Backup (works on some devices without root).

Make sure that that:

✅ Both phones have the same version of Android (or the new one is not older than the old one)

✅ Applications support data transfer (check in their settings)

✅ The new phone has enough space for APK + data

✅ You have disabled optimization batteries for carrier applications-->

5. Transferring data from phones of different manufacturers (Samsung → Xiaomi, Huawei → Pixel)

If you are moving from Samsung Galaxy to Xiaomi Redmi or from Huawei to Google Pixel, problems may arise due to:

• 🔧 Proprietary formats (for example, Samsung stores photos in .srwwhich not all galleries support);
• 📱 Branded applications (for example, Mi Fit or Samsung Health will not transfer history without export);
• 🔒 Manufacturer restrictions (for example, Huawei blocks some functions Google Mobile Services).

Solutions:

1. For Samsung → other brand:
• Use Samsung Smart Switch to export data to PC, and then transfer them to a new phone.
• Photos in format .srw convert to .jpg via Lightroom or Samsung Gallery.
2. For Xiaomi → another brand:
• Disable Mi Cloud sync and export data manually.
• Use Mi Mover to transfer to PCif direct transfer does not work.
3. For Huawei → Google Pixel:
• Install Google Mobile Services to Huawei via Huawei AppGallery (if possible).
• Transfer data via PC or SD cardas Huawei Share is not compatible with Googledevices.

💡

When switching between brands, always check the compatibility of file formats. For example, notes from Samsung Notes will not open in Google Keep without exporting to .txt or .pdf.

6. Transfer via computer (for complete control over files)

If you need selectively transfer files or make sure nothing is lost, use PC (or Mac) as intermediate storage. This method is suitable for:

• 📂 Large archives (more than 50 GB);
• 🎬 High resolution video (4K/8K);
• 📄 Documents with special resolutions;
• 🎵 Music in lossless formats (.flac, .wav).

Step-by-step guide:

1. Connect old phone to PC via USB and select mode File transfer (MTP).
2. Copy the desired folders (DCIM for photos, Downloads for downloads Android/data for application files) to the computer.
3. Disconnect the old phone and connect new.
4. Transfer the files back, maintaining the folder structure.
5. For music and video use Google Play Music or VLC to restore metadata.

⚠️ Attention: Do not copy the folder Android/obb directly - this can lead to crashes in games. Instead:

• Download the games again from Google Play;
• Transfer only the save files (usually they are located in Android/data/game_name).

7. Transferring data without loss quality (photos, videos, music)

When copying multimedia files, many encounter quality loss or metadata (shooting dates, geotags, albums). To avoid this:

For photos and videos:

• 📸 Use Google Photos in Original quality (not High qualityas it compresses files).
• 🎥 For video 4K/60fps or 8K transfer files via cable or SD card (the cloud may limit the download size).
• 🏷️ To save albums and tags, export them via Google Photos or Gallery from the manufacturer (for example, Samsung Gallery preserves the folder structure).

For music:

• 🎵 If you use Spotify or Apple Music, just log into your account on the new phone - playlists are synchronized automatically.
• 💿 For local files (.flac, .ape) use VLC or Poweramp - they save tags and covers albums.
• 🔊 For podcasts and audiobooks, transfer files along with .m3uplaylists (if any).

💡

If you are transferring photos from Samsung or Pixel, check folder DCIM/.thumbnails —thumbnails that take up extra space can be stored in it. They do not need to be copied.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to transfer data from Android to iPhone?

Yes, but with restrictions. Use the app Move to iOS from Apple, which carries:

• 📇 Contacts;
• 📷 Photos and videos;
• 📅 Calendars;
• 🌐 Bookmarks Chrome;
• 📱 Free applications from Google Play (if they are in App Store).

Applications with data (for example, WhatsApp or games) cannot be transferred - they will have to be configured again.

Why are some applications not transferred?

This is due to:

• 🔒 Security Policy (some banking applications block the transfer);
• 📱 Processor architecture (if the new phone is on ARM64and the old application was compiled for x86);
• 🔄 Android version (the application may be incompatible with the new OS).

Solution: download applications again from Google Play and restore data through their internal functions (for example, in WhatsApp this is done through Google Drive).

How to transfer passwords from Chrome?

Passwords are synchronized automatically if you:

1. Log in to the same Google Account new phone;
2. Enable synchronization in Chrome (Settings → Synchronization);
3. Use Google Smart Lock for application passwords.

If the passwords have not been transferred, check:

• 🔑 Is synchronization enabled in Settings → Google → Google account management → Data and personalization;
• 🔄 Is Chrome updated to the latest version;
• 📱 Are there any restrictions from the manufacturer (for example, Huawei may block some functions Google).

What to do if the transfer interrupted?

If the data transfer is interrupted:

1. When transferring via cable: reconnect the cord and try again. If that does not help, use another cable or port USB.
2. When transferring via Wi-Fi: restart Wi-Fi Direct on both devices or switch to hotspot.
3. When transferring via the cloud: check your Internet connection and free space in Google Drive.

If the data is damaged, try restoring it from another backup or use apps like Recuva (for PC) or DiskDigger (for Android).

Is it possible to transfer screen settings (wallpaper, brightness, gestures)?

Yes, but not all:

• 🖼️ Wallpaper: transferred via Google Account (if they were set as standard) or manually (copy the file from /storage/emulated/0/Pictures).
• ☀️ Brightness and color profile: are not transferred - adjust again in Settings → Display.
• 👆 Gestures: settings Android-gestures (for example, swipe up for home) are transferred through Google Account, but branded gestures (Samsung, Xiaomi) - no.