Buying a new smartphone is always an exciting event, which is overshadowed by only one thought: where will all the accumulated history of correspondence and missed calls go? Many users mistakenly believe that simply inserting a SIM card into a new device will make all the data magically appear there. Unfortunately, this is not the case. SIM card Designed for identification on the operator's network and storing a limited number of contacts, but it is physically unable to accommodate call logs or modern text messages.
The process of data migration requires a conscious approach and choosing the right tool. The ecosystem Android has both built-in tools and third-party utilities that allow you to save important memories and business correspondence. Below we will analyze in detail all the available methods - from cloud synchronization to direct cable connection, so that you can choose the best option for your situation.
It is worth considering that different smartphone manufacturers may slightly modify the interface of standard applications. What is called “Backup” in plain English may be hidden in the menu, and in the application. However, the basic principles of the operating system remain the same for all devices. Android called "Backup" Samsung may be hidden in the menu Smart Switch, and Xiaomi - in the app Mi Mover. However, the basic principles of the operating system remain the same for all devices.
Built-in Google capabilities and backup
The easiest and most reliable way to save your data is to use Google's built-in backup mechanism. This feature is enabled by default on most modern devices, but it's worth checking its settings before changing your phone. The system automatically uploads call history, SMS messages and application settings to a secure cloud storage linked to your account.
To check the status of the backup, you must go to the device settings. Find the section System or Google, then go to item Backup. Here you will see the date of the last saved copy and a list of data that will be transferred. It is important to make sure that the switches opposite the “Call History” and “SMS Messages” items are in the active position.
When setting up a new smartphone for the first time, the system will offer to restore data from a backup copy. You will just need to enter the username and password for your Google account. The process may take some time depending on the amount of information and the speed of your Internet connection.
⚠️ Note: Built-in Google backup has storage limitations. If you have accumulated gigabytes of multimedia attachments in SMS (MMS), they may not be saved completely or may take up all of the free 15 GB space.
Before starting recovery on a new device, make sure that it is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network, since the process of downloading large amounts of data via the mobile data can be extremely costly.
Using specialized applications for migration
If the built-in tools seem insufficiently flexible to you or you want to transfer data to a device without access to the Internet (for example, during the initial setup while roaming), third-party applications come to the rescue. The leader in this niche is the utility SMS Backup & Restore, which allows you to create local backup files in XML format.
The principle of operation of such applications is extremely simple: you install the app on your old phone, create a backup file, and then transfer this file to the new device in any convenient way. This can be transmitted via Bluetooth, sent by email or copied via a USB cable to a computer. After this, you need to install the same application on the new phone and specify the path to the file for recovery.
The huge advantage of this method is the possibility of selective recovery. You can save only important correspondence for a certain period or a specific call log without downloading unnecessary information to a new device. In addition, such apps often allow you to schedule automatic creation of copies on a schedule.
Where are backup files stored?
By default, applications like SMS Backup & Restore save files in the /SMSBackupRestore/ folder in the device’s internal memory. If you are using a microSD memory card, the path can be changed in the application settings to /sdcard/...
There is an alternative approach - using cloud services of the applications themselves. Some apps offer to upload the backup to its own server (Google Drive, Dropbox), which eliminates the need to manually transfer files between devices. It is enough to log in to the application on both phones under one service account.
Branded utilities from smartphone manufacturers
Large vendors such as Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and others are developing their own ecosystems for convenient user migration. These tools often work faster and more reliably than universal solutions, since they are optimized for a specific hardware and shell version.
For example, device owners Samsung can use the application Smart Switch. It allows you to transfer data not only between Samsung smartphones, but also from other Android devices or even iPhones. The process looks like creating a wireless bridge between two phones: you scan a QR code, select the data type (calls, messages, contacts) and start the transfer.
Users Xiaomi and Redmi have a built-in application Mi Mover. It works on a similar principle: one phone acts as a sender, the other as a recipient. The utility creates a temporary Wi-Fi network through which data is transferred at high speed without consuming mobile traffic.
| Manufacturer | Utility name | Connection type | iOS support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Smart Switch | Wi-Fi Direct / Cable | Yes |
| Xiaomi / Redmi | Mi Mover | Wi-Fi Hotspot | No |
| Huawei / Honor | Phone Clone | Wi-Fi Direct | Yes (partially) |
| OnePlus / OPPO | Clone Phone | Wi-Fi Direct | Yes |
☑️ Preparing to use the proprietary utility
Transferring data from using a computer and ADB
For advanced users who do not trust cloud services and want to have full control over their data, there is a method of manually copying database files via a computer. This method requires the installed driver ADB (Android Debug Bridge) on the PC and enabled USB debugging mode on the smartphone.
Data about calls and SMS in the Android system is stored in a protected directory, access to which is usually closed to ordinary applications without superuser rights (Root). However, using the command adb backup, you can create a full backup of the application data partition. The command looks like this:
adb backup -f backup.ab -apk -nosystem com.android.providers.telephonyThis instruction will create a file backup.abcontaining telephony provider data. After connecting a new phone, this file can be restored with the command adb restore backup.ab. It is worth noting that on modern versions of Android (from 9.0 and higher) this function is often blocked by system application developers for security reasons.
⚠️ Attention: Interfaces and debugging capabilities may change with the release of new versions of Android. If the adb backup command does not work or gives an error, check the relevance of the method for your specific model and firmware version in the official documentation of the developer.
An alternative to complex commands is to simply copy the database, if received on the device root access. In this case, the database file (usually mmssms.db) can be found along the path /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/, copy it to your computer, and then replace the file on the new device with it, after closing the messages application.
The method using ADB is the most universal for older devices, but on modern smartphones with enhanced protection, its effectiveness is significantly reduced without obtaining superuser rights.
Recovery from local TWRP backups or Titanium Backup
If your smartphone has an unlocked bootloader and a custom recovery installed, for example TWRP, then transferring data becomes a trivial task. You can create a complete image of a partition Data or specifically the partition responsible for the phone book and messages, and restore it on another device.
This method guarantees the transfer of absolutely all data, including deletions, drafts and hidden numbers. However, it requires that both devices have the same version of the operating system or at least a compatible file structure. Otherwise, recovery may lead to errors in the operation of system applications.
The application is also relevant for users with Root access. Titanium Backup. It allows you to “freeze” or create a backup of a specific system application Phone i Messages. Backup files can be transferred via a memory card and restored on a new device, while preserving all settings and history.
- 📂 Full control: You see every file that is transferred and can selectively exclude unnecessary ones.
- 🔒 Security: Data does not leave your devices and is not downloaded to other people's clouds.
- ⚙️ Difficulty: Requires technical skills, unlocking the bootloader and the risk of losing the warranty.
Common problems and their solutions
Despite the abundance of tools, users often encounter difficulties when transferring data. The most common problem is incompatibility of database formats when moving between different versions of Android. For example, call history from Android 10 may not be displayed correctly on Android 14 due to changes in the structure of system tables.
Another common error is interruption of the transfer process due to power saving mode. Smartphones aggressively optimize background processes, which can cause data transfer applications to go to sleep at the most inopportune moment. To avoid this, it is recommended to temporarily disable battery optimization for the application you are using in the system settings.
Sometimes users complain about duplicate entries after recovery. This happens if synchronization with your Google account has already downloaded some contacts or calls, and then you manually restored the local copy. In such cases, special duplicate applications help, which find and combine duplicate entries in the phone book.
If you encounter a situation where messages are restored, but are not displayed in the standard Messages application, try clearing the cache of this application. Go to Settings → Applications → Messages → Storage and press the button Clear cache. This action is safe and will not delete your texts, but will force the application to re-read the database again.
Is it possible to transfer SMS if the old phone does not turn on?
Unfortunately, if the smartphone does not turn on and the screen does not respond, software data transfer is not possible. The only option is to remove the memory card (if messages were saved there, which is extremely rare on modern models) or contact a service center to temporarily repair the board in order to turn on the device for copying data.
Are deleted messages transferred when restoring a copy?
Yes, if you restore a full database backup (for example, through Titanium Backup or TWRP), the system state at the time of creation is restored backup. Any messages that were deleted after this date will not appear, and those that were deleted before the copy was made will return.
Do you need to insert a SIM card into the new phone before transferring data?
No, the order does not matter. Call and SMS data is stored in the phone's internal memory, not on the SIM card. You can first set up your phone, connect it to Wi-Fi, restore data from the cloud or a file, and only then insert a SIM card to register on the network.
How much space does a backup copy of all SMS take up for a year?
A regular text SMS takes up very little space (a few hundred bytes). Even active correspondence for a year rarely exceeds 5-10 MB. The main volume is occupied by MMS messages with pictures and videos. The text history of calls also takes up negligible space, usually less than 1 MB even after several years of use.
What to do if, when restoring, it says “Format error”?
This means incompatible versions of the application or operating system. Try updating the recovery app on your new phone to the latest version. If this does not help, the old phone's database may be too outdated and an intermediate restore will be required on a device with an older version of Android.