Changing a smartphone often causes mild stress associated with the fear of losing important contacts, photos or settings of familiar applications. However, modern operating systems based on Android offer users many tools to automate this process. You no longer need to manually rewrite numbers or search for each application in the store again.
There are several effective ways to migrate content: from using cloud storage Google Drive to physically connecting devices via a USB cable. The choice of a specific method depends on the version of the operating system, the device model and the personal preferences of the owner of the gadget.
In this material we will analyze in detail each available option, highlight their advantages and disadvantages, and also give practical recommendations for preparing devices for the procedure. Follow the instructions to make the transition as comfortable and fast as possible.
Preparing the old and new devices for migration
Before starting any data manipulation, you must make sure that both devices are ready for use. Charge your old and new smartphone to at least 80%, as the process of transferring large amounts of information can significantly drain the battery.
Check whether there is free space on the receiving device. If you're planning to transfer gigabytes of photos and videos and your new phone's memory is almost full, the process will fail. Free up space or use a memory card microSDif your model supports it.
Make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on on both devices. Some transfer methods will also require a stable internet connection to sync with cloud services. Check that the device screens do not lock too quickly so as not to interrupt the connection at the most inopportune moment.
☑️ Preparation checklist
⚠️ Attention: If the old device has custom firmware or superuser rights (Root), standard transfer methods may not work correctly or be unavailable. In this case, it is recommended to use manual copying of files via a computer.
Using a Google account for automatic recovery
The most reliable and integrated way to transfer data is to use your Google account. When setting up a new smartphone for the first time, the system will prompt you to log in to your account, after which it will offer to restore data from the latest backup.
On your old phone, you must create a fresh backup in advance. To do this, go to Settings → System → Backup. Make sure the "Copy Data" switch is active and click the "Start Copy" button. At this moment, the list of applications, call history, SMS and device settings will be uploaded to the cloud.
It is important to understand that not all application data is saved in the cloud. Developers themselves decide which settings can be backed up. For example, progress in games is often saved separately via Google Play Games, and logins in banking applications will have to be entered manually for security reasons.
Before creating a backup, go to the Google Photos application and make sure that synchronization is complete. This guarantees the safety of your media library regardless of the state of the system backup.
The restoration process on a new device takes time, depending on the Internet speed and the amount of data. Do not interrupt the setup until the system reports that all elements have been downloaded.
Wired connection via USB-C cable
Many modern smartphones, especially flagship models from Samsung, Xiaomi and Google Pixel, support direct data transfer via cable. This is the fastest method, regardless of the speed of your Internet connection.
To implement this method, you will need a USB-C to USB-C cable or adapter. Connect two phones to each other. On the screen of the new device when you start the setup, you will be prompted to copy data from the old one. Select the "Cable" option instead of "Wireless".
The system will ask for permission to access data on the old device. Confirm the action and the scanning process will begin. You can select categories to transfer: applications, photos, videos, music and documents. After confirmation, files will begin to be copied directly to the memory of the new gadget.
⚠️ Attention: Use only original cables or certified accessories. Cheap "charge only" cables do not have data lines and are not suitable for this procedure.
The advantage of the wired method is its stability. The connection will not be interrupted due to problems with the router or weak Wi-Fi signal. In addition, this method allows you to transfer even those files that usually do not end up in cloud backups.
Branded utilities from smartphone manufacturers
Large vendors often develop their own migration tools that work more efficiently than standard Android tools. Such apps are optimized for specific hardware and allow you to transfer even specific system settings.
Owners Samsung should pay attention to the application Smart Switch. It allows you to transfer data not only from other Android smartphones, but also from iPhone. For Xiaomi and Redmi users there is an application Mi Moverand for Huawei — Phone Clone.
The process usually looks like this: you install the application on both phones (on the new one it is often pre-installed), scan the QR code to create a pair and select the data. The interface of such apps is intuitive and leads the user by the hand.
| Manufacturer | Name of the utility | Features | iOS support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Smart Switch | Transferring screen layout, alarms | Yes (via cable) |
| Xiaomi / Redmi | Mi Mover | High speed via Wi-Fi Direct | Limited |
| Huawei / Honor | Phone Clone | Works without the Internet, creates an access point | Yes |
| OnePlus / OPPO | Clone Phone | Deep integration with ColorOS | Yes |
What to do if the branded application is not in the Play Market?
Some manufacturers remove their utilities from public access. In this case, download the APK file of the application from the manufacturer's official website to your old phone and install it manually before starting the transfer.
Using native software often allows you to save the location of icons on the desktop and alarm settings, which cannot be done through a standard Google account. This saves time on subsequent customization of the interface.
Manual file transfer via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct
If automatic methods do not work for some reason, you can use wireless file transfer technologies. The protocol Wi-Fi Direct provides high transmission speeds, significantly superior to classic Bluetooth.
To do this, you can use the built-in "Sharing with the environment" (formerly Nearby Sharing) functions or third-party applications like Send Anywhere. In the first case, just select a file in the gallery, click “Share” and select the nearest device. On the second phone you need to accept the request.
This method is ideal for transferring heavy video files or document archives when there is no cable at hand and the cloud is full. However, this method is not suitable for transferring the applications themselves and their data - you can only copy installation files or media content.
Make sure that both devices are in close proximity to each other. Walls and other obstacles can reduce the connection speed via Wi-Fi Direct, although not as critically as in the case of a regular router.
⚠️ Attention: When transferring through third-party applications, carefully check the permissions. Some apps may request access to all files on the device, which creates potential privacy risks.
Transferring SMS messages and call history
One of the most painful topics when changing a phone is the loss of chat history and call logs. A standard Google account does not always restore SMS correctly, especially on smartphones from different manufacturers.
To ensure that messages are saved, it is recommended to use specialized utilities, for example SMS Backup & Restore. This application creates a local XML file with all your correspondence, which can be transferred to a new phone and deployed there.
The process is simple: install the application on both devices. On your old phone, click "Backup" and select a transfer method (for example, via Wi-Fi or saving to Google Drive). On the new device, select "Recover" and specify the path to the file.
Call and SMS history is not automatically synchronized between devices in real time. Always create an explicit backup before resetting your old phone.
After restoring, check several dialogs to make sure that attachments (pictures, audio) were also transferred correctly. Sometimes the message text is restored, but media files are lost if they were stored in a separate folder.
Possible problems and solutions
During the migration process, users may encounter various errors. Most often the problem lies in the incompatibility of Android versions. If the old phone has a very old version of the system, and the new one has a recent one Android 14 or higher, some data may not be readable.
Another common problem is lack of space. The system may start copying but stop halfway if the amount of data exceeds the available space. In this case, you will have to selectively disable copying of heavy folders, for example, “Downloads” or the messenger cache.
If applications are not installed after transfer, check whether the new phone is blocked by the telecom operator or whether it is prohibited from installing from unknown sources (although this is rarely required when transferring through standard means). Try uninstalling the problematic application and installing it again from Google Play.
What to do if two-factor authentication stops working?
When transferring data, 2FA codes from authenticator applications (Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator) are often not transferred automatically. Before changing your phone, be sure to export the codes through the “Account Transfer” function inside the authenticator application itself or disable 2FA on services temporarily.
Is it possible to transfer data if the screen of the old phone is broken?
Yes, if the sensor is partially working or works through a USB mouse. You can also connect your phone to your computer in file transfer mode and copy photos and documents manually. For a complete backup of applications, you will need to have USB debugging enabled.
Is data erased from the old phone after transfer?
No, the copying process creates a duplicate of the data on the new device, leaving the originals on the old one. To completely wipe your old phone, you need to perform a manual factory reset after you have verified that the new device is working successfully.
Are passwords from Wi-Fi networks transferred?
When using a Google account and restoring from a full backup, Wi-Fi passwords are usually transferred. When using cables and proprietary utilities, this also happens in most cases. When manually copying files, passwords are not transferred.
How to transfer data if the phones are of different brands?
It is best to use the universal method via a Google account or a USB-C cable. Branded utilities (such as Smart Switch) often work in the mode of receiving data from other brands, but the functionality may be reduced compared to transfer within the ecosystem of one manufacturer.