Changing a smartphone is always an exciting event, which, however, is often overshadowed by the fear of losing valuable information. Users rightly fear that when they move to a new device, important photos, correspondence in instant messengers, or settings of their favorite applications will disappear. Modern ecosystems offer many tools to solve this problem, but their variety can be confusing.
In this article we will look at reliable and proven methods for creating a backup. We will consider both cloud solutions and local methods that do not depend on the speed of the Internet connection. It is important to understand that there is no single “magic button”: for each type of data (contacts, media, call logs) there is its own optimal algorithm of actions.
You will learn how to properly prepare the old smartphone for data transfer and what settings need to be checked on the receiving device. We will pay special attention to the nuances of transferring data between different manufacturers, for example, from Samsung to Xiaomi or from Huawei to Pixel, since hidden file format compatibility problems often arise here.
Preparing an old device for backup
Before starting any manipulations, you need to make sure that your current device is in full working order. This seems obvious, but many people try to transfer data from a phone whose screen is already crumbling or the memory module is acting up, which ultimately leads to errors in reading files.
Check the battery level. The process of creating a full backup, especially if you use cloud services, can take from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of information. Android The system may pause the process when the battery is low, which will damage the archive.
Free up space in the cloud storage or on an external memory card. If you plan to use Google Drive, make sure you have enough free quota. The free plan is often limited to 15 GB, and if you have a lot of high-resolution videos, this space may not be enough for a full upload.
⚠️ Attention: Before the procedure, be sure to fully synchronize your contacts with your Google account. Often, users store numbers only in the SIM card memory or locally on the phone, which makes them vulnerable if the device is lost.
Update the operating system to the latest available version. Developers are constantly improving data transfer protocols and correcting errors in the operation of system backup utilities. Old firmware may not work correctly with new encryption formats used on new smartphone models.
Using a Google cloud account to save data
The most universal and easiest way to save information is the built-in functions of the Google ecosystem. This method is ideal for those who are moving to another phone running “pure” Android or from another manufacturer that does not have its own proprietary transfer utilities.
To activate the function, you must go to the device settings. Find the System or Googlesection, then select Backup. Here you will see a toggle for Upload to Google Drive. Make sure it is active and check the date of the last successful save.
The system allows you to flexibly configure what exactly will be saved. You can exclude large files or specific data to speed up the process. Pay attention to the list of applications: not all apps support cloud backup; the developers of some utilities block this function for security reasons or monetization policies.
Use a Wi-Fi connection to download the backup. mobile data can be unstable, and tariffs do not always allow you to transfer hundreds of gigabytes of data without additional costs.
After setting up, press the button Start copying. The process may take a while, during which the phone screen may go dark, but the device must remain unlocked or plugged in to charge. Do not try to actively use the phone at this moment, as this may lead to data desync.
| Data type | Save method to Google | Recoverability |
|---|---|---|
| Contact | Auto-sync | Instant |
| Photos and videos | Google Photos | On demand |
| System settings | Google Drive | When setting up for the first time |
| SMS messages | Google Drive (depending on the OS version) | When setting up for the first time |
Branded utilities of manufacturers: Smart Switch and Mi Mover
Large vendors such as Samsung, Xiaomi and Huawei have developed their own powerful tools for data migration. These solutions often work faster and more reliably than standard Android tools, since they are optimized for specific hardware and software shell.
For example, Samsung owners have access to the tool Smart Switch. It allows you to transfer data not only from another Android smartphone, but also from an iPhone. The utility creates an encrypted communication channel, usually via Wi-Fi Direct or a special cable, providing high transfer speeds without using the Internet.
Xiaomi and Redmi users can use the application Mi Mover. It is preinstalled in the system and allows you to select categories of data to transfer: from call history to desktop layout. The process is intuitive: on the old phone you select the “Sender” role, and on the new one - “Recipient”, after which you scan the QR code to pair.
⚠️ Attention: Branded utilities may not transfer data from protected applications (bank clients, government services) for security reasons. You will need to log in to them again on the new device.
The main advantage of such apps is the ability to transfer even the folder structure and icon layout. This creates an immersive effect, as if you did not change the phone, but simply updated it. However, if you change brand (for example, from Huawei to Samsung), cross-platform compatibility may be limited and some interface settings will be reset.
Local backup to a computer or external storage
For users who do not trust cloud services or have a huge amount of data (hundreds of gigabytes of 4K video), local copying remains the "gold standard" of reliability. This method ensures that your files are physically under your control.
Connect your smartphone to your computer using a quality USB cable. In the notification on the phone screen, select the USB operation mode File transfer or MTP. After this, an explorer window will open on the computer, where the phone’s internal memory will appear as a regular removable disk.
Copy the most important folders manually. Pay special attention to the directories DCIM (photos and videos from the camera), Download (downloads) and Documents. Also don’t forget about instant messenger folders, for example Android/media/com.whatsapp, if you want to save media files from correspondence.
☑️ Checking the local backup
An alternative to a computer can be an OTG flash drive. If your smartphone supports connecting external storage devices, you can copy data directly to the flash drive. This is especially convenient if you don’t have a PC at hand, but have a free flash drive of sufficient capacity.
When using this method, it is important to remember the file system. If you are copying files larger than 4 GB, make sure that the flash drive is formatted in exFAT or NTFS, since the outdated FAT32 does not support large single files.
Transferring instant messenger data: WhatsApp and Telegram
Messengers occupy a special place in the lives of users, and the loss of correspondence can be a real tragedy. It is important to understand that a standard Android system backup often does not include messenger databases due to their encryption.
For WhatsApp there is a built-in backup function. Go to the application settings, select Chats -> Backup chats. Here you can select the frequency of creating copies and the Google Drive account for storing them. Before changing your phone, be sure to press the button Backup manually to save the most recent messages.
Situation s Telegram easier, since this messenger stores the entire correspondence history and media files on its cloud servers. You just need to install the application on your new phone and log into your account using your phone number. All chats, channels and groups will be loaded automatically, with the exception of secret chats that are tied to a specific device.
What to do with secret chats in Telegram?
Secret chats use end-to-end encryption and are stored only on the device. They are not transferred when you change your phone. If you need to save important information from such a chat, forward the messages to yourself in “Favorites” before resetting your old phone.
When restoring WhatsApp on a new device, the process requires care. When you first launch the application, it will detect a backup in Google Drive and offer to restore it. If you skip this step and click “Skip,” it will be extremely difficult or impossible to restore data later without completely reinstalling the application.
Restoring data on a new smartphone
The final step is to initialize the new device. When you turn on the smartphone for the first time, you will be prompted to configure it. At the welcome stage, the system will ask if you want to copy data from another device. This is the ideal time to use all the previously prepared backups.
If you used Google cloud backup, just log in to the same account that was used on your old phone. The system will prompt you to select a restore point from the list of available dates. Select the most recent copy to get the latest settings and list of applications.
When using a local copy or a proprietary utility, follow the instructions on the screen. Usually you need to connect both phones with a cable or connect them via Wi-Fi. The process may take from 15 minutes to an hour. At this time, device screens may flicker and phones may heat up, which is a normal reaction to the intense work of the processor and communication modules.
⚠️ Attention: Do not interrupt the recovery process. A power outage or lost connection may cause the new phone to boot with partially transferred data, requiring a full factory reset and repeating the procedure.
Once the migration is complete, check your critical data: call someone to check your contacts, open the gallery and messengers. Make sure all applications are working correctly. Some banking applications will require re-binding the device or entering a code from SMS to confirm security.
Successful data transfer depends not only on the chosen method, but also on the stability of the connection and battery charge of both devices during the migration process.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will passwords from websites be transferred? and applications?
Passwords saved in the Google password manager (Chrome) are synchronized automatically when you sign in to your account. Passwords saved in third-party managers (for example, 1Password or Bitwarden) will be restored after installing the corresponding application and logging into it. Passwords saved only in the memory of a specific application without cloud synchronization will be lost.
Is it possible to transfer data if the old phone is broken and does not turn on?
If the screen does not work, but the phone turns on and makes sounds, you can try connecting a USB mouse via an OTG adapter to control the interface and enable backup. If the phone does not turn on completely, you can only restore data from previously created cloud copies or by removing the memory chip in a service center (which is expensive and not always possible).
What to do with the data on the SD card?
The physical SD card can simply be moved to a new phone if the slot is compatible in size (usually microSD). However, if the new phone encrypts the memory card as internal storage, the old card may not be readable. In this case, the data must be copied to the computer before moving it.
How long does a complete data transfer take?
The time depends on the amount of data and the transfer method. 50 GB of data is transferred via cable in about 10-15 minutes. Over Wi-Fi Direct, this process may take 30-40 minutes. Via the cloud (upload + download) with an Internet speed of 50 Mbit/s, this may take several hours.