Transfer All Your Data From One Android Device to Another

Transferring data to a new phone can be stressful, but the Android file transfer process is painless, and we’re going to walk you through it. Keep reading to discover how to transfer data from Android to Android without losing your personal files in 3 different ways.

What to Do Before You Transfer Data

Before you start the Android to Android transfer:

1. Charge both phones.
2. Make sure both phones can connect to a Wi-Fi network.

On your old device:

3. Sign out of the Rich Communication Services (RCS) on Google Messages – see below.
4. If you don’t use google contacts, go to Settings > Google > Settings for Google apps > Google Contacts sync > Also sync device contacts.
5. Select Automatically back up & sync device contacts.
6. Perform a Google Drive backup (unless you have enabled the Google One automatic backup) to ensure you have all of your data in case the data transfer fails.

How to Sign Out of RCS

Rich Communication Services (RCS) lets you send text, videos, photos, and GIFs as encrypted messages. If you use Google Messages for text messages, you need to turn off RCS on your old phone so you don’t miss any messages. Otherwise, skip this step.

On your old phone, go to the Google Messages app and follow these steps:

1. Select more options
2. Select Settings
3. Select Chat features
4. Toggle off Enable chat features

How to Transfer Data from Android to Android

Depending on your device and preferences, you’ve got a few options to transfer data from one Android to another.

Android’s Built-In Transfer Tool

Android has a built-in data transfer app that appears on the screen when you first start your new device. The default transfer app is supported on all Android 12 devices. This method lets you transfer data from your old phone with a cable.

Follow these steps:

Using a cable:

1. Turn on your new phone.
2. Select Start.
3. Connect to a Wi-Fi network.
4. Choose which apps and data you want to copy.
5. Use the cable to connect the two phones.
6. Follow the on-screen prompts.

Without a cable:

1. Turn on the new phone.
2. Select Start.
3. Connect to a Wi-Fi network.
4. Choose which apps and data to copy onto the new phone.
5. Select OK.
6. Click on No cable.
7. Select Backup from an Android phone.
8. Follow the on-screen prompts.

Smart Switch (for Samsung)

Samsung has a specific app called Smart Switch to transfer your data from any device to a Galaxy Phone. You can transfer between phones wirelessly, with a USB cable, or with external storage like a microSD card or a flash drive.

Follow these steps:

Using a cable:

1. Connect the two phones with a USB cable.
2. Turn on both phones.
3. Open the Smart Switch app on both phones.
4. Go to Settings > Smart Switch on the new phone.
5. Select Transfer data and click Continue.

You can also transfer your data wirelessly. If you decide to do it that way, make sure your phone is charged, and don’t place the phones more than 4 inches apart.

7. Accept the app permissions.

8. Select Send data on the old device, then Cable or Wireless.

9. Select Receive data on the new phone.
10. Select Galaxy/Android and then Cable or Wireless as per your preference.
11. Allow the scan to complete.
12. Select the transfer option you prefer and click on Nex

13. Once the transfer is complete, select Done on your new phone and Close on your old phone.

Google Drive Backup

Google Drive is a convenient alternative if you use Google services and have a good internet connection. It backs up your app data, call history, contacts (Google Contacts app only), settings, photos, text messages, and videos.

To perform a Google Drive backup, go to Settings > Google > Backup > Back up now. You can also search for backup in settings.

To restore the backup on your new device:

1. Go to the Google Drive App settings and select Backups.
2. Select Restore the backup.

Make sure you get all of your data before it’s deleted. You’ll be able to access it for 57 days after you stop using your old Android device.

Google One Backup

Alternatively, if you use Google One, you can turn on automatic backup of:

• • 📱 App data
  • 📱 Call history
  • 📱 Contacts
  • 📱 Device Settings
  • 📱 Messages
  • 📱 Photos and Videos

Simply follow these steps:

1. Open the Google One app on your old phone.
2. Select the Storage tab at the bottom of the page.
3. Select Show details.
4. Select Set up data backup.
5. Select Manage backup.
6. Select Allow permissions.
7. Configure your backup settings.
8. Select Back up now.
9. Open the Google One app on your new phone.
10. Go to Settings.
11. Select Restore from backup.
12. Select the files you want to restore

Manually Transfer Data

You also have the option to manually transfer data from one device to another. You will need a USB cable to connect to your computer.

Follow these steps on a PC:

1. Connect your old phone to your computer with a USB cable.
2. On your phone, go to Settings > Connected Devices > USB.
3. Go to Use USB for and select File transfer.
4. Create a new folder on your PC’s desktop.
5. Go to File Explorer on your PC.
6. Select your device.
7. Copy the folders you want into the new desktop folder.
8. Once the transfer is complete, unplug your old phone.
9. Plug in the new phone and repeat steps 2 and 3.
10. Find the phone in File Explorer.
11. Drag the desktop files into the corresponding folders on your new phone (e.g., photos to the photos folder).
12. Once the transfer is complete, unplug your new phone

Follow these steps on a Mac:

1. Download and open the Android File Transfer app.
2. Connect the old phone to your computer with a USB cable (you may need a USB port adapter if your phone USB cable isn’t compatible with your Mac).
3. On the phone, go to Settings > Connected Devices > USB.
4. Go to Use USB for and select File transfer.
5. Create a new folder on your Mac.
6. Go to the Android File Transfer window.
7. Drag the files you want to the new folder.
8. Once the transfer is complete, unplug the old phone.
9. Plug in your new phone and repeat steps 3 and 4.
10. Go to the Android File Transfer window and drag files to the corresponding folders on your new phone (e.g. photos to the photos folder).
11. Unplug the new phone once the transfer is complete.

Other Apps

If you don’t want to manually transfer data, use the default transfer app or Google Drive. You can use a paid app to transfer data from one phone to another. However, we don’t recommend this option as third-party developers might take your data. The free options are just as handy as using paid options.