The fastest way to transfer apps is to sign into your Google account on the new phone
When you set up a new Android phone, you'll be asked to sign in with a Google account. If you use the same Google account you used on your old phone, Google Play will automatically restore most of your apps within a few minutes to a few hours. You don't need to do anything else — the apps download and install on their own in the background.
This method works because Google keeps a record of every app you've ever installed from Google Play under your account. The new phone reads that list and pulls down the apps you had before. Your phone will skip any apps that are no longer available in Google Play or that aren't compatible with your new device's Android version.
If you want to speed up the process or see which apps are restoring, open Google Play, tap your profile icon in the top right, then tap Manage my apps and device. Go to the Manage tab and you'll see a list of apps that are currently installing or waiting to install.
Key Takeaways
- Sign into the same Google account on your new phone during setup, and Google Play will automatically restore your apps within hours.
- App data like game progress, login information, and settings may restore automatically if the app developer uses Google's backup service, but not all apps do.
- Apps you sideloaded (installed from outside Google Play) will not transfer automatically and must be reinstalled manually or through their original source.
- If an app won't restore, it may no longer exist in Google Play, may not work on your new phone's Android version, or may be region-locked to where you bought the phone.
- You can manually download any app from Google Play on your new phone by searching for it by name, even if it didn't restore automatically.
What happens to your app data and login information
Transferring the app itself is different from transferring what's inside it. When Google restores your apps, it only reinstalls the app — it doesn't automatically bring over your saved games, photos, login credentials, or other data stored within the app.
Whether that data comes back depends on whether the app developer chose to use Google's backup service. Many apps do — you'll often see a prompt asking you to sign in when you first open the restored app, and your account data will load. Other apps store data only on your phone's local storage, and that data stays on your old phone unless you manually back it up first.
Before you switch phones, open any apps where you care about the data — games, banking apps, photo editors, note-taking apps — and make sure you're signed into an account within the app itself. That way, when you restore the app on your new phone and sign in again, your data will be there.
Apps you installed from outside Google Play won't transfer
If you sideloaded an app — meaning you downloaded it from a website, email, or another source instead of Google Play — that app will not restore to your new phone. Google Play only tracks apps installed through its own store.
To move a sideloaded app, you have a few options. If you still have the original APK file (the installation file for Android apps) on your computer or cloud storage, you can copy it to your new phone and open it to install. You can also ask the app's developer or website where you originally got it whether they have a download link for the new phone.
Some sideloaded apps are available in Google Play under a different name or publisher. Search Google Play for the app's name — if it's there, you can download it normally. Just be aware that a free version in Google Play might be different from the paid or modified version you had before.
When an app won't restore automatically
Occasionally an app you had on your old phone won't show up during the automatic restore. This usually happens for one of three reasons: the app is no longer sold in Google Play, the app isn't compatible with your new phone's Android version, or the app is region-locked to the country where you bought your old phone.
You can check whether an app still exists by opening Google Play on your new phone and searching for it by name. If it appears in search results, you can download it manually. If it doesn't appear, the developer has removed it from Google Play, and you won't be able to get it through normal means.
If an app exists but won't install, tap the app's listing and scroll down to see the "Requires Android [version number] and up" line. If your new phone runs an older Android version than what the app requires, the app won't work. This is rare with newer phones, but it can happen if you're upgrading to an older model.
Transferring apps between two phones without a Google account
If you don't want to use a Google account, or if you're switching from a phone that wasn't set up with one, you'll need to download your apps manually on the new phone. Open Google Play, search for each app by name, and tap Install. This takes longer, but it works for any app available in Google Play.
You can also use a third-party app like Helium or Swift Backup to back up apps and their data to cloud storage or your computer, then restore them on the new phone. These apps require you to set them up on both phones before you switch, so this method only works if you still have access to your old phone.
Using Samsung Smart Switch or other manufacturer tools
If you're switching between two Samsung phones, you can use Samsung Smart Switch to transfer apps, data, and settings all at once. The app can work over Wi-Fi, through a USB cable, or by backing up to Samsung Cloud. You'll need to download Smart Switch on both phones and follow the on-screen prompts.
Other manufacturers like Google (Pixel), OnePlus, and Motorola offer similar tools. These work alongside the Google account method — they don't replace it. If you use one of these tools, your apps will restore through both the manufacturer's backup and Google Play, which is fine; you'll just see the apps appear twice in the queue and one will skip if it's already installed.
The advantage of using a manufacturer tool is that it can also transfer your home screen layout, wallpaper, and some app settings that Google's standard backup doesn't handle. The disadvantage is that these tools only work between phones from the same manufacturer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my app passwords and login information transfer to the new phone?
Only if you were signed into an account within the app itself. If the app uses Google's backup service and you were logged in, you'll usually be prompted to sign in again when you open the app on your new phone, and your account data will load. Passwords saved in your phone's system settings (like Wi-Fi passwords) transfer separately through your Google account backup.
Can I transfer apps from Android to an iPhone?
No. Android and iPhone use completely different app stores and formats. You'll need to find equivalent apps in the Apple App Store and download them individually. Some apps exist on both platforms under the same name, but others don't, and data from Android apps won't transfer to iPhone versions.
What if I don't remember which Google account I used on my old phone?
Check your old phone's settings: go to Settings > Accounts and look for the Google account listed there. If you no longer have the old phone, try signing into your Google account on the new phone with the email address you think you used. If you get in, that's the right account, and your apps will restore.
Do I need to keep my old phone to transfer apps?
No. As long as you sign into the same Google account on your new phone, Google Play will restore your apps automatically. You don't need the old phone present. The only exception is if you want to use a manufacturer backup tool like Samsung Smart Switch, which usually requires both phones to be nearby.
Why is an app showing as "installed" but I can't find it on my home screen?
The app installed but didn't create a home screen shortcut. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to open your app drawer, search for the app by name, then long-press it and select Add to home screen if you want it visible on your main screen.