The fastest way to transfer everything is to sign into your Google account on the new phone

When you turn on a new Android phone for the first time, it will ask you to sign in with a Google account. If you use the same Google account you had on your old phone, Android will automatically restore your contacts, calendar, Gmail, photos stored in Google Photos, and most of your apps. This process starts during setup and continues in the background for several hours after you finish.

This method works best if your old phone still has power and you can access it during setup. You do not need both phones connected to the same Wi-Fi network, though a strong connection on the new phone speeds things up. If your old phone is broken or lost, you can still sign in with your Google account on the new phone — you will just lose access to text messages and call history, which are not backed up to Google by default.

The automatic restore does not include text messages, call history, or files stored only on your phone's internal storage (not in Google Drive or Google Photos). For those, you will need to use a second method or transfer them manually.

Key Takeaways

  • Signing into your Google account on a new Android phone automatically restores contacts, apps, calendar events, Gmail, and photos backed up to Google Photos.
  • Text messages and call history do not transfer automatically and require a separate backup app or manual transfer.
  • If your old phone still works, you can use Android's built-in transfer tool during setup to move everything at once, including text messages.
  • Files stored only on your phone's internal storage will not transfer unless you manually move them to Google Drive or another cloud service first.
  • The automatic restore process can take several hours to complete in the background, so do not unplug or restart your new phone immediately after setup.

Using Android's built-in transfer tool during setup

When you first turn on your new Android phone, the setup screen will offer an option to restore from an old Android device. If you tap this option and have your old phone nearby, you can scan a QR code or enter a PIN to connect the two phones. This method transfers contacts, text messages, call history, photos, videos, apps, and device settings all at once.

Both phones need to be on the same Wi-Fi network and have enough battery to complete the transfer. The process usually takes 15 to 45 minutes depending on how much data you have. Your old phone will stay in setup mode during this time and cannot be used for anything else. Once the transfer finishes, your old phone will restart normally and your new phone will continue with the rest of setup.

This method is the most complete because it includes text messages and call history, which the Google account method does not. However, it only works if your old phone still turns on and can connect to Wi-Fi. If your old phone is broken or you no longer have it, you will need to use the Google account method instead and accept that text messages cannot be recovered.

Transferring text messages and call history separately

If you did not use the built-in transfer tool during setup, you can still move text messages and call history using a backup app. Google Messages is the default texting app on most Android phones and can back up your text messages to your Google account. Open Google Messages, tap the three-line menu, go to Settings, then Backup and restore, and turn on backup. This backs up only new messages going forward, not old ones.

For older text messages, you can use a third-party app like Samsung Smart Switch (if you have a Samsung phone), Helium, or SMS Backup+. These apps create a backup file of your text messages and call history that you can restore on your new phone. Download the app on your old phone, create a backup, then download the same app on your new phone and restore from the backup file. The process varies by app, so follow the app's instructions carefully.

Call history is harder to recover because most phones do not back it up automatically. If you need your call log, take a screenshot of it on your old phone before switching, or check your carrier's online account — some carriers keep a record of calls made and received.

Moving files and photos that are not in Google Photos

Photos and videos taken on your phone are usually stored in Google Photos automatically if you have a Google account and the Photos app is set to back them up. To check, open Google Photos on your old phone, tap your profile picture, and look for "Backup and sync" — if it says "On", your photos are already backed up and will appear on your new phone once you sign in.

If you have photos or videos stored only on your phone's internal storage and not backed up to Google Photos, you need to move them manually. Connect your old phone to a computer with a USB cable, copy the photos to a folder on your computer, then connect your new phone and copy them back. Alternatively, you can upload them to Google Drive, Google Photos, or another cloud storage service on your old phone, then download them on your new phone.

Documents, spreadsheets, and other files stored on your phone should be moved the same way — either through a cloud service like Google Drive or by copying them to a computer and back. Do not rely on the automatic transfer to move these files unless they are in a cloud service that syncs across devices.

What happens to apps during transfer

When you sign into your Google account on a new Android phone, the system automatically downloads and installs most of the apps you had on your old phone. This process happens in the background and can take several hours. Some apps may not reinstall automatically if they are no longer available in the Google Play Store, if they are paid apps you purchased with a different account, or if they require special permissions that have changed.

Apps that do not reinstall automatically will show up in your Play Store library under "Manage my apps and device" — you can tap "Install" next to any app to download it manually. Paid apps you purchased will not charge you again; Google remembers your purchase history. However, if you purchased an app with a different Google account, you will need to sign into that account in the Play Store to reinstall it.

App data — your login information, saved games, settings within an app — transfers automatically for apps that use Google's backup service. Not all apps do this. If an app does not restore your data, you may need to sign back into the app manually or reconfigure its settings on your new phone.

Transferring data if your old phone is broken or lost

If your old phone no longer works or you do not have access to it, you can still recover most of your data by signing into your Google account on the new phone. This will restore contacts, apps, calendar events, Gmail, and any photos or videos you backed up to Google Photos. The process is automatic and requires no extra steps beyond signing in during setup.

Text messages, call history, and files stored only on your phone's internal storage cannot be recovered if you do not have access to your old phone. If you had a backup app like Samsung Smart Switch or SMS Backup+ running on your old phone, you may be able to restore from that backup if you can access it from another device or from your cloud storage account.

If you are switching from an iPhone to Android, you can use Google's Move to Android app on the iPhone to transfer contacts, calendar events, photos, and videos. Text messages do not transfer between iPhone and Android because the two systems use different formats. You will need to manually save any important text conversations before switching.

Checking what transferred and what did not

After your new phone finishes the automatic restore, check that everything you need is there. Open your contacts app and verify that all your contacts appear. Open Google Photos and confirm your photos are there. Check your calendar to see if events transferred. Open the Play Store and tap your profile picture, then "Manage my apps and device" to see which apps installed.

If something did not transfer, you have a few options. For contacts, you can export them from your old phone as a file and import them on your new phone. For photos, you can upload them to Google Photos on your old phone and they will sync to your new phone within a few hours. For apps, you can download them manually from the Play Store. For text messages, you can use a backup app if you still have access to your old phone.

Keep your old phone for at least a week after switching to make sure you have not missed anything. Once you are confident everything is on your new phone, you can factory reset your old phone or recycle it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to keep my old phone turned on while the transfer happens?

Only if you are using the built-in transfer tool during setup, which requires both phones to be on and connected to Wi-Fi. If you are just signing into your Google account, your old phone does not need to be on at all. The automatic restore pulls data from Google's servers, not from your old phone.

Will my text messages transfer if I just sign into my Google account?

No. Text messages are not backed up to your Google account automatically. You need to either use the built-in transfer tool during setup (which requires your old phone to be present) or use a separate backup app like Google Messages, Samsung Smart Switch, or SMS Backup+ to move them.

What if I forgot my Google account password?

You can reset your Google password on any computer or phone by going to accounts.google.com and clicking "Forgot password?" You will need to verify your identity using a recovery email address or phone number you set up with your account. Once you reset your password, you can sign in on your new phone.

Can I transfer data from an iPhone to an Android phone?

Partially. Use Google's Move to Android app on the iPhone to transfer contacts, calendar events, photos, and videos. Text messages do not transfer because iPhone and Android use different formats. You will need to manually save any important text conversations before switching phones.

How long does the automatic restore take?

The initial setup usually takes 15 to 30 minutes, but the background restore of apps and data can continue for several hours. Do not restart or unplug your new phone during this time. You can use your phone normally while the restore happens in the background, but it will run faster if you leave it plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi.