The fastest way to transfer everything is to use your Google Account during setup

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 apps, contacts, calendar, photos, Gmail, and most of your settings. This happens in the background while you use the phone, and it usually takes a few hours to complete.

This method works best if your old phone still has power and you can access it. You do not need both phones connected to the same Wi-Fi network, though a strong connection on both sides 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 text messages and call history, which Google does not back up by default.

Key Takeaways

  • Signing in with your Google Account on a new Android phone automatically restores apps, contacts, photos, email, and settings within a few hours.
  • Text messages and call history do not transfer through your Google Account and require a separate backup method or a cable transfer.
  • You can transfer files and photos directly between phones using a USB cable, Android's built-in file transfer, or cloud storage like Google Drive or OneDrive.
  • If your old phone is broken, you can still recover most data by signing into your Google Account on the new phone, though some information like texts will be lost.

What transfers automatically and what does not

Your Google Account backs up a specific set of data. Apps, app data, contacts, calendar events, Gmail, Google Photos, Google Drive files, and most system settings all restore when you sign in. This includes passwords saved in Chrome and two-factor authentication codes if you use Google Authenticator.

Text messages, call history, and voicemail do not transfer through your Google Account. Neither do photos or videos stored only on your phone's internal storage (not uploaded to Google Photos). Some apps store data in their own cloud systems — Spotify, banking apps, and messaging apps like WhatsApp keep their own backups — so you may need to sign back into those apps individually. Check the app's settings to see if it has a backup or restore option.

Using a USB cable to transfer files and photos directly

If you want to move photos, videos, or documents without waiting for cloud backup, connect your old phone to a computer with a USB cable. Your phone will appear as a folder on your computer. Open it, find the DCIM folder (where photos and videos live) or Documents folder, and copy the files to your new phone the same way.

Alternatively, connect both phones to the same computer and drag files between them. Some Android phones also have a built-in file transfer tool — check your old phone's settings under "About phone" or "System" to see if there is a "Smart Switch" or "Phone Clone" option. Samsung phones have Smart Switch, which can transfer files, messages, and settings over Wi-Fi or USB. If your phone has this feature, it is usually faster and more complete than manual file copying.

Backing up and restoring text messages

Google does not back up text messages, so you need a separate method. The easiest option is to use your phone's built-in backup tool. On Samsung phones, open Settings, go to Accounts, select your Google Account, and turn on "Messages" if it is available (this varies by model and carrier). On other Android phones, open Settings, search for "Backup," and look for a "Messages" or "SMS" option.

If your phone does not have a built-in SMS backup, download a third-party app like SMS Backup+ or Titanium Backup from the Google Play Store. These apps back up your texts to your Google Account or email, and you can restore them on your new phone. Follow the app's instructions to set up backup on your old phone, then install the same app on your new phone and restore from the backup.

Using cloud storage to move files between phones

Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and other cloud storage services let you upload files on your old phone and download them on your new one. Open the app on your old phone, tap the upload button (usually a plus sign or arrow), select the files or folders you want to move, and wait for the upload to finish. Then open the same app on your new phone and download the files.

This method is slower than a USB cable for large numbers of files, but it works without a computer and does not require both phones to be in the same place. Google Drive gives you 15 GB of free storage, which is enough for most documents and spreadsheets but may fill up quickly with photos and videos. If you need more space, you can pay for additional storage or use a different service.

What to do if your old phone is broken or lost

Sign into your Google Account on your new phone during setup. Android will restore everything that was backed up to that account — apps, contacts, photos in Google Photos, Gmail, and calendar events. This process can take several hours depending on how much data you have.

Text messages, call history, and any files stored only on your phone's internal storage will be lost. If you had a third-party backup app running on your old phone, you may be able to restore texts through that app. Check your email for backup files from apps like SMS Backup+ or Titanium Backup, download them if they exist, and follow the app's restore instructions on your new phone.

Transferring data from an iPhone to Android

If you are switching from an iPhone, Google has a tool called "Switch to Android" that you can download from the App Store on your iPhone. It transfers contacts, calendar events, photos, and videos to your Google Account. Open the app, follow the prompts, and sign in with your Google Account. When you set up your new Android phone with the same account, those items will restore automatically.

Text messages do not transfer from iPhone to Android through this tool. You will need to export them separately or accept that they will not move over. Photos and videos in iCloud will transfer if you download them to your iPhone's storage first, then use the Switch to Android app. Apps do not transfer — you will need to download Android versions of the apps you used on iPhone from the Google Play Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need both phones turned on at the same time to transfer data?

No. If you use your Google Account, the new phone will restore data from your account's backup, which happens in the cloud. Your old phone does not need to be on. However, if you want to use a cable transfer or a tool like Samsung Smart Switch, both phones should be powered on and connected.

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

No. Google does not back up text messages by default. You need to use a third-party app like SMS Backup+ or your phone's built-in SMS backup feature if it has one. Some carriers also offer backup services — check with your carrier to see if they have a tool for this.

What happens to my apps when I transfer to a new phone?

Apps you downloaded from the Google Play Store will reinstall automatically when you sign into your Google Account. Apps you paid for will not charge you again. However, apps from other sources or sideloaded apps will not transfer — you will need to download them again or reinstall them manually.

Can I transfer data if my old phone will not turn on?

If your old phone will not power on, you can still recover data by signing into your Google Account on your new phone. Everything backed up to that account — apps, contacts, photos, email, and calendar — will restore. Text messages and files stored only on your phone's internal storage cannot be recovered this way.

How long does it take for all my data to transfer?

Signing into your Google Account usually starts the restore process immediately, but it can take a few hours to complete depending on how much data you have and your internet speed. You can use your new phone while this happens. A USB cable transfer is usually faster for large files but requires a computer.