The fastest way depends on what you're moving to

Samsung phones and tablets can move data to another Samsung device, an iPhone, an Android phone from another maker, a computer, or cloud storage — and the method changes for each one. If you're staying within Samsung, Samsung Smart Switch is the built-in tool that moves everything at once: contacts, messages, photos, apps, settings, and call history. If you're switching to iPhone or a different Android brand, you'll use either Google's built-in transfer tools or move files manually depending on what you need. Moving to a computer works through USB cable, Samsung's cloud service, or Google Drive.

The choice matters because some routes preserve everything and others leave behind certain data types. A full Samsung-to-Samsung transfer takes about 15 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have. Cross-platform moves (Samsung to iPhone, for example) typically take longer and may require you to handle some categories separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung Smart Switch transfers everything between Samsung devices wirelessly or over USB, including apps and settings that other methods skip.
  • Moving to iPhone requires using Google Account backup for contacts and calendar, then manually transferring photos and other files through cloud storage or a computer.
  • Switching to a different Android phone uses Google Account backup, which restores contacts, calendar, and some app data automatically.
  • Transferring to a computer works through USB cable (file-by-file), Google Drive (cloud backup), or Samsung Cloud (Samsung devices only).
  • Before you start any transfer, charge both devices to at least 50 percent and connect to Wi-Fi if moving wirelessly.

Samsung to Samsung: Using Smart Switch

Smart Switch is Samsung's native transfer tool and it's the most complete option if both devices are Samsung. You can transfer wirelessly if both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network, or use a USB cable if one device is older or the wireless connection is unreliable. The wireless method is faster for most people and doesn't require a computer.

On your old Samsung device, open Settings, go to Accounts and Backup, then tap Smart Switch. Select Send Data and choose Wireless. On your new Samsung device, open Smart Switch from the home screen or app drawer, select Receive Data, and scan the QR code shown on the old phone. The transfer begins automatically and shows a progress bar. You'll see what's being transferred: contacts, messages, photos, videos, documents, settings, and installed apps. Some apps may need to be reinstalled from the Galaxy Store or Google Play Store if they weren't backed up.

If you prefer a wired transfer, connect the old phone to a computer with a USB cable, open Smart Switch on the computer (download it from Samsung's website if you don't have it), and follow the prompts to back up your data. Then connect the new phone and restore from that backup. This method is more reliable on older networks and doesn't depend on Wi-Fi strength.

Samsung to iPhone: Moving contacts, photos, and data

Moving from Samsung to iPhone is not a one-tap process because the operating systems are different, but it's straightforward if you break it into steps. Start before you set up the new iPhone — Apple's setup wizard includes a "Move Data from Android" option that handles some of the work automatically, but you'll still need to move photos and files separately.

For contacts and calendar, sign into your Google Account on the Samsung phone and make sure both are synced. On the iPhone during setup, choose "Migrate Data from Android" and sign in with the same Google Account. This transfers contacts and calendar events. For photos and videos, use Google Photos: install it on the Samsung phone, upload your photos to Google Photos, then install Google Photos on the iPhone and download them there. This also backs up your photos so you don't lose them if something goes wrong during the transfer.

Messages don't transfer automatically between Android and iPhone, so you have two options: use a third-party app like Samsung Messages or Google Messages on both phones before switching (these can export message history), or accept that you'll start fresh with iMessage. Documents and files stored in Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox will be there when you sign in on the iPhone. Apps don't transfer — you'll need to download them from the App Store on the iPhone, though your purchases are tied to your Apple ID so you won't pay twice.

Samsung to another Android phone: Using Google Account backup

Switching between Android phones (Samsung to Google Pixel, OnePlus, Motorola, etc.) is simpler than moving to iPhone because both run Android. The transfer happens through your Google Account, which automatically backs up contacts, calendar, Gmail, and some app data.

On your Samsung phone, open Settings, go to Accounts, and tap Google. Make sure the account you use most is listed and synced. Open Settings again, go to Accounts and Backup, and tap Backup and Restore. Verify that "Back up my data" is turned on. On the new Android phone during setup, sign in with the same Google Account. The phone will ask if you want to restore from backup — select yes, and it will download your contacts, calendar, Gmail, and app data. This usually takes 5 to 10 minutes depending on how much data you have.

Photos and videos stored in Google Photos will appear on the new phone once you sign in and open Google Photos. Apps from Google Play Store will begin downloading automatically, though this can take an hour or more if you have many apps. Messages, call history, and some app-specific settings may not transfer and will need to be handled separately or re-downloaded from the app itself.

Samsung to a computer: USB cable, Google Drive, or Samsung Cloud

Moving data to a Windows or Mac computer gives you a backup and lets you organize files before moving them elsewhere. The method depends on what you're backing up and whether you want everything or just certain files.

USB cable method: Connect your Samsung phone to a computer with a USB cable. On the phone, swipe down from the top and tap the USB notification, then select File Transfer (or MTP mode). On the computer, the phone appears as a removable drive. Open it and navigate to DCIM (photos and videos), Documents, Downloads, or other folders. Drag files to your computer. This is slow for large amounts of data but gives you full control over what moves.

Google Drive method: On the Samsung phone, open Google Drive, tap the plus icon, and select Upload. Choose photos, videos, or documents from your phone. They upload to your Google Drive account. On the computer, sign into Google Drive in a web browser and download the files. This works on any computer and any operating system, and the files stay in the cloud if you need them later.

Samsung Cloud method: On the Samsung phone, open Settings, go to Accounts and Backup, and tap Samsung Cloud. Tap Backup and select what to back up (photos, videos, contacts, messages, settings). The data uploads to Samsung's servers. On a computer, sign into your Samsung account at account.samsung.com, go to Samsung Cloud, and download what you need. This method only works if you have a Samsung account and is slower than USB for large files.

What doesn't always transfer and why

Some data types are harder to move because they're tied to the old phone's operating system or stored in ways that don't port over. Messages and call history rarely transfer between different brands of phones because each manufacturer stores them differently. Banking apps, two-factor authentication codes, and apps that use biometric login (fingerprint or face recognition) usually need to be set up again on the new device for security reasons. Game progress and in-app purchases may or may not transfer depending on whether the game is linked to your Google Account or Apple ID.

Voicemail, ringtones, and custom notifications are often left behind because they're stored locally on the phone rather than in the cloud. If these matter to you, note them down before you transfer. Some apps store data only on the phone and not in the cloud, so they won't restore even if the app itself transfers — you may need to log back in and re-download your data from within the app.

Preparing your Samsung before you transfer

Before you start any transfer, take a few steps to make sure nothing gets lost. Charge both devices to at least 50 percent battery — transfers can take a while and a dead phone in the middle of the process can corrupt data. Connect to Wi-Fi if you're doing a wireless transfer; cellular data is too slow and unreliable for large amounts of data. Sign into all your accounts (Google, Samsung, Microsoft, etc.) on the old phone and make sure they're synced. Open Settings, go to Accounts, and check that each account shows a recent sync date.

If you have a microSD card in your Samsung phone, decide whether to move it to the new phone or back it up separately. Some newer Samsung phones don't have microSD slots, so you may need to transfer files from the card to cloud storage or a computer first. Take a screenshot of your home screen layout, app folders, and any custom settings you want to remember — these don't always transfer perfectly and you may need to recreate them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer data if my old Samsung phone won't turn on?

If the phone powers on but won't complete setup, you can still use Smart Switch on a computer by connecting the phone via USB cable. If the phone won't power on at all, you'll need to recover data from a previous backup (Google Account, Samsung Cloud, or Google Drive) on the new phone instead. Contact Samsung support if the phone is under warranty.

Will my apps transfer with all their data and login information?

Apps transfer, but their data and logins usually don't. You'll need to sign back into each app on the new phone. Some apps linked to your Google Account (like Gmail, Google Maps, or Spotify) will restore your settings automatically. Games and apps that store progress locally won't transfer that progress unless it's backed up to the cloud within the app itself.

How long does a full data transfer take?

Samsung-to-Samsung transfers over Wi-Fi usually take 15 to 30 minutes for a typical phone with hundreds of photos and dozens of apps. Transfers to a computer via USB cable are slower — expect 30 minutes to an hour for the same amount of data. Cloud-based transfers (Google Drive, Samsung Cloud) depend on your internet speed and can take several hours for large backups.

What if the transfer fails halfway through?

If Smart Switch stops, restart both phones and try again. If you're using a USB cable, check that the cable is firmly connected and the phone hasn't gone to sleep. For cloud transfers, check your internet connection and try uploading again. Most transfers can be restarted without losing data already moved, though it's worth checking the new phone to see what arrived before you start over.

Do I need to keep my old Samsung phone after the transfer?

You don't need to keep it powered on, but it's worth holding onto for a few days to make sure everything transferred correctly and to retrieve anything that was missed. Once you're confident the new phone has everything you need, you can factory reset the old phone and recycle or sell it.