The fastest way to move everything is Google's built-in transfer tool during setup

When you turn on a new Android phone for the first time, the system will ask if you want to restore from a backup. If you say yes and sign in with the Google account you used on your old phone, Android will automatically copy your contacts, calendar events, photos, app list, and most app data to the new device. This takes 15 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have and your internet speed.

This method works best if both phones are Android and you have a strong Wi-Fi connection during setup. You do not need a computer or cable. The trade-off is that some apps may not restore their data perfectly — banking apps, for example, often require you to log in again for security reasons.

If you skip this step during setup, you can still restore later by going to Settings > System > Backup on your new phone, though the process is slower and you may lose some recent data.

Key Takeaways

  • Google's automatic restore during setup copies contacts, photos, apps, and calendar data if you sign in with your old Google account.
  • A USB cable and your computer can transfer files directly and is faster for large photo or video libraries.
  • Samsung phones have their own SmartSwitch tool that handles transfers between Samsung devices or from iPhones.
  • Some apps store data in the cloud rather than on your phone, so you may only need to log in again on the new device.
  • Text messages and call logs often require a separate backup app because they do not sync through Google automatically.

Using a USB cable to transfer files directly from your computer

Connect your old phone to your computer with a USB cable, then open the file manager (File Explorer on Windows, Finder on Mac). Your phone will appear as a removable drive. Navigate to the DCIM folder to find photos and videos, or the Documents folder for other files. Drag these folders to a location on your computer.

Next, connect your new phone and drag the same folders back onto it. This method is faster than Wi-Fi for large libraries and gives you complete control over which files move. The downside is that it only transfers files — not app data, contacts, or settings.

If your new phone does not appear in the file manager, go to Settings > Developer Options on the phone and turn on USB Debugging, then try again. On some phones this setting is under Settings > About Phone > Build Number (tap it seven times to unlock Developer Options).

Samsung SmartSwitch for Samsung-to-Samsung or iPhone-to-Samsung transfers

If your new phone is a Samsung, download the SmartSwitch app from the Google Play Store on the new device. Open it and choose whether you are transferring from another Samsung phone, an iPhone, or a computer. If you are coming from another Samsung, place both phones near each other — SmartSwitch will detect the old phone wirelessly and copy contacts, messages, photos, apps, and settings in one step.

For iPhone-to-Samsung transfers, SmartSwitch walks you through connecting your iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network, then copies what it can (contacts, calendar, photos, and some app data). Apps themselves do not transfer because iOS and Android use different app stores, so you will need to download them again from Google Play.

SmartSwitch also works with a computer. Connect your old phone to your computer, run SmartSwitch, and let it create a backup file. Then connect your new Samsung phone and restore from that file. This is useful if your old phone is no longer working.

Transferring text messages and call logs

Google does not back up text messages or call history automatically, so these require a separate step. Download an app like SMS Backup+ or Titanium Backup from Google Play. Open the app, sign in with your Google account, and let it back up your messages and call logs to Google Drive.

On your new phone, install the same app, sign in with the same account, and restore from the backup. The messages and calls will reappear in your default messaging and phone apps. This process takes a few minutes and works across any Android phones.

If you do not want to use a backup app, some carriers (like Verizon and AT&T) offer their own message backup services through their apps. Check your carrier's app in Google Play to see if this option is available to you.

Moving photos and videos from cloud storage services

If your photos are stored in Google Photos, OneDrive, Dropbox, or Amazon Photos, you do not need to transfer them manually. Install the same app on your new phone, sign in with your account, and your photos will appear. This works for any Android phone and is the safest method because your photos stay backed up in the cloud.

Google Photos is built into most Android phones and syncs automatically if you are signed in with your Google account. OneDrive and Dropbox require you to download their apps from Google Play and turn on sync in their settings. Amazon Photos is included free with Amazon Prime membership.

The trade-off is that cloud storage apps use data and battery to keep syncing. If you have thousands of photos, turn off auto-sync until you are on Wi-Fi, then let it run overnight.

What happens to apps and app data during transfer

When you restore from a Google backup, Android reinstalls the apps that were on your old phone and downloads them from Google Play automatically. This can take an hour or more if you have many apps. The apps will appear on your home screen in roughly the same layout as before.

App data — like your saved games, login information, or preferences within an app — sometimes restores automatically and sometimes does not. Apps that store data in the cloud (like Gmail, Slack, or Spotify) will show your data as soon as you log in. Apps that store data only on your phone (like some games or note-taking apps) may require you to restore a backup within the app itself, or they may start fresh.

If an app does not restore its data, open the app and look for a Restore or Backup option in its settings menu. Some apps let you restore from a backup file or from the cloud. Banking apps and password managers almost always require you to log in again for security.

Transferring data if your old phone is broken or lost

If your old phone no longer turns on, you can still recover data if you backed it up before. Sign into your Google account on the new phone during setup and restore from the backup — this will pull contacts, photos, apps, and calendar events that were synced to Google Drive.

For photos and files stored in cloud services, install the apps on your new phone and sign in. Your data will download automatically. For text messages and call logs, you can only restore them if you used a backup app like SMS Backup+ before the phone broke.

If you did not back anything up, contact your carrier — some carriers keep backups of contacts and messages for a limited time. This is not may provide, but it is worth asking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to back up my old phone before transferring to a new one?

Not if you are using Google's automatic restore during setup — it pulls from backups Google has already made. But if your old phone is broken or you want to keep a copy of everything, back it up first by going to Settings > System > Backup and making sure your Google account is selected.

Will my apps transfer with all my login information?

Most apps will restore but require you to log in again. Banking apps, password managers, and social media apps almost always ask for your password on the new phone for security. Apps that use Google Sign-In or Facebook Login may log in automatically if you use the same account.

What if I am switching from an iPhone to Android?

Google has a "Switch to Android" app available on the Apple App Store that walks you through the process. It transfers contacts, calendar events, photos, and some app data over Wi-Fi. Apps themselves do not transfer because iOS and Android use different app stores, so you will download them fresh from Google Play.

Can I transfer data between two Android phones without a computer?

Yes. Use Google's automatic restore during setup on the new phone, or use Samsung SmartSwitch if both phones are Samsung. Both methods work over Wi-Fi and do not require a computer.

How long does the transfer usually take?

Google's automatic restore takes 15 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have and your Wi-Fi speed. Transferring files with a USB cable is faster for large libraries — usually 5 to 15 minutes. SmartSwitch between two Samsung phones takes 10 to 30 minutes.