The fastest way to move everything to a new Samsung phone

The easiest method is Samsung Smart Switch, which transfers your contacts, messages, photos, videos, apps, and settings from your old phone to your new one in a single operation. You can run it wirelessly over Wi-Fi, through a USB cable, or by scanning a QR code. For most people, the wireless option takes 15 to 45 minutes depending on how much data you have.

If you do not want to use Smart Switch, you can also restore from a Google account backup, which preserves most of your data but not everything — Samsung-specific settings and some app data may not transfer. A third option is to back up to a computer using Samsung's desktop software, though this is slower and requires a cable.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung Smart Switch is the built-in tool designed for phone-to-phone transfers and handles contacts, messages, photos, apps, and settings in one step.
  • Wireless Smart Switch transfer works over Wi-Fi and does not require a cable, making it the fastest option for most people.
  • Google account backup restores many things but may miss Samsung-specific features and some app data that Smart Switch would catch.
  • You need both phones powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network for a wireless transfer to work.

Using Samsung Smart Switch for a wireless transfer

Start by powering on your new Samsung phone and going through the initial setup. When you reach the screen that asks whether you want to restore data, tap Restore and then select Samsung account or Google account. The phone will show you a QR code.

On your old phone, open the Smart Switch app (it comes pre-installed on most Samsung devices; if it is not there, download it from the Google Play Store). Tap Send data, then Wireless. Point your old phone's camera at the QR code on the new phone's screen. The two phones will connect and begin syncing. Do not interrupt the process or move the phones far apart until it finishes.

The transfer includes contacts, call logs, text messages, photos, videos, apps, home screen layout, and most settings. It does not transfer your SIM card data or any files stored only on your SD card (if your old phone has one). Once the transfer completes, your new phone will restart and you can begin using it normally.

Transferring data using a USB cable

If wireless transfer fails or your Wi-Fi is unreliable, you can use a USB cable instead. On your new phone, go through setup until you see the restore screen, then tap Restore and select USB cable. Connect your old phone to your new phone using a USB-C cable (or the appropriate cable for your old phone's port).

On your old phone, a prompt will appear asking whether you want to allow the connection. Tap Allow or Trust. The transfer will begin automatically and typically takes longer than wireless — sometimes 30 minutes to an hour for a large amount of data. Keep both phones connected and do not use either one until the process finishes.

Restoring from a Google account backup

If you have been backing up to Google Drive on your old phone, your new Samsung can restore most of that data automatically. During setup on the new phone, sign in with the same Google account you used on the old phone. The phone will ask whether you want to restore from backup and will show you the date of the most recent backup.

Google backup restores your contacts, calendar events, Gmail, photos (if you use Google Photos), and app data for apps that support Google backup. It does not restore text messages, call logs, or Samsung-specific settings like your home screen layout or Samsung Health data. If you need those things, use Smart Switch instead.

What does not transfer and why

Neither Smart Switch nor Google backup will transfer your carrier plan, SIM card information, or any apps that are no longer available in the Google Play Store. Banking apps sometimes require you to log in again on the new phone for security reasons, even if they transferred successfully.

Files stored only on an SD card will not transfer unless you physically move the card to the new phone or manually copy them to cloud storage first. If your old phone has an SD card and your new phone does not, you will need to back up those files to Google Drive, OneDrive, or another cloud service before transferring.

Troubleshooting a failed or stuck transfer

If the transfer stalls or fails partway through, restart both phones and try again. Make sure both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network and that the network is stable — transfers often fail on congested or slow connections. If you are using a cable, try a different USB cable or a different USB port on your computer (if you are transferring through a computer).

If Smart Switch repeatedly fails, try the Google account backup method instead. If that also fails, you can manually transfer the most important data: sign into your Google account, Gmail, and any cloud services you use, then download your photos from Google Photos or another backup service. This is slower but will get you the essentials while you troubleshoot the automatic transfer.

Transferring data to a Samsung phone from a different brand

Smart Switch also works when you are switching from an iPhone, Google Pixel, or other Android phone to a Samsung. The process is the same: open Smart Switch on your old phone, tap Send data, select Wireless, and scan the QR code on your new Samsung. Smart Switch will transfer what it can, though some iPhone-specific features (like iMessage) will not carry over.

If you are coming from an iPhone, Google also offers a tool called Switch to Android that you can run during setup on your new Samsung. It transfers contacts, calendar, photos, and some app data. You can use either Smart Switch or the Google tool — they accomplish similar things, so pick whichever one you find easier to follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No, Smart Switch and Google backup both work without a prior backup. However, it is a good idea to make sure your old phone is charged and that you have a recent backup somewhere (like Google Drive) in case something goes wrong during the transfer.

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

No, both Smart Switch and Google backup require your old phone to be powered on and able to communicate. If your old phone is broken, your only option is to restore from a Google backup if you made one before the phone broke. If you did not, you may not be able to recover that data.

Will my apps transfer with all their data and settings?

Most apps will transfer, but not all of their data. Apps that support Google backup (like Gmail, Google Maps, and Spotify) will restore their settings. Apps that do not support Google backup may transfer to your new phone but will start fresh. You can check which apps backed up by opening Google Play Store, tapping your profile icon, and selecting Manage my Google Play activity.

How long does a transfer usually take?

Wireless transfers typically take 15 to 45 minutes depending on how much data you have. Cable transfers are often slower, sometimes taking an hour or more. A transfer with 50 GB of data will take longer than one with 5 GB.

What if I want to transfer only specific things, not everything?

Smart Switch transfers everything by default, but you can manually select what to restore. During the transfer, you can tap Customize to choose which contacts, messages, photos, and apps you want to move. This takes longer but gives you control over what lands on your new phone.