Getting a new phone is exciting until you realize everything you need is on the old one. This guide shows you the easiest ways to move your contacts, photos, messages, and apps without losing anything.
The good news is that phone makers have made this much simpler than it used to be. At Asandada24, we have moved data between dozens of phones, and the built-in transfer tools now handle almost everything automatically. You just need to pick the right method and give it enough time.
Before You Start: A Quick Checklist
A little preparation saves a lot of frustration later.
- Charge both phones to at least 50 percent, or keep them plugged in during the transfer.
- Connect to stable Wi-Fi. Transfers can move several gigabytes, and mobile data is slower and expensive.
- Update the old phone to the latest software version so the transfer tools work properly.
- Know your Google account password. You will need to sign in on the new phone.
- Back up anything irreplaceable first. Our guide on how to back up Android contacts, photos and messages is worth reading before you begin.
Method 1: Use the Built-In Setup Transfer (Easiest)
When you turn on a new Android phone for the first time, the setup wizard offers to copy data from your old phone. This is the simplest method and the one Asandada24 recommends for most people.
Android to Android With a Cable
- Contacts and calendar events
- Photos and videos (if backed up or copied directly)
- Text messages and call history
- Installed apps (the apps themselves reinstall; you sign in again)
- Wi-Fi passwords and device settings
- Home screen layout on many brands
- WhatsApp chats need their own backup and restore step.
- Authenticator apps for two-factor codes must be moved deliberately or you can get locked out of accounts.
- Banking apps usually require fresh sign-in and verification on the new phone.
- Downloaded music and offline maps may need to be downloaded again.
- Files in odd folders outside the standard Photos and Downloads locations can be missed.
- Data from apps that store everything locally without cloud sync, unless you use that app’s own backup feature.
- Anything on the old phone that was never backed up or copied.
- Physical SIM: power off both phones, move the SIM card to the new phone, power on. Done.
- eSIM: most carriers let you transfer an eSIM through the phone settings or their app. Contact your carrier if the option does not appear.
- After moving the number, test calls, SMS, and mobile data before wiping the old phone.
The cable method is faster and more reliable than wireless. If your new phone did not include a cable or adapter, the wireless option in the same setup screen works too, just more slowly.
Android to Android Wirelessly
If you do not have a cable, choose the wireless option during setup. Keep both phones on the same Wi-Fi network, close together, and plugged into power. The steps are the same, but expect it to take longer, especially with lots of photos and videos. Asandada24 tested both methods side by side, and the cable finished a 40 GB transfer in about half the time of wireless.
Google documents this process with pictures at support.google.com.
Method 2: Restore From a Google Backup
If your old phone is lost, broken, or already wiped, you can restore from the Google backup it made automatically.
This restores apps, contacts, call history, device settings, and SMS messages. Photos restore separately through Google Photos if backup was turned on there. Anything the old phone never backed up cannot be recovered this way, which is why regular backups matter.
Method 3: Move From iPhone to Android
Switching from iPhone to Android needs a slightly different approach, but it is still straightforward.
Note that iMessage history does not transfer to Android. Turn off iMessage on the iPhone before switching, or texts from iPhone contacts may keep going to your old number instead of your new phone.
Apple’s own switching guide is available at apple.com, and Android’s side is explained at android.com.
What Gets Transferred (and What Does Not)
It helps to know what to expect so nothing surprises you.
Usually Transfers Fine
Often Needs Manual Attention
Does Not Transfer
Transferring Photos and Videos Separately
Photos are usually the biggest chunk of data. If the main transfer skips some, handle them directly.
Google Photos
If Google Photos backup was on, your pictures are already in the cloud. Just sign in on the new phone and open Google Photos. Everything appears without using any transfer time.
USB to a Computer as a Middleman
Connect the old phone to a computer, copy the DCIM and Pictures folders, then connect the new phone and copy them over. This is slow but bulletproof, and it gives you a backup on the computer as a bonus. See how to transfer files between a phone and a computer for the detailed steps.
Moving Your SIM and Number
Your data transfer and your phone number are separate things.
If mobile data does not work on the new phone, check the APN settings or restart the device. Our troubleshooting guide for how to fix mobile internet not working on Android can help.
After the Transfer: The New Phone Checklist
Do not wipe the old phone until you have confirmed everything on the new one.
This Asandada24 guide recommends the one-week rule because problems sometimes surface days later, like a missing authenticator entry or a photo album that did not sync. An untouched old phone is the best insurance.
Wiping the Old Phone Safely
Only erase the old phone when you are fully confident everything moved.
Removing the Google account before the reset prevents the next owner from hitting factory reset protection, which would lock them out. It also protects your account from lingering on a device you no longer control.
Common Problems and Fixes
Transfer Gets Stuck Halfway
Keep both phones awake, close together, and on the same Wi-Fi. If it stalls for more than 20 minutes, restart both phones and try again. The setup transfer can usually resume.
Some Apps Did Not Install
Open the Play Store, go to your library, and install the missing ones manually. Paid apps are tied to your Google account, so you will not be charged again.
Photos Are Missing
Check Google Photos on the web to see if they are in the cloud. If they are on the old phone but did not copy, move the DCIM folder manually with a computer.
Running Out of Space on the New Phone
If the new phone has less storage than the old one, the transfer may fail partway. Free up space first with our tips on how to free up storage space on an Android phone, or keep large videos in cloud storage instead of on the device.
FAQ
How long does a phone-to-phone transfer take?
Anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours. A cable transfer of a typical phone with a few thousand photos takes about 30 to 60 minutes. Wireless takes longer, and very large media libraries can take half a day.
Will my WhatsApp messages transfer automatically?
Not with the standard phone transfer. WhatsApp needs its own backup: turn on Google Drive backup in WhatsApp settings on the old phone, then restore when you verify your number on the new one. This is the step Asandada24 sees people skip most often, and it is the one that causes the most regret.
Do I need the same brand of phone for the transfer to work?
No. Android’s built-in transfer works between any Android brands. Samsung, Google, Xiaomi, and others all support the standard Google transfer flow, and most add their own brand-specific tool as a bonus.
Is it safe to sell my old phone after a factory reset?
Yes, if you removed your Google account first and ran the factory reset. For extra peace of mind, encrypt the phone before resetting (most modern phones are encrypted by default) and do not include the memory card. Asandada24 also recommends signing out of WhatsApp and banking apps individually before the reset, just to be thorough.