How to transfer and backup data using Smart Switch on a Galaxy phone?
The easiest way to move data from your old device to your new device is with Smart Switch. Smart Switch gives you the freedom to move your contacts, music, photos, calendar, text messages, device settings and more to your new Galaxy device. Check out the guide below to see what you can do with Smart Switch.
Before you try the recommendations below, be sure to check if your device's software and related apps are updated to the latest version. To update your mobile device's software, follow these steps:
Step 1. Go to Settings > Software update.
Step 2. Tap on Download and install.
Step 3. Follow the on-screen instructions.
What can Smart Switch do?
You can use Smart Switch to back up phone data to a PC or SD card, restore the backed up data to a phone, or transfer data from an old phone to a new phone.
Galaxy models come with the Smart Switch app installed by default, and there are three ways to transfer data. Transfer data from your old phone to your new Galaxy phone via USB Cable, Wi-Fi or computer. Choose the method you feel most comfortable with. Everything else comes easy.
What can be transferred?
- From an Android device: contacts, schedule, messages, memos/voice memos (Galaxy device only), photos, videos, music, alarm settings(Galaxy device only), call log, Home screen/lock screen image (Galaxy device only), Wi-Fi settings (Galaxy device only), documents, email settings (Galaxy device only), settings (Galaxy device only), download app installation, app data (Galaxy device only), and Home layout (Galaxy devices only).
- From the iCloud: contacts, calendar, memos, photos, videos, documents (You can import data being synced from your iOS device to iCloud).
- From iOS devices using OTG USB: contacts, schedule, messages, memos, photos, videos, music, voice memos, alarm settings, call log, bookmark, Wi-Fi settings, documents, app list recommendations.
- From Windows Mobile devices (OS 8.1 or 10): contacts, schedules, photos, documents, videos, music.
- From BlackBerry devices: contacts, schedule, memos, photos, videos, music, voice recordings, call log, documents.
Note:
- Transmission of some items may be restricted depending on the device manufacturer and the OS version.
- DRM (Digital Rights Management) applied content cannot be transferred to Smart Switch.
- Transferring data increases the battery power consumption of your phone.
- Ensure that your device is sufficiently charged before transferring data. If the battery power is low, data transfer may be interrupted.
- This feature may not be supported on some devices or computers
- Only transfer content that you own or have the right to transfer.
A wireless transfer is the preferred way to copy your data to a new phone. It's fast and lets you keep the phones plugged into their chargers during the transfer. To transfer data from your previous phone to your new phone, try using Smart Switch by following the steps below.
First, make sure the Smart Switch app is installed on both phones. When you're ready, place the two phones close to each other.
Step 1. Open Settings and select Accounts and backup.
Step 2. Select Bring data from old device.
Step 3. Tap Receive data on your new phone and tap Send data on your old phone.
Step 4. Check the OS of your old phone and choose the appropriate source.
Step 5. Select Wireless.
Step 6. Open Smart Switch on your old device to connect, and then tap Allow to allow the connection on your old phone.
Step 7. Select data to transfer, and then tap Transfer at the bottom right.
Step 8. Once the transfer is complete, tap Go to the Home screen.
How to transfer data from an old iOS phone using iCloud
Step 1. Launch Smart Switch on the new Galaxy phone, and then tap Receive data.
Step 2. Select iPhone/iPad, and then tap Get data from iCloud instead.
Step 3. Enter your iCloud ID and password, and then tap Sign in.
Step 4. Enter the verification code, and then tap OK.
Step 5. Select the data you want to transfer, tap Import, and then tap Import again.
You can connect your previous phone to your new phone with the USB cable to easily and quickly transfer data. Follow the steps below using the Smart Switch app.
Step 1. Connect your new phone and the previous phone using your phone’s USB cable. A USB connector may be needed depending on the previous phone.
①C to C cable ②USB connector
Step 2. When the app selection pop-up window appears, tap Smart Switch, and then tap Receive data.
Step 3. In the previous phone, tap Allow. If you do not have the app, download it from Galaxy Store or Play Store. Your device will recognize the previous phone and a list of data you can transfer will appear.
Step 4. Select an item to bring and tap Transfer.
Note:
- Do not disconnect the USB cable from the device when you are transferring files. Doing so may cause data loss or device damage.
Transfer data between your phone and a computer. You must download the Smart Switch computer version app from 117.p.syniva.es/smartswitch. Back up data from your previous phone to a computer and import the data to your phone.
Step 1. On the computer, download and launch Smart Switch.
Note:
- If your previous phone is not a Samsung phone, back up data to a computer using a program provided by the device’s manufacturer. Then, skip to the fourth step.
Step 2. Connect your previous phone to the computer using the phone’s USB cable.
Step 3. On the computer, follow the on-screen instructions to back up data from the phone. Then, disconnect your previous phone from the computer.
Step 4. Connect your phone to the computer using the USB cable.
Step 5. On the computer, follow the on-screen instructions to transfer data to your phone.
- Call log: Due to system restrictions, transmission of call logs to the lower OS version may be limited. When transferring from O OS (8.0) or higher to O OS (8.0) or lower, call log restoration may not be supported.
- Email settings: Due to email app restrictions, transmission to the lower OS version may be limited. When transferring from N OS (7.0) or higher to N OS (7.0) or lower, email settings restoration may not be supported.
- Internet settings: If the sending device's Internet app version is 5.x or higher, and the receiving device's Internet app version is lower than 5.x, restoring Internet settings may not be supported.
If you want to find out more about Smart Switch, visit Samsung Smart Switch website.
Note:
- To transfer your content using Smart Switch, you will need a Samsung mobile device with Android OS version 4.3 or later.
- Device screenshots and menus may vary depending on the device model and software version.
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