You’ll want to know how to transfer data from Android to Android if you’ve got your hands on a new Android phone recently.
Whether you’re upgrading to a top-end flagship or using a budget-friendly handset, there’s no need to leave your settings, apps, and photos behind. It just takes a few taps to make the transition from your old Android phone to your new one, and it’s easy once you know how.
Google has made it easy to transfer data from Android to Android. Once you’re done, you can get right back to using the best Android apps. Or, you can always load up Tom’s Guide and read more about the best Android phones.
How to transfer data from Android to Android
- Back up your data in System settings
- Back up your photos using Google Photos
- Turn on your new phone
- Select Backup from an Android phone
- Select Set up and restore on your old phone
- Select Set up nearby device and choose your new phone
- Follow the on screen steps on your new phone
Read on to see detailed instructions for each step.
Before you transfer anything, you'll need to create a backup first. If you haven't done so already, follow the steps below to backup your data and photos before you start the transfer. If you've already backed up your data and photos to your Google account, skip down to the last section.
How to backup data on Android
How to backup data on Android
1. Open the Settings app on your phone, then scroll down and select System settings.
2. Scroll down again, and select Back up and reset.
3. Turn on Back up my data. This will backup app data, Wi-Fi passwords and other settings to Google servers.
How to backup photos on Android
How to backup photos on Android
1. Open the Google Photos app, then tap your Google account profile picture (displayed in the top-right corner).
2. Select Photos settings, then Back up and sync.
3. Turn on Back up and sync using the toggle.
How to transfer data from Android to Android
How to transfer data from Android to Android
1. Insert your SIM card into your new phone and turn it on. Then connect to Wi-Fi. During the start up process, you’ll get a popup asking if you’d like to copy apps & data from an old phone. Select A backup from an Android phone.
2. On your old phone, open the Settings app, then select Google.
3. Still using your old phone, select Set up and restore. Then, select Set up nearby device. Your phone will now search for nearby devices.
4. Select your new phone’s model name from the list.
5. Tap “Next” and then confirm the screen lock for your old phone. Then, tap Copy.
6. On your new phone, sign into your Google account and then confirm the screen lock of your old phone again (this time on the new device).
7. Finally, tap “Restore” to transfer your data to your new phone.
And you’re done! As you can see, there are a few steps involved in the process, but it’s easy to transfer data between Android phones once you know how. The method will vary slightly depending on the devices you’re using, but luckily Google makes it easy to follow along thanks to their on-screen instructions.
Need more help with your new Android phone? Check out our tutorials on how to take a screenshot on Android, how to find your number on Android and how to screen record on Android. Learn how to enable Secure Folder on Android for some extra device security. Device running too slow? We’ll show you how to speed up your Android phone or tablet by tweaking a few settings, and how to delete cookies on Android to remove some clutter. Plus, here's how to play Android games on your PC with Google Play Games and find out how to set up a Wi-Fi hotspot on Android. Want to become an Android power user? Learn how to enable Android Developer options and how to split screen on Android, plus the 15 hidden Android features you should be using. You can also learn how to check screen time on Android to stay on top of your digital habits.
Have an iPhone? Use our how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone tutorial. We can show you how to transfer contacts and data from Android to iPhone, too.
We also have a general how to set up your Android phone tutorial if you’d like to set your new phone up without transferring your data from your old device.
