How to Seamlessly Transfer Data from Your Old Phone to a New One

Whether your mobile carked it or you’ve upgraded to a newer model, you need to know how to move data to a new phone. We’re here to explain the steps in this seamless phone data transfer guide.

Preparing Your Old Phone for Data Transfer

Ensure your old smartphone is running the latest operating system. Work out how much data you want to transfer and check whether your new phone has enough storage. If you opt for a cloud transfer service, ensure it has sufficient storage, too.

Delete unnecessary files, such as duplicate smartphone photos, unused apps, and embarrassing TikTok dance videos. The less data you have to transfer, the better.

Next, back up your old phone data to a cloud service or PC first. Not all transfers run smoothly, and you don’t want to risk losing your precious files. Plus, backing up your data means you’re already halfway towards transferring your files onto the new phone.

Finally, check that your chosen transfer method is compatible with both your old and new phone.

Method 1: Transferring Data Using Device-Specific Tools

Smartphone manufacturers want you to stick with the same brand. One savvy way they do this is through creating simplified, device-specific transfer tools. Instead of faffing about with cloud services or manually selecting files, these easy-to-use programs do all the legwork for you.

Samsung Smart Switch, for example, makes transferring files between two Samsung phones a cinch. If you need to transfer data to a new iPhone from an old one, Quick Start is a solid solution. More Android options include Clone Phone (OPPO), Moto Migrate (Motorola), Mi Mover (Xiaomi), and EasyShare (Vivo).

Performing the transfer is easy. Open the app on both phones and follow the prompts. While some work better than others, these apps offer a simple solution if you’re switching to a phone of the same brand.

You’ll also find a bevvy of third-party options that aren’t brand-specific. Some of the best apps for phone data transfer include Dr. Fone, AirDroid, and InShare.

Method 2: Transferring Data Between Phones Using a Cloud Storage Service

Transferring phone data between different brands?

Assuming you’ve got a half-decent internet connection, a cloud storage service offers a fast, simple solution. Check that you have enough space on the cloud storage platform first.

Popular options include Google Drive, iCloud, and OneDrive.Note: The steps may vary depending on your OS version and phone.

How to transfer data between Android/iOS phones using Google Drive

1. Connect to a WiFi network (to avoid data charges)
2. Go to Settings
3. Tap on System
4. Tap Google
5. Choose Backup or Manage Backup
6. Enable Backup to Google Drive

How to transfer data from an old phone to a new phone using Microsoft OneDrive

1. Connect to a WiFi network
2. Install the OneDrive application on both your phones
3. Sign into the same Microsoft account on both phones
4. Open the OneDrive app on your old phone and find the files you will transfer
5. Tap the + button to select them
6. Tap Upload
7. Open OneDrive on your new phone
8. Navigate through the OneDrive folders to find your backed-up files
9. Select all the files and tap Download or Save
10. Choose a folder to store them on your new phone

How to transfer data between iPhones using iCloud

This is the easiest way to transfer data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone.

1. On your old iPhone, open Settings
2. Select your name
3. Tap on iCloud
4. Select iCloud Backup
5. Wait for the upload to finish
6. Enable Back Up Now (if it isn’t already)
7. Navigate to Apps & Data on your new iPhone
8. Tap Restore from iCloud Backup
9. Sign in using the same Apple ID
10. Backup the old phone data you want to keep
11. Wait for the download to finish

Method 3: Data Migration Between Smartphones Using a USB Cable

If you’ve got a lousy internet connection, a limited data allowance, or must copy gigantic files, a USB transfer might be your best bet. USB4 offers the zippiest speeds (up to 40 Gbps), but any generation of USB 3.0 will suffice for most users.

1. Connect both phones via a USB-C-to-USB-C cable (Android and newer iPhones) or a lightning-to-lighting cable (older iPhones)
2. On the new phone, tap Charging this device via the USB notification.
3. Look under Use this USB For and tap File Transfer.
4. Browse the file explorer window on the new phone to find the files you want to transfer from your old phone.
5. Copy and paste (or drag and drop) those files to copy them across.

Note: You can also follow the same steps to transfer files between a phone and a computer.

How to Transfer Files from iPhone to Android (or Vice Versa)

To transfer data from Android to iPhone or the other way around, cloud storage solutions like Google Drive and OneDrive work seamlessly on both operating systems.

However, some folks find third-party apps easier for transferring messages and contacts. Standout favourites include Move to iOS (Android to iOS transfers) and Samsung Smart Switch (iOS to Android transfers).

The classic cable transfer also works between iOS and Android devices, just as described above. If you’ve got an older iPhone, you’ll need to find a lightning-to-USB-C cable. Look online, as they’re fairly rare.

Final Post-Data Transfer Checks

After transferring data onto your new phone, browse your file library to ensure everything works correctly. Files can become corrupted during a transfer, and it’s better to identify them early. Need help with mobile setups or any other phone-related tasks? Contact the crew at Geeks2U. Our friendly IT gurus will travel directly to your door and resolve even the most troublesome tech woes in a jiffy.

FAQ

• 1. How do I transfer data from my old phone to a new phone?

  You can use a cloud storage service, file transfer app, or USB cable to transfer data between phones.

• 2. What is the best way to move data from Android to iPhone?

  Many users feel the Move to iOS app is the easiest way to transfer data from Android to iPhone, though other options exist.

• 3. How do I transfer all data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone?

  Either use iCloud or the QuickStart app to transfer data between iPhones.

• 4. What are the best apps for phone data transfer?

  Dr. Fone, AirDroid, and InShare are some of the best third-party phone data transfer apps.

• 5. How can I back up my old phone before transferring data?

  Back up your data using a cloud storage service or copy the files to a laptop or external hard drive using a USB cable.