Technology
Transfer data from Android phone to Android phone
If you have a new Android phone and want to make sure all the data can be transferred from your old phone, this is probably easier than you think.
You don’t have to worry about a lot of complicated processes as Android has a built-in feature that allows you to transfer the files, apps and data from one Android device to another seamlessly while setting it up.
Depending on the amount of data you’re moving, the process may take some time, but actually starting it is relatively easy.
Preparing your Android phones to transfer data
Before we start, there are a few things you’ll need. Firstly, you need to make sure that both the new and old phones have sufficient charge. If the battery runs out during the transfer, you may have to start over, and some phones require you to have a certain amount of battery before you can continue.
You will also need the password, PIN or biometrics to unlock the old phone as this will prevent someone from taking it and moving all your data to one of their devices.
On the old device, you sign in with your Google account, or create one if you don’t have one, but since this is Android, chances are you do.
Of course, you should make sure that all your data has been recently backed up. On many Android phones it can be found via Settings > Google > Backup > Back up nowalthough this method may vary slightly.
If you can’t find it, just search for “backup” in your Settings app.
Martijn Casserly
Martijn Casserly
Martijn Casserly
Wait for the backup to complete. This may take several minutes
WhatsApp is usually not included, so do the same for that. Open the app, tap the three dots in the top right corner, then Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and tap the green Backup button.
Okay, now that your backup is done, the phones are charged and logged in, you’re good to go.
Transfer data from one Android phone to another
Boot up
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Turn on your new phone and select the Get started choice.
Come online
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You will be asked to log into a Wi-Fi network. Make sure you do this as it is an important part of the process.
Let Android do its thing
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You will now have to wait a few minutes while the phone sets up Android and prepares to import files.
Time to start importing
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Now you will see a page asking you to copy apps and data from your old phone. Select the Next one button to get started. Then on the next page that says ‘Use your other device’ select Next one again.
Grab your cable
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If you have a cable that connects to both your old and new phone (usually the charging cable is sufficient), then you need to prepare it now and then click Next one. On the next page you will be asked to connect the cable to the old device and then click Next one.
If you don’t have a cable, tap the No cable? option and go to step 8.
Connect your phones
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Now you need to connect the cable to your new phone so that the two are connected. Then click on the To copy option on your old phone.
End the process
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From this point you will need to select what you want to copy and other details. So just follow the instructions on the phones and your data will soon be safely on the hard drive of your new device.
Copy files via Wi-Fi
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If you don’t have a cable, you can still import your data via Wi-Fi and the backup you made earlier. To do this, choose Next one on the Use your old device to transfer data wirelessly page.
Then follow the on-screen steps to import your data.
How long does it take to transfer data from Android to Android?
There are no precise speeds to point to here, just that using a cable will be significantly faster than the Wi-Fi method.
So if you can find the right cable to connect your two phones, the data will be transferred relatively quickly.
For example, during testing, the estimated time to import the files on our test devices was about 13 minutes over cable, but the best part of an hour over Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi speeds obviously depend on the speed of your connection, so it can be faster or slower.
