If you just bought a new Samsung Galaxy smartphone and want to transfer data from your old smartphone to your new one, Samsung has a great tool called Samsung Smart Switch that can do the job for you.
kwgeek provides you with a complete guide to using the Samsung Smart Switch and transferring content from an old smartphone to a compatible Samsung Galaxy device.
generalize
- before you start
- Wireless data transfer from any Android smartphone
- Transfer data from any Android smartphone
- Transfer data from iPhone or iOS device
- Transfer data from an iPhone or iPad using a data cable
- Transfer data from iPhone or iPad using iCloud
- Transfer data via external storage (SD card, USB stick)
- Transfer data from Windows Phone/Blackberry device
Samsung smartphones like the Galaxy A53, Galaxy Z Fold 4 or Galaxy S22 will be the best-selling smartphones in 2022. If you just ordered one of these, kwgeek will show you how to transfer your data. The key to success is the “Samsung Smart Switch”. However, you need to do some preparation.
We’ve detailed how to transfer content from an old smartphone to a new smartphone, regardless of brand, in a dedicated article. However, due to the numerous features of Samsung Smart Switches, we think Samsung smartphones deserve their own article.
before you start
Before using the Samsung Smart Switch to transfer content from an old smartphone to a new Samsung device, there are a few things you need to know. The first requirement is that the Samsung Smart Switch can only transfer data to Samsung devices. For example, you cannot use this tool to transfer data from a Samsung device to a OnePlus smartphone.
Wirelessly streaming content from one smartphone to another isn’t as difficult as it once was. It’s almost as fast as the wired method. So this is our preferred mode for streaming content from one device to another. Depending on the smartphone model you have (and its operating system), let’s now see how to wirelessly stream content using the Samsung Smart Switch.
Wireless data transfer from any Android smartphone
First, you need to make sure you have the Samsung Smart Switch app installed on both devices. If your source smartphone is not a Samsung device, you can download the Smart Switch app for Android from the Google Play Store.
On most Samsung devices, the app is preinstalled and you can access it by:
- open them set up.
- Enter Accounts and Backups.
- press Smart switch.
On some affordable Samsung devices, the Smart Switch app may not be pre-installed. In this case you should do:
- open them set up.
- Enter Accounts and Backups.
- Under the Smart Switch section, click Transfer data from old devices.
- You will see an invitation to download Smart Switch.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to download the app.
- After installing the app, grant the necessary permissions.
If Smart Switch is not pre-installed on your Samsung smartphone, follow the instructions below to install it. / © kwgeek
After making sure you have Samsung Smart Switch installed on both smartphones, open the app on both devices. You will see a screen that says: “send data” (Where”Let’s go“). Make sure the two devices are physically close to each other.
- On an old smartphone, press send data/go
- You will now be prompted to choose how to connect the two devices.choose wireless (wireless).
- On older smartphones, you’ll see a popup titled Invite to connect. Press accept.
- The new smartphone will now try to connect to the old smartphone. A prompt will appear on the old device to allow the connection.press allow.
- Connect now.
You’ll also need to install the Samsung Smart Switch on older devices. / © kwgeek
- On the new smartphone, you will now see items that you can choose to transfer. This screen also shows the estimated storage space the transferred data will take up on the new smartphone, as well as the duration of the transfer.
- The app also allows you to fine-tune content imported from older smartphones. For example, if you press the arrow next to each option, a submenu of data to import will appear. So, for example, if you press the arrow next to “Messages,” you can choose to import all text messages stored on your smartphone, or only text messages from a specific period. You can do the same with photos and videos, choosing only what you really need on your new smartphone.
- Once everything is selected, scroll down on the new device and click transfer.
- After the transfer is complete, click Finish on a new smartphone.
You can choose what you really need from your old smartphone. / © kwgeek
Transfer data from any Android smartphone via cable
While the wireless content transfer method is the easiest way to use the Smart Switch, you may prefer to choose the wired method. Here’s how to transfer content from an Android smartphone to a Samsung smartphone via cable.
Requirements: USB cable, OTG adapter.
Note: If you have a Lightning to USB-C or USB-C to USB-C cable, you don’t need an adapter.
- Install the Smart Switch Android app from the Google Play Store.
- Connect the two smartphones with a data cable.
- Open the Smart Switch app on the old smartphone.
- On Samsung devices, open set up.
- Enter Accounts and Backups.
- press Smart switch.
- press send data/let’s go on an old smartphone.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to choose what you need on your new smartphone.
- press transfer and wait for the process to complete.
Transfer data from iPhone or iOS device
Transfer content from iOS to Samsung Galaxy devices via cable or cloud backup using Smart Switch / © kwgeek
If you switch from an iPhone to a Samsung device, the manufacturer recommends that you use a data cable to transfer data. To do this, you’ll need a Lightning to USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-C cable (with adapter). Here’s how to transfer data:
Transfer data from your iPhone, iPad via cable
- On Samsung devices, tap set upthen go to Accounts and Backups.
- press smart switch.
- If Smart Switch is not installed, follow the steps below.
- On the new smartphone, open Smart Switch and tap Receive data.
- On the Select Source screen, tap iPhone/iPad.
- Connect the two devices with a cable and press Believe in the iPhone popup.
- On Samsung devices, tap Next. During this process, you may be asked to enter your iPhone passcode.
- Smart Switch will now scan your iPhone for data to import.
- On the next page, you will see a list of data that can be imported.
- Select all the data you want, scroll down and click transfer.
- This operation can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of data you are transferring.
Transfer data from iPhone, iPad using iCloud
The second option that (old) iPhone users have to transfer data to a new Samsung device is to use iCloud. Note, however, that iCloud doesn’t back up as many things as the wired method allows. So use it only as a second option.
- Open Smart Switch on your new Samsung device.
- press Receive datathen select iPhone/iPad.
- Click on the options shown at the bottom Get data from iCloud.
- Enter your iCloud and Apple ID credentials and follow the on-screen instructions.
- You may be asked to enter a verification code.press OK.
- Select everything you want to import from iPhone, then tap import.
Transfer data via external storage
If you have a high-capacity USB flash drive or microSD card, you can also use them to transfer data from your old Android smartphone to your new Samsung smartphone. For the SD card option to work properly, both devices must have a microSD card slot.
- Insert the microSD card into the old smartphone.
- Install Smart Switch on an old smartphone from the Google Play Store.
- Open Smart Switch and tap the SD card icon in the upper right corner, then tap for protection.
- Now you can choose what to back up.
- After making your selection, press again for protection and wait for the process to complete.
- Remove the SD card from the old device and insert it into the SD card slot of the new Samsung smartphone.
- Open Smart Switch on your Samsung smartphone.
- Click the SD card icon in the upper right corner, then click recover.
- Select all the items you want to restore and press again recover.
- press Finish when the process is complete.
Transfer data from Windows Phone/Blackberry device
Can you still use a smartphone like this in 2022? / © kwgeek
The advantage of the Samsung Smart Switch is that you can use it to stream content from very old or outdated platforms like Windows Phone and BlackBerry. Here’s how you do it.
- Open Smart Switch on your Samsung smartphone and go to Settings > Accounts & Backup > Smart Switch.
- If Smart Switch is not installed, follow the steps below.
- press Receive dataThen…