To transfer texts and contacts, use cloud backups (Google/iCloud) during setup for seamless syncing, or use manufacturer apps like Samsung Smart Switch or Google's Switch to Android for wired/wireless transfers, selecting messages and contacts when prompted; third-party apps like SMS Backup & Restore also offer detailed control for Android users.
Use Google Drive
Google Drive syncs your data across devices that are logged into the same Google account. Your backed up texts will be restored if you reset your phone, or log in to a new one.
Use a cable.
To transfer everything to your new phone, charge both devices, connect to Wi-Fi, and use the built-in setup prompts on your new phone to copy data wirelessly or with a cable from your old device, signing into your Google account to restore apps, settings, contacts, and photos, with specific apps like WhatsApp often requiring an in-app backup.
Activate your phone.
Activating your new smartphone is a necessary step to get started. Here are a few things you can do to ensure the activation process is simple and seamless: Turn off your old phone prior to turning on and activating your new phone. Fully charge your new phone before starting the activation process.
Once it's backed up, you can restore your chat history on your new phone. Alternatively, you can transfer your chat history. Note: The option to transfer the WhatsApp account is available at the “registration” phase. If you'd like to transfer only your chats, you can do so from the Settings tab.
While restoring from a backup can recover all of your chat data, the Chat Transfer feature allows you to transfer your full account information including all of your personal messages, photos, videos, documents, etc. However, you can't transfer peer-to-peer payment messages or media received over WhatsApp Channels.
Yes, Samsung Smart Switch transfers nearly everything from your old phone (Android or iOS) to a new Galaxy device, including contacts, messages, photos, videos, apps, settings, call logs, and home screen layouts, with special depth for transfers from older Galaxy devices, though some app data or DRM-protected media may need manual handling. It's designed to make the switch seamless, replicating much of your old phone's experience, but you can also pick and choose what to move.
Grab your old Android phone and open the Settings app. Tap Google > Settings for Google apps > Google Contacts sync. Here, you'll see how many contacts are already synced with your Google account, and how many are not. Tap Also sync device contacts > Automatically back up & sync device contacts.
Copying Texts & Full Conversations on Android
Yes, photos will be available and all text messages will remain on the phone unless you erase it.
While restoring from a backup can recover all of your chat data, transferring your chats allows you to move your full account information to your new device, including all of your messages and media.
Transfer WhatsApp data from an Android device
To restore your chat history from your Google Account backup:
Make sure you're signed in to the same Google Account on both your old and new devices. On your old device, make sure backup in WhatsApp is enabled and has run. Learn to back up data on your device. On your new device, close WhatsApp and setup again.
WhatsApp stores backups in Google Drive if you permit it. Depending on the interval you choose, the app uploads your data to the cloud daily, weekly, monthly, or only when you tap a backup button. Each backup to the same Google account overwrites the previous one, so you can't keep multiple versions.
You can only transfer your chats before you've activated WhatsApp on your new phone. Before starting the transfer from your old device, make sure you uninstall WhatsApp on your new device. Learn how here. Note: You can't merge new chats from your new phone and old chats from your old phone.
Things To Do Before Switching Phones: Don't Skip These Steps
Dialing *#21# on your phone checks the status of your unconditional call forwarding, revealing if your calls, texts, or data are being redirected to another number without you knowing, often without leaving traces on your phone bill; it's a standard network code to see your carrier's call forwarding settings, not a definitive "hacking" tool, but useful for detecting unauthorized forwarding.
When you insert your SIM card into another phone, you transfer that information to the new device. Your phone number does not change when you transfer phones using your SIM card because your number is linked to the SIM card and the mobile network rather than the specific phone.