How to Transfer Everything to a New Samsung Galaxy With Smart Switch

You just got a new Samsung Galaxy and want to move your contacts, photos, messages and apps off your old phone.

Why: Samsung’s free Smart Switch tool copies your content from an old Android, iPhone or Galaxy to your new Galaxy — wirelessly or with a cable. It does not delete anything from your old phone; when the transfer finishes, your data exists on both devices, so the old phone stays as a backup.

Charge both phones before starting (Samsung recommends at least 20% for cable transfers), and keep them plugged in for a wireless transfer if you can — a full move can take a while.

Fix 1: Wireless transfer (no cable needed)

The easiest method for two phones sitting next to each other.

1. On both phones, open Settings, search for Smart Switch, and open it (it lives in the Samsung folder on the Apps screen). On a brand-new Galaxy you can also start this from the setup wizard.
2. On your new Galaxy, tap Receive data, choose your old phone type (Galaxy/Android or iPhone/iPad), then tap Wireless.
3. On your old phone, tap Send data, then tap Wireless.
4. Place the phones within about 4 inches of each other and tap Connect / Allow to pair them.
5. Choose what to move: Everything; Just accounts, calls, contacts, and messages; or Custom (pick categories yourself).
6. Tap Transfer, wait for it to finish, then tap Done on both phones.

Fix 2: USB cable transfer (faster, more reliable)

A cable is quicker for large libraries and doesn’t drop mid-transfer.

1. Connect the two phones with a USB cable. Many transfers need the USB-OTG adapter that came with your Galaxy (it lets the old phone’s cable plug into the new phone).
2. Open Smart Switch on both phones.
3. On the old phone, tap Send data, then Cable.
4. On the new phone, tap Receive data, select the device type, then Cable.
5. Tap Connect / Allow when prompted, then choose Everything, Just accounts, calls, contacts, and messages, or Custom.
6. Tap Transfer and leave both phones connected until it reports Done.

Fix 3: Coming from an iPhone

Smart Switch pulls from iCloud or directly from the iPhone.

1. On the new Galaxy, open Smart Switch → Receive data → iPhone/iPad.
2. Choose Cable (connect the iPhone with a Lightning-to-USB-C cable plus the OTG adapter) or Get data from iCloud and sign in with your Apple ID.
3. Select the content to import (contacts, photos, messages, calendar, and matched app suggestions), then tap Import.

FAQ

Does Smart Switch delete data from my old phone? No. It copies, so everything stays on the old device too — keep it powered until you’ve confirmed the new phone has everything.

Can I move data the other way, from Galaxy to iPhone? No. Smart Switch only transfers to Galaxy phones and tablets, not from a Galaxy to an iOS device.

Will my apps come across? Your list of installed apps and most app data transfers; some apps must re-download from the Play Store and a few require you to sign in again.

Sources: Samsung — Transfer content with Samsung Smart Switch, Samsung — Transfer content from an iOS device with Samsung Smart Switch