Moving to a new phone without losing anything
Android's setup transfer copies apps, settings, messages and photos, over a cable or wirelessly, and it does that job well. What it consistently misses is app data that lives only on the device and anything protected by a key the old phone held. Those gaps are predictable, which means they are preventable.
What the transfer does not bring
| Item | Why it is missed | Do this first |
|---|---|---|
| Two-factor authenticator codes | Deliberately device-bound | Export, or use the app's transfer feature |
| Game progress with no account | Stored only in the app's private folder | Link the game to an account, or accept the loss |
| Messaging history | Handled by each app, not by the system | Run the app's own backup manually |
| Signal and similar | Encrypted with a device key | Use the in-app transfer, both phones present |
| Sideloaded apps | Not in the Play library | Note them down, or archive the APKs |
| Files outside the standard folders | Scoped storage restrictions | Copy by hand over USB |
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The order that works
- Export two-factor codes Aegis exports a file. Google Authenticator transfers by QR with both phones in front of you.
- Run each messaging app's own backup Do not rely on the last automatic one. Open the app and run it now.
- Link games to an account Anything you would be annoyed to restart. Most support a Google Play Games or a developer account.
- List your sideloaded apps They will not reappear. A screenshot of the app drawer is enough.
- Run the system transfer Cable is faster and more reliable than wireless. It takes an hour or so for a full phone.
- Check before wiping the old phone Use the new one for a week first. The old phone is your only backup until then.
Tools that help
The system transfer itself. Cable-based, thorough for everything it covers.
Samsung's version, which moves more manufacturer-specific settings between Samsung phones than the generic one does.
The reason to switch authenticators before you change phones rather than after: it exports a file you keep.
Confirm photos are actually uploaded before wiping. The count on the old phone and the count in the library should match.
For the loose files the system transfer ignores, phone to phone with no cable and no cloud.
The same job, and it handles very large transfers such as a music library well.
The week after
- Two-factor on your email account
- Banking apps, which often need re-registering
- Messaging history and media
- Anything you paid for outside the Play Store
- Play Store purchases, which follow the account
- Photos, if the upload count matched
- Contacts and calendar
- System settings
Banking apps deserve their own mention: many bind to the device and require re-registration by SMS or a branch visit. Doing that while the old phone still works is considerably easier than doing it afterwards.
Authenticator first, then app backups, then the system transfer, then a week before you wipe anything.
Frequently asked questions
Does the transfer copy sideloaded apps?
No. Only apps in your Play library are reinstalled. Sideloaded apps have to be installed again by hand.
Can I transfer from an old phone that will not turn on?
Only what was backed up to an account. Local-only data is gone, which is the argument for backing up before you need to.
Should I wipe the old phone straight away?
No. Use the new phone for a week first. The old one is the only copy of anything the transfer missed.
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