Smart Switch transfers most of your data, but not everything
Samsung Smart Switch moves apps, photos, messages, contacts, and settings from your old phone to a new Samsung device. It does not transfer everything — some apps, certain account data, and device-specific settings stay behind or require manual setup. What gets transferred depends on whether you're moving from another Samsung phone, an iPhone, or an Android phone from a different manufacturer.
Smart Switch works in two directions: you can restore data to a new phone, or back up your current phone to a computer or Samsung Cloud. The process takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have and which transfer method you choose.
Key Takeaways
- Smart Switch transfers contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, and most installed apps, but leaves behind banking apps, some games, and apps that require account re-authentication.
- Transferring from an iPhone requires a USB cable and adapter, while Android-to-Android transfers happen over Wi-Fi or USB cable.
- Apps transfer as installations, not as logged-in accounts — you will need to sign back into each app after the transfer completes.
- Some data like call logs, calendar events, and device settings transfer, but others like payment methods and biometric data do not.
What Smart Switch actually moves to your new phone
Smart Switch transfers your contact list, text messages, call history, photos, videos, and music files. It also installs the apps that were on your old phone, pulls over your home screen layout, and copies system settings like display brightness and notification preferences.
Calendar events, memos, and voice recordings transfer as well. If you use Samsung's own apps — Samsung Notes, Samsung Calendar, Samsung Health — those sync their data. Wallpapers, ringtones, and alarm settings move over too.
The transfer happens fastest over Wi-Fi Direct, which creates a temporary connection between the two phones without needing your home network. USB cable transfers work but are slower. If you're backing up to a computer first, Smart Switch creates a file that you can restore to any Samsung phone later.
What Smart Switch leaves behind
Banking apps, payment apps, and apps that store sensitive information do not transfer their login sessions. You will need to open each one and sign back in. This is intentional — the phone does not copy passwords or authentication tokens for security reasons.
Some games do not transfer because they store progress on the game publisher's servers, not on your phone. Others transfer the app but not your saved game data. Apps that require a specific phone ID or device fingerprint — like some corporate security apps — will not work after transfer and need to be reinstalled and reconfigured.
Biometric data (fingerprints and face recognition) does not transfer. You will need to set up your fingerprint or face unlock on the new phone. Payment methods saved in Google Pay or Samsung Pay do not transfer; you must add them again. Voicemail settings and some carrier-specific features may not move over either.
Transferring from an iPhone to Samsung
Smart Switch can pull data directly from an iPhone using a USB-C to Lightning cable and a USB-C adapter. The iPhone must be running iOS 12 or later. During the transfer, you choose which data to move — contacts, messages, photos, videos, calendar events, and mail accounts all transfer, but apps do not.
After the transfer finishes, you will need to download the apps you want from the Google Play Store. Smart Switch cannot install iPhone apps on Android because the app formats are incompatible. If an app exists in both the App Store and Play Store, you will find it by searching, but your login and data will not carry over.
The cable transfer is more reliable than trying to move data wirelessly from an iPhone, since the two operating systems handle data differently. The process typically takes 15 to 45 minutes depending on how much data you have.
Transferring from another Android phone to Samsung
If your old phone runs Android but is not a Samsung device, Smart Switch transfers contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, and installed apps. The transfer happens over Wi-Fi or USB cable. Apps transfer as installations, so you will see them on your new phone, but you will need to sign into each one separately.
Some data stored inside apps — like chat histories in messaging apps, game progress, or notes in third-party note apps — may not transfer because that data lives on the app publisher's servers, not on your phone's storage. Smart Switch only moves files and app installations, not the internal data that apps manage themselves.
Calendar and contact data from Google accounts syncs automatically once you sign into your Google account on the new phone, so you do not need Smart Switch to move those. The same applies to Gmail, Google Photos, and other Google services.
How to choose between Wi-Fi, USB, and cloud backup
Wi-Fi Direct is fastest for moving large amounts of data between two phones in the same room. Both phones must have Wi-Fi turned on, and the transfer creates a temporary connection that does not use your home network. This method works for Samsung-to-Samsung and Android-to-Samsung transfers.
USB cable transfer is slower but more stable if your Wi-Fi is unreliable. You need a USB-C cable and the appropriate adapter for your old phone. This method works for all phone types, including iPhones.
Backing up to Samsung Cloud or a computer is useful if you want to keep a copy of your data or transfer to a phone later. Samsung Cloud requires a Samsung account and stores data on Samsung's servers. Computer backup creates a file on your hard drive that you can restore anytime. Cloud backup is slower than direct phone-to-phone transfer but lets you restore selectively — you can choose which apps and data to move.
What to do after Smart Switch finishes
After the transfer completes, open each app that handles sensitive information — banking apps, email, social media, messaging apps — and sign in again. Most apps will remember your preferences once you log in, but some may need you to reconfigure settings.
Check that your home screen looks the way you want it. Smart Switch copies your layout, but if you had widgets on your old phone, they may appear blank until you update them. Verify that your photos and videos are all there by opening the Gallery app and checking the file count.
If you backed up to a computer or Samsung Cloud, you can delete that backup file once you confirm everything transferred correctly. Keep it for a few days if you want to make sure nothing is missing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my app passwords transfer with Smart Switch?
No. Smart Switch transfers the app installations but not your login credentials. You will need to open each app and sign in again. This protects your accounts — the phone does not copy passwords or authentication tokens for security reasons.
Can I transfer data from a Samsung phone to a non-Samsung Android phone?
Smart Switch is designed to transfer data into Samsung phones, not out of them. To move data from a Samsung to another Android phone, use Google's built-in backup feature or manually copy your photos and files to Google Drive or another cloud service.
What happens to my game progress when I transfer?
Games that store progress on the game publisher's servers will restore your progress once you sign in. Games that store progress only on your phone may lose it during transfer. Check the game's settings before transferring to see if it offers cloud save or account sync.
Do I need to keep my old phone during the transfer?
Yes, both phones must be present and powered on during a direct transfer. If you're using a computer backup or Samsung Cloud, you can transfer to your new phone later without the old phone nearby.
Can Smart Switch transfer my payment methods?
No. Payment methods saved in Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or your bank's app do not transfer. You will need to add your cards again on the new phone. This is a security measure to prevent unauthorized access to your payment information.