If you’re thinking about a new smartphone, you can easily migrate your mobile number, contacts, photos, music, and other files from your old phone to the new device. Some ways to do this include:
- Using built-in apps provided by Android, Apple, or your phone’s manufacturer
- Using cloud-based tools to save a copy of your information from your old phone to the Internet and then downloading it, with all your settings, to your new phone
If you’re ready to upgrade, these simple tips show you how to switch phones so your new device is set up like your old one.
How to switch iPhones
To add your existing information to a new iPhone, transfer your SIM card to the new device, and restore your files and settings from an iCloud backup, you can follow these steps:
- Make sure both phones are plugged in and connected to WiFi
- On your old phone, go to Settings > (your name) > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now
- Turn on your new iPhone
- Select your language and region, then connect to WiFi
- Sign in to iCloud and select Restore from iCloud Backup
Tip: If you don’t have enough space to back everything up on your phone, you can choose which apps to back up. Go to Settings > (your name) > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups. Tap the name of your device, and under “Choose Data to Back Up,” deselect any apps you don’t want to back up.
If your old device is running on iOS 11 or later, you can use Quick Start to set up your new device. Follow these steps:
- Turn on your new device
- Hold your old iPhone over your new one
- Your current device will spot and verify your new device using your phone’s camera
- Confirm that you want to set up the new iPhone
- Enter your iCloud username and password
- Choose which data, apps, and settings you want to bring over to the new phone
If you’re moving from Android to iOS, follow these directions from Apple.
Upgrading an Android
Android version 5.0 and up will automatically transfer your data from your old phone. When switching to a new Android device, make sure both phones are plugged in or fully charged and follow these steps:
- Transfer the SIM card from your old phone to the new device
- Connect to WiFi
- Turn on the new phone
- Select the option to copy data and tap “Next”
- Follow the prompts in Google Settings until all your data is copied to the new phone
- Verify the code that appears on both screens
- Tap “Next,” and once complete, your new phone will have the same apps, contacts, and data as your old device
If you’re switching from iOS to Android, you can back up your contacts, calendar events, photos, and videos using the Google Drive app and access them on your new phone. You can find more details from Google here.
Additional tips to remember
If you’re returning a leased phone or reselling it, make sure to restore it to factory settings after you’ve finished setting up your new phone. On an Android, go to Settings > System > Reset. For iPhones, go to Settings > General > Reset.
You also have the option to keep your text messages from your iPhone, and Google’s Pixel phone will transfer up to 25MB of your SMS text messages to your new device. If you’re using an Android other than a Pixel phone and you want to keep your text messages, you’ll need to download a third-party phone transfer app, like SMS Backup & Restore, or Pulse SMS.
Keeping all your information when making a device switch doesn’t need to be tricky. These tips can help you set up your new phone like your old device, making it easy to keep all your contacts, data, and photos.
