Transferring Data from Android to Android – All Methods at a Glance
Do you have a new Android smartphone and are wondering how to safely transfer your photos, contacts, apps, and settings? No stress. We will show you all the methods – from automatic setup to USB cables – and explain which one is the fastest, safest, and easiest.
1. During Setup: Automatic Data Transfer (Android Switch)
The easiest method is the one most frequently overlooked. When you turn on a new Android device for the first time, the built-in Google service Android Switch starts automatically. The system asks you directly during setup if you want to transfer data from an old device. Just place both phones next to each other, follow the on-screen instructions – and Android takes care of the rest.
What is transferred: Contacts, apps, photos, settings, Wi-Fi passwords, and more.
Important advantage: If you skipped or canceled the transfer during the initial startup, you can still trigger the Android Switch transfer at any time later via the settings on modern devices, without having to factory reset the phone.
Tip: This method works most reliably when both devices are linked to the same Google account and you connect them via cable or a stable Wi-Fi network.
2. Syncing with Your Google Account
When both smartphones are connected to the same Google account, a lot happens automatically – even without an active transfer. Contacts, calendar entries, Chrome bookmarks, app data, and photos (via Google Photos) are saved in the cloud and automatically restored on the new device.
How to Activate Synchronization:
Go to Settings → Google → Backup (or Accounts → Google).
Select your account.
Activate all data types that you want to synchronize.
Tip: Before switching devices, check whether the synchronization on the old device has been fully completed.
3. Using Quick Share (Formerly Nearby Share)
Quick Share is Google's official file transfer feature – similar to Apple's AirDrop. It uses a combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and works completely without an internet connection. The feature is available from Android 6 onwards (renamed to Quick Share since Android 13).
How to Proceed:
Activate Quick Share on both devices under Settings → Connected devices → Quick Share.
On the source device, select the files you want to share.
Tap "Share" and select the target device.
Confirm the transfer on the receiving device.
Tip: Quick Share is excellent for photos, videos, and documents. Nowadays, you can even use it cross-platform via QR code to send data to iOS devices. However, for a complete device migration, the automatic setup transfer (Method 1) is better suited.
4. Using a USB Cable
Fast, reliable, and completely without an internet connection. You connect both smartphones using a USB-C cable or transfer the data via a computer.
Option A – Directly from Device to Device:
Connect both devices directly with a matching USB-C to USB-C cable.
Select "File transfer" as the USB mode on the old device as soon as the prompt appears.
Follow the automatic transfer instructions on the new screen.
Option B – Via a Computer:
Connect the old smartphone to the computer via USB.
Select "File transfer" and copy the desired folders (e.g., DCIM for photos) to the PC.
Disconnect the device, connect the new smartphone, and move the files from the computer to the new phone.
Tip: This method is particularly well-suited for extremely large files such as 4K videos or extensive music libraries.
5. Using Cloud Storage
You upload files from the old device to the cloud and retrieve them on the new device. This works completely independent of location and without requiring both devices to be turned on at the same time.
Popular services: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive
How it Works:
Upload the desired files from the old device to your cloud storage.
Install the corresponding cloud app on the new device.
Log in with the same account and download the files.
Tip: Google Photos backs up your pictures fully automatically if desired – you simply need to open them on the new device without downloading them manually.
6. Using Bluetooth
Bluetooth works for smaller files like contacts or individual documents, but it is simply too slow for larger amounts of data. This method is absolutely not recommended for a complete device migration.
How to Proceed:
Activate Bluetooth on both devices.
Pair the devices with each other in the settings.
Select the files, tap Share, and send them via Bluetooth.
Tip: Bluetooth is best used as a supplement – for example, to quickly send over a single, forgotten contact after the switch.
7. Using Wi-Fi Direct
Wi-Fi Direct transfers data significantly faster than Bluetooth – directly from device to device, without a Wi-Fi router and without an internet connection.
How it Used to Work Classically:
Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct on both devices.
Connect the devices to each other.
Select the files and start the transfer.
Tip: You rarely need to set up Wi-Fi Direct manually nowadays. The Quick Share feature (Method 3) already uses Wi-Fi Direct automatically in the background to achieve maximum speed without complicated setup.
8. Using NFC (Older Devices Only)
NFC made it possible to transfer data by physically holding two smartphones close together.
Important: The classic Android Beam feature, which used NFC for data transfer, was discontinued by Google starting with Android 10. On newer devices, NFC no longer works for file transfers – Quick Share (Method 3) has taken over this role.
On older devices (Android 9 or older): Activate NFC under Settings → Connected devices → NFC, hold the backs of the devices together, and confirm the transfer by tapping the screen.
9. Using a Third-Party App (or Manufacturer Tools)
There are apps specifically developed for data transfer. In addition to manufacturer-specific tools (like Samsung Smart Switch, which works wonderfully for switching to a Samsung device), there are also universal apps for that
Tip: Pay close attention to data privacy with third-party apps. Certain Apps are no longer recommended nowadays due to massive security vulnerabilities and ad overload.
Which Method Suits You Best?
Automatic Setup Transfer: Best suited for complete device migration (apps, data, SMS). Speed: Very fast.
Google Account: Best suited for contacts, calendar, and app settings. Speed: Automatic in the background.
Quick Share: Best suited for photos, documents, and videos (quick transfers in between). Speed: Very fast.
USB Cable: Best suited for large files, 4K videos, and when there is no internet. Speed: Maximally stable.
Cloud Storage: Best suited for flexible, location-independent backup. Speed: Dependent on the internet.
Bluetooth: Only suitable for individual, very small files (e.g., a single contact). Speed: Very slow.
Wi-Fi Direct: Best suited for large files without a router (use Quick Share instead). Speed: Fast.
NFC: Only relevant for older devices up to Android 9. Speed: Slow.
Third-Party / Manufacturer Tools: Best suited when changing brands (e.g., Smart Switch for Samsung). Speed: Good.
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