How to set up a new Android phone from your old one

2 min read · 6 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Android can move your apps, photos, contacts, messages and most settings from an old phone to a new one during setup. Doing it then is far easier than moving things by hand later.

Step by step

1. Prepare the old phone

   Charge it, connect it to Wi-Fi and make a fresh backup under Settings, System, Backup. Check that you know your Google Account password and the old phone's screen lock.

   Done

2. Turn on the new phone and tap Start

   Choose your language and connect to Wi-Fi.

   Done

3. Choose to copy your data

   When asked "Copy apps and data", tap Next, or choose your old device type. Samsung phones use an app called Smart Switch for this step.

   Done

4. Connect the phones

   Use a USB-C cable between the two phones if you have one, which is the fastest. Otherwise follow the on-screen steps to connect them wirelessly.

   Done

5. Choose what to copy

   Tick apps, photos and videos, contacts, messages, call history and device settings. Tap Copy.

   Done

6. Finish setup while it copies

   Set a screen lock and fingerprint. Apps continue to download in the background for a while afterwards.

   Done

Good to know

WhatsApp chats need their own step: on the old phone, back up under WhatsApp, Settings, Chats, Chat backup. On the new phone, install WhatsApp, sign in with the same number and restore.

Banking and authenticator apps usually have to be activated again on the new phone. Do this before you wipe the old one.

If you skipped the copy during setup, look for "Finish setting up" in the notifications or Settings, or use the Back up and restore options. As a last resort a factory reset starts setup again.

Before selling the old phone: how to factory reset an Android phone.

In short: Back up the old phone, start the new one, choose Copy apps and data, connect, select, Copy.