Smart Switch transfers most of your data, but not everything — and some things need manual setup
Samsung Smart Switch moves your contacts, messages, photos, videos, apps, and settings from an old phone to a new one. It does not transfer your banking apps' login sessions, your email account passwords, your two-factor authentication codes, or your payment method information. Some apps reinstall but lose their data. Others do not transfer at all. You will need to sign back into accounts, re-enter passwords, and reconfigure security settings yourself.
What gets transferred depends on whether you are moving from an Android phone, an iPhone, or a computer. The process also depends on which Samsung model you own and which version of Smart Switch you are using. Understanding what stays behind helps you plan what to set up manually on your new device.
Key Takeaways
- Smart Switch transfers contacts, photos, videos, and most apps, but does not move passwords, banking logins, or two-factor authentication codes.
- Email accounts, messaging apps, and social media apps reinstall but require you to sign in again with your password.
- Payment methods, digital wallets, and subscription information do not transfer and must be re-entered on the new phone.
- Some third-party apps may not transfer at all, and transferred apps sometimes lose their saved data and settings.
- You should change your passwords on your old phone before transferring, then update them again on your new phone for security.
What Smart Switch actually moves from Android to Android
When you transfer from an older Samsung or Android phone to a new Samsung phone, Smart Switch copies your contacts, call history, text messages, photos, videos, music files, and documents. It also reinstalls most of your apps from the Google Play Store and transfers some app data — but not all of it.
The apps that transfer best are ones that store data in your Google account: Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, Google Calendar, and Google Keep all sync automatically once you sign in. Apps like Spotify, Netflix, and Slack also transfer reasonably well because they store your account information on their servers rather than only on your phone.
Apps that store everything locally — like note-taking apps, fitness trackers, or games — may reinstall but lose their saved data. A game you transferred might appear on your new phone but start you at level one. A notes app might reinstall empty. You can check whether an app backed up its data by opening the app on your new phone and looking for a "restore" or "sign in" option.
What does not transfer and why
Smart Switch deliberately does not move passwords, PINs, or two-factor authentication codes. These are security features that should never be copied automatically — if someone stole your old phone, they could not use it to unlock your accounts on your new one. Your banking apps, payment apps, and any app that requires a PIN or fingerprint will reinstall but ask you to log in fresh.
Payment methods and digital wallet information do not transfer. If you use Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or Apple Pay, you will need to add your cards again on your new phone. Subscription information for services like Apple Music or YouTube Premium also does not transfer — you will need to sign in to those apps and confirm your subscription is active.
Some third-party apps straightforward do not transfer at all. Older apps, apps no longer available in the Play Store, or apps specific to your carrier may not reinstall. If an app is missing after the transfer, you can search for it in the Play Store and install it manually. If it is no longer available, you may need to find an alternative.
Transferring from an iPhone to a Samsung phone
If you are switching from an iPhone, Smart Switch can move your contacts, photos, videos, text messages, and calendar events. It cannot move your iCloud data, your Apple ID account, or any apps — iPhones and Android phones use completely different app stores, so your iPhone apps do not exist on Android.
Smart Switch will reinstall apps that have Android versions. If you owned Slack on iPhone, Smart Switch finds Slack in the Google Play Store and installs it. But you will need to sign in with your Apple ID or email address, and the app will not have any of your saved messages or settings from your iPhone.
Photos and videos transfer, but they may transfer slowly if you have thousands of them. iCloud photos, Live Photos, and videos recorded in formats specific to iPhone sometimes transfer as still images or in a different format. Check your Photos app after the transfer to make sure everything arrived.
Apps that lose their data during transfer
Some apps transfer but leave their data behind. This happens most often with apps that do not use cloud backup. A fitness app might transfer but show zero steps. A meditation app might transfer but lose your streak. A banking app might transfer but log you out and require you to set up security questions again.
Before you transfer, open apps you use daily and check whether they have a backup or export option. Many apps let you back up your data to your email or to a cloud service like Google Drive. Fitness apps often let you export your history as a file. Note-taking apps sometimes let you email yourself a backup. Taking five minutes to back up important app data before you transfer saves you from losing months of information.
After the transfer, open each app and look for a "restore" option. Some apps will ask you to sign in and then offer to restore your data from their servers. Others will not. If an app lost data you needed, you may be able to restore it from the backup you created before the transfer.
How to prepare your old phone before transferring
Before you start Smart Switch, change your passwords on your old phone. Open your email, your banking app, your social media accounts, and any other account you care about, and change the password to something new. This way, if someone gets your old phone later, they cannot use the old password to access your accounts.
Sign out of apps that store sensitive information: your banking app, your payment apps, your email, and any app that has your personal or financial data. You will sign back in on your new phone, and signing out first means the old phone cannot be used to access these accounts if it is lost or stolen.
Check that your Google account is set up on your old phone and that you know your Google password. Smart Switch uses your Google account to reinstall apps and restore some data. If you do not remember your Google password, reset it now while you still have access to your old phone.
Charge both phones to at least 50 percent battery. Smart Switch can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have. A phone that dies halfway through the transfer can cause problems.
What to set up manually on your new phone
After Smart Switch finishes, you will need to sign into your email accounts. Open Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, or whatever email service you use, and enter your email address and password. Your email will then sync your messages, contacts, and calendar.
Sign into your social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and any others you use. These apps will reinstall but will not remember you are logged in. You will need to enter your password (or use "Sign in with Google" if you set that up).
Add your payment methods to Google Pay or Samsung Pay if you use mobile payments. Open the app, tap to add a card, and enter your card number, expiration date, and CVV. This is a manual step every time you get a new phone.
Set up two-factor authentication again for accounts that use it. If your email, banking app, or social media uses a code from an authenticator app, you will need to set up those codes again on your new phone. Some services let you use your phone number instead, which is simpler but less find.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my text messages transfer if I switch from iPhone to Samsung?
Text messages will transfer, but iMessage conversations may not transfer perfectly. Regular SMS and MMS messages move over fine. iMessage threads sometimes arrive as regular text messages, and you may lose some formatting or attachments. Group chats can be especially unpredictable.
Do my app passwords transfer with Smart Switch?
No. Passwords never transfer. Apps will reinstall, but you will need to sign in again with your username and password. If you use "Sign in with Google" or "Sign in with Apple," you will need to use that method again on your new phone.
What happens to my photos if they are stored in iCloud?
iCloud photos do not automatically transfer to a Samsung phone. You will need to read them from iCloud.com on a computer, or use a third-party tool to move them. Photos already saved to your iPhone's local storage will transfer through Smart Switch.
Can I transfer my banking app and keep my login?
No. Banking apps reinstall but do not transfer your login. You will need to open the app, enter your username and password, and go through any security setup the bank requires. This is intentional — banks do not allow logins to transfer between devices for security reasons.
What if an app does not appear on my new phone after Smart Switch finishes?
The app may no longer be available in the Google Play Store, or it may be incompatible with your new phone's Android version. Search for it in the Play Store and install it manually if it is there. If it is not available, look for an alternative app that does the same thing.