Transfer data from old Android to Galaxy S25 with Smart Switch

If you’re moving from an older Android phone to a Galaxy S25, Smart Switch is still the fastest and safest way to transfer your important data. The key is choosing the right transfer path and knowing what does not move automatically.

Before you start

• Keep both phones above 20% battery (50%+ is better for large transfers).
• Install or update Smart Switch on the old Android phone.
• Make sure both phones have at least 500MB free internal space.
• If you plan to transfer wirelessly, connect both phones to stable Wi-Fi and keep them close.
• If you plan to transfer by cable, prepare a compatible USB-C cable/adapter.

Transfer directly phone-to-phone (recommended for most users)

1. On Galaxy S25, open Settings > Accounts and backup > Smart Switch.
2. Tap Bring data from old device then Receive data.
3. Select Galaxy/Android as source type.
4. Choose Wireless or Cable.
5. On old phone, open Smart Switch and tap Send data.
6. Approve the connection prompt on both phones.
7. Choose what to move (contacts, messages, call logs, photos, videos, apps, settings).
8. Tap Transfer and wait for completion.

When to choose cable instead of wireless

• You have lots of photos/videos.
• Wireless keeps dropping.
• You want faster transfer for app-heavy devices.

For large migrations, cable transfer is usually more stable and quicker.

Transfer using PC or Mac (best if old phone is unstable)

1. Install Samsung Smart Switch on your computer.
2. Connect the old Android phone to PC/Mac and run Backup.
3. After backup completes, disconnect old phone.
4. Connect Galaxy S25 and choose Restore.
5. Select backup file and deselect anything you don’t need.
6. Start restore and wait until finished.

What usually transfers vs what usually doesn’t

Usually transfers: contacts, call history, SMS/MMS, media files, many app installs, and some settings.

May not fully transfer: encrypted app data, some banking/login states, DRM-protected files, and apps installed outside Play Store.

Important: keep app passwords ready because many apps will require re-login on the new phone.

If transfer fails or gets stuck

1. Restart both phones and try again.
2. Switch from wireless to cable.
3. Disable battery saver during transfer.
4. Reduce selection (move photos/videos first, apps later).
5. Retry specific categories only (for example, messages only).

After transfer: don’t skip this validation

1. Check contacts and recent call log.
2. Open Messages and confirm threads are present.
3. Verify gallery media count and key albums.
4. Test mobile data, Wi-Fi, and one phone call.
5. Open critical apps (banking, authenticator, work apps) and sign in.
6. Enable backup on Galaxy S25.
7. Keep old phone untouched for a few days before factory reset.

Done correctly, Smart Switch gives you a near-complete move to Galaxy S25 with minimal manual cleanup afterward.