Set Up Your New Android With a Full Transfer

The Download

• Have both phones charged up and on hand when you start the setup process.
• You can transfer data from Android or iPhone to your new phone wirelessly or with a cable.
• If you don’t have the old phone handy, Android devices can also copy data from a cloud backup.

This article explains how to transfer data to your new Android phone, whether you were using another Android or an iPhone.

How to Transfer Data From an Old Phone to Set Up a New Android

You can set up a new Android phone from scratch and start fresh if you want, but the Android setup process also allows you to copy data from your old phone.

If your other phone is also an Android, you can restore your apps, settings, and other data directly from that phone or through a cloud backup. If you’re coming from an iPhone, you can still copy important things to your new phone, but it won’t be as seamless as an Android-to-Android transfer.

Most of the steps for setting up a new Android phone are the same regardless of which kind of phone you’re coming from, but the process differs when it comes to transferring data and settings from your old device.

If your new phone isn’t made by Google, the general order of the steps presented here will typically be the same, but you may have other ways to transfer data. For example, you will be directed to use Samsung Smart Switch if you’re setting up a new Samsung phone.

How to Transfer Data From Android to Android

If you currently have an Android phone and it’s in working condition, you can use it to set up your new phone. Make sure both devices are charged (or plugged in) and connected to Wi-Fi.

Here’s how to set up a new Android phone from an old one:

These directions and screenshots were created while setting up a Pixel 9 Pro running Android 16.

1. Turn on your new phone and tap Get started.

2. Choose Pixel or Android device.

3. On your old Android, scan the QR code you see on the new phone.

   Scan the QR code to get started.

4. When asked, enter the old device’s PIN into the new phone.

5. On the mobile network connection screen, tap Set up eSIM to do that, or insert a SIM card if you have one. You can also skip this step for now, if you prefer.

6. If you see a prompt to set up Fingerprint Unlock and/or Face Unlock, select I agree to do that now, or choose Not now.

7. Tap Next on the screen asking to copy apps, photos, contacts, and other data.

   You can set up your SIM card and unlock methods now or later.

8. Select which kinds of data to transfer to your Android, such as apps, messages, call history, device settings, music, etc. Tap Copy to continue.

   If you don’t want to transfer all your apps, tap Apps (the word, not the check box) to choose specific ones to keep from your old phone.

9. Tap Accept on the Google Services screen.

   The toggles on this screen control whether your phone should let apps access your physical location, whether it should send usage and diagnostic data to Google, and more. You’re free to turn these options on or off.

10. Tap Turn on backup if you want your new phone to automatically back up photos, videos, app data, contacts, and more. You can change your mind later on if you’re not sure right now.

    You control what gets copied and which settings are switched on.

11. Tap Next on the warranty screen, and then tap I accept after you’ve read the TOS and other legal terms.

12. Tap Next on the Google AI screen.

13. Select Use Gemini or Not now (this option might not be available on all Android devices).

    Google’s AI assistant Gemini is built in to some Android phones.

14. Tap Turn on or No thanks on the screen that asks about organizing screenshots into their own folder.

15. Keep Car Crash Detection turned on if you want that feature, and then tap Next to continue.

16. When asked about using Quick Share, choose I agree or No thanks to proceed.

    Enable features like Car Crash Detection and Quick Share.

17. Google offers a few other setup options that you can take advantage of now; otherwise, tap No thanks.

18. Tap Yes, I’m in to agree to hear from Google about support and updates, or tap No thanks.

19. Wait while the devices transfer your data. You’ll know it’s finished when you see the Copying’s done screen; tap Done to finish up.

    Take this time to set up other things like translations and email accounts.

    It might take 30 minutes or longer, depending on how much data needs to be copied. To speed things up, consider connecting the devices with a cable (just ensure both phones have enough battery to handle it).

How to Set Up a New Android Phone From an iPhone

If you’re switching from iOS to Android, you can also back up certain data from your old iPhone to your new Android phone. You’ll have the opportunity to bring over your contacts, messages, photos, and even some apps available on both platforms.

Before you remove the SIM card from your iPhone, you need to disable iMessage. Go to Settings > Apps > Messages, and switch iMessage to the off position. You’ll also need to restart any group messages you currently have active once you switch to Android.

Here’s how iPhone users can set up their new Android:

1. Before you get started, check to see what version of Android is running on your new phone.

   If the phone is Android 12 or newer, you can use a Lightning-to-USB-C cable to complete the setup process. If you’re transferring from an iPhone 15 or later, you can use a USB-C-to-USB-C cable.

   If the phone has Android 11 or older, download and install Google One on your iPhone, and then log in to it with your Google account.

   These directions and screenshots were created while setting up a Samsung Galaxy S24 running Android 16.

2. Turn on your Android phone and tap Start on the setup screen.

3. Read the terms and conditions and privacy policy, and then tap Agree at the bottom.

4. Select iPhone or iPad.

5. Connect to Wi-Fi and then wait for your phone to get ready for the setup process.

6. Sign in to your Google Account.

   This step is optional, but if you don’t log in, you won’t be able to transfer all your apps, notes, calendar details, or WhatsApp chats from your iPhone.

7. Pick an option from the list to connect to your mobile network. For example, if you have a physical SIM card in your iPhone, remove it now and insert it into your Android.

   Otherwise, tap Set up later in Settings > Skip to activate your phone later.

8. Tap Next and then Agree on the screens that ask about transferring data from your iPhone.

   Log in to your Google account to enable app transferring.

9. Tap Allow on the Smart Switch screen.

10. Choose a connection method—Cable or Wireless—and then tap Next.

    Not sure which one to select? Using a cable will let you transfer the most data, including any compatible apps. The wireless option still supports copying all your contacts, media, calendar events, and reminders.

11. Set your iPhone’s automatic lock option to Never. You can find this setting on your iPhone through Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock.

    We’re using a cable in these steps, so the following directions might look different for you if you chose the wireless option.

12. Connect the cable and then tap Next on your Android.

13. Tap Trust on your iPhone.

14. Follow the on-screen steps to choose what to transfer and to start the copy process.

    Choose the cable option to transfer more data from your iPhone.

How to Set Up a New Android Phone From a Backup

If you already backed up your old phone to the cloud, you can set up your new phone without connecting it to the old one at all.

These directions and screenshots were created during the setup process on a Pixel 9 Pro with Android 16.

1. Back up your Android if your old phone is available and you haven’t done so recently.

   This step is necessary to set up your new phone with your current data and settings. Otherwise, you’ll have to use an old backup, or no backup may be available.

2. Turn on your new phone and follow the standard prompts to select your language, connect to Wi-Fi, insert your SIM, and log in to your Google account.

   Follow the initial setup prompts to get started.

3. Tap Skip when asked if you want to set up your phone using another device.

4. Tap Next when asked to copy apps and data.

5. The next screen will provide you with a list of available backups. Choose the most recent one.

   Select the most recent backup to ensure you have updated files.

6. Tap Next and then enter the screen lock used by your other phone, such as its PIN. Choose Confirm to continue.

7. Pick what you want to put on your new phone, then tap Restore. Options include your downloaded apps, contacts, SMS messages, device settings, and call history.

   You can restore everything, nothing, or the specific things you want.

   Decrypt the backup to choose what to restore.

   Make sure there are check marks next to the items you want to restore before you tap Restore. Tap Apps if you wish to choose which apps should be restored (otherwise, all of them will download to your new phone).

8. The transfer time depends on the amount of data being transferred. For example, if you have a large number of apps, they will take some time to download.

   After your phone has finished restoring the backup, follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process. You’ll be asked to set up Gemini, accept legal terms, enable backups, switch on various services, and more.

9. When the setup wizard asks if there’s anything else and provides a list of options, you can tap No thanks to finish up and get into your new phone.

   Continue setting up your phone during the restore process.

Do You Need a Google Account to Set Up a New Android From an Old Phone?

Yes. You need a Google account during the setup process, whether the old phone is an Android or an iPhone.

If you’re coming from Android, you need to sign in to the same Google account on both phones, and your new phone will only be able to see cloud backups using the same account.

If you’re switching from iPhone to Android, you also need to sign into Google One on the iPhone using the same account that you’re using with the new phone.

Do You Have to Use Gmail on Android?

While you do need to sign into your Android phone using a Google account, you’re free to use an email account from any other service. You can add an email account to your phone after the setup process is done, and you’ll be able to access it through the included Gmail app.

A variety of other great mail apps are available for Android if you don’t want to use Google’s option.

FAQ

• How do I transfer apps from Android to Android?

  To transfer apps from Android to Android, you can use the Backup and Restore feature, or you can just download the app on your new device from the Play Store. Any app data that was previously saved to the cloud should be available.

• How do set up a new Google account on Android?

• What should I do when I get a new Android phone?

  Secure your Android with a PIN or password. You can then customize your Android in various ways, such as changing the wallpaper and adding widgets to the home screen.

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