What Is Smart Switch | Transfer Data Type & How to Use (2024)

Table of Contents

— What Is Samsung Smart Switch

1. Smart Switch for Mobile

2. Smart Switch for PC

— What Does Smart Switch Transfer

1. Supported Files

2. Non-Supported Content

— How to Use Smart Transfer App

1. Transfer Data Between Phones Using Smart Switch

2. Back Up Data from Samsung Galaxy to PC

If you are switching to Samsung Galaxy or Samsung Z Fold, Samsung has made data migration easy with the Smart Switch application.

What Is Samsung Smart Switch

Samsung Smart Switch is a user-friendly application that is used to transfer data from iPhone to Samsung S24/S23 or from Android to Samsung. You can also use it to sync data between your phone and computer. Therefore, Samsung has made Smart Switch available as a mobile and desktop application:

1. Smart Switch for Mobile

Samsung Smart Switch for Mobile simplifies the process of transferring data between Samsung devices. This application is designed for user convenience, providing a smooth transition from an older device to a new one. It also transfers data from iOS or another Android phone to Samsung Galaxy. However, you cannot use it to transfer files from Samsung to iPhone, which means the target phone should be the Samsung brand.

2. Smart Switch for PC

You can also download Samsung Smart Switch software on your personal computers. The software offers a simple solution for managing and transferring data between Samsung smartphones and computers. Smart Switch for PC allows you to back up crucial data from your Samsung device to your computer. Moreover, you can subsequently restore it to your device whenever required.

What Does Smart Switch Transfer

You may be hunted by the question, 'Does Samsung Smart Switch transfer everything?' or 'Does Samsung Smart Switch transfer apps?' The answer is that this tool almost migrates everything, including apps, contacts, messages, photos, videos, music, call logs, memos, alarms, and Wi-Fi settings. However, it has some limitations.

Supported Files:

  • Videos: mp4, m4v, mpg, mpeg, mov, mkv, avi, asf, divx, svi, wmv, pyv, 3gp, rm, rmvb, skm, k3g, flv, and swf.
  • Images: gif, jpg, jpeg, png, bmp, wbmp, tif, and tiff.
  • Music: mp3, mid, midi, amr, wma, wav, pya, ogg, m4a, aac, 3ga, flac, smp, dcf, qcp, and imy.
  • Documents: doc, docx, ppt, pptx, pdf, xls, xlsx, hwp, csv, txt, and xml.

Non-Supported Content:

  • Apps: Smart Switch can transfer most apps except encrypted data, such as WhatsApp chat transfer. Also, those apps you don't download from the Play Store need to be downloaded manually.
  • Messages: Drafts and sent-failed messages cannot be transferred.
  • Calendars: Events from synced accounts cannot be transferred.
  • Notes: It won't transfer or back up locked Samsung Notes.
  • WeChat: It cannot sync chat history.
  • Login Details: Some apps require you to log in with your username and password. Smart Switch cannot transfer these login details to specific apps.
  • DRM: Any content with Digital Rights Management cannot be transferred.

How to Use Smart Transfer App

After understanding what can or cannot be transferred through the Samsung Smart Switch, let's know how to use it. To use it, ensure your Samsung phone runs Android 4.3 or iOS 4.2.1 and later; also, ensure both source and target device have more than 500MB of free space in internal storage and have downloaded the Smart Switch app.

Transfer Data Between Phones Using Smart Switch:

Step 1. On your Samsung phone, go to Settings > Accounts and Backup. Under the Smart Switch section, choose to Bring Data from Old Device > Receive Data.

What Is Smart Switch | Transfer Data Type & How to Use (1)

Step 2. Then, select the source phone. If your old phone is an Android device, choose Galaxy/Android; if the old device is an iPhone, then choose iPhone/iPad.

What Is Smart Switch | Transfer Data Type & How to Use (2)

Step 3. You can connect devices via a USB cable, or you can connect them wirelessly but ensure both devices are close enough and have a stable network.

What Is Smart Switch | Transfer Data Type & How to Use (3)

Step 4. Then, you can choose the file type to transfer. Basically, how long Smart Switch takes is based on the data size and Wi-Fi speed. If you only move several items, it will take a few minutes. The application can take more time (sometimes even more than 30 minutes) if you are using the wireless way.

What Is Smart Switch | Transfer Data Type & How to Use (4)

Back Up Data from Samsung Galaxy to PC:

Step 1. Download the Smart Switch on your Windows or Mac computer and run the installer to complete the setup process per your preferences.

What Is Smart Switch | Transfer Data Type & How to Use (5)

Step 2. Open the Samsung Smart Switch and connect the Galaxy smartphone to your computer with a USB cable.

Step 3. Click Backup, and then it will create an extensive backup of your Samsung Galaxy phone on the system.

What Is Smart Switch | Transfer Data Type & How to Use (6)

Step 4. You can also choose the Restore button to retrieve and restore the previous backup file to your Samsung phone; click the Sync button to sync your Android phone with Outlook/Mac Address Book.

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What Is Smart Switch | Transfer Data Type & How to Use (2024)

FAQs

What is Smart Switch transfer data? ›

Smart Switch can be used to transfer between tablets, between smartphones, and between a tablet and a smartphone. Please note: To use Smart Switch, your phone must run Android 4.3 or iOS 4.2. 1 or later. You can transfer your data from both Android and iOS devices over Wi-Fi, with a USB cable or with a PC or Mac.

How to use Samsung Smart Switch step by step? ›

How to guides
  1. Make sure the Smart Switch app is installed on both phones.
  2. Plug them into their chargers.
  3. Place the phones within 4 inches of each other.
  4. Launch Smart Switch on both phones.
  5. Select Send data on the old phone.
  6. Select Receive data on the new phone.
  7. Then select Wireless on both phones.

Can I choose what data to transfer with Smart Switch? ›

Smart Switch will connect to the backup, identify data that can be transferred and present a list. Choose the content you want to move to your new device.

What data Cannot be transferred using Smart Switch? ›

While Smart Switch supports tons of data types, there are certain kinds of content that it does not support. For instance, it can't transfer app data, DRM-protected media files, or any third-party account related information. Some stored settings like Safari history, bookmarks, WhatsApp messages, etc.

Does Smart Switch transfer everything on your phone? ›

The Samsung Smart Switch™ Mobile app allows users to easily transfer content (contacts, photos, music, notes, etc.) to a new Samsung Galaxy device.

Why do people use Smart Switch? ›

Smart switches have an automatic control feature for outdoor lighting, giving the appearance someone is always home, thus helping with safety.

Do you put SIM card in before Smart Switch? ›

Put your sim into new device before powering your new device on. Set up the phone and update all apps from store's. Check for software update. You can use cloud backup or use smartswitch to transfer everything over from your old device to your new one.

Does Smart Switch delete data from old phone? ›

I have a new Samsung and I would like to transfer my data from my old Galaxy to the new phone. But: without deleting the data on the old phone. If I use Smart Switch, will the data be removed from the old form during the transfer? No the data will still be on the old phone unless you delete it.

Does Smart Switch transfer text messages? ›

Method 3: Transfer Messages via Samsung Smart Switch

Data types include contacts, messages, call history, images, videos, apps, audio, documents, and the like. This app is compatible with Apple, Blackberry, and all Samsung and Android devices running over Android version 4.0.

Do you have to pay for Smart Switch? ›

There are no charges for transferring data across devices using Smart Switch.

Does the Samsung Smart Switch transfer apps and passwords? ›

A: Yes! Smart Switch is designed to transfer all your info, including passwords, from one device to another. You don't need to remember or enter any of your passwords again—Smart Switch does it for you.

Do I put my SIM card in a new Samsung phone before transferring data? ›

  1. You don't even need a SIM card at all if you are transferring data from one phone to another. ...
  2. If you have an Android phone, you can just copy all of the data from the phone on your computer via USB transfer, then copy that data to your new phone.
Jan 8, 2019

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