If you're switching to a Galaxy and want to take your contacts, photos, settings, and more with you, Samsung Smart Switch is the tool designed to make it easy and hassle-free. In this practical Guide we gather all the common scenarios so you don't miss a thing: transfer from iPhone with iTunes backup, copies to the computer, transferring data between phones and what happens when your new phone doesn't have an SD card slot.
The goal is for you to be able to complete the migration in just a few steps and with maximum peace of mind, Whether you already have the app on your phone or prefer to work from your PC or Mac. Plus, you'll see where Smart Switch is located on your Galaxy, how to download the desktop version, and the correct way to prepare a backup if your previous phone isn't a Samsung.
What is Samsung Smart Switch and what is it for?
Samsung Smart Switch is the official solution for moving your data from one device to another and for creating backups on a computer, quickly and with a very simple interface. Its mission is twofold: on the one hand, it transfers your content between two phones; and on the other, it allows you to back up and restore that data using a PC or Mac.
It works whether you're coming from an iPhone or an Android (from Android 4.0 onwards), So it covers the vast majority of mobile phone change situations. You don't need to be an advanced user or know any complicated settings: it's just a matter of connecting, choosing what to do, and confirming.
On many recent Galaxy devices, the Smart Switch app comes factory-installed, So you'll find it ready to use. If it isn't, you can download it from the Galaxy Store or Google Play for free.
To open the app on your Galaxy, navigate to Settings > Accounts & backup > Smart Switch, where you will see the options to receive data from another device or to make copies on your computer.
Prerequisites and where to find the app (mobile and computer)
If you're using a computer, download the PC/Mac version of Smart Switch from www.samsung.com/smartswitch, Install and run it before connecting your phone. This is the recommended option for full backups and restoring from previous backups.
Have your phone's USB cable handy and make sure both devices have enough battery power, This way, you'll avoid interruptions during the backup or restore process. When you connect your phone to your computer, follow the on-screen instructions shown by Smart Switch.
If your old phone is not Samsung, first create a backup on your computer using the software recommended by the manufacturer, and then continue with Smart Switch to the restore step to your Galaxy (equivalent to going directly to the import/transfer phase on your computer).
On the Galaxy itself, the most direct way to locate Smart Switch is from Settings > Accounts & backup > Smart Switch, where you can choose whether you want to receive data from another phone or manage copies with your PC/Mac.
Transfer from iPhone with iTunes and Smart Switch to PC
To transfer your data from an iPhone, the most reliable way is to create a backup in iTunes and then restore it to your new Galaxy with Smart Switch for PC, This ensures that sensitive information such as keychain passwords, health, and more are not included when you enable encrypted backup.
- Install or open iTunes on your PC (you can download it from Apple's official website) and connect the iPhone with its cable, accepting the “Continue” and “Trust” prompts on your mobile phone if they appear to authorize computer access.
- In iTunes, select your iPhone and go to the Summary section; select “Encrypt iPhone Backup”, Choose “This Computer” and tap “Back Up Now.” Wait for it to finish and eject your iPhone from the eject icon before disconnecting the cable.
- Download, install and run Smart Switch on your PC, so that the application recognizes the device and shows you the main screen with the backup and restore options.
- Connect your new Galaxy to your PC and in Smart Switch, choose the Restore option, which allows you to bring data from an existing copy on your computer to your phone.
- If the backup you need doesn't appear automatically, tap "Select another backup" and then choose "iTunes Backup Data" (top left), so that Smart Switch searches for the encrypted backup you created with iTunes and allows you to choose it.
- Uncheck what you do not want to transfer, confirm with OK and then press “Restore now” and “Allow”, Initiate the transfer of your iTunes backup information directly to your Galaxy. Let the process complete without disconnecting the cable.
- After completing the restore, check apps, contacts, photos and settings on your Galaxy, and check that everything you selected during the Smart Switch wizard appears as you expected.
Transfer data between phones using a computer (Android to Galaxy or Samsung)
If you prefer to use your computer as a bridge between your old phone and your new Galaxy, Smart Switch guides you step by step, by first creating a copy on your PC and then importing it to your phone.
Connect your old phone to your computer with its USB cable and follow the on-screen instructions to generate the backup, which will include the supported data types you choose. When finished, safely disconnect your old device.
Now connect your Galaxy to the computer with the USB cable and, from Smart Switch, choose the restore/import option, so that the program shows you the copies available on the device to transfer to the new phone.
Select which items you want to transfer and confirm the restoration; the process may take a while depending on the volume of photos, videos, and apps. so it's a good idea to keep both devices with sufficient battery power or connected to power.
Once finished, Smart Switch will show a summary of what was transferred and you can start using your Galaxy with your data already in place, avoiding having to reinstall or configure everything from scratch.
Migrate content from an SD card to a Galaxy without an SD slot
If your old phone has an SD card and your new Galaxy doesn't have one, Smart Switch automatically identifies the data stored on that card, and presents them grouped under a specific section of the “SD Card” type.
By choosing this block, you will be able to include the contents of the SD in the transfer just like the rest of the categories (photos, videos, documents, etc.), which avoids having to move files manually or use external adapters.
During restore on the new Galaxy, Smart Switch copies data from SD to internal storage, respecting the folder structure whenever possible so you can locate your files without complications.
If you manage a large amount of photos and videos on the SD, consider backing them up in parts, Prioritizing what's essential first; this way, you'll reduce wait time and ensure everything arrives correctly before moving on to the rest.
Remember that even if your new phone doesn't accept an SD card, you won't be left without those memories and documents, because Smart Switch integrates your transfer into the same data migration flow.
PC/Mac Backups: Save and Import Your Data
In addition to transferring information between mobile phones, Smart Switch can be used to create backups of your phone on your computer and import them when needed, something especially useful before a reset or when using a new device.
Download and launch Smart Switch for PC from www.samsung.com/smartswitch, connect your phone with its USB cable and follow the app's prompts to choose which data to back up (contacts, messages, images, supported settings, etc.).
Once the backup is created, you can restore it to the same phone or to another Galaxy by connecting it to the computer and choosing the Restore option, selecting the copy previously saved on the computer to bring it back to the device.
If your old phone is not Samsung, use the manufacturer's program to generate the copy on the PC first. and then, with Smart Switch, import that data to your Galaxy, jumping directly to the restoration phase.
This way of working with Smart Switch on your computer gives you an additional safety net, because you maintain an updated and controlled backup that you can recover when necessary.
Helpful tips for a smooth migration: Always use reliable cables and USB ports, unlock your phone and accept permissions when requested by your computer, close other heavy apps during the transfer, and verify that you have enough free space on your Galaxy to receive all the selected content.
About times and compatibility: The larger the number of photos, videos, and apps, the longer the transfer will take; in some cases, certain apps can't be copied as is and will be reinstalled from the store, while your personal data (when supported) will travel through the Smart Switch process.
Signs that everything is going well: Smart Switch displays a progress bar and lists of items; don't unplug the cable until the app confirms completion. If something stops working, check the cable, change USB ports, and restart Smart Switch to resume where you left off.
Find Smart Switch on your phone without getting lost: Go to Settings > Accounts & backup > Smart Switch and choose whether you want to start a transfer or create/use backups with your computer. If it doesn't appear, download it from the Galaxy Store or Google Play.
If you follow this path—preparing the right backup, choosing what you want to move, and restoring with Smart Switch—you'll have your new Galaxy set up just the way you want in no time. Whether you're coming from an iPhone with an iTunes backup, another Android, or if your data is on an SD card that your new phone doesn't physically support.