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The safest way to move your information to a Galaxy Z Fold or Galaxy Z Flip is Samsung Smart Switch. Run it during the foldable’s first setup when possible: choose the old phone type, connect the phones wirelessly or with a USB-C data cable, select the categories to copy, and verify the result before you erase the old phone. Smart Switch copies data; it does not delete anything from the source phone.
What you need before starting
Set aside both phones, their chargers, and enough time to keep them powered while the transfer runs. A large photo or video library can take substantially longer than contacts or messages, and Samsung does not publish a universal completion-time figure because the result depends on the amount of data and the connection method.
Keep both phones available
- Charge both devices or keep them connected to power.
- Keep the old phone unlocked and nearby if you use a wireless transfer.
- Do not factory-reset, trade in, or give away the old phone until you have audited the new foldable.
Check storage on the foldable
Open the new phone’s storage information before selecting a very large photo, video, music, or document library. If the selected content is larger than the available space, reduce the categories, move files in stages, or use an external-storage or computer-backup route.
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Choose the correct cable
For a wired move, use a USB-C-to-USB-C cable that supports data transfer. A cable made only for charging cannot carry the Smart Switch content. The cable is the most direct wired option; wireless transfer avoids an accessory but is less convenient if the phones must remain close together for a long time.
#1 Best Overall
- CREATED FOR YOUR CONTENT: Any way you turn it, the new Galaxy Z Fold8 gives you a fuller viewing experience. Designed with your content in mind, this foldable phone is the perfect size to make your movies, books and more incredibly immersive.
- WORLD’S LIGHTEST FOLD¹: Galaxy Z Fold8 is the newest foldable phone for content on the go. Unfolded, it fits movies and books for an immersive experience. Folded, it delivers comfortable texting and everyday use — all on the world’s lightest fold.¹
- THE BRIGHTEST DISPLAY ON A GALAXY PHONE: Our brightest smartphone display² provides you with a comfortable view, whether you’re inside or outside. Watch movies, play games and scroll with ease no matter where you are.
- RECORD. REFRAME. READY FOR SOCIAL³: Record content on Galaxy Z Fold8 and then use My FanCam³ to keep your subject center stage. The result is a social-ready video that focuses on the part of the action you really want.
- UNTETHER YOUR ENTERTAINMENT: The long-lasting battery of Galaxy Z Fold8 is built to power hours of entertainment. And when you do need to recharge, Super Fast Charging 2.0⁴ gets you back to what you love quickly.
Move everything during the foldable’s first setup
The initial Setup Wizard is the preferred point to copy apps and data. Google’s Android guidance says the copy option may not be available later, so do not skip it casually if your old phone is ready.
- Turn on the new Galaxy foldable and begin the Setup Wizard.
- When asked how to set up the phone, choose Galaxy or Android device for an Android source, or iPhone or iPad for an Apple source.
- Follow the prompts to connect the old phone. Samsung’s wizard can copy an existing account, settings, and other content by QR code.
- When Smart Switch opens on the new phone, tap Receive data.
- Select the old phone’s platform.
- Choose Wireless or the USB-C data-cable option.
- Review the categories and the estimated content shown by Smart Switch. Deselect items you do not need or that would exceed available storage.
- Start the transfer. Keep both phones powered and connected until Smart Switch reports completion.
- Open the transfer report and begin the verification checklist before you retire the old phone.
Start Smart Switch after the foldable is already set up
You can still launch the migration from the new Galaxy phone if you completed setup without copying data. The exact wording can vary by software version, but Samsung’s documented route is:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accounts and backup.
- Choose Bring data from old device or Transfer data for device setup.
- Launch Smart Switch, then tap Receive data.
- Select Android/Galaxy or iPhone/iPad as the source and continue with a wireless or wired connection.
Running Smart Switch later does not require you to wipe the foldable first. Review each category so that a later transfer does not overwrite a choice you have already made on the new device.
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Choose a transfer method
| Method | Source | What it is best for | Accessory or intermediary | When it can be used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Smart Switch | Android, Galaxy, iPhone or iPad | Convenient phone-to-phone copying when the devices can remain nearby | No cable required | During first setup or from Smart Switch in Settings |
| USB-C data cable | Android, Galaxy, iPhone or iPad when the required connection is supported | The most direct wired transfer path, especially when you want a physical connection throughout the copy | USB-C cable that supports data, not charging only | During first setup or from Smart Switch in Settings |
| Computer backup restore | Content previously backed up to a computer | Restoring from an existing local backup instead of keeping the two phones connected | Computer and a usable backup | When the backup is available |
| Samsung Cloud restore | Content held in a Samsung Cloud backup | Restoring supported cloud-backed content | Samsung account and cloud backup | When the cloud backup exists |
| microSD card or USB storage | Files or backups stored on removable or USB storage | Moving a large file collection or restoring from external media | microSD card, USB storage, and any required adapter | When the files or backup are available on that storage |
Samsung documents all of these as Smart Switch routes. There is no official universal speed or success-rate statistic, so select the method based on whether convenience, a direct cable, or an existing backup matters most.
What transfers from an Android or Galaxy phone
An Android-to-Galaxy move generally provides the broadest device migration because both phones use the same mobile platform. Samsung lists the following categories for Smart Switch:
- Contacts
- Schedule and calendar entries
- Messages
- Photos and videos
- Music
- Call logs
- Documents
- Wi-Fi settings
- App installation
For transfers from another Galaxy device, Samsung also lists app data, the home-screen layout, and other device settings. Those Galaxy-specific items can make the new foldable feel much closer to the old phone after setup, but they still require verification because individual apps can protect or exclude their own data.
Android app behavior
Smart Switch can install compatible apps on the new Galaxy phone. It does not guarantee that every app will restore its private database, downloaded content, saved sessions, or security credentials. Open your most important apps, sign in if prompted, and check that their current data is present before deleting the old device.
Rank #2
- SPLIT THE VIEW. MULTITASK¹ TO THE MAX: Productivity never felt this powerful. Use up to three apps¹ at once on the expansive inner screen of Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. You’ll enjoy plenty of space to work, play, connect and more.
- MULTITASKING MADE SMARTER WITH AI: Stay one step ahead with AI² that suggests which apps you might need next. Then view those multiple windows side by side on the large screen of your Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.
- ANY SHOT, ALL THE DETAILS: Dive into the details of any image with our best camera on a foldable smartphone. Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra boasts a 200MP camera — and an upgraded 50MP Ultra Wide lens — for both stunning wide shots and extreme close-ups.
- ELITE CHIPSET. FLUID GRAPHICS: Experience what’s possible with our most advanced Galaxy Z Series processor. From immersive gaming and speedy multitasking to the latest Galaxy AI³ features, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 keeps everything running seamlessly.
- THE BATTERY YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR: It’s the battery you’ve been wanting in a foldable cell phone. Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra packs a powerful ultra-sized⁴ battery in an ultra-slim design. Plus, with Super Fast Charging 2.0⁵, charge up faster than ever before.
Move data from an iPhone or iPad
Smart Switch can bring core personal content from an iPhone or iPad to a Galaxy foldable. Samsung lists contacts, messages or texts, and media among the supported categories. The transfer is not a one-for-one copy of the iOS environment.
What to expect with apps
iOS applications are not guaranteed to have identical Android versions. Smart Switch may not reproduce an iPhone app as an installed Android app, and an app’s private iOS data may not be portable. Find the Android equivalent in the Play Store or Galaxy’s app marketplace, install it, and sign in again where required. Paid subscriptions, account entitlements, and in-app data remain dependent on the service’s own account and platform rules.
Use iCloud import for additional cloud data
Samsung provides an iCloud import step for additional cloud-held data. If the iPhone content you need is stored in iCloud rather than locally on the handset, follow Smart Switch’s iCloud option and authenticate to the relevant Apple account when prompted. Review the categories before importing, then verify the resulting contacts, messages, photos, and other supported items on the foldable.
What Smart Switch does not guarantee
A transfer should be treated as a copy of supported content, not a complete clone of the old phone. The following areas commonly need separate attention:
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- Secure credentials: passwords, passkeys, payment credentials, and other protected secrets may require reauthentication rather than a simple copy.
- Two-factor authenticators: verify every authenticator account and recovery method before the old phone is reset. Some services require an in-app transfer or newly issued codes.
- DRM-protected media: protected downloads may need to be downloaded again through the original service.
- Organization-managed content: work, school, or managed phones can impose policies that prevent some apps, accounts, or files from transferring. Google specifically warns that managed devices may not copy everything.
- Content that exceeds storage: a category cannot be restored intact if the foldable lacks enough free space.
These limits are why the old phone must remain available during the audit. Smart Switch’s completion message means the selected transfer process ended; it is not proof that every account, app session, or protected item is ready for daily use.
Verify the new foldable before erasing the old phone
Use the transfer report as a starting point, then check the items that would be hardest to recover.
- Contacts: open the Contacts app, search for several known entries, and check that important groups or labels are present.
- Messages: inspect recent conversations and older threads, including any messages needed for work, travel, or account verification.
- Photos and videos: open recent and older items, check albums, and confirm that important files are not only thumbnails or cloud placeholders.
- Documents and downloads: use the file manager to open representative PDFs, office files, recordings, and other irreplaceable documents.
- Calendar and email: confirm the correct accounts are signed in and that upcoming events and recent mail are visible.
- Calls and Wi-Fi: check call history and reconnect to essential Wi-Fi networks if settings did not carry over.
- Apps: launch banking, messaging, work, travel, health, and authentication apps. Complete sign-ins or recovery flows while the old phone is still usable.
- Foldable-specific layout: on a Galaxy-to-Galaxy move, check the home-screen arrangement and settings you expected to transfer, then adjust the inner and cover-screen experience to your preference.
If a critical item is missing, keep the old phone intact and use Smart Switch’s category selection, iCloud import, a computer backup, Samsung Cloud, or external storage to recover it. Do not assume that a second attempt can recover a protected item that the source app never exposed to Smart Switch.
Rank #3
- CREATED FOR YOUR CONTENT: Any way you turn it, the new Galaxy Z Fold8 gives you a fuller viewing experience. Designed with your content in mind, this foldable phone is the perfect size to make your movies, books and more incredibly immersive.
- WORLD’S LIGHTEST FOLD¹: Galaxy Z Fold8 is the newest foldable phone for content on the go. Unfolded, it fits movies and books for an immersive experience. Folded, it delivers comfortable texting and everyday use — all on the world’s lightest fold.¹
- THE BRIGHTEST DISPLAY ON A GALAXY PHONE: Our brightest smartphone display² provides you with a comfortable view, whether you’re inside or outside. Watch movies, play games and scroll with ease no matter where you are.
- RECORD. REFRAME. READY FOR SOCIAL³: Record content on Galaxy Z Fold8 and then use My FanCam³ to keep your subject center stage. The result is a social-ready video that focuses on the part of the action you really want.
- UNTETHER YOUR ENTERTAINMENT: The long-lasting battery of Galaxy Z Fold8 is built to power hours of entertainment. And when you do need to recharge, Super Fast Charging 2.0⁴ gets you back to what you love quickly.
Troubleshoot a failed or incomplete transfer
Smart Switch cannot find the old phone
- Confirm that Smart Switch is open on the new foldable and that Receive data is selected.
- Choose the correct source platform.
- Keep both phones powered, unlocked when prompted, and close together for a wireless attempt.
- If wireless pairing remains unreliable, switch to a USB-C data cable.
The transfer stops partway through
- Check free storage on the foldable, particularly before copying a large photo or video library.
- Reconnect both devices to power and repeat the transfer with fewer categories selected.
- Use the transfer report to identify which category completed and which needs another attempt.
- For files that remain difficult to copy, use a computer backup or USB storage as an intermediate route.
Apps appear but are not ready to use
Open the app and complete its sign-in, verification, or restore process. If there is no Android equivalent, look for the service’s Android app or web account. Protected credentials, DRM media, and organization-managed data may require the provider or administrator’s separate recovery procedure.
The iPhone transfer is missing cloud content
Check whether the missing items were stored in iCloud rather than locally on the iPhone. Run the Smart Switch iCloud import route, select the supported categories, and verify the imported content afterward.
Alternative restore routes
Computer backup
If you already have a usable backup on a computer, Smart Switch can restore from it. This is useful when the old phone is damaged, unavailable, or not suitable for a long phone-to-phone session. The backup must exist and contain the categories you need; a computer restore is not automatically a complete device clone.
Samsung Cloud
A Samsung Cloud backup can provide another recovery path for supported Galaxy content. Sign in to the appropriate Samsung account on the foldable, select the available backup, and review the categories before restoring.
microSD card or USB storage
Smart Switch also documents restoring from a microSD card or USB storage. This route is practical for a large collection of files or a backup that already lives on removable media. Make sure the foldable can access the storage and that the files open after copying.
When it is safe to retire the old phone
Only erase the source phone after the new Galaxy foldable passes your audit. Confirm that your irreplaceable photos, messages, contacts, documents, two-factor authenticators, and app access are present. Remember that Smart Switch leaves the source content in place; deleting it is a separate factory-reset decision.
If anything is uncertain, keep the old phone powered and signed in until you have completed the relevant recovery or account-transfer steps. Once the foldable is verified, remove accounts and perform the old phone’s factory reset using the device’s normal settings before selling, recycling, or handing it to someone else.
A practical decision rule
- Choose wireless Smart Switch when convenience matters and both phones can remain nearby and powered.
- Choose a USB-C data cable when you want the most direct physical connection or wireless pairing is inconvenient. Verify that the cable carries data.
- Choose a computer, Samsung Cloud, microSD, or USB-storage restore when you already have a backup, the old phone is unavailable, or you need an intermediate location for a very large library.
- Choose a careful category-by-category migration for an iPhone-to-Galaxy move, because core personal data can transfer but app replacements, sign-ins, iCloud content, and protected credentials need additional work.
The central workflow remains the same: start Smart Switch from Setup Wizard when possible, receive data on the foldable, select the source platform and connection, review categories, wait for completion, and verify everything important before wiping the old phone.
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