Moving to a new phone and keeping your number are two separate tasks: the phone’s setup process copies supported content, while SIM or eSIM activation connects cellular service and a carrier port moves your number to a new provider. You can complete them in either order, but do not erase your old phone or cancel its service until you have verified the transfer and, if applicable, the port.
Before you start: prepare both phones and decide what is changing
- Charge both phones, keep them nearby, and unlock the old phone with its PIN, pattern, or password.
- Check that the new phone has enough free storage for what you want to move, including relevant memory-card content. A storage mismatch can leave content behind.
- Back up the old phone, especially before switching platforms. Have Wi-Fi access and the account credentials you will need to sign in on the new phone.
- Work out whether you are changing just the phone, just the carrier, or both. If changing carriers, check that the new phone is compatible and unlocked as required, and ask the new provider how it handles number porting and SIM or eSIM activation.
Choose the transfer route for the old and new phone pair. Wireless, cable, backup, and manual-copy options differ in compatibility and supported content. If you have already completed setup on the new phone, check the manufacturer’s instructions before restarting or erasing it.
How do I transfer everything to my new phone?
No setup tool guarantees that every item or app’s private data will move. Use the route for your specific platform pair, then check important accounts and locally stored content individually.
Android to iPhone
Apple’s Move from Android to iPhone or iPad instructions guide you through the Move to iOS flow during iPhone setup. Keep both devices powered, close together, and leave the transfer app open until the iPhone’s progress indicator finishes. Apple also documents an optional direct USB-C connection where supported; wireless transfer is another route, and a cable is not required for every device.
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Apple lists contacts, SMS and message history, photos and videos, albums, files, settings, bookmarks, mail accounts, WhatsApp messages and media, voice memos, call history, and calendars among eligible content. App matching depends on availability and compatibility. Music, books, and PDFs require manual transfer. Apple also documents a newer direct-transfer path whose availability depends on device and operating-system support; follow the current instructions for your models.
If iPhone setup is already complete, Apple says using Move to iOS requires erasing the iPhone and starting setup again. Manual transfer is an alternative. Do not erase the new phone unless you have a backup and have decided that restarting is appropriate.
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with Verizon, Spectrum, AT&T, Total Wireless, other CDMA carriers, it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- 4G LTE Bands: B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28/B38/B40/B41
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Android to Android
Google’s Switch to a new Android device guide walks through the setup flow. Start the new phone, choose the option to set it up from an Android device, pair the phones, unlock the old one, and select the content to copy. Charge both devices, back up the old phone, and have Wi-Fi available. Prompts and steps vary by phone, so follow the instructions shown on your devices.
iPhone to Android
During Android setup, choose the option to copy from an iPhone or iPad and follow the wireless or cable prompts on screen. Google’s guide explains that transferred accounts and content depend on the setup path. If the automatic transfer misses something, use its manual-copy instructions rather than assuming the item is unavailable.
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
Already finished setting up the new phone?
Check the instructions for your exact phone pair before restarting or erasing anything. Some setup transfers are available only during initial setup; Apple’s Move to iOS flow, for example, requires erasing an already set-up iPhone to run it. Manual transfer may avoid that reset.
How do I keep my number when switching carriers?
Ask the new provider to port your existing number when you arrange service, and follow its port-in instructions. Number porting is separate from copying contacts, photos, messages, or other phone data. The FCC describes porting as a way for customers to retain their numbers when changing providers; its portability guidance applies in the United States and generally covers switches within the same geographic area. It does not guarantee that every number can move to every provider or across every location change. Check eligibility and timing with the providers. See the FCC’s number-porting guidance.
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- US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
Have the current provider’s account information ready. The FCC’s 2023 order describes wireless validation fields as the phone number, current account number, five-digit ZIP code, and any customer-assigned passcode; the new provider’s process may request or display other information. Give port credentials only through the provider’s official channels. The FCC warns in FCC 23-95 that port-out fraud can let an attacker take control of a phone number and receive calls and texts intended for its owner.
Do not independently cancel the old account before the port completes. Ask the providers to confirm the correct sequence, and keep the old phone and service available until the new provider confirms the port and you have tested the new connection. Fees, timing, eligibility, account status, and contract or plan consequences depend on your providers and account.
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- GSM Unlocked: Enjoy seamless connectivity with your preferred GSM carrier. Compatible with T-Mobile, Metro PCS, AT&T, Cricket, Mint Mobile and other GSM networks. SIM card not included. For network compatibility, please check with your carrier. Note: Not compatible with CDMA networks like Verizon (Visible, Spectrum Mobile, US Mobile, Total Wireless, Straight Talk Wireless)
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Can I transfer my SIM or eSIM to a new phone?
Moving a SIM or eSIM to another phone while staying with the same carrier is an activation or device-transfer process. If you are changing providers and keeping your number, the carrier must also complete the port. A copied phone can be ready before its number is active.
For a physical SIM, follow the carrier’s instructions for the new phone. For eSIM, use the new phone’s setup prompt if offered and complete any carrier app or website activation step. If no transfer option appears, contact the carrier. The process depends on both device and provider: Apple cautions that moving an eSIM from a non-Apple device may require carrier help, and Google’s Pixel SIM-transfer instructions direct users to their carrier if the phone does not detect the eSIM transfer.
Verify the transfer before wiping or retiring the old phone
- Check contacts, recent and older messages, photos and videos, files, calendars, and important app sign-ins on the new phone.
- Confirm you can access account recovery and authentication methods, including authenticator apps, password managers, banking apps, and any secure work profile. These may need separate setup and should not be assumed to migrate.
- Place a call, send and receive a text, and test mobile data. If you are keeping your number, confirm it is active on the intended SIM or eSIM.
- Only after you have checked the copied content and account access should you erase, trade in, donate, or recycle the old phone. Google likewise advises clearing old-device data only after confirming the copy.
If a transfer or activation does not work
- Content is missing: Compare the old phone’s data with the new phone’s available storage, check whether that category is supported by the chosen transfer route, and consult the platform’s manual-copy instructions. Confirm the backup before retrying.
- The transfer stalls: Keep devices powered and follow the manufacturer’s current troubleshooting steps. Apple instructs users to leave Move to iOS open and keep the devices near one another until it finishes. Transfer duration varies with the amount of content; there is no universal completion time.
- The eSIM is not detected or service is pending: Use Wi-Fi while you contact the carrier through its official support channel. Do not assume that copied data means cellular service or the port is active.
- The number port is delayed or rejected: Ask the new provider to check the port status and confirm which account details or validation steps are outstanding. Do not cancel the old service on your own while the port is unresolved.
For any transfer, the most reliable path is the one documented for your exact devices and carrier. The setup flow, content eligibility, eSIM support, and number-port requirements vary by model, operating system, provider, and account.
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