We can relatively easily transfer our data from one smartphone to another, but there is still no real right to data portability: we will have to wait for the results of the new European rules, the Digital services act, still in draft.
Google and Apple, like various other smartphone manufacturers, have however improved data transfer services over the years, even if users find them partly imperfect and incomplete.
Let’s see the main methods (leaving out the paid ones, of specialized services) and the perspectives.
General instructions
First you should make sure your mobile backup is recent. Let’s check this option present on all mobile phones and which relies on the Google cloud, Apple’s iCloud or third parties (such as Samsung’s). Let’s check if all the backup options we need are checked (such as photos, apps, contacts ) and that something has not gone wrong perhaps because we have run out of cloud storage space.We also make a backup of the data of some applications, which could get lost in the passage, such as Whatsapp, or video games (for example via the Google Games service); then we will have to use the specific data recovery options of these apps or services. We take into account that in a direct transfer between two mobile phones both will be busy during the whole operation; do it when we are sure we do not need to use them, for example late in the evening or very early in the morning. Both mobile phones must be fully charged (at least 20 percent).
How to switch between smartphones of the same brand
If the old and new smartphones are of the same brand, in many cases the transition will be easier. Samsung and Xiaomi (the best-selling Android brands) have dedicated apps that you can use as soon as you turn on your new smartphone (or a factory-reset smartphone) .On these and on Google Android the most common options to choose from, there are two for the transfer: with cable or without cable. In the first case we use a USB cable, in the second we keep the cell phones close. We follow the instructions on both screens, for example, be careful to indicate which is the receiving (the new) and the sending (the old) cell phone of the two.On iPhone Apple suggests keeping the two cell phones close together wirelessly. Bluetooth active on both. We enter the Apple ID we need to use on the old device. We hold the old device on top of the new one. The transfer option is called Get started now. Let’s wait for an animation to appear on the new device. Hold your current device suspended above the new one and frame the animation in the camera viewfinder. We wait for the message Finish to appear on the new device. If you are unable to use your old device’s camera, tap on Authenticate manually and follow the steps on the screen. When prompted, enter the passcode of your current device into the new device. At this point, let’s follow the instructions to set up Face ID or Touch ID on the new device. When the Transfer data from old device screen appears, tap continue to start transferring data from the old device to the new one. Android and iPhone smartphones. they allow other recovery modes, but are less used and probably less comfortable for the average user: recovery via cloud and from external memory (SD or USB). The first is especially useful when we need to restore a mobile that we had reset.
Switching between different mobiles
If the switch is between different Android phones, it is advisable to use the option proposed on the new mobile phone, which can be the transfer of the brand (Samsung) or that of Google. Switching between iPhone and Android was once a disaster; now it is much better even if we have to download the apps again and eventually pay them again. We can transfer the subscriptions instead. Some app developers also grant license transfer from one platform to another. We should contact them directly. From iPhone and Android we may have specific instructions that appear on the purchased model; indicate that the switch is from an iPhone. For a few weeks, however, the specific iPhone Switch to android app has been available, which simplifies things. It gives us targeted advice, on screen, reminding us for example to disable iMessage on the iPhone otherwise we lose our text messages on the new device. Whatsapp data is currently only supported to Samsung, but for the transition from Android to iPhone we download the analogous app instead switch to iOs (from Google Play).
Data not transferred
On the new cell phone, we may then notice that something is wrong. That not all data has been transferred. Those of the apps certainly do not switch between iPhone and Android (and vice versa), with partial exceptions (see Whatsapp). Mail accounts need to be reconfigured by hand in many cases, although some transfers support them. Ditto passwords. The steps between two iPhones are the ones that manage to be more complete. For passwords we can rely on password managers, who then synchronize the data. “For security reasons, we will not find the bank access data and one-time password systems transferred”, explains Elio Franco, a digital lawyer. One time is probably the most annoying thing to reactivate once we change cell phones. Personally I have to do it on two apps from two banks, on the Spid one and on the generic authenticators. At least the authenticators have options that make the task easier. On that of Google there is the option “transfer account”.