How to migrate data to Galaxy S20 from Android and iOS devices?

The data can be migrated to Galaxy S20 include photos, videos, music, messages, call logs, contacts, files, calendar events, alarms, and apps from Play Store and Galaxy Store

There are many solutions for you to migrate data to Galaxy S20 from your Android and iOS devices. Samsung Smart Switch is the best (and free) solution.

This Galaxy S20 guide explains the data and platform support of Samsung Smart Switch, shows you how to migrate data to Galaxy S20 from your Android phones and iPhones.

What are the platforms supported by Samsung Smart Switch?

Samsung offers a pre-installed tool, Samsung Smart Switch, on Galaxy S20 and most recent Galaxy phones. The tool is also available in the Google Play store for other Android phones including both Samsung and non-Samsung Android phones

You can migrate data to Galaxy S20 from the following mobile devices including:

Android (Android 4.3 or higher)
iOS (iOS 5 or higher)
Windows (Windows Mobile OS 8.1 or higher)
BlackBerry (BlackBerry 7 OS or later)

In addition to the Smart Switch app, the PC and Mac versions of Smart Switch are also available for Windows and Mac OS.

What data can be migrated to Galaxy S20?

When using Samsung Smart Switch, you can migrate the following data Galaxy S20 (depending on OS on the old phone).

Contacts
Call log
Photos
Music
Videos
Calendar events
Alarms
SMS
Documents
Device settings (for Galaxy phones, most settings including home screen settings can be migrated to Galaxy S20)
Apps (Android phones only, apps from the Google Play Store and Galaxy Store). In Android 10, some side-loaded apps can also be restored.

You can review and select items to be transferred before migrating data to Galaxy S20.

Please note, system apps (e.g., camera app, Gallery app) will not be migrated.

4 ways to connect Galaxy S20 to the old device for data migration

You can choose one of the 4 connection types when you migrate data to Galaxy S20 with Samsung Smart Switch

through a USB cable

You can connect Galaxy S20 to the old device with a USB cable. This is the fastest, easiest, and most reliable way to migrate data to Galaxy S20.

This connection method supports Android, iOS and BlackBerry devices. It is recommended for Android phones.

For Android smartphones with a USB-C Port, this is simple. You just need to use the USB-C cable included in the Galaxy S20 box, as shown below.

For older Android phones with a micro USB port, you have to use a USB connector (USB-A to USB-C) and the old micro USB cable.

Please note, in Galaxy S20 box, there is no USB connector included. Previously, from Galaxy S8 to S10, Samsung always includes a USB connector in the box for phones with a USB-C Port.

So, you may have to fork a few dollars (like this one, or this one) if you need the USB connector.

For iPhones, you need to use the USB connector and lightning cable.

The connection with a USB connector is illustrated below.

through WiFi Direct

You can also connect Galaxy S20 with other Android phones or iPhones through WiFi direct to migrate data to Galaxy S20.

Smart Switch on Galaxy S20 will guide you through the process.

For Android devices, you need to start the Smart Switch app, then connect to Galaxy S20.

For iOS devices, Galaxy S20 will use the iCloud backup to migrate the data from iPhone to Galaxy S20.

through an SD card

You can also migrate data to Galaxy S20 through a micro SD card.

This connection is only available for Galaxy phones or other Android phones that support back up to external storage (micro SD card, or USB flash drive).

To migrate data to Galaxy S20, you need to:

Back up the phone to the SD card or USB flash drive.
Remove the storage from the old phone
Insert the micro SD card to Galaxy S20 (or connect the USB flash drive to Galaxy S20)
Start Samsung Smart Switch on Galaxy S20
Migrate all data in the back up to Galaxy S20

through a PC/Mac

If your old phone is Samsung branded, you can then migrate data to Galaxy S20 through backups on the PC.

As mentioned earlier, Samsung Smart Switch for PC/Mac allows you back up the phone to the PC.

through iCloud

If you want o to migrate data to Galaxy S20 from an iPhone, it is recommended to use this method.

On your iPhone, you just enable backup to iCloud.

Once your iPhone is backed up, you can open Smart Switch on Galaxy S20, then migrate the backup to S20.

Steps of migrating data to Galaxy S20 with Samsung Smart Switch

Regardless of the connection methods, the steps to migrate data to Galaxy S20 using Smart is similar.

Step 1: Connect

If you choose the USB cable connection, you can connect Galaxy S20 and the old device first.

You need to start Smart Switch on Galaxy S20 from Settings —Accounts and backup — Smart Switch.

If the old device is also an Android phone, you also need to start Smart Switch on it.

By default, once the two devices are connected through a USB cable, Smart Switch should pop up on Android devices. You just need to tap the notification to open it.

Step 2: Select

Once the connection is established, you can choose the data to be migrated to Galaxy S20.

It is NOT necessary to migrate all data in one go. You can migrate data to Galaxy S20 piece by piece. For example, you can migrate settings and calendar first. Later, when you have more time, you can migrate the media files and apps.

Step 3: Transfer and migrate

Depending on the size of data to be migrated, and the connection type, it can take from a few minutes to a few hours to migrate all data to Galaxy S20.

When you select the items, Galaxy S20 will estimate the time needed. You can deselect some items if you cannot wait that long.

The data will be restored on Galaxy S20 automatically after they are copied to Galaxy S20.

Will Smart Switch delete data on the old device after migration?

No, Smart Switch will not delete any data on the old device.

You have to manually delete any data on the old device. If you are sure you do not need the data, you can factory data reset the old device.

Will Smart Switch overwrite data on Galaxy S20?

It depends on the data.

Normally, Smart Switch will “append” the migrated data to Galaxy S20. For example, the migrated calendar evens will be merged with exiting events on Galaxy S20.

But some settings, or some app data, may be overwritten.

Smart Switch will NOT delete any unused files.

My old phone (sending device) does not send any data?

The default USB option on some Android phones may be charging only.

In this case, you need to change the USB option to transferring files, as explained in this guide.

Do you have any questions on how to migrate data to Galaxy S20? Can you use Samsung Smart Switch on Galaxy S20 now?

If you have any questions or encounter any problems on migrating data to Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra, please let us know in the comment box below.

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