iOS | Android
6 Notes on How to Transfer from iPhone to Samsung Using The Smart Switch App
It can be easy!
To start, you need a tiny USB cable. A USB-c to lightning cable to be precise. There are ways to get around it, but this is by far the most convenient way. That cable connects directly between your iPhone and Samsung phone.
This is if your new phone (like my Samsung A52) indeed has a USB-C charging port. If it uses another cable, use that […] to lightning cable.
Apart from the cable (which cost me 2$), it’s completely free to use this transfer method. You don’t need any extra software, computer, or downloads.
This post is to elaborate on the switch I made from iPhone to Samsung.
I wanted to share 6 notes I sumbled upon with you that you can keep in mind:
- Photos, contacts, files, and app data. These are all easy to transfer. You connect the cable to both phones, decide on the Android device that that device is the ‘receiving’ one, choose what you want to move over, and tap start. It takes a while, but almost all apps (that allow to be transferred) are installed and your pictures and contacts will all be copied from iCloud. The applications require you to log in again (logically). Otherwise, this wouldn’t be safe.
- Authenticators. These, I advise you not to move from one device to another. Reinstall them and activate new codes. I have read multiple forums where people mention not having good experiences with this. For Google Authenticator, these easy steps did work.
- WhatsApp. This was a real hassle, but it worked out eventually. I had multiple trial and errors, after which no conversations showed up on the new phone. You definitely need the cable for this. A few handy links are this link from WhatsApp’s website, this link from Samsung’s website, and this video.
- Signal. You (currently) can’t transfer your conversation history of Signal from iPhone to Samsung.
- The iTunes library and iMessage. I don’t (or barely) use these, and didn’t (try to) transfer them. About iMessage: when transferring with the Smart Switch App, it mentions that the iMessage system should be turned off. This is because otherwise, text messages potentially arrive at your old iPhone/iMessage account, instead of at your new Android device.
- Backup. You don’t really need any backup. Meaning: by transferring the data you don’t delete it on the original device, and you don’t use a backup as a base on the new device. So far, I haven’t come across a reason to need a backup. Of course, it’s nice to have a backup of your iCloud/iPhone in general, but it’s not needed to make the transfer.
The above notes are the points of attention I thought would be handy to know in advance. I could get way more into details here about how to transfer exactly, but I believe there are better sources out there already that cover the step-by-step process.
Hopefully this helps to let you transfer smoothly! If you have any questions I can help you with, let me know :)
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