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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteThe safest move is to do two things before erasing or handing over your Pixel: verify its Google backup, then copy data directly to the new Android phone during setup. Photos, videos, contacts and WhatsApp use additional sync or backup systems, so check each one separately. Keep the Pixel unlocked, charged and available until you have tested the new phone’s data and mobile service.
What a Pixel backup does—and what it does not do
Android can back up supported data and settings to your Google Account. Google describes this as a way to “back up data and settings from your phone to your Google Account.” The backup can be used during setup of another Android phone, but restoration depends on the phone model, Android version and the apps involved. Some backup data is end-to-end encrypted with your Pixel’s screen lock.
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A Google device backup is not a complete image of the phone. Google Photos handles photo and video syncing separately, and contacts may sync through Google Contacts or another account. Individual apps decide whether their private data participates in Android backup. WhatsApp has its own backup and restore process. Treat the move as a set of checks rather than one button that guarantees every item will appear.
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Official references: Google’s Pixel backup help and Google’s Android backup help.
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Prepare both phones before you begin
- Charge the Pixel and the new phone. Keep both close together and connected to Wi-Fi.
- Make sure you can unlock the Pixel with its PIN, pattern or password; the transfer will ask for it.
- Sign in to the Google Account you intend to use on the new phone. Google recommends signing in for the most complete transfer.
- If you plan to use a cable, have a USB-C data cable that fits both phones. A USB cable that only charges will not copy data, and an adapter may be required.
- Do not factory-reset, trade in or give away the Pixel until you have checked the new phone.
Google’s general switching instructions are at Android Help: Switch to a new Android device.
Step 1: Verify the Pixel’s Google backup
- On the Pixel, open Settings.
- Tap Google services, then Backup. (The exact wording can vary slightly by Android release.)
- Open Backup details and check the date and status of the most recent backup.
- If it is out of date or incomplete, leave the Pixel on Wi-Fi and power until the backup finishes. Resolve any storage or account warning shown on that screen before continuing.
The backup can include supported app data, call history, device settings, SMS messages and other system information, but the available categories depend on the device and Android version. A backup made on a newer Android version cannot be restored to a phone running an older Android version. Restoration also varies by manufacturer and model.
For the complete category and version limitations, see Google’s Android backup help.
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Step 2: Check photos, videos and contacts separately
Google Photos
Open Google Photos on the Pixel, tap your account picture, and check the backup status. Browse recent photos and videos and confirm that the newest items are visible in the account you will use on the new phone. If Photos reports that items are still waiting to back up, keep the Pixel connected until it completes. Device backup alone is not proof that every photo or video is in Photos.
Contacts
Open the Contacts app and identify where important contacts are stored. Contacts saved to your Google Account should sync when that account is added to the new phone. Contacts tied to a SIM, a work account or another provider follow that service’s process instead. Sign in to the relevant account or export the contacts using that provider’s documented method before switching.
Google explains these separate sync paths in its Pixel backup guidance.
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Step 3: Make a current WhatsApp backup
- Open WhatsApp on the Pixel.
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup.
- Run a current backup and wait for WhatsApp to show that it has completed.
- Note the Google Account and phone number used. A cloud restore on the new phone requires the same Google Account and phone number.
During WhatsApp setup on the new phone, you may be offered a direct transfer from the old phone or a restore from cloud backup. Follow the option that matches the backup you just made, then inspect chats and media afterward. Google explicitly cautions that a successful WhatsApp transfer is not guaranteed, so do not erase the Pixel until the expected history is visible.
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See the current procedure at Google’s WhatsApp transfer help.
Step 4: Record accounts and app data that need separate attention
Before setup, make a short list of anything that is not stored in your Google Account. This commonly includes:
- Work-managed profiles, enterprise data or devices whose administrator disables ordinary Android backup.
- Contacts and calendars synchronized to non-Google services.
- Accounts other than Google Accounts and the data held by those accounts.
- Apps that do not use Android backup or that keep private data in a proprietary cloud.
- Ringtones and some phone settings.
- Manufacturer-specific app data or settings.
Install the relevant app on the new phone, sign in with the same account and use that app’s export, sync or restore feature when necessary. Do not assume that an app’s icon appearing on the new phone means its local data has arrived.
Copy the Pixel during setup of the new Android phone
Google’s setup flow normally offers a choice to copy apps and data from an Android device. Direct copying is available when the Pixel is present and unlocked. It is usually the most complete route because the two phones can transfer items that are not yet represented in a cloud backup.
- Turn on the new Android phone and start its setup.
- When asked whether you want to copy apps and data, choose the option to copy from an Android phone.
- Use the on-screen pairing or QR-code flow, or connect the phones with a compatible data cable.
- Unlock the Pixel and enter its PIN, pattern or password when prompted.
- Review the categories selected for transfer. Deselect anything you intentionally do not want, then start the copy.
- Keep both phones powered and nearby while apps download and data is copied. Depending on the amount of data, Google says the process can take from a few minutes to more than an hour.
Labels and available categories differ by phone maker, Android version and app. The official step-by-step references are Android’s switching guide, Android’s copy guide and Pixel’s transfer guide.
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Choose wired or wireless copying
| Method | What you need | Advantages | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB cable | A cable that supports data and connectors compatible with both phones; an adapter may be needed. | Google’s general Android instructions recommend the cable method, and it avoids relying on a wireless link during the copy. | The wrong cable may charge without transferring. Connector compatibility and adapters can complicate setup. |
| Wi-Fi transfer | Both phones powered, nearby and following the setup pairing instructions. | No accessory is required, and Pixel setup supports wireless copying. | Transfer time and reliability depend on the wireless connection and the amount of data. |
A USB-C data transfer cable is optional, not a requirement. Verify that any cable you use supports data transfer and fits both devices. Google documents both approaches in Android’s copy instructions and Pixel’s transfer instructions.
What normally transfers
Pixel’s transfer documentation lists these common categories, with results qualified by the device, app and whether the receiving phone uses Google apps or Play Store installation:
| Category | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Google Account | The account can be added during setup; sign-in may still be required for individual apps. |
| Passwords and passkeys | Supported credentials may transfer, but apps and services can request authentication again. |
| Settings | Supported system settings may copy; some phone-specific settings do not. |
| Calendar events | Events associated with supported accounts can appear; calendars from other services require their own account sync. |
| Text messages and attachments | Supported SMS/MMS content can copy, subject to the receiving phone and messaging app. |
| Files and folders | Selected files can transfer; verify folders that contain work or app-specific data. |
| Call history | Supported call records may transfer. |
| Photos and videos | They may copy directly, while Google Photos still has its separate cloud-sync status. |
| Contacts | Supported contacts can copy; accounts outside Google may need separate sign-in or export. |
| WhatsApp chat history | The setup may offer it, but WhatsApp’s own backup and restore process applies and success is not guaranteed. |
| Apps | Apps available through the Play Store can be downloaded; private app data varies. |
| Audio files and custom-photo wallpaper | These are listed as possible transfer categories, subject to device support. |
Pixel-specific qualifications and manufacturer differences are described in Google’s Pixel transfer help.
What may not transfer automatically
Android’s copy guide identifies several exclusions: data from apps that do not use Android backup, non-Google accounts and their data, contacts or calendars synced through other services, ringtones and certain phone settings. Manufacturer-specific app data can also be omitted. These are limitations of the app or account, not necessarily a failed cable or Wi-Fi connection.
For each item on your pre-switch list, use the service’s own restore method. Examples include signing into a work account, enabling synchronization for a third-party calendar, importing contacts from that provider, downloading files from a service, or completing an in-app migration. Check licenses and two-factor authentication before deleting the old device, because a security prompt may still be sent to the Pixel.
If the old Pixel is unavailable: restore from Google backup
During setup, choose the option to restore from an existing Google Account backup rather than copying from a nearby phone. Select the Pixel backup shown for that account and follow the prompts. This route requires that the backup already exists; it cannot recover data that was never backed up or synced.
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Google warns that restoration varies by device and Android version. A backup from a higher Android version cannot be restored onto a phone running a lower Android version. If the new phone is already set up, the full restore choice may only be available after a factory reset, so check the manufacturer’s instructions before resetting anything.
Relevant guidance: Android backup and restore help.
Transfer the SIM or eSIM and test mobile service
Moving data does not automatically activate cellular service. Physical SIM handling depends on the phone and carrier. eSIM transfer depends on carrier support and compatible devices.
Google lists these requirements for automatic eSIM transfer: Android 12 or later, current Google Play services and a screen lock. Even when those conditions are met, the carrier must support the transfer. If the automatic option fails, contact the carrier for activation or a replacement eSIM process.
- Follow the new phone’s SIM or eSIM setup prompt after, or during, device setup.
- Complete any carrier verification.
- Make a test call and send a text message.
- Test mobile data with Wi-Fi temporarily turned off.
See Google’s Pixel SIM transfer help for carrier-dependent details.
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- Unlock the phone and check that your Google Account is present.
- Open Messages and inspect recent conversations and attachments.
- Open Contacts and search for several older and newer entries.
- Open Google Photos and confirm that recent photos and videos are visible; check locally copied files as well.
- Open Files and inspect important folders and documents.
- Check Calendar accounts and a few future events.
- Review call history and make sure the expected apps have installed.
- Sign in to apps that require authentication and confirm their important data.
- Open WhatsApp and verify the expected chats and media.
- Make a call, send a text and test mobile data after SIM or eSIM activation.
Only after these checks should you remove accounts, erase the Pixel or hand it to someone else. Keeping the old phone available provides a recovery path for data that an app or account did not migrate.
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Troubleshoot common transfer problems
The new phone never offers “copy apps and data”
Device transfer is intended to run during initial setup and may only be offered once. If setup was completed, consult the phone maker’s instructions before considering a reset. Confirm that the Pixel is unlocked and that both phones are sufficiently charged.
The cable connects but no data moves
Try another cable known to support data, check both connectors and use the required adapter. A charging-only cable can power the phones without exposing storage or transfer controls. If the wired path still fails, restart setup and use the documented wireless option.
Some apps are present but their data is missing
App installation and app-data restoration are separate. Sign in to the app, look for its restore or sync control, and check whether it uses a non-Google account. Apps that do not participate in Android backup may require an export from the Pixel or cannot restore local-only data.
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Confirm that the Pixel’s WhatsApp backup finished, then use the same phone number and, for cloud restore, the same Google Account. Check both chats and media. If the expected content is still absent, keep the Pixel untouched and follow WhatsApp’s in-app recovery options; Google does not guarantee every transfer will succeed.
eSIM activation fails
Verify Android 12 or later, current Google Play services and a screen lock, then retry the carrier flow. If the carrier does not support automatic transfer or the compatible-device check fails, contact the carrier for manual activation.
Which migration route should you use?
| Situation | Best route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The Pixel is working and beside the new phone | Direct phone-to-phone copy during setup, wired or wireless | It can transfer supported device data without waiting for every item to be represented in cloud backup. |
| You have a compatible data cable and want Google’s recommended general method | Wired copy | It avoids a wireless link, provided the cable and connectors support data. |
| You do not have a suitable cable | Wireless copy | Pixel setup supports it and no accessory is needed. |
| The Pixel is lost, broken or already unavailable | Google Account backup restore | It is the remaining documented route, subject to backup availability and Android-version compatibility. |
| WhatsApp is important | WhatsApp’s own backup or direct-transfer flow in addition to Android copy | WhatsApp data is app-specific and is not guaranteed by ordinary device backup. |
Security and privacy checks before disposal
Keep the Pixel’s screen lock enabled while transfers and backups run. Review which Google Account is backing up the device, especially if more than one account is signed in. For work-managed phones, follow your organization’s offboarding policy rather than removing management yourself. After confirming the new phone, sign out or erase the old phone using the manufacturer’s standard reset procedure, and remove any physical SIM or storage card that should not stay with it.
Bottom line
Verify the Pixel’s Google backup first, then use the new phone’s setup wizard to copy data directly while the Pixel is unlocked and nearby. Separately confirm Google Photos, contacts, WhatsApp and any non-Google or work accounts. Expect some app data, settings, ringtones and third-party account content to need their own restore steps. Test messages, files, WhatsApp and cellular service, and keep the Pixel intact until those checks pass.
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