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Freedom251 › Blog › Android

How to Transfer Contacts to a New Samsung Galaxy Phone

By Freedom251 Team · · 3 min read

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To copy contacts between Samsung phones, use Smart Switch: start a wireless transfer on both devices, choose contacts, and follow the prompts. It does not require a cable. If Smart Switch does not bring over every contact, check whether those entries are stored in a supported account or in a third-party account that needs to sync separately.

How do I transfer contacts from one Samsung phone to another?

  1. Open Smart Switch on both phones. Find it in the app list or search for “Smart Switch” in Settings. Menus vary by model and software version.
  2. Set up the new phone. Tap Receive on this phone, choose Galaxy/Android, then select Wireless.
  3. Set up the old phone. Tap Send from this phone, then select Wireless. Follow the prompts to allow the phones to connect. Samsung’s US instructions say to keep the phones within four inches during wireless setup.
  4. Select contacts and transfer. In the data list, select contacts and start the transfer. Wait for Smart Switch to report completion; Samsung says the phones can remain on their chargers during a wireless transfer.
  5. Verify the result. Open Contacts on the new phone and check several important entries, including their phone numbers and other details.

If the button labels differ, search Settings for “Smart Switch” and follow the on-screen instructions. Samsung also documents alternate labels such as Bring data from old device, Send data, and Receive data; menus are not identical across every Galaxy model or region. See Samsung’s US Smart Switch instructions.

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Will Smart Switch copy every contact?

Not necessarily. Samsung says Smart Switch contact backup covers contacts stored in Samsung accounts, Google accounts, and SIM cards, but not contacts held in other external accounts. Supported items can also vary by the connected devices. If important entries are missing, check which account stores them before repeating the transfer.

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  1. On the old phone, open Contacts.
  2. Tap Menu > Manage contacts > Move contacts.
  3. Review the available storage locations and identify where the missing contacts are saved.

For contacts already stored in a supported Google or Samsung account, make sure the same account is available and syncing on the new phone. Contacts in a third-party account may need to be handled through that account’s own sync options. Samsung’s contact guidance explains supported storage and account limits: Samsung Canada: back up and restore contacts.

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Can I use a cable instead?

Yes. Smart Switch supports a wired transfer when you have a compatible USB cable. The cable must connect to both phones, and depending on their ports and model combination, you may need an adapter. Check the connectors before buying anything.

  1. Connect the phones with the compatible cable or cable-and-adapter combination.
  2. Open Smart Switch on both phones and choose the cable transfer option when prompted.
  3. Allow the devices to connect or scan, select contacts in the data list, and start the transfer.
  4. Check the new phone’s Contacts app when Smart Switch finishes.

Samsung says the phones cannot remain connected to chargers while joined for a wired transfer; its guidance recommends wireless for a large transfer. The exact cable and connection prompts depend on the phones. See Samsung’s cable and wireless transfer guidance.

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What if direct transfer is not suitable?

Use Smart Switch on a computer

Smart Switch for PC or Mac provides a backup-and-restore fallback: back up the old phone to the computer, then restore the backup to the new phone using Smart Switch’s on-screen flow. Samsung documents this option alongside phone-to-phone transfer: Samsung Canada contact backup guidance.

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Move contacts from a SIM card

A SIM can be an option for a small address book or contacts already saved to the SIM. Its contact capacity is limited, so it is not the best default for moving a large set of contacts. Samsung also documents Smart Switch and other contact-management options in its US contact-management guide.

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