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For most people, the easiest way to transfer text messages is to use Android’s built-in copy option while setting up the new phone. Choose the old Android phone as the source and include Texts or Messages. For a new Samsung Galaxy, Smart Switch is a strong alternative. If the new phone is already set up or a transfer misses messages, use Smart Switch or SMS Backup & Restore rather than assuming there is a universal import button.
SMS, MMS and RCS are not interchangeable: a transfer may copy the conversation but miss its photos or videos, or move RCS history without preserving every chat feature. Check the result before wiping or trading in the old phone.
Choose a method
| Your situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| The new phone is still in setup | Android’s built-in phone-to-phone transfer |
| The new phone is a Samsung Galaxy | Samsung Smart Switch |
| The new phone is already set up, or you need selected conversations | SMS Backup & Restore, or Smart Switch for a Galaxy |
| The old phone is unavailable | Restore an existing Google or Samsung backup, or a previously created SMS Backup & Restore file |
Google’s transfer instructions group SMS, MMS, RCS messages and text-message multimedia under “Texts,” but available categories and results can vary by manufacturer and Android version. Treat support for a category as a capability, not a guarantee that every message, attachment or RCS feature will be reproduced exactly.
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- Charge both phones or keep them connected to power. Keep them unlocked and nearby.
- Check that the old phone can still display the conversations and attachments you care about.
- Install practical system and messaging-app updates. Have the relevant Google Account or Samsung Account credentials ready if restoring a cloud backup.
- If using a cable, use a compatible data cable, not one intended only for charging. For Smart Switch wireless transfer, Samsung recommends placing the phones close together—about four inches apart.
- Note which messaging app is currently handling RCS, such as Google Messages or Samsung Messages. RCS is sometimes labelled Chat or Advanced Messaging.
- Do not erase, reset or trade in the old phone until you have checked the new one. If experimenting with another restore method, make a separate backup first.
Moving a SIM card does not itself copy message history. Messages are generally in the phone’s message database or a backup; SIM and carrier activation are separate from transferring that history.
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Method 1: Transfer directly during Android setup
This is the best starting point when the new phone has not been set up. Android’s transfer flow can copy a range of data, including texts, with a cable or a wireless connection. Labels differ between phones.
- Turn on the new Android phone and begin setup.
- When asked whether to copy apps and data, choose the option to copy from an old Android device.
- Connect the phones with a compatible cable, or choose the wireless option shown onscreen.
- Unlock the old phone and approve the connection or prompts on both devices.
- On the new phone, select Texts, Messages or the equivalent category. Check that it is selected before continuing.
- Start the transfer. Keep both phones connected or close by and follow any prompts until the process finishes.
- Open the messaging app on the new phone and check several conversations, including one with a photo or video.
Some phones offer an Android transfer option after setup, but availability is device-specific. Google highlights post-setup Android Switch access for Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold; do not expect every Android phone to have the same later-import option. If setup is complete, see the methods below rather than searching for a universal “import texts later” control.
Method 2: Use Smart Switch for a Samsung Galaxy
For a Galaxy recipient, Samsung’s Smart Switch can transfer messages from another phone. Samsung also documents restoration from a PC or Mac backup, an SD card, USB flash drive or SSD.
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- Open Smart Switch on both phones. It may already be installed on a Galaxy; otherwise, get the official app.
- Place the phones close together and keep them charged.
- On the old phone, tap Send data. On the Galaxy, tap Receive data.
- Choose Wireless on both phones, or connect them by cable if that option is available.
- Select the old phone’s platform, approve the connection on the old phone, then select Messages on the Galaxy.
- Tap Transfer and wait for the process to finish. Inspect messages and media on the Galaxy before retiring the old phone.
Samsung also documents a Samsung Cloud option for Galaxy phones: on the old phone, open Settings > Accounts and backup, choose Back up data under Samsung Cloud, select Messages and tap Back up now. On the new Galaxy, sign in to the same Samsung Account, then open Settings > Accounts and backup > Restore data, select the old device backup and restore Messages. Menu names may differ by model or software version. This is a Samsung-specific path, not a general Android backup method.
Method 3: Restore messages from Google backup
Google backup is useful if the old phone is unavailable but has a recent, usable backup, or if direct transfer is impractical. Google says some message backup and transfer functions are available on Android 9 and later; restoration depends on device and Android-version compatibility.
Back up the old phone
- On the old phone, open Settings and find its Google backup controls. Depending on the device, these may be under Google > Backup, System > Backup or Accounts and backup.
- Confirm device backup is enabled and the correct Google Account is in use. Tap Back up now if offered, then wait for it to complete.
Google’s documented route is generally Settings > Google > Backup and restore > Backup, but manufacturers may rename or relocate it. See Google’s Android backup instructions.
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Restore on the new phone
- During setup, sign in with the same Google Account.
- Choose the available backup for the old phone and select the data categories offered, including messages where shown.
- Complete setup, allow restoration to finish, then check the messaging app and attachments.
Google backup restoration is normally offered during setup. If the new phone is already configured, first check whether its manufacturer provides a post-setup transfer. Otherwise, use Smart Switch for a Galaxy or SMS Backup & Restore. A factory reset may let you restore a Google backup during setup, but it erases the new phone. Back up anything currently on it and verify that backup before resetting. Google also warns that a backup from a higher Android version cannot be restored to a phone running a lower Android version. See Google’s message backup and restore guidance.
Method 4: Transfer after setup with SMS Backup & Restore
SMS Backup & Restore by SyncTech is a fallback for a phone that is already configured, selective transfers, or messages a built-in method missed. It creates its own XML backup; it cannot directly read a Google device backup. SyncTech says it supports SMS and MMS, selected conversations and MMS media, and RCS/Advanced messages on selected models. RCS may return as ordinary SMS or MMS rather than retaining all RCS features.
Create a backup on the old phone
- Install the app from Google Play or SyncTech’s official site and grant the requested permissions.
- Choose Backup. Select messages and, if needed, MMS media. You can optionally include call logs.
- Choose a local destination or a supported cloud account, then run the backup. The app also supports Wi-Fi Direct transfer.
- Confirm that the backup file exists and note its message count if the app displays one.
Restore on the new phone
- Install the same app on the new phone.
- Move the backup file to it, or use the app’s Wi-Fi transfer option. A Google device backup is not the same file and cannot be selected as an SMS Backup & Restore backup.
- Choose Restore or Transfer, select the correct backup and choose messages and attachments to restore.
- If Android asks, temporarily make SMS Backup & Restore the default SMS app. This may be necessary to write messages to the system database.
- Let the restore finish, then switch back to your preferred messaging app and inspect conversations and media.
SyncTech says its XML format is independent of Android version, but the app restores only backups made in its supported format. Its backups are stored on the phone or in the cloud account you select, rather than on SyncTech’s own servers. An XML backup can still contain sensitive message text and phone numbers: protect the file and any cloud account holding it. The free edition covers the core backup and restore workflow; paid features are not required for a basic one-time transfer.
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Verify messages before deleting the old phone
A successful progress screen is not enough. On the new phone, check:
- An old one-to-one SMS conversation and a recent conversation.
- A long-running thread, including older messages and timestamps.
- A group conversation that uses MMS.
- A thread containing photos or videos; open the media rather than checking only for a thumbnail or message entry.
- An important RCS conversation, including whether features such as reactions or read receipts are still available.
- Sender direction and the expected phone number or contact for key messages.
Keep the old phone and the original backup intact until these checks pass. Changing a phone number can also affect how new messages are threaded, and RCS may need to register again on the new phone. Carrier and eSIM setup vary; activating a SIM or eSIM does not substitute for transferring message history.
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The new phone has fewer messages
- Do not erase the old phone. Check whether restoration is still running or messages are still appearing.
- Look for a backup made before the latest messages arrived, an interrupted transfer, or a category that was not selected.
- Check whether the old and new phones used different messaging apps, especially for RCS.
- Make a fresh backup and retry using one deliberate method—preferably a direct cable transfer or Smart Switch for a Galaxy. If important messages remain missing, create and restore an SMS Backup & Restore file.
Messages arrived, but photos or videos did not
Do not assume MMS media copied just because the conversation appears. Check the original phone and backup first. SyncTech warns that built-in transfers can create text-only MMS records; if a later SMS Backup & Restore restore treats those records as duplicates, the missing media may not be added. Avoid stacking restore methods casually. If incomplete text-only records are already on the new phone, preserve the old phone or backup and follow SyncTech’s MMS recovery guidance before removing anything. Make sure the source containing the media is safe before deleting incomplete records, then perform one clean restore.
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The messaging app does not show restored messages
Restart the phone, allow time for indexing and confirm the intended app is the default SMS app. If using SMS Backup & Restore, consult its troubleshooting guidance. Clearing the Messages app’s storage is a last resort, not a routine fix: it can remove local app state, and what it deletes can vary by phone. Read the device-specific warning and make sure important data is backed up before trying it.
RCS history looks different
RCS or “Chat” history does not always retain RCS behavior after transfer. Depending on the tool, app and model, a restored message may behave like SMS/MMS; read receipts, typing indicators, reactions or other chat metadata may not carry over. A history copy is not necessarily a full recreation of the original RCS experience.
SMS Backup & Restore cannot find the Google backup
That is expected: Google’s device backup is not an XML file created by SMS Backup & Restore. Use Android setup to restore the Google backup, or create a separate backup with SMS Backup & Restore if you need that app’s restore path.
Google Drive authorization fails
If using SyncTech’s app with Drive, follow its Drive authorization troubleshooting steps. SyncTech describes removing the app’s existing Drive connection and reconnecting with limited access to its own files.
The old phone is lost, broken or wiped
Restore a usable Google or Samsung backup, an SMS Backup & Restore file, or a computer, SD-card or USB backup already made. Without an accessible phone or a backup from before the messages were lost, there is no reliable way to recreate that history; SyncTech says its app cannot recover deleted messages that were not backed up beforehand. A professional recovery service may be an option for a damaged device, but success is not guaranteed.
What this does not transfer
WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and similar services keep chat history in app-specific systems. Use each service’s own transfer or backup instructions; copying ordinary SMS/MMS does not migrate those chats. Likewise, moving a SIM does not copy SMS history. These steps focus on the phone’s standard text-message database and supported device backups.
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