How to Transfer Data to Your New Flip Phone

Congratulations on your new flip phone! One of the first tasks you'll face is transferring all your important data from your old device—contacts, photos, messages, apps, and settings. The good news is that modern Android phones, including all major flip phone brands, have made this process remarkably straightforward.

This guide covers the various methods for transferring data to your new foldable device, whether you're coming from another Android phone, an iPhone, or starting fresh. We'll walk through each method step by step so you can get up and running quickly.

Before You Begin: Preparation Checklist

Taking a few minutes to prepare ensures a smooth transfer process and prevents data loss.

On Your Old Phone

• Back up your data: Create a fresh backup to your Google account or iCloud (for iPhone users). This provides a safety net if anything goes wrong.
• Charge both phones: Make sure both devices have at least 50% battery. Transfer processes can take time, and you don't want either phone dying mid-transfer.
• Note your accounts: Write down any accounts you're signed into—email, social media, banking apps—along with their passwords. You'll need to sign in again on the new device.
• Disable security locks: Some transfer methods work better with screen lock disabled. You can re-enable it after the transfer completes.
• Check storage: Ensure your new flip phone has enough storage space for everything you want to transfer.

Method 1: Manufacturer Transfer Apps (Recommended)

Each major flip phone manufacturer provides a dedicated transfer app that offers the most comprehensive migration experience. These apps typically transfer the most data with the least hassle.

Samsung Smart Switch

If your new flip phone is a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, Smart Switch is the best transfer method. It can migrate data from both Android phones and iPhones.

Step 1: On your new Galaxy Z Flip, open the Smart Switch app (it's pre-installed, or download it from the Galaxy Store).

Step 2: Choose "Receive data" and select whether your old phone is a Galaxy/Android device or an iPhone.

Step 3: For Android transfers, install Smart Switch on your old phone if it isn't already installed. For iPhone transfers, you can connect directly via cable or use iCloud backup.

Step 4: Connect the phones using the provided USB-C cable (or USB-C to Lightning adapter for iPhone) or select wireless transfer if both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Step 5: Select what you want to transfer—contacts, messages, photos, apps, settings, and more. Samsung Smart Switch can transfer app data for many popular apps, preserving your progress and preferences.

Step 6: Wait for the transfer to complete. This can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have.

Motorola Moto App

For Motorola Razr devices, the Moto app includes a built-in migration tool.

Step 1: During initial setup of your Razr, you'll be prompted to transfer data. Select "Copy apps & data."

Step 2: Connect your old phone via USB cable or tap "A backup from the cloud" to restore from Google backup.

Step 3: Follow the on-screen prompts to select what data to transfer.

Method 2: Google Backup and Restore

If you've been using Google's backup services on your old Android phone, restoring to your new flip phone is seamless. This method works regardless of which brand of Android phone you're coming from or going to.

Ensure Your Backup Is Current

On your old phone, go to Settings > System > Backup (location may vary by manufacturer). Make sure "Back up to Google Drive" is enabled and check the date of the last backup. Tap "Back up now" to create a fresh backup before switching.

Restore During Setup

When you set up your new flip phone and sign into your Google account, you'll be offered the option to restore from a previous device. Select your old phone's backup, and Google will restore your apps, contacts, call history, device settings, and app data for compatible apps.

What Google Backup Includes

• Apps from Google Play Store (automatically re-downloaded)
• App data for apps that support Google backup
• Call history
• Device settings (Wi-Fi passwords, display preferences, etc.)
• Contacts (synced to Google Contacts)
• Calendar events
• SMS messages (for Pixel phones and some others)

What Google Backup Doesn't Include

• Photos and videos (unless backed up to Google Photos)
• Music files stored locally
• App data for apps that don't support Google backup
• Downloaded files not in synced folders

Method 3: Transferring from iPhone

Switching from iPhone to an Android flip phone requires a few extra steps, but millions of people make this transition successfully. Here's how to ensure a smooth switch.

Before Leaving iPhone

Disable iMessage: This is critical. If you don't turn off iMessage before switching, you may miss text messages from other iPhone users. Go to Settings > Messages > iMessage and turn it off. Also disable FaceTime in Settings > FaceTime.

Request your data: While you can transfer many things directly, consider downloading your data from Apple for a complete record. Go to privacy.apple.com to request a copy of your data.

Transfer Using Samsung Smart Switch

Samsung Smart Switch can import data directly from your iPhone via cable or from an iCloud backup. This includes contacts, calendars, photos, videos, music, and even some app data.

Transfer Using Google Drive

An alternative approach is to back up your iPhone data to Google:

Step 1: Install Google Drive on your iPhone.

Step 2: Open Google Drive, tap the menu, go to Settings > Backup, and back up your contacts, calendar, and photos to Google.

Step 3: Sign into the same Google account on your new flip phone. Your contacts and calendar will sync automatically, and photos will be available in Google Photos.

Transferring Specific Types of Data

Photos and Videos

If your photos aren't backed up to a cloud service, you have several options. The manufacturer transfer apps will move photos directly between devices. Alternatively, you can use Google Photos to back up your old phone's photos (it offers 15GB free with Google account), then access them on your new device. For the most complete transfer with original quality, connect your old phone to a computer, copy the DCIM folder, then transfer it to your new flip phone.

WhatsApp and Messaging Apps

WhatsApp has built-in backup and restore functionality. On your old phone, go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat backup and create a backup to Google Drive. On your new phone, sign into WhatsApp with the same phone number, and you'll be prompted to restore from backup.

Other messaging apps like Signal, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger have similar backup features—check their settings before switching devices.

Authenticator Apps

If you use Google Authenticator or similar two-factor authentication apps, transfer them carefully to avoid being locked out of accounts. Google Authenticator now supports cloud backup—enable it before switching. For other authenticator apps, check their export or transfer features. Some services let you set up 2FA again by disabling and re-enabling it on your accounts.

Post-Transfer Checklist

After the transfer completes, take time to verify everything moved correctly:

• Check your contacts list for completeness
• Open your photos app and verify your pictures are present
• Send a test text message to an iPhone user to confirm you're receiving messages
• Log into important apps (banking, email, social media) and verify your accounts work
• Re-download any apps that didn't transfer automatically
• Set up your preferred keyboard, ringtones, and notification sounds
• Configure your flip phone's unique features like cover screen widgets and FlexCam

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Transfer seems stuck: Large photo libraries can take hours to transfer. If the progress bar hasn't moved in 30 minutes and phones are still connected, try restarting both devices and starting again.

Some apps missing: Paid apps tied to a different account or apps not available on Android won't transfer. You'll need to repurchase or find alternatives.

Contacts duplicated: This happens when contacts exist in multiple places (phone storage, Google, Samsung account). Most phones have a "merge duplicates" feature in the Contacts app.

With these steps completed, your new flip phone should feel just like home—with all your important data in place and ready to enjoy the foldable experience.