How to transfer apps from one phone to the other

• You can transfer all your apps to a new iPhone from an iCloud backup during initial setup.
• Before transferring the apps using iCloud, make sure you've made an iCloud backup of your old phone.
• You can also use the App Store to choose which apps you'd like to download on your new iPhone.

Moving your data to a new iPhone has become a fairly seamless process, thanks in large part to Apple's iCloud backup and restore process.

So before you start transferring apps to your new iPhone, it's recommended to backup your old phone to iCloud. That way, you can use the backup to duplicate your existing iPhone — apps and data included — on a new phone when you upgrade.

And if for any reason you don't want to use iCloud to restore your new iPhone via iCloud, you can transfer apps one at a time using the App Store.

How to transfer apps to a new iPhone using iCloud 

With your iCloud backup ready, you can restore it during your new iPhone's initial setup.

1. Turn on your new iPhone and follow the setup instructions.

2. On the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup.

3. When your iPhone asks you to sign into iCloud, use the same Apple ID that you used on your previous iPhone.

4. You'll then need to enter the passcode that Apple sends to your old iPhone or any other Apple device linked to your Apple ID – you can also just have the code texted to you instead.

5. Agree to the Terms and Conditions by tapping Agree.

6. Tap the most recent backup on the Choose Backup screen.

7. Tap Continue.

8. Follow the rest of the instructions to finish setting up your new iPhone.

After a few moments, your phone will be restored with all the apps from your previous iPhone.

How to transfer apps to a new iPhone using the App Store

If you want to selectively restore apps to a new phone without transferring every app you had on the old phone, you can do that using the App Store.

That's because Apple keeps a record of every app you've ever purchased or downloaded for free, and you can re-install those apps at any time on the same phone or any iPhone you later upgrade to.

1. Open the App Store app on the new iPhone.

2. Search or browse to find the app you want to install.

3. Instead of Get or a price, you should see a cloud icon to indicate you already installed that app in the past. Tap the cloud icon to install the app again. 

4. Repeat that process for any other apps you want to install.

Dave Johnson

Freelance Writer

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

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This article explains how to transfer apps from an old Android phone to your new phone. Methods include using the built-in Android Backup and Restore feature or using the Samsung Smart Switch Mobile app if it's pre-installed on your device.

Use the Android Backup and Restore Feature

First, check that your old device is backing up your data:

Your menu settings might be slightly different depending on your phone's manufacturer and its Android version.

1. Open the Settings and tap System or Google.

2. Tap Backup. (You may have to expand the Advanced section first.)

3. Verify that the Back up by Google One toggle is on. If it is, you're all set.

4. If it's toggled to off, slide it on and select Back up now.

5. When the backup is complete, you're good to go.

You can't restore a backup from a higher Android version onto a device with a lower Android version.

Restore Your Data to the New Phone

Now you're ready to restore your data to the new Android. If you haven't set up your new phone, you'll be able to restore your data, including apps, during that process.

1. Charge your new Android and power it up. Follow the prompts on the screen until it asks you if you want to restore data from another device. You can always opt to start with a clean slate when you get a new phone, but restoring data from an old phone makes the transition seamless.

   This process will vary slightly depending on your phone's manufacturer, carrier, and OS version.

2. Choose the device you want to restore data from and tap Copy Your Data.

3. Your Android prompts you to connect to a Wi-Fi network. Make sure it's connected to the same one as your old phone.

4. From the restore options, choose either A backup from an Android phone (if you have your old Android on hand) or A backup from the cloud (if you don't).

5. Using the same account you're logged in to on your old phone, sign in to your Google account.

6. In the list of backup options, which includes your old Android device, select the correct one (most likely the most recent one). Then tap Restore to move the data and settings from your previous device. Tap Apps to select which apps you want on the new device.

7. While your data is restored in the background, you can continue with the set-up process.

Use the Samsung Smart Switch Mobile App

If you have the Galaxy S7 or later, Smart Switch Mobile is pre-installed on your device. For older devices, download the app from Google Play or the Samsung app store. You can use the app to transfer data from an Android phone running 6.0 Marshmallow or later to a Samsung phone.

To access the app on the S7 or later, tap Settings > Accounts and backup > Smart Switch. For any other phones, look for it in the app drawer.

You can use three methods with Smart Switch: Wirelessly, USB cable, or external storage (SD card or USB storage).

Using Smart Switch With a Wireless Connection

Here's how to transfer apps using the wireless method, which is the most straightforward.

1. Launch Smart Switch on your new phone.

2. Select Receive data > Wireless > Galaxy/Android.

3. Open Smart Switch on your old device.

4. Tap Send data > Wireless.

5. Follow the screen prompts on your new device.

Using Smart Switch With a USB Cable

Here's how to transfer apps using a USB cable.

1. Plug in your old phone's USB cable.

2. Connect that cable to a Samsung USB connector.

3. Plug the Samsung USB connector into your new Samsung phone.

4. Launch Smart Switch on your old phone.

5. Follow screen prompts to transfer apps. Start by adjusting the USB setting on your old phone to Media device (MTP).

Using Smart Switch With an SD Card

To use the external storage option, insert the SD card or connect the phone to the USB storage device that contains the apps you want to restore. Follow the screen prompts.

Samsung also has Smart Switch apps for Windows and Mac. Download and launch the desktop app, connect your new phone to the computer, and follow the on-screen instructions to transfer apps and other data.

Backing Up and Restoring Games

How frustrating is it to start up a new phone, open your favorite game, and find that your progress has been erased? Fear not. With most games in the Play Store, you can easily back up your progress and bring it with you to each new device. A common way to back up games is through Google Play Games. Compatible apps have a green gamepad icon on their Play Store listing.

Open the app, tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner, then select Settings and turn on the Automatically sign in to supported games toggle. Once you've transferred your games to the new phone, log in to your Play Games account to sync progress.

If your game is not Google Play Games compatible, back it up separately. Check the app's settings to see if there's a backup option. 

Other Considerations

For non-Google apps, double-check that those apps are backing up to Google Drive. For instance, you might want a messaging app to save your chat history. Most popular apps will have this option.

If you save passwords or bookmarks in Chrome or another mobile browser, be sure to sign in on all your devices so that your data syncs properly. Go to the browser settings and sign in if you're not already.

FAQ

• How do I transfer apps from my Android to my Chromebook?

  Depending on your model, you may be able to download Android apps on your Chromebook. Log in to your Google Account and go to the Play Store. Any apps you've purchased can be downloaded for free.
  

• Can I transfer apps from my Android to my iPhone?

• How do I transfer contacts from Android to iPhone?

  To transfer contacts from Android to iPhone, download the Move to iOS app in the Google Play Store. Alternatively, use the Google app on iPhone or export your SIM card.

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