So you went out and bought yourself a brand new smartphone — congratulations are in order. Now comes a bit of work: you’ll have to successfully transfer all of your important files over from your new phone without missing anything or, worse, putting your security at risk. We spoke with tech experts who know exactly how to get the job done with zero fuss or risk-taking. This is the safest way to transfer your data when you get a new phone, according to tech experts.
Rely On A Cloud-Based Service
Cloud-based services are your most secure and loyal friend when it comes to transferring your data from one device to another.
“The safest way to transfer your data from an old phone to a new one is to use a cloud-based backup service,” says Marcus Nielsen is the editor-in-chief of LaptopBlogger.com. “This will allow you to save your data online and then access it from your new phone. Another option is to use a USB cable to transfer the data from your old phone to your new one. However, this method can be risky if you do not have a backup of your data.”
There are a few things you can do to help protect your privacy when transferring data, Nielsen explains. “First, you can use a secure connection, like HTTPS, to encrypt your data as it travels between your computer and the server,” Nielsen says. “You can also use a VPN to keep your data hidden from prying eyes. Additionally, you should avoid sending sensitive information over unsecured connections, like email or instant messaging.”
And if you want more assistance and a less hands-on approach, there’s an app for that.
The Google One App
Smartphones are now coming with their own software to transfer data from one model to another, according to Jason Wise, chief editor of Earth Web – but he cautions that they don’t necessarily show compatibility across devices from different companies.
“Samsung has the Smart Switch option to safely transfer data from your old Samsung to the new one,” Wise says. “However, the best way to do this is through Google One, the most elementary app by Android to transfer data from one phone to another, and its company-agnostic. This bypasses any third party app to transfer data as well, and you don’t have to share your entire data with the smartphone company while transferring. Google One also has strong security protocols to keep you safeguarded against any hacking attempts.”
Deep Cleaning
Once you transfer data, don’t stop there. “Check your old phone for any remaining files, messages, or photos,” Wise recommends. “Chances are these weren’t backed up on Google One and got left behind. Upload them on Google One manually and then transfer these to the new device. Once you have all you need, time to factory reset your old phone.”
It may take a few additional steps to ensure your data is successfully transferred, but it will be well worth it if it also means your info is safe and secure.
