[amyf27]

Which method do you all prefer, and why. Samsung Smart Switch, Samsung Cloud, or transfer via usb cord? Ideally I'd like everything inluding home page layout ot transfer to the new phone. Ususally though when using smart switch a handful of apps and other things don't transfer properly and need loaded manually.

[amyf27]

Related also to this question: I have a Samsung Tab S6. Ideally, I'd like it to have the same layout, same home screen set up etc as my phone. Which is the best way to do that?

[williams448]

I use Samsung Cloud's auto backup daily, but use Smart Switch when transferring data to a new phone. Some people say they have issues with Smart Switch, but I have used it with the last 3 or 4 new phones, & I have had no issues. All Google apps I have set to sync in the background so I don't worry with them at all.

I like simplicity & all the stock Samsung options work good for me, and I get a new phone every year so I've done it a few times.

[Emig5m]

Just kidding. I think I just used smart switch over USB with the free requested transfer adapter and my S20 looked just like my S10 upon completion. Same wallpaper and everything. Used the same method with going from S7 to S10 over home wi-fi with the same result.

[msm0511]

I generally prefer to do everything from scratch to avoid any issues, but I do semi-regularly backup using Smart Switch on my laptop. I would feel safest to use that vs. any other type of backup. I also do the Samsung auto backup to the cloud, but that's more or less for that particular phone I'm using at the time. If I have a major crash or if I have to do a factory reset I have the daily backups to save anything just in case.

[methodman89]

Related also to this question: I have a Samsung Tab S6. Ideally, I'd like it to have the same layout, same home screen set up etc as my phone. Which is the best way to do that?

I would use Smart Switch. Keep in mind that you will need to do some set up as tablet and phone have different uis. Good luck

[mustang7757]

Which method do you all prefer, and why. Samsung Smart Switch, Samsung Cloud, or transfer via usb cord? Ideally I'd like everything inluding home page layout ot transfer to the new phone. Ususally though when using smart switch a handful of apps and other things don't transfer properly and need loaded manually.

Use both Samsung cloud , smart switch and google photos to sync with gallery .

[Emig5m]

Use both Samsung cloud , smart switch and google photos to sync with gallery .

I dunno about all that cloud stuff....isn't that how all the naked celeb photos surfaced from The Fappening a few years back because someone hacked the cloud servers? (I don't think they where hacked, I think an employee with easy access to the servers did it). Yea I don't really have nothing to hide....or do I...lol. Just the thought of anything that I *might* not want posted online could be hacked on those cloud servers is a turn off since it's been done before and to celebrities. If I post a photo or video online it was because I made a conscious decision to do it manually and not that my stuff was automatically backed up then the evidence hacked and leaked. I could be a Government spy with stuff to hide or something...oops there goes my cover! hehe.

[mustang7757]

I dunno about all that cloud stuff....isn't that how all the naked celeb photos surfaced from The Fappening a few years back because someone hacked the cloud servers? (I don't think they where hacked, I think an employee with easy access to the servers did it). Yea I don't really have nothing to hide....or do I...lol. Just the thought of anything that I *might* not want posted online could be hacked on those cloud servers is a turn off since it's been done before and to celebrities. If I post a photo or video online it was because I made a conscious decision to do it manually and not that my stuff was automatically backed up then the evidence hacked and leaked. I could be a Government spy with stuff to hide or something...oops there goes my cover! hehe.

I've been doing it for years , so far nothing happened , I guess I'm not popular out there but I get what your saying , at some point we cant get that paranoid, can things happen yes but that's with anything else, tmobile for example has been breached so many times since I've been with them and they had access to soc security date of birth all the good stuff but i just change the password and move along and deal with anything that arises .

[criminal_bg]

I dunno about all that cloud stuff....isn't that how all the naked celeb photos surfaced from The Fappening a few years back because someone hacked the cloud servers? (I don't think they where hacked, I think an employee with easy access to the servers did it). Yea I don't really have nothing to hide....or do I...lol. Just the thought of anything that I *might* not want posted online could be hacked on those cloud servers is a turn off since it's been done before and to celebrities. If I post a photo or video online it was because I made a conscious decision to do it manually and not that my stuff was automatically backed up then the evidence hacked and leaked. I could be a Government spy with stuff to hide or something...oops there goes my cover! hehe.

i share some of those same thoughts with using the cloud

[msm0511]

I dunno about all that cloud stuff....isn't that how all the naked celeb photos surfaced from The Fappening a few years back because someone hacked the cloud servers? (I don't think they where hacked, I think an employee with easy access to the servers did it). Yea I don't really have nothing to hide....or do I...lol. Just the thought of anything that I *might* not want posted online could be hacked on those cloud servers is a turn off since it's been done before and to celebrities. If I post a photo or video online it was because I made a conscious decision to do it manually and not that my stuff was automatically backed up then the evidence hacked and leaked. I could be a Government spy with stuff to hide or something...oops there goes my cover! hehe.

Those happened b/c of celebrities falling victim to phishing attacks, not hacking into the services themselves. The 4 people that initiated the phishing attacks were found and convicted of the attacks. They didn't technically hack anything though.

[bhatech]

@mustang7757

I tried the smart switch from Ultra to S20+ today, one thing I observed is I had to re-enter all my passwords again for many apps which was little disappointing. And also lot of app settings didn't carry over. Thought smart switch should all that?

That's one thing great work iOS, you'll get carbon copy of your device. I think even pixel to pixel copy now does lots of things better.

Is that because I did smart switch connecting via cable between Ultra and S20+ instead of some back up to Mac/PC and use restore from there?

[mustang7757]

@mustang7757

I tried the smart switch from Ultra to S20+ today, one thing I observed is I had to re-enter all my passwords again for many apps which was little disappointing. And also lot of app settings didn't carry over. Thought smart switch should all that?

That's one thing great work iOS, you'll get carbon copy of your device. I think even pixel to pixel copy now does lots of things better.

Is that because I did smart switch connecting via cable between Ultra and S20+ instead of some back up to Mac/PC and use restore from there?

Passwords would have to be through Samsung pass or google auto fill which I use both

[mustang7757]

I use smart switch just a extra back up, I do Samsung cloud restore usually

[bhatech]

Passwords would have to be through Samsung pass or google auto fill which I use both

No I use LastPass for my password management and auto fill which works everywhere that's not the problem.

I'm talking about having to enter/autofill passwords after smart switch restore. Basically no app data was restored, just the apps were installed and have to start from scratch on all the apps.

In iOS that's not the case all the apps with their settings/data is restored just like carbon copy. Even on pixel to pixel restore lots of apps will have their app data/settings restored if I recall.

[bhatech]

I use smart switch just a extra back up, I do Samsung cloud restore usually

Ah ok it's the Samsung cloud restore that'll restore the carbon copy not the smart switch. Makes sense.

[mustang7757]

Ah ok it's the Samsung cloud restore that'll restore the carbon copy not the smart switch. Makes sense.

Yes ,let me show you

[mustang7757]

That's why I say Samsung cloud Is better then one drive

[Gray Area]

So, I had to do things differently this time around. When I get a new phone or reset an existing phone, I'd usually just log into Google and let it restore and have had decent success. I just got my S20 ultra yesterday and somehow missed Google restore option during setup, but I did restore my Samsung account. The problem with that was my Samsung restore didn't have all of my apps for some reason and I couldn't get my Google account to allow me to restore anything except contacts. Which is pointless because the account already syncs contacts. So I then used the Smart switch app and it transferred everything pretty darn close to perfection as a carbon copy of my note 9, minus 3 or 4 no longer supported apps. It even transfered my pixel 3 apk camera app which works albeit not as good on s20 ultra.

The only issue I have and always have had, is having to log back into everything. While most of my settings remained intact, I found myself confused because some apps as soon as I clicked on them would login with no issues because of Google smart lock and others would prefill with Samsung pass. But some apps didn't have either, which is confusing. Why do only some apps work with Samsung pass and others work with Google smart lock and then some don't work with either? I would think it would make sense to have all apps be compatible with either or both. I really don't care which one, they both work fine, Google smart lock logs you in immediately when the app opens and samsung pass requires you to tap the icon then use your fingerprint which is good for banking apps etc... Both are great if they only worked for everything. I'm just tired of having to look u user names and passwords manually! Iphones definitely win in this category!