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How to transfer data from Android to your new Fairphone

Moving your personal data to your new phone is simple. You can transfer your accounts, apps, photos, and settings from your old Android device during the initial setup of your new Fairphone.

 

ⓘ These steps require Android 13 or later. If you are not sure which version your Fairphone is running, see How to check and update your software version.

 

In this article

 

Prepare your old Android device

 

Before starting the data transmission, complete these preparatory steps on your old phone to prevent data loss:

  1. Charge your old phone to at least 50% and connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network.
  2. Go to Settings > Google > Backup.
  3. Tap on Back up now to create a fresh backup of your current data.

  4. Ensure that your old phone is updated to its latest software version to maintain compatibility.

     

 

Transfer data during setup

 

Follow these steps once you turn on your new Fairphone for the first time:

 

  1. Turn on your new Fairphone, charge it to at least 50%, and tap on Start.
  2. Connect the phone to your local Wi-Fi network.
  3. When the screen displays Copy apps & data, tap on Next.
  4. Unlock your old Android phone and choose how to connect the two devices:
    • With a cable (recommended): Connect a compatible USB-C cable between both smartphones.
    • Wireless: Tap on No cable? on the screen and follow the on-screen prompts to pair the devices wirelessly.
  5. On your old phone, confirm the Copy prompt when it appears.
  6. On your new Fairphone, sign in to your Google account.
  7. Select the specific data types you want to transfer, such as apps, contacts, calendar items, and photos.

  8. Tap on Copy to begin the data transmission process.

     

 

Troubleshooting data transfer issues

 

If you encounter an unexpected interruption or error message during the setup process, try these troubleshooting steps:

 

Check your connections

  • Ensure both devices remain connected to the same stable Wi-Fi network if you are using the wireless transfer method.

  • Disconnect and firmly re-connect your USB-C cable on both smartphones if you are using a wired connection. Try using a different high-quality cable that supports data transfer if the connection drops.

     

Verify account and storage limitations

  • Make sure you are logging into the exact same Google Account on both devices.
  • Check that Google Photos backup is turned on and has recently synced.
  • Verify that your new Fairphone has enough storage space to hold the total volume of data you selected from your old phone.

  • Some app-specific data (like game progress or WhatsApp chat history) may not transfer. In these cases, check to see if the app offers a built-in backup and restore feature instead.

     

Perform a system restart

If the transfer setup freezes or stops responding altogether, you can clear temporary software errors by restarting the setup process:

  1. Disconnect the devices from each other.
  2. Perform a restart on both phones by powering off and powering on each device completely.

  3. Turn on your new Fairphone and begin the step-by-step setup sequence from the beginning.

     

 

Frequently asked questions

Will my WhatsApp chat history transfer automatically? +

WhatsApp histories do not always move over via the standard Android system restore. To secure your chats, open WhatsApp on your old device and choose one of the options below:

Option 1: Use WhatsApp’s Chat Transfer feature

  1. Tap on More Options > Settings > Chats > Transfer chats > Start.
  2. On your new Fairphone, under Restore or transfer chats, select Transfer from old phone.

Option 2: Make a manual chat backup

  1. Tap on Settings > Chats > Chat backup > Back up to your Google Account.
  2. Save the backup to your Google Drive.
  3. Log in on your new Fairphone and click Restore when prompted.
Why didn't some of my apps download? +

Apps will only reinstall automatically if they are available on the Google Play Store and fully compatible with the latest Android operating system version running on your new Fairphone. Paid apps will reinstall as long as you log into the exact same Google Account.

 

Still need help?

 

If your issues persist, first try our self-service portal and then reach out to our customer support team. You can also open a support request directly through the My Fairphone app pre-installed on your device.

 

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