How to Move Photos, Videos & Contacts to a New Phone

Your photos capture years of memories, your videos preserve life's biggest moments, and your contacts keep you connected to the people who matter most. So when it's time to switch to a new phone, it's natural to wonder how to move everything safely without losing anything along the way.

The good news is that moving your photos, videos, and contacts to a new phone is easier than ever. Whether you're upgrading to a newer device or replacing an old one, the right transfer method helps ensure your important data arrives safely and is ready to use from the moment you turn on your new phone.

In this guide, you'll learn how to move your photos, videos, and contacts step by step, what to do before you begin, and how Smart Transfer's Phone Clone feature can help make the process quick, secure, and hassle-free. If you're preparing for a phone upgrade, our guide on What to Do Before Switching to a New Phone can help you get your old device ready before you start transferring your data.

What Can You Move to Your New Phone?

When people upgrade to a new phone, they usually care about three things first: their photos, videos, and contacts. Those are the files that hold memories, important conversations, and the information they use every day.

The good news is that you don't have to leave any of them behind. With the right transfer method, you can move your most important data quickly and securely without having to copy each file manually.

Depending on the transfer method you choose, you can typically move:

Photos to keep your memories intact.
Videos, including personal recordings and downloaded clips.
Contacts, along with names, phone numbers, and email addresses.
Documents and files, such as PDFs and presentations.
Music and audio files stored on your device.
Other personal files that you want to keep.

If you're only interested in moving your photos, videos, and contacts, you don't have to transfer everything else. Smart Transfer's Phone Clone feature lets you choose the types of data you want to move, giving you more control over what appears on your new phone.

If you're planning to move everything instead of just a few file types, our guide on How to Transfer Data from Android to Android walks you through the complete transfer process step by step.

Before You Move Your Data

Before you start transferring your photos, videos, and contacts, take a few minutes to prepare both devices. These simple checks can help the transfer run smoothly and reduce the chances of missing files or interruptions.

Charge Both Phones

Moving a large photo library or hundreds of videos can take some time. Make sure both phones have enough battery life before you begin, or keep them plugged into a charger throughout the transfer.

Connect to a Stable Wi-Fi Network

If you're transferring your data wirelessly, a stable Wi-Fi connection is essential. A strong connection helps keep the transfer fast and reduces the risk of it stopping before it's complete.

Check Available Storage

Before moving your files, make sure your new phone has enough free storage. Photos and videos, especially those recorded in high resolution, can quickly use several gigabytes of space.

Remove Unnecessary Files

There's no reason to move duplicate photos, blurry images, outdated screenshots, or files you no longer need. Spending a few minutes cleaning up your current phone means your new one starts organized from day one.

If your phone is running low on storage, our guide on Why Is My Phone Storage Full? explains where hidden files accumulate and how to free up space without deleting the things that matter most.

Back Up Important Information

Although transfers are generally reliable, creating a backup before switching phones is always a smart precaution. Having a backup ensures you can recover important data if something unexpected happens during the transfer.

How to Move Photos, Videos & Contacts Using Smart Transfer

Once both devices are ready, you're just a few steps away from moving your most important data. Follow the guide below to transfer your photos, videos, and contacts using Smart Transfer's Phone Clone feature.

Step	What to Do
1. Install Smart Transfer	Download and install Smart Transfer on both your old phone and your new phone. Open the app on each device and grant the requested permissions.
2. Open Phone Clone	Launch Phone Clone and select the correct role for each device: Sender on your old phone and Receiver on your new phone.
3. Connect Both Devices	Follow the on-screen instructions to connect the devices. Keep them close together and avoid switching to other apps while the connection is being established.
4. Select Your Data	Choose Photos, Videos, and Contacts. If you only want to move one or two of these, simply select those categories before continuing.
5. Start the Transfer	Tap Transfer and let Smart Transfer do the rest. If you're moving a large photo library or long videos, keep both devices unlocked and connected to power until the transfer finishes.
6. Verify Everything Transferred	Open your gallery and contacts on your new phone to confirm that your photos, videos, and contacts have transferred successfully before setting your old phone aside.

Tips to Keep Your Photos, Videos & Contacts Safe During the Transfer

Moving your data to a new phone is usually straightforward, but following a few best practices can help ensure everything transfers successfully the first time.

Keep Both Phones Nearby

Keep your old and new phones close together throughout the transfer. Moving too far away or switching networks can interrupt the connection and slow the process.

Avoid Using Your Phones During the Transfer

While the transfer is in progress, avoid opening other apps, taking photos, or making changes to your files. Letting the transfer finish without interruptions helps reduce the risk of incomplete or corrupted data.

Keep Both Devices Charged

Photos and videos can take time to transfer, especially if you have a large library. Keep both devices plugged into a charger or make sure they have enough battery before starting.

Don't Delete Files Right Away

Even if the transfer appears to be complete, wait until you've confirmed that your photos, videos, and contacts are available on your new phone before deleting anything from your old device.

Check Your Most Important Files

Before you put your old phone away, open a few recent photos, play a couple of videos, and review your contacts. Taking a minute to verify your data gives you peace of mind that everything transferred successfully.

What to Check After Moving Your Photos, Videos & Contacts

Once the transfer is complete, take a few minutes to make sure everything arrived safely. It's much easier to spot and fix missing files before you erase, sell, or trade in your old phone.

Review Your Photo Library

Open your gallery and browse through a few albums. Check that your recent photos, older memories, and favorite images are all there. If you organize your pictures into albums, make sure they're displayed correctly on your new phone.

Play a Few Videos

Don't assume your videos transferred perfectly just because you can see them in your gallery. Open a few clips, especially larger or longer videos, to confirm they play normally and haven't become corrupted during the transfer.

Check Your Contacts

Scroll through your contacts and make sure your most important phone numbers and email addresses are available on your new device. It's also a good idea to search for duplicate contacts and merge them before you start using your new phone regularly.

If you notice duplicate entries after the transfer, Smart Transfer's Contacts Cleaner can help you quickly identify and merge them, making your contact list easier to manage.

Keep Your Old Phone for a Few Days

Even if everything looks good, avoid factory resetting or trading in your old phone immediately. Use your new phone for a day or two to make sure all your photos, videos, and contacts are exactly where you expect them to be.

Once you're confident everything has transferred successfully, you can safely erase your old device and enjoy your new phone with peace of mind.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Photos, Videos & Contacts

A successful transfer is about more than just moving your files. Avoiding a few common mistakes can save you time and help ensure your photos, videos, and contacts arrive safely on your new phone.

Mistake	Why It Matters	What to Do Instead
Deleting data from your old phone too soon	If you discover missing photos or contacts later, they may no longer be recoverable.	Wait until you've confirmed everything has transferred successfully before deleting any files or resetting your old phone.
Not checking available storage	If your new phone runs out of space, the transfer may stop before it's complete.	Make sure your new phone has enough available storage before you begin the transfer.
Interrupting the transfer	Closing the app, switching networks, or letting a phone go to sleep can interrupt the process.	Keep both phones nearby, unlocked, and avoid using them until the transfer is complete.
Skipping a backup	Although transfers are reliable, unexpected issues can still happen.	Create a backup of your important data before moving to a new phone so you always have a copy if something goes wrong.
Moving unnecessary files	Duplicate photos, blurry images, and old screenshots use valuable storage on your new phone.	Take a few minutes to remove files you no longer need before starting the transfer.

Move Your Photos, Videos & Contacts with Confidence

Your photos, videos, and contacts are some of the most valuable things stored on your phone, so moving them to a new device should never feel stressful. With a little preparation and the right transfer method, you can switch phones knowing your memories and important information will come with you.

Before setting your old phone aside, take a few minutes to confirm that everything has transferred successfully. Once you're confident your photos, videos, and contacts are safely on your new device, you're ready to enjoy your new phone without missing a thing.

Ready to make the move? Download Smart Transfer from Google Play or the Apple App Store and transfer your photos, videos, and contacts quickly, securely, and with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving Photos, Videos & Contacts to a New Phone

What's the easiest way to move photos, videos, and contacts to a new phone?

The easiest way is to use a dedicated phone transfer app that lets you move multiple types of data in one process. This saves time and eliminates the need to transfer your photos, videos, and contacts separately.

Can I move only my photos, videos, and contacts?

Yes. Many transfer tools allow you to choose exactly what you want to move. If you don't need to transfer everything, simply select your photos, videos, and contacts before starting the transfer.

Will I lose the quality of my photos or videos?

No. A proper phone-to-phone transfer preserves the original quality of your photos and videos, so your memories remain just as sharp and detailed on your new device.

How long does it take to move photos, videos, and contacts to a new phone?

The transfer time depends on how much data you're moving. A few hundred photos and contacts may take only a few minutes, while thousands of high-resolution photos and videos can take considerably longer. A stable Wi-Fi connection helps the process run more smoothly.

Should I keep my old phone after transferring my data?

Yes. It's a good idea to keep your old phone until you've confirmed that all your photos, videos, and contacts have transferred successfully. Once you've verified everything is available on your new phone, you can safely erase, sell, or trade in your old device.