If you have trouble copying data from your current phone to your Pixel phone during setup, try the following troubleshooting steps.
On Pixel 9 and later, you can restore data from your previous phone at any time without the need to factory reset. You can merge the transferred data with the existing data on your phone. Learn how to transfer data from a cloud backup.
Prepare your phones for data transfer
Before you start:
- Check that both phones are unlocked, charged and turned on.
- Make sure that you have a strong Wi-Fi connection or a cable to connect both phones.
- Make sure that you have the latest Android software installed on both phones. Check your phone's software version.
Fix issues with missing data after initial transfer has failed
Back up and restore data
Back up your phone with Google OneImportant: To help protect your backed-up data, use a PIN, pattern or password screen lock.
To automatically back up your files with Google One:
- Open your device's Settings app.
- Tap Back up or copy data
Back up data.
- If this is your first time, turn on Back up your device with Google One and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Select the data that you want to back up: Photos and videos, Device data or both.
- Turn Backup by Google One on or off.
Back up data.
Your Google One backup can take up to 24 hours. When your data is saved, 'On' will be displayed below the data types that you selected.
- Not all apps can be backed up or restored. To find out more about an app, learn how to contact an Android app's developer.
- Photos in your Locked Folder can't be backed up.
A Google One backup saves this info from your phone:
- Apps and some app data
- Call history
- Contacts
- SMS and MMS messages
- Device settings, home screen layouts, widgets and wallpaper
Photos and videos are backed up separately through the Google Photos app. To manage these settings:
- Open the Google Photos app
.
- Tap your profile icon
.You can also launch the backup settings:
- Open your device's Settings app.
- Tap System
Learn how to choose the backup quality of your photos and videos.
Your backups are uploaded to Google's servers and are encrypted with your Google Account password. For some info, your device's screen lock PIN, pattern or password is also used for encryption.
- Turn on your new device.
- On the 'Welcome to your Pixel' screen, tap Get started.
- On the 'Set up using another device' screen, tap Pixel or Android device or iPhone or iPad.
- Select an option based on the previous device that you have.
- When you receive a prompt to scan the QR code, tap Skip.
- Connect to Wi-Fi.
- Sign in to your Google Account with the same email that was connected to your previous device.
- On the 'Copy data from your Android device' screen, tap Next.
- Choose the backup that you'd like to restore onto your new device. To finish setup, follow the on-screen instructions.
- Open your device's Settings app.
- Tap Back up or copy data
- Select the data that you want to transfer over. Learn how to transfer data from a cloud backup.
Tip: You need to use the same device that you previously used to transfer data.
Sync cloud data like photos, videos and messages
To transfer your photos, videos and messages from your old device:
- Sign in to your primary Google Account.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
- Your Pixel phone automatically identifies available cloud backups, like Google Photos or Google Drive, and begins the sync.
Tip: To ensure a seamless background sync, keep your phone connected to a strong Wi-Fi network and power source.
Transfer doesn't start or stops
Couldn't pair or 'Phone may not be supported' message- Install any available updates for your current phone.
- Restart your current phone. On most phones, press and hold the power button until it fully restarts.
Tip: Data transfer is supported from most phones with Android 5 or later versions.
If your Wi-Fi connection isn't strong enough, your phone will notify you to transfer data with a cable instead or at the same time. Learn how to transfer data with a cable.
Tip: Pixel 8 and later phones support Wi-Fi transfer when you connect your devices during setup using the QR code.
Check the cable
- Unplug and then replug the cable on both ends.
- Carefully check for debris or other blockages inside the cable port.
- Try a different cable. Not all USB-C cables can transfer data.
If you lose power, Wi-Fi or mobile connectivity, or your cable comes out between the phones and your Pixel is unable to re-establish the connection, it may finish with only a partially complete data transfer.
To complete the transfer:
- Pixel 9 and later:
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap Back up or copy data
- Once your previous phone has been charged, perform a factory reset and start again.
Tip: If your Pixel loses power during transfer and reboots, it'll attempt to either continue setup or start again.
If the setup gets stuck, you get a summary of the data which did or didn't copy.
You can attempt to copy any missing data again. On Pixel 9 and later:
- Open your device's Settings app.
- Tap Back up or copy data
Tip: Note that certain data can only be copied during device initialisation, learn which data can be copied.
Other problems when you copy data
Can't set up a work profileIf you encounter issues when you set up a work profile during phone setup, try these steps:
Skip work profile setup
- During setup, when you get the prompt 'Add your work account on the next screen', tap Skip.
- Complete setup normally.
- Once setup is complete, tap Settings
Tip: To learn more on how to set up a work profile, refer to Set up Google Workspace on an Android device.
If you copied data after setup, your Pixel will attempt to merge new data with existing data. Learn which data can be copied. In rare cases, your Pixel may be unable to merge certain data types and instead they'll appear as duplicates. You can manually delete duplicate entries or you can clear the data set from your Pixel and copy it again to fix any visible duplicates.
Setup finished but data didn't copy
What won't copy during setup- Downloads, like PDF files
- Photos, videos and music stored in hidden or locked folders
- Apps that aren't from the Google Play Store
- Data from apps that don't use Android backup
- Accounts other than Google Accounts and their data
- Contacts and calendars synced to services other than Google
- Ringtones
- Certain phone settings (varies by phone and Android version)
Return to setup
- Within a few minutes:
- You'll get a 'Finish setting up your Pixel' notification.
- Tap on the notification.
- For a few days:
- Open your Settings app.
- At the top, tap Finish setting up your Pixel.
After initial setup (Pixel 9 and later)
Important: You can only restore data from one previous device. If you want to restore from a different device, first reset your Pixel phone.
- Open your device's Settings app.
- Tap Back up or copy data
- If you used another device to transfer data, scan the QR code through the old device.
- If you didn't use another device to transfer data, you can choose a device to copy data from.
- Choose the data that you want to transfer over.
- Tap Copy.
Tips:
- If errors occur during data transfer, try again to retrieve missing data types. Learn what does and doesn't transfer during post-setup data transfer.
- If you haven't set up your backup, learn how to back up data on your Pixel phone.
If you move from another Android device, make sure that your WhatsApp data is backed up to Google Drive on your old phone. Learn how to transfer WhatsApp data to your new device.
If you already use contacts in your Google Account, like in Gmail, they'll automatically show on your Pixel phone after you sign in. To find your contacts, open your Pixel phone's Contacts app .
If your contacts are on a SIM card, learn how to add, move or import contacts.
- Connected to the Internet:
Upload content from your current phone or computer to your Google Account. Content in your Google Account shows on your Pixel phone. Learn how to upload to Google Drive and back up to Google Photos. - Can't connect to the Internet:
Transfer content to your Pixel phone with a USB cable.
If you no longer have your old phone or it's not available for transfer, you may still be able to restore data if you have a cloud backup. Find out how to manage backups.
During Pixel setup:
- On your Pixel phone, tap Get started.
- On the next screen, if 'Set up using another device' appears, tap Skip.
- Connect to a Wi-Fi or mobile operator.
- Sign in to the Google Account that has the backup of your data.
- Follow the on-screen steps.
After Pixel setup (Pixel 9 and later):
- Open your device's Settings app.
- Tap Back up or copy data
- Tap Can't use other device?
- Choose from the available cloud backups.
Important: You can only restore data from one previous device. If you want to restore from a different device, first reset your Pixel phone.
From BlackBerry or Windows phone
From a BlackBerry or Windows phone, only data in Google Accounts automatically show on a Pixel phone. Learn how to manually copy some data from a BlackBerry or Windows phone.Still can't copy data
If you still can't copy your data to your Pixel phone, contact us.
Frequently asked questions
Some data didn't transferIf you encounter an issue when you transfer data to your Pixel device, learn how to fix issues with data transfer.
If you have a Pixel 9 and later device, you can transfer data after setup. Learn how to transfer data after setup.
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