Backing Up Mobile Phones to PC

MisterEd · Jul 31, 2025

cereberus said:
Well Samsung are gradually removing SD cards, so storing data locally requires usb storage which is less convenient than SD cards as usb slot is also used mostly for charging.

The Samsung top tier phones last used microSD cards in 2020 with the S20 model. My Samsung S21 phone that I bought in January 2021 does not have a slot for a microSD card. It had the option of 128, 256, or 512GB of internal storage. My phone has 128GB of internal storage.

I find it strange that their top tier phones can't use microSD cards but their low end phones still do.

Edwin · Jul 31, 2025

MisterEd said:
I find it strange that their top tier phones can't use microSD cards...

To save space, enhance design, and potentially push users towards cloud storage or higher-priced internal storage options.

Stigg · Jul 31, 2025

I've never backed up to my PC using Samsung Smart Switch before. I'm about to start though.

MisterEd · Jul 31, 2025

jimbo45 said:
Why use paid software when there's better solutions around free. I've no objection to paid software (so long as it's not the dreaded subscription model) but it has to be better than what's available FREE in the public domain.

If you go on Acronis's website you will only find that they sell subscriptions to Acronis True Image. However, I have five licenses for Acronis True Image 2025 which have perpetual licenses. After Acronis stopped selling Acronis True Image perpetual licenses a lot of customers refused to buy Acronis True Image subscriptions. A year ago Acronis reached out to previous customers and offered them a one-time upgrade to previous licenses of Acronis True Image perpetual to Acronis True Image 2025 perpetual. I upgraded 1 x Acronis True Image 2017 and 4 x Acronis True Image 2018 to Acronis True Image 2025. These five licenses weren't free but the cost was worth it for me.

MisterEd · Jul 31, 2025

Edwin said:
To save space, enhance design, and potentially push users towards cloud storage or higher-priced internal storage options.

The dilemma is you have to decide at time of purchase how much storage you might need in the future. At least with option of using a microSD card you can buy bigger capacity cards later if you need more storage.

I have only used 72GB of 128GB internal storgage after 4-1/2 years. If the internal storage gets close to being full I will just archive much of it to clear up some space. However, by then I may be ready for a new phone.

Edwin · Jul 31, 2025

I think my A35 is the last mid range Galaxy to have a MicroSD slot! The A36 doesn't have one.
I think the low end A16 etc. are moving toward no slot as well.

Stigg · Aug 1, 2025

Is there any difference between getting Samsung Smart Switch from either of these locations?

Click "How to use Smart Switch on a PC or Mac?" for the download link. ↓

Smart Switch | Smart Switch PC or Mac | Samsung Australia

Use Samsung Smart Switch on PC or Mac to back up, restore, or transfer data to your Galaxy device. Simple and secure device management.

www.samsung.com

Direct Download Link ↓
https://www.samsung.com/global/download/smartswitchwin/

Microsoft Store ↓

Samsung Smart Switch - Free download and install on Windows | Microsoft Store

Move your contacts, calendars, notes, photos, and even device settings from your old smartphone or tablet to your new Samsung Galaxy. Smart Switch makes it easy for anyone to restore data to a new Galaxy device. [Key Features] - Backup: Back up data of your existing Galaxy phone or tablet to...

apps.microsoft.com

MisterEd · Aug 1, 2025

This explains it better.

You use the Smart Switch Android version when only Samsung phones are involved.

You use the Smart Switch PC/Mac version when the PC/Mac is used to backup/restore a Samsung phone.

Note using option #3 will results in downloading the Smart Switch from the Samsung website. However, it is recommended that you download it from the Microsoft Store because it is a newer version.

Downloading Smart Switch on my PC

Downloading Smart Switch on my PC

FAQ for Samsung Mobile Device. Find more about Downloading Smart Switch on my PC' with Samsung Support.

www.samsung.com

Move data fast and easy with Smart Switch

Smart Switch | Apps & Services | Samsung AU

With Smart Switch, easily switch from iPhone to Galaxy. Transfer photos, contacts, messages and more from iPhone or other devices to your new Galaxy.

www.samsung.com

1. Use Wi-Fi or a USB cable (phone #1 to phone phone #2)

2025-08-01 01_55_45-Smart Switch _ Apps & Services _ Samsung AU — Mozilla Firefox.webp

2. Backup and restore from external storage (phone to microSD card or USB storage device)

2025-08-01 01_56_03-Smart Switch _ Apps & Services _ Samsung AU — Mozilla Firefox.webp

3. Backup and restore from PC or Mac (Backup phone to PC/Mac or Restore from PC/Mac to phone)

2025-08-01 01_56_23-Smart Switch _ Apps & Services _ Samsung AU — Mozilla Firefox.webp

jimbo45 · Aug 1, 2025

@MisterEd

Thanks for nice clear explanation with diagrams !!!

It does work and I'm sure many others will be glad of your post.

Cheers
jimbo

cereberus · Aug 1, 2025

jimbo45 said:
@MisterEd

Thanks for nice clear explanation with diagrams !!!

It does work and I'm sure many others will be glad of your post.

Cheers
jimbo

@MisterEd.

I second this. Great post.

Perhaps additional minor clarifications.

1) Phone to PC backup/restore can use quite a bit of storage on C drive. You can change the drive setting for backup (I change it to E drive)

2) With phone to phone version you can:

a) copy all data, apps etc from one phonre to second phone - this is similar to cloning a pc hard drive to a new one.

b) copy all data to an SD card/usb drive - this is similar to making a pc image backup to an external drive so image can be restored to SAME (or new phone).

Before Samsung go rid of SD cards on many models, I backed up to SD Card and saved backup to PC using File Explorer.
Now I would have to backup to a usb drive instead.

I prefer to simply use the Phone to PC backup version instead now.

I am glad to see some users are trying smartswitch but I also encourage Iphone users to do similar.

Of course, for non Samsung androids, there is still Google Backup which is more limited in its options and is a bit clunky in its restore and you may have to spend a few minutes resetting the Home Screen to your taste. A 3rd party option may be preferable.

cereberus · Aug 1, 2025

Edwin said:
I think my A35 is the last mid range Galaxy to have a MicroSD slot! The A36 doesn't have one.
I think the low end A16 etc. are moving toward no slot as well.

Of course, you can still use a usb drive but not as convenient (imo) as SD card is always available on demand.

Having said that, it is easier to remove usb drive and store elsewhere if preferred.

I see the day coming when there will be no usb slot either but that will be a while away as wireless charging is slow and less convenient when out and about.

jimbo45 · Aug 1, 2025

cereberus said:
Of course, you can still use a usb drive but not as convenient (imo) as SD card is always available on demand.

Having said that, it is easier to remove usb drive and store elsewhere if preferred.

I see the day coming when there will be no usb slot either but that will be a while away as wireless charging is slow and less convenient when out and about.

A lot longer -- for decent sound wired phones are still far superior to blu tooth wireless == the DAC's in decent phones are excellent these days - blue tooth audio has an inherent quality problem --fine for movies / highly compressed mp3 music with not too many transients in it and if you use cheap "bud" type phones - biu with a nice pro noise cancelling set using wired makes a lot of difference - especially for flac or even 320 kbps classical music with high dynamic ranges. So the usb slot on phones / tablets is likely to "hang around" for quite a while. Internally though newer phones won't have physical sim cards at all and even on older ones e-sims are available.

Cheers
jimbo

cereberus · Aug 1, 2025

jimbo45 said:
A lot longer -- for decent sound wired phones are still far superior to blu tooth wireless == the DAC's in decent phones are excellent these days - blue tooth audio has an inherent quality problem --fine for movies / highly compressed mp3 music with not too many transients in it and if you use cheap "bud" type phones - biu with a nice pro noise cancelling set using wired makes a lot of difference - especially for flac or even 320 kbps classical music with high dynamic ranges. So the usb slot on phones / tablets is likely to "hang around" for quite a while. Internally though newer phones won't have physical sim cards at all and even on older ones e-sims are available.

Cheers
jimbo

US versions of the latest Samsung high end models have 8 esim capability (only two can be used at any one time. There is no physical sim capability. This does restrict carriers that do not have esim capability, particularly non contract options.

International models have 2 esim + 1 nanosim capability. In Europe (in particular) there are a lot of services that still use nanosims only.

trevo · Aug 1, 2025

cereberus said:
US versions of the latest Samsung high end models have 8 esim capability (only two can be used at any one time. There is no physical sim capability.

That's incorrect, all Samsungs have physical SIM capability...you're probably thinking of the latest iPhones.

Dru2 · Aug 1, 2025

Stigg said:
Is there any difference between getting Samsung Smart Switch from either of these locations?

Get the one from the store. Better integration, and matches Windows theme.

cereberus · Aug 1, 2025

trevo said:
That's incorrect, all Samsungs have physical SIM capability...you're probably thinking of the latest iPhones.

Yeah.

trevo · Aug 1, 2025

cereberus said:
Yeah.

You're welcome.

MisterEd · Aug 1, 2025

jimbo45 said:
@MisterEd

Thanks for nice clear explanation with diagrams !!!

It does work and I'm sure many others will be glad of your post.

Cheers
jimbo

I tested it by backing up my phone to my laptop. They were connected with a USB cable. It took a long time. The backup was about 26.5GB.

I think I remember using Smart Switch when I bought the Samsung S21. I created a wireless connection from my Samsung S7 to it and transferred its data.

The disadvantage of using Smart Switch is you you can't use it very often because it takes a long time and the backup are large. That means the backups will quickly be out of date.

I will continue to use Acronis True Image to back up my phone because it backs up my phone automatically. Of course that depends on whether my phone and desktop computer are on at the same time. Because of this the backups may be a few days old. Note these backups aren't as comprehensive as Smart Switch but they more up to date.

Marcus Vinicus · Aug 1, 2025

Edwin said:
If you've got a Samsung Phone, Smart Switch is the way to go!
From Backup to Restore to Transfer to a new Phone!

I used Samsung Smart Switch yesterday to transfer everything from my old Samsung J22 >> a new Galaxy Z Fold7. I have extensive notes of everything I did. It even setup the eSim on the new phone, didn't need to transfer the nanosim over.

Stigg · Aug 1, 2025

Dru2 said:
Get the one from the store. Better integration, and matches Windows theme.

I took your advice and went with the Windows Store app.

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