Getting your new Fairphone 5 set up with all your old data is a straightforward process. Android's built-in tools, combined with the modular nature of the Fairphone itself, make moving your digital life over pretty painless. Here's how to get everything from your old device onto your new Fairphone 5.
Start the Transfer During Initial Setup
The absolute best time to move your data is when you first power on your Fairphone 5. After you select your language and connect to Wi-Fi, you'll hit the "Copy apps & data" screen. This is your main hub for the transfer. Tap Next and you'll see a few options, including copying directly from another phone.
If your old phone is an Android device, the easiest way is to use the wireless "Copy your data" tool. On your old phone, open the Google app and say "set up my device," or navigate to Settings > Google > Set up & restore > Set up nearby device. Your Fairphone 5 should appear in the list. Follow the on-screen prompts on both devices to connect and choose what you want to bring over.
Use a USB-C Cable for a Direct Connection
For the fastest and most reliable transfer, especially with a lot of photos and videos, use a USB cable. You'll need a USB-C to USB-C cable, or an adapter for your old phone's port. Connect the two phones during the setup process. Your Fairphone 5 will detect the connection and walk you through selecting your data. This method copies everything locally, so it doesn't rely on your Wi-Fi speed and works even without an internet connection.
Restore from a Google One Backup
Don't have your old phone handy anymore? No problem, as long as you backed it up to Google. During your Fairphone 5's setup, after signing into your Google account, you'll be given the option to restore from a cloud backup. Choose the most recent backup from your previous device. Your apps, call history, device settings, and SMS messages will download and install automatically.
To make sure your old phone was backing up, you could check Settings > System > Backup on that device. It should show "Backup is ON" and a recent timestamp. With the Fairphone 5's promise of 8+ years of software updates, starting with a solid Google backup is a great foundation for the long haul.
Moving from an iPhone to Your Fairphone
Switching from iOS? Google has a dedicated tool for that. When you reach the "Copy apps & data" screen on your Fairphone, select iPhone as your source device. You'll be prompted to connect via cable if you have a Lightning to USB-C adapter, or you can proceed wirelessly. The tool will help you move your contacts, calendar events, photos, and videos.
Your iMessage conversations won't transfer, but your standard SMS texts will if you disable iMessage on your iPhone first. Remember, iOS apps don't work on Android, so you'll need to download fresh Android versions from the Google Play Store. Your app data for games and services might transfer if you've linked them to accounts like Facebook or Google Play Games.
Let Your Google Account Handle the Sync
A huge amount of your important information syncs automatically through your Google account. Once you sign in on your new Fairphone 5, your contacts, calendar, Gmail, and Chrome bookmarks and history will just appear. You can manage what's syncing by going to Settings > Passwords & accounts > Google and tapping on your account. This background sync is one less thing you have to manually move.
Transfer WhatsApp Chats and Other App Data
For WhatsApp, the transfer process between Android phones is built-in. On your old Android phone, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat transfer. Then, on your Fairphone 5, install WhatsApp, verify your number, and you'll see a prompt to import the chats from the nearby device. For other messaging apps or social media, check within each app's settings for a "backup" or "transfer to new phone" option.
Many games save your progress to the cloud via Google Play Games. Just make sure you were signed into that service on your old phone. For apps that don't have cloud sync, the direct cable or wireless transfer during setup is your best bet for moving their data.
Final Steps After Your Data is Moved
Take some time to scroll through your app drawer and your photo gallery to make sure everything came across. Log into any apps that require fresh authentication, like banking or social media apps. Once you're confident everything is working on your new Fairphone 5, it's a good practice to perform a factory reset on your old device before you sell, trade, or recycle it. And with the Fairphone's user-replaceable battery, you might even consider keeping the old one as a spare charger for extended use.
