Switching to your new OnePlus 12 is exciting, and you definitely don't want to leave your photos, messages, and settings behind. The good news is OxygenOS has some excellent built-in tools to make the move smooth, whether you're coming from another Android phone or an iPhone. I'd start the transfer during the initial setup for the best experience.
Use the Clone Phone App During Setup
The easiest way to move everything is right when you first turn on your OnePlus 12. After selecting your language, you'll reach a "Clone phone" screen. Tap on it to begin. You'll be asked to choose your old phone's brand, like OnePlus, Samsung, or iPhone.
If your old phone is an Android device, you'll be prompted to install the OnePlus Clone Phone app from the Google Play Store. Open the app on your old phone, and it will generate a QR code. Scan this code with your new OnePlus 12 to establish a direct Wi-Fi connection between the two devices.
You can then select exactly what to transfer. This includes contacts, messages, call logs, photos, videos, audio files, and even most of your apps and their data. The process is straightforward and gives you full control.
Connect with a USB Cable for Speed
For the absolute fastest transfer, especially if you have 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. During the Clone Phone process, you'll see an option to connect via cable.
Just plug both phones in, and the OnePlus 12 will take over. This method is incredibly reliable and doesn't depend on your Wi-Fi speed or signal strength. It's my go-to method when I'm setting up a new phone because it's so thorough and quick.
Switch from an iPhone
Moving from an iPhone to your OnePlus 12 is a well-supported path. On the "Clone phone" screen, select iPhone as your source device. Your OnePlus will guide you to download and open the "Move to Android" app from the App Store on your iPhone.
Follow the prompts to connect. You can transfer your contacts, calendar events, photos, videos, and even your free apps. Your paid iOS apps won't transfer, but you can download Android versions from the Play Store. iMessage chats won't move, so make sure to deregister iMessage on Apple's website before switching.
Restore from a Google One Backup
If you don't have your old phone handy, you can restore from a cloud backup. During setup, after connecting to Wi-Fi, sign into your main Google account. The phone will then show you available backup files from your previous Android devices.
Choose the most recent backup. This will restore your app data, call history, device settings, and SMS messages. To ensure a good backup existed, you could have checked Settings > Google > Backup on your old phone. Your photos are safe separately if you had Google Photos backup enabled.
Sync Your Google Account Data
A huge amount of your digital life is already tied to your Google account and will sync automatically. As soon as you sign in on your OnePlus 12, your Gmail, Google Contacts, Calendar, and Chrome bookmarks will populate almost instantly.
You can manage what syncs by going to Settings > Accounts & sync > Google on your new phone. This is also where you'd add other accounts, like your work email or cloud storage services.
Transfer WhatsApp Chats
For WhatsApp, the transfer process is built right into the app. On your old Android phone, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat transfer. Tap Start, and then use your old phone to scan the QR code displayed on your new OnePlus 12.
The chats will move over your local Wi-Fi network. If you're coming from an iPhone, you'll need to use WhatsApp's "Move chats to Android" feature, which requires a USB-C to Lightning cable and is initiated during the iPhone data transfer process mentioned earlier.
Set Up Your New OnePlus 12 Features
Once your data is moved, take a moment to explore what makes the OnePlus 12 special. Head to Settings > Battery to configure the 100W SUPERVOOC charging. Remember, you need the included charger and cable to hit those ultra-fast speeds.
Also, check out the Aqua Touch feature for using the screen with wet fingers, and customize the Alert Slider on the side to quickly switch between ring, vibrate, and silent modes. Your old settings are moved, but these new tools are worth setting up fresh.