How to Transfer Data from Samsung or iPhone to Nothing Phone

Short answer: the safest way to transfer data from Samsung or iPhone to Nothing Phone is to use the built-in Android copy process while setting up the new phone. Charge and update both devices, connect to reliable Wi-Fi, keep account passwords and screen-lock codes ready, and choose the old phone type when the Nothing setup wizard asks to copy apps and data. A Samsung or other Android phone can normally connect by QR code, cable or wireless setup. For an iPhone, a cable is usually the most complete route, and iMessage, FaceTime and WhatsApp need special attention.

Do not erase or trade in the old device as soon as the progress bar finishes. A phone migration has two stages: copying data and proving that the new phone can replace the old one. Contacts and photos may arrive while banking registration, authenticator codes, an eSIM, work apps, cloud-only files or WhatsApp still need action. This guide covers both stages for buyers setting up a Nothing Phone in Pakistan.

Choose the correct transfer path

Nothing’s official support recommends a Google Account and its setup wizard. Current Google guidance supports both cable and wireless transfer for Android-to-Android migration. For iPhone-to-Android migration, the data categories depend on the software and method; the classic cable path generally copies more than the classic wireless path. Follow the categories shown on your own Nothing Phone rather than assuming every item in this guide will appear.

Before transferring: prepare both phones

Install official software and app updates on the old phone, but avoid starting a major beta update immediately before migration. Charge both phones, ideally above 80 percent or connected to suitable power where the setup allows it. Use stable private Wi-Fi, not an untrusted public hotspot. Check that the Nothing Phone has enough storage for the selected content.

Know the old phone’s PIN or password and the Google Account credentials you intend to use. For an iPhone, know the Apple Account password as well. Keep access to the current phone number, email inbox and recovery methods because many services will challenge a new device. If you use a password manager, confirm you can sign in from another device before beginning.

Create a fresh backup even when you plan a direct cable copy. On Samsung or Android, review Google backup, Google Photos and WhatsApp backup status. On iPhone, review iCloud backup and whether photos are stored locally or only in iCloud. A backup is a safety net, not proof that every category can restore onto Android.

Make a pre-migration inventory

Open storage settings on the old phone and note the amount used by photos, videos, files and apps. Count important contacts and inspect the date range of recent photos and messages. List the services that would lock you out if the old phone disappeared: banking, mobile wallets, email, password managers, authenticators, business messaging, work profiles and government or identity apps.

Check where each important category lives. Contacts can be stored in Google, Samsung, iCloud, another email account, the SIM or only on the device. Photos may be local, in Google Photos, Samsung OneDrive integration or iCloud. Notes may belong to Samsung Notes, Apple Notes, Google Keep or a company account. “On my phone” is not a storage location precise enough for a safe migration.

Record any files inside Samsung Secure Folder, hidden albums, Downloads, offline media apps or local voice-recording folders. Google says hidden folders and some downloaded files may not copy in a standard Android setup. Export irreplaceable items through the official app or a trusted encrypted backup.

How to transfer data from Samsung to Nothing Phone

Turn on the new Nothing Phone and proceed through language, SIM and network screens until the setup wizard offers to copy apps and data or set up using another device. Choose Android as the old-device type. Unlock the Samsung phone and follow the Nothing screen: depending on current software, it may ask you to scan a QR code, connect a USB-C data cable, or approve a wireless connection.

Sign in to the Google Account you want on the Nothing Phone. When the categories appear, review them individually instead of pressing Copy immediately. Select contacts, messages, photos, videos, apps, call history, device settings and other offered content. Deselect large nonessential media if the new phone lacks space; it can be copied separately later.

Keep the phones unlocked, close together and connected until both report completion. Do not use either cable port roughly, answer calls repeatedly or let a power-saving mode interrupt wireless transfer. Nothing says an Android transfer can take roughly five minutes to an hour, while Google notes large copies can take longer.

Do not use Smart Switch as the Nothing receiver

Samsung Smart Switch is primarily a receiving and backup system for Galaxy devices. Moving away from Samsung does not make the Nothing Phone a Samsung Smart Switch destination. Use Google’s Android copy flow on the Nothing Phone as the main migration route.

Smart Switch may still be useful for preserving a Samsung-side backup on a supported computer or storage device before migration, but that backup is not a promise that Nothing OS can restore every Samsung-specific item. Treat it as extra protection, not the transfer mechanism.

Handle Samsung-only services separately

Samsung Notes, Samsung Pass, Samsung Wallet, Secure Folder, Galaxy Themes, Health data and proprietary settings may not become equivalent Nothing apps automatically. Open each service and check its official export, sync or cross-platform options. Do not install unofficial converter software and give it access to passwords, messages or private notes.

For Samsung Pass, move credentials to a password manager that supports Android broadly or export only through an official supported process. Financial cards in Samsung Wallet will not simply become active in another wallet; register supported cards again and complete bank verification.

How to transfer data from iPhone to Nothing Phone

Update and fully charge the iPhone, keep its charging cable ready, and connect both devices to reliable Wi-Fi. Nothing’s current official guide tells switchers to turn off iMessage and FaceTime for the phone number before moving the SIM. On iPhone, open Settings, disable iMessage under Messages, disable FaceTime, and make sure the number is deregistered from iMessage on other Apple devices where necessary.

Start the Nothing Phone setup and choose to copy from iPhone or iPad when asked. Connect the phones using the iPhone charging cable and a suitable adapter if the connectors differ. Unlock the iPhone, tap Trust when it asks to approve the connection, and enter the iPhone passcode. Sign in to your Google Account on the Nothing Phone.

Review the transfer categories. Google’s classic cable guidance can include contacts, calendar events, photos, videos, apps, messages and iMessage attachments, call history, music, files, notes, wallpaper, settings and WhatsApp, although availability varies. Select the content you want and leave both phones connected until completion.

Cable versus wireless iPhone transfer

Current Android Switch can offer wireless iPhone migration on supported combinations, normally by scanning a QR code and using the Android Switch app on iOS. It is convenient when no compatible cable is available. However, Google’s current transfer table shows that the classic wireless method omits categories that its classic cable method can include, such as apps, call history, text messages, files and WhatsApp.

For the most complete move, begin with a known-good data cable during initial setup. A cable that only charges will not work for data. Use the iPhone’s cable or a reputable adapter, keep the connectors stable and respond to Trust and PIN prompts. If the Nothing Phone offers a newer transfer experience, follow its on-screen explanation because Android capabilities continue to evolve.

Turn off iMessage and test SMS

If the number remains registered with iMessage, messages from Apple users may continue going to Apple’s system instead of arriving as SMS or RCS on the Nothing Phone. Disable iMessage while the SIM is still active in the iPhone. Disable FaceTime for the number and deregister the number from other Apple devices if required.

After moving the SIM or activating service, ask both an iPhone user and an Android user to send a test message. Make an outgoing and incoming call, test mobile data, and confirm that the correct number appears. If Apple messages still fail, use Apple’s official iMessage deregistration support rather than repeatedly changing messaging apps.

Transfer WhatsApp from Samsung or Android

On the Samsung phone, open WhatsApp and check Settings, Chats and Chat backup. Run a current backup to the intended Google Account, or use WhatsApp’s official direct Transfer Chats function when offered. Make sure the Nothing Phone will use the same phone number and that you can receive its verification code.

Install WhatsApp from Google Play on the Nothing Phone if setup did not install it. Sign in with the same number. When prompted, choose the official direct transfer or restore from the current Google backup. If you have multiple Google Accounts, verify that WhatsApp is looking at the account that owns the backup.

Compare the latest chat date and inspect several older conversations, photos, voice notes and documents. Media can continue restoring after the chat list appears. Keep the old Samsung unchanged until the new WhatsApp library is complete.

Transfer WhatsApp from iPhone

Use the official wired iPhone-to-Android process. During Nothing Phone setup, include WhatsApp when selecting apps and data. When the Nothing Phone displays a QR code, scan it with the iPhone camera and follow WhatsApp’s instructions. The iPhone path can also appear under WhatsApp Settings, Chats, Transfer chat history or Move Chats to Android.

Keep the same phone number and use the iPhone charging cable. Do not open WhatsApp and create new chat history on the Nothing Phone before importing the old history. Google warns that a restored old history does not merge with new history created on the new phone; it replaces it.

If the transfer was skipped, a limited post-setup option may appear on some devices or software versions, but Google says some cases require a factory reset and the available window can be short. Do not reset a configured phone impulsively. Back up anything newly created, confirm the official instructions for the current screen, and understand that a reset erases the device.

Contacts, calendars and email accounts

After setup, open Contacts and check the total, recent additions and key people. If Samsung contacts were stored only in Samsung Cloud or the device, export them through the official Contacts app as a VCF file and import them into the chosen Google Account. Avoid creating duplicates by deciding which account will be the primary source.

For iPhone, Google transfer can copy device and iCloud contacts and calendar events in supported flows. Also add the relevant email or calendar account directly if it supports Android. Shared family calendars, subscribed calendars and corporate directories may require separate sign-in.

Send a test email from each important account and verify that two-factor prompts reach the new phone. Do not remove the old device from account security pages until the new device is established as a valid recovery method.

Photos, videos, files and cloud libraries

Open Google Photos or the selected gallery after transfer and inspect the oldest and newest years, several videos and any edited media. A thumbnail does not prove that the original is available offline. Check backup status and avoid deleting cloud media through a synced app unless you understand how deletion propagates.

iCloud-only photos and videos may not arrive in a classic device copy. Google provides an official path to request transfer of eligible iCloud media to Google Photos, subject to storage and service availability. Alternatively, download originals through Apple’s supported tools and preserve metadata. Do not pay an unknown migration app for full access to an iCloud library.

Inspect Files, Downloads, Documents, voice recordings and app export folders manually. Samsung hidden folders and protected content, iPhone Files providers and offline streaming downloads can be excluded. Re-download licensed offline music or video from the official service rather than copying protected files.

Apps, subscriptions and purchases

Android-to-Android setup can reinstall compatible Google Play apps, but app data transfers only when the developer supports Android backup or direct migration. Expect to sign in again. Apps installed outside Google Play, region-limited apps, old incompatible apps and enterprise apps may not appear.

iPhone apps do not move as iOS binaries; Android setup looks for available Google Play equivalents. Paid App Store purchases and in-app purchases do not automatically become Google Play purchases. Sign in to cross-platform services with the original account and check the developer’s subscription rules.

Audit essential apps before entertainment apps: calls, messages, email, password manager, authenticator, banking, wallet, transport, maps, work tools and health services. Download each from Google Play or the provider’s official site. Do not sideload an APK sent in a message merely because an app is missing.

Passwords, passkeys and authenticator codes

Google Password Manager credentials tied to the same Google Account can become available after sign-in and sync. Samsung Pass or Apple Passwords data may require a deliberate migration to a cross-platform password manager. Password export files are highly sensitive; if an official export is used, keep it offline, import promptly and securely delete the temporary file.

Passkeys can be provider- and ecosystem-specific. Confirm important account passkeys on the Nothing Phone and add a second sign-in method before removing the iPhone or Samsung device. Never assume that seeing a password means the corresponding passkey moved.

For Google Authenticator or another authenticator, use the official transfer, export or sync function. Preserve service recovery codes and test sign-in to a low-risk account. Then verify critical email, banking, hosting and business accounts. Losing the old phone before moving 2FA can turn a simple migration into a long identity-recovery process.

SIM, eSIM and mobile service in Pakistan

A physical SIM can usually be moved after the iMessage preparation and when setup requests it. Keep a SIM tool available, power down if the device instructions require it, and insert the correct size without forcing the tray. Test calls, SMS and mobile data.

An eSIM does not always transfer with general phone data. Support depends on the old device, Nothing model, Android version and Pakistani mobile operator. Contact the operator through its official channel for a new QR code or device-change process. Never publish an eSIM QR code, activation code, IMEI or full account identity.

Verify PTA status for the Nothing Phone’s IMEI independently of data migration. Copying an account, SIM or backup cannot change device registration. Dual-SIM models can have two IMEIs, and a replaced device has a different identity.

Banking apps, wallets and biometric access

Banking, wallet and payment apps commonly bind to the device and require fresh registration. Keep the active SIM, email credentials, account information and old phone until the new registration succeeds. Expect OTP, identity verification, a cooling-off period or a support call depending on the provider.

Fingerprints and face data do not transfer. Register biometrics locally on the Nothing Phone, then enable them inside each app after password or PIN authentication. Payment cards and transit credentials may need to be added again; remove them from the old wallet only after confirming the new setup and provider rules.

Use official app-store listings and verify the publisher. A migration period is an attractive time for phishing because the user expects login and OTP prompts. No legitimate support agent needs your banking PIN, card CVV, password-manager master password or one-time code.

Work profiles and managed phones

Company or school management can block backup and transfer of work data. Google also notes that organisation-managed devices may not copy everything. Contact the administrator before moving a work profile, certificate, VPN, security key or managed authenticator.

Do not export confidential company files into a personal Google Account to bypass policy. Enrol the Nothing Phone through the approved management route and let the work apps restore from their authorised services. Remove the old device from management only when the administrator confirms the replacement.

What usually does not transfer automatically

• Every app login, token or locally protected database.
• Samsung Secure Folder and some manufacturer-only app data.
• Paid iOS apps, some purchases and Apple Health data.
• iCloud-only originals not selected or supported by the transfer.
• Hidden folders, some downloads, ringtones and offline media.
• Authenticator secrets without official export or sync.
• Banking registration, payment cards and biometric templates.
• Some eSIMs, work profiles, certificates and VPN configuration.
• Apps unavailable, incompatible or restricted in the new region.

This list is a reason to verify, not a reason to avoid the built-in process. The main transfer handles broad categories efficiently; app-specific tools finish the sensitive edges.

Troubleshoot an interrupted or incomplete transfer

Check power, storage, Wi-Fi and the cable first. A charging-only or damaged cable can connect power without carrying data. Unlock both phones, approve Trust or Copy prompts and disable aggressive battery saving temporarily. Restart only when the current screens clearly show that the transfer has failed.

If Android-to-Android wireless discovery fails, return to the setup screen, choose the no-cable path and follow the displayed Google or QR instructions. If a cable is available, use it. For iPhone, confirm the Trust prompt, passcode and cable adapter, and keep the iPhone awake.

Do not repeatedly activate WhatsApp on both phones or generate new chats while troubleshooting. Review the official Google and WhatsApp instructions for the source platform. Third-party transfer utilities can request sweeping access and are not supported by Google for WhatsApp migration.

If setup has already finished, search Nothing Phone Settings for the current Android Switch or copy-data option and check notifications. Availability varies. Manual cloud sync can recover contacts, photos and files, but some initial-setup categories may require reset. Back up new Nothing Phone data before considering that destructive step.

Post-transfer verification checklist

1. Make and receive a call; send and receive SMS with iPhone and Android contacts.
2. Confirm mobile data, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the correct SIM number.
3. Compare contacts and calendars, including recent entries.
4. Inspect the oldest and newest photos, long videos and important albums.
5. Open Downloads, documents, recordings and offline files.
6. Check WhatsApp’s newest and older chats, media and groups.
7. Sign in to email, password manager and authenticator.
8. Register banking, wallet, transport and identity apps.
9. Test work profile, VPN and company communication.
10. Confirm cloud backup now protects the Nothing Phone.

Use the new Nothing Phone normally for several days while retaining the old device securely. Watch for missing calls, messages, calendar alerts, app permissions and notification channels. Nothing OS may organise settings differently from Samsung One UI or iOS; that is an interface change, not necessarily missing data.

Set up the Nothing Phone after migration

Install current Nothing OS and Google Play system updates, then update apps. Review screen lock, fingerprint, Find My Device, backup, emergency information, notification privacy and app permissions. Reconnect earbuds, watches, cars and other Bluetooth devices manually because pairings may not transfer reliably.

For buyers still choosing a device, compare the Nothing Phone 4a, Nothing Phone 4b and Nothing Phone 3 using the current product pages. Select storage based on the old phone’s used space plus room for future photos, updates and offline media, not only the advertised capacity.

Check the exact box contents before migration day so you have the right data cable and adapter. Do not assume a charger or iPhone adapter is included. A compatible data connection is more important than trying to maximize charging speed during setup.

When it is safe to erase the old phone

Erase the Samsung or iPhone only after the checklist passes and recent backups exist for the Nothing Phone. Sign out of sensitive apps where appropriate, remove payment cards, disable device-finding or activation locks according to the platform’s official trade-in instructions, and remove or transfer the SIM and eSIM.

On Samsung or Android, remove Google and Samsung accounts as required before factory reset so a buyer does not encounter Factory Reset Protection. On iPhone, sign out of the Apple Account and remove Activation Lock through Apple’s supported process before erasing. If the device belongs to an organisation, let its administrator retire it.

Factory reset from the phone’s Settings menu, not through an unknown desktop utility. After reset, confirm it reaches the initial welcome screen without displaying your accounts or files. Keep the serial, IMEI, sale receipt and handover record privately if selling or trading it.

A safer migration in one sentence

Use the Nothing Phone’s built-in setup copy, choose cable when completeness matters, follow official WhatsApp and account-transfer tools, verify every security-critical service, and keep the old phone intact until the new one has proven itself. That sequence is slower than wiping immediately, but it protects the data, access and communication that make the phone useful.

Editorial note: transfer menus and supported categories change with Android, Nothing OS, iOS, app and operator updates. This guide was checked against current Nothing and Google support documentation on 27 July 2026. Follow the instructions displayed on your devices and use official provider support for account-specific problems.

Primary sources

Source check: 27 August 2026. Google Android data-transfer guidance and Official Nothing Phone 4a page. Recheck current regional details before acting.

Editorial transparency: primary sources checked 27 August 2026. Reconfirm changing specifications, software, PTA, price, stock, network and policy details before acting.