How to transfer text messages from Android to Android

Trying to transfer text messages from your Android phone to a new Android device? When switching your phone, you must move your essential data. However, if you want to transfer SMS only, it can be challenging.

But worry not because, in this guide, I’ll show you how you can transfer text messages from one Android phone to another. Let’s get started:

1. Transfer text messages from Android to Android using Google

The quickest way to move your data to your new Android device is via Google Backup. You can also use it to transfer text messages from your Android phone to another.

Follow these steps to learn how to use Google to backup text messages and import them to another Android phone:

1. Open Settings on your Android phone.
2. Navigate to Google → Backup.
3. Toggle on Backup by Google One → Select Back up now.
   
   

Once you’ve backed up text messages from one Android phone, here’s how to restore it on another one:

1. Log into the same Google account on another Android phone.
2. Select Restore when the new Android phone asks to restore your backup.

Open Messages after the process is complete to find your text messages from the previous Android phone.

2. Transfer texts between Android devices using a third-party app

You can use a third-party app if you aren’t setting up a new Android phone or don’t have space on your Google account but want to transfer your text messages from one Android phone to another.

There are two ways to transfer SMS and MMS using the SMS Backup and Restore app: Through direct transfer and taking a backup. You can download SMS Backup and Restore from the Play Store.

Method 1: Through direct transfer

Before you start the process, enable Wi-Fi on both the Android device and connect to the same network. Then, keep them near to ensure a smooth transfer.

1. Open the SMS Backup and Restore app on the sender’s phone.
2. Tap Get Started → Select Allow to grant necessary permissions.
   
   
3. Press the Menu (three vertical lines) icon on the top-left.
4. Tap Transfer → Send From This Phone.
   Press Allow if prompted for permission.
   
   
5. Follow the same steps on the receiver phone until Step 3.
6. Select Transfer → Receive On This Phone.
   
   
7. On the source device, select the receiver phone’s name.
8. On the receiver phone, Choose Accept → Accept and Restore.

Wait for the process to finish and check the receiver device to ensure you’ve received all text messages. If you don’t find a few text messages, you’ll need to recover deleted text messages on Android (sender phone).

Method 2: Exporting and importing backup

Here’s how to export the backup on the source phone before you can import it on the destination phone:

1. Open the SMS Backup and Restore app on the source phone.
2. Select the Menu (three vertical lines) icon on the top-left.
3. Choose Back up now from the list.
   
   
4. Tap More Backup Locations → Toggle on Your Phone → Tap Configure if you don’t get a pop-up window.
   
   
5. Select Your own folder → Choose the folder where you want to save the backup on the source phone.
6. Tap Use This Folder. Press Allow if prompted for storage permission.
   
   
7. Tap OK → Back Up → Yes. The app will create a backup in the folder you chose.
   
   
8. Open the File Manager and navigate to the folder where you saved the backup.
9. Select the XML file whose name starts “SMS”.
10. Send it to the destination phone through email, Nearby Share, Telegram, WhatsApp, or any other app.
    
    

Once you send the backup to the destination phone, follow these steps to import it:

1. On the destination phone, download the XML file that you shared from the source phone.
2. Open the SMS Backup and Restore app on the destination phone.
3. Tap the Menu (three vertical lines) icon.
4. Choose Restore from the menu.
   
   
5. Tap Local Backup Location → Select Local Folder.
   
   
6. Choose the folder where you saved the SMS XML file.
7. Select the Use This Folder → Tap Allow if asked for permission.
   
   
8. Toggle off Call logs if enabled → Tap Restore to start the process.
   
   

Once the process finishes, you can open the Messages app and ensure you have all the messages on your destination phone.

Other apps to transfer messages from Android to Android

If you find navigating the above app difficult, you can use other apps that perform the same. Consider one of the following apps for transferring text messages from one Android phone to another:

• Microsoft SMS Organizer
• Firehawk’s SMS Backup & Restore
• Swift Backup (Root required)
• Phone Backup

On the other hand, if you do have access to a Mac or Windows PC, you can use one of the following tools:

• Wondershare MobileTrans
• iMobie DroidKit
• EaseUS MobiMover

Video: To transfer text messages from Android to Android

Transfer messages in a blink!

While transferring texts from your Android device to an iPhone can be tough, moving SMS from an Android phone to another Android device is simpler. I’ve mentioned the best methods to do the same with a few app suggestions.

If you have any suggestions or queries regarding this guide, please leave them in the comments below. I’ll try to resolve it as soon as possible.