Completed full Smart Switch process, none of the apps know who I am

[Members_bfF62Fw]

I just completed the Smart Switch process from my Google Pixel 6 Pro to my new S24.

All the apps came across without problems. I did a reboot just for completeness. I expected to see Nova as my app launcher (I didn't), it was still One UI. After setting Nova as my default launcher I expected it would remember the layout. It didn't. I did a manual backup from old phone's Nova launcher and restored it on the new phone and only then did I see the layout. Why didn't those settings get transferred?

My date/time/weather widget needed configuring to know where I am. Why wasn't the config for that transferred over?

I then started a few apps and none of them knew who I am. I had to sign-in to each and set them up. Why wasn't the app data transferred over?

It looks like I'm going to have to leave this new phone to the side and wait until the weekend where I can commit to 10-20 hours of setup. It's 2024 and phone migration is still around the same as it was back in 2010.

[keith30]

Nova isn't the default operating mode. On the Samsung devices. It uses One Ui . You would have to download the Nova.

[Members_bfF62Fw]

I didn't think it was the default operating mode. It's a third party launcher. Not sure how that's relevant to my question about Smart Switch though. It transferred the Nova launcher app but it didn't transfer any of the app data or Android settings. So the new phone didn't automatically know that it should (a) set Nova as my default launcher, and (b) use the Nova settings I had. It didn't transfer any of the apps settings it seems. 

[Reylob]

There are many apps that do not get transferred with SmartSwitch like WhatsApp. You will need to do them outside SmartSwitch

[KirkyLAD]

It's up to the developers of the app if they allow app data to be backed up or not. Not really much Samsung can do without ignoring the wishes of the app (which could cause crashes etc)

[PaulM1]

Congratulations on your new S24, @Members_bfF62Fw. As I understand it (and this is subject to change, as it's a 3rd-party app and the functionality will depend upon the developers' design, intent and the integration with the existing software), the Nova Launcher settings have to be backed up and restored independently; this can typically be done via Google Drive.

Although it would be unfeasible to provide an exhaustive list, the guide below (from Samsung US) provides some handy, general tips:

https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00047089/

[Members_bfF62Fw]

It's not so much that apps aren't being transferred, they are, all of them (except Whatsapp but that's fine).

The key point is that none of the app data gets transferred. Basically anything you do inside any app, like configure it, set themes, login info, any data that the app might save doesn't come over. Via Smart Switch at least.

I'm wondering whether a Google backup would be any better. This really puts me off changing phones, knowing that I've put in who knows how many hours of getting apps where I want them and working the way I want them to, ALL of which is lost, other than the apps themselves.

Apps that I'm not looking forward to configuring: 2FA security apps (I've got about 10 of those), apps that have been heavily configured like Tasker, all the various Android settings I've set over the last 2 years on the old phone. However I had it set, I'd like it set like that on the new one.

Once I've got this one configured I might well stick with it for those full 7 Android version updates.

For the next week, the new one will just be a project whenever I have an hour or two spare. The old one will remain my main phone for at least 2 weeks I imagine.

[PaulM1]

I do appreciate where you're coming from. Even though each app will have its own requirements/potential limitations in this regard, many of them will allow you to create a separate backup (either via a Cloud-based solution or using its own server, or even your account in some instances).

There's a handy guide below which explains how this can be done for WhatsApp:

https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-to-back-up-or-restore-whatsapp-data/

There's a really useful and comprehensive guide below, which elaborates on the different ways you can back up and restore your device data:

https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/backing-up-and-restoring-data-on-my-galaxy/

From doing this a lot over the last few years (for myself and others), I can contend that it'll likely be more straightforward than it seems at the moment.

I recommend putting a search in for the third-party app you wish to backup and restore (e.g. "how to backup and restore [APPNAME]", as many of them have a solution in place....and it can take seconds to minutes.

Please let us know how you get on.

[davehorne]

I transferred from one Samsung phone to another and had no issues bring over my launcher, MS Launcher.

(WhatsApp is always an issue, I'm missing a few messages even though I backed up WhatsApp before the transfer.)

I don't know the Nova launcher, but with the MS Launcher, you can backup it up to either the cloud or locally which means, I believe, to the Edge browser.

One habit to get used to, make screenshots of all your pages so you can easily get everything back to the why you're accustomed to.

[Members_bfF62Fw · Accepted solution]

That's what I've been doing, app by app. Nova launcher, Tasker, a notes app and one or two more all have backup-to-file and restore-from-file (or via a cloud option). It's just so annoying to have to do this.