Got a Samsung device but don’t know how to back your important files up? Look no further and start using the Samsung provided application called Smart Switch.

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What is Smart Switch?

With millions of PC users most probably also owning a Samsung smartphone, we realize dedicating a short article about Samsung Smart Switch and how to do it can be helpful. Keep reading to know what Smart Switch is and how to use it to back data up from your Galaxy Samsung device.

Samsung long recognized the need of its smartphone users and how important it is to be able to copy or move important files to another device for safekeeping. This is the main reason why Smart Switch  app was created. It does not only work effectively but also efficiently as well.

Smart Switch offers a fast and easy way to move data such as music, photos, SMS, MMS, calendar, videos, and even device settings between your Samsung device to your PC or laptop. You can also use it to transfer files to another Samsung device if you want.

Versions of Smart Switch app

There are two versions of Smart Switch that you need to have:

1. PC or computer version
2. Portable device version (Smart Switch Mobile)

The PC version must be installed on your computer so that your machine will be able to properly communicate with your Samsung device. We haven’t tested the PC Smart Switch app on Windows operating system versions such as Vista, XP, and older so we can’t say for sure if they work. We know for a fact though that the app is fantastic in Windows 7, 8, and 10 so make sure that your machine works in any of these. If you have a Mac, make sure that it’s running the latest software update to avoid encountering problems.

The device version of Smart Switch can be installed on any Samsung device but you have to make sure that it runs Android 4.0 or higher and has enough available space left (if you intend to make it as the main storage device for your files). Other smartphone brands are also supported by Samsung Smart Switch. Below are the basic requirements posted by Samsung so you can use Smart Switch succesfully:

For Mac

1) A Samsung mobile device with Android OS version 4.3 or higher

2) An old device that meets one of the following requirements:

• A Samsung device with Android version 4.3 or later
• Apple iPhone with iOS version 4.2.1 or later

3) A Mac platform with the following minimum requirements:

• Operating System: Mac OS X® 10.6 or later
• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz or higher
• RAM: 1GB or higher
• Screen resolution: 1280 x 800
• Android file transfer application installed on your computer

For PC

To transfer your content using Smart Switch for PC, you will need:

1) A Samsung mobile device with Android™ OS version 4.3 or later

2) An old device that meets one of the following requirements:

• A Samsung device with Android version 4.3 or later
• Apple® iPhone® with iOS version 4.2.1 or later

3) A Windows® platform with the following minimum requirements:

• Operating System: Windows XP® (Service Pack 2) or later
• CPU: Pentium 4; 2.4 GHz or higher
• RAM: 1GB or higher
• Screen Resolution: 1024 x 768 (600), 32 bit or higher
• Required Software: Windows Media Player version 11 or later

If you’re planning to use a different smartphone or tablet as a master storage for your irreplaceable files, below are the specifications that you must check:

For Android devices:

• Wireless transfers between Galaxy devices: Android 4.0 or higher
• Wired transfer: Android 4.3 or higher, charger cable, and a USB OTG cable
• Wireless transfers from a compatible Android device to Galaxy device: Android 4.0 or higher (Mobile AP)

For Blackberry devices:

• Wireless transfers: BlackBerry OS 7 or 10 (Mobile AP)
• Wired transfers: BlackBerry OS 7 or 10 for transfers via USB OTG cable

For iPhone devices:

• Wired transfer: iOS 5.0 or above, iOS device cable (lightning or 30 pin), and a USB OTG cable
• iCloud transfers: iOS 4.2.1 or higher and Apple ID
• iTunes transfers: Smart Switch PC/Mac software

If you have a newer Samsung device that you wish to use as a backup, try to check first if you already have the Smart Switch app pre-installed. Smart Switch Mobile is installed straight from the factory on Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge so you can simply go to Settings>Backup and reset>Open Smart Switch to load it.

If you have a non-Samsung Android device you want to use as a backup storage, below is the updated list provided by Samsung:

Other Android Devices:

• Coolpad: DazenF2
• Fujitsu: ARROWS NX/A/KISS/ef/Me/V/X LTE, Disney Mobile on docomo, ANTEPRIMA, REGZA Phone
• HTC®: J, One/X/X+/S/SV/V/M8, Proto, Butterfly, Desire X/XC/500(506e), EVO 4G LTE, INFOBAR A02, ThunderBolt, One M9, Desire 526/612
• Huawei™: T8951, C8813, Ascend/G510/G520/D2, Stream 201HW, A199(china), Honor 6/6+/7, P7, P8, P8 Lite, Mate7, Maimang4, Ascend Y300, Mate8
• Kyocera: URBANO L02/03, DIGNO M/S, BASIO, Honey Bee, Disney Mobile, Brigadier
• Lenovo™: A789, S720, A798T
• LG®: Optimus G/G Pro/G2/G3/G4/LTE/4X HD/ LIFE/it/Vu/Vu2/L5 II/L5 II Dual/L7 II Dual/L9, Lucid 4G, G Flex, isai, isai VL, PRADA phone, Nexus 4/5, V10, Lancet, G Vista, Flex2
• Motorola®: DROID RAZR MINI(M)/Razr HD/Razr Maxx, ATRIX III, Moto G, Moto X, Droid Turbo2/Maxx2/Mini
• NEC: MEDIAS X/W/ES/U/LTE, Disney Mobile on docomo
• OPPO: R815T/W, R811, R7/R7 Plus/R7s, Find7/Find7A
• Panasonic: ELUGA P/X/Power, LUMIX Phone
• PANTECH: Vega IRON2, Vega Secret
• RIM: BlackBerry Priv
• SHARP: AQUOS ZETA/Crystal, Smartphone for Junior, Disney Mobile on docomo, AQUOS Phone EX/Xx/xx mini/SERIE/ZETA/st/sv/si/SL/CL, NERV, PANTONE 5
• Sony®: Xperia Z/Z Ultra/Z1/Z2/Z3/Z3 Compact/A/A2/ZL2/UL/V/VL/SX/GX/E/E Dual/Go/NX/AX/TL, acro HD/acro S
• Vivo: X3T, Y15S/T, Y11, X5/ X5L/X5 Pro, X6/X6 Plus
• Xiaomi: Hongmi1S, Hongmi Note, Mi4

How to install Smart Switch on your computer

If you think your computer meets or exceeds the basic requirements of this program, then installing it is straightforward. We will provide the general steps on what you need to do on your Windows PC but the steps should be similar if you own a Mac.

1. Open the internet browser on your computer and visit the installation page for Smart Switch app.
2. Click on the appropriate download link.
   • For PC
   • For Mac
3. Click to launch the downloaded .exe file (.dmg on Mac).
4. Confirm that you accept the terms of the license agreement by clicking the two check boxes.
5. Click Next.
6. Complete the installation process by clicking the Finish button. After that, the newly installed Smart Switch app will run automatically.

How to back your files up to your computer using Smart Switch

There can be a number of reasons why you would want to create a backup so it pays to know how to do it using Samsung Smart Switch. Backing up with Smart Switch is very easy. Here’s how:

1. Open the Smart Switch app on your PC or Mac.
2. Connect your Android device to your computer via USB cable.
3. Make sure your phone is unlocked.
4. On the Smart Switch app click on MORE at the top right.
5. Click Preferences.
6. Click Backup items tab. In this tab, you will be able to customize what items to copy and keep as back up. All items are selected by default by if you want to speed up the copying process, you may want to select the important boxes only.
7. Once you’ve selected what items to include in your backup, click OK. Otherwise, simply click Cancel.
8. Click Backup.
9. Tap Allow on your phone if Smart Switch asks for permission.
10. Once the backup is complete, you get a breakdown of all the data that was successfully backed up. Click OK to finish.

How to restore your backup to your phone

If you’ve already created a Smart Switch backup but want to restore your data to your phone, these are the steps you need to take:

1. Open the Smart Switch app on your PC or Mac.
2. Connect your Android device to your computer via USB cable.
3. Make sure your phone is unlocked.
4. Click Restore.
5. If you want to restore a previously created backup, select Select a different backup . If you want to simply restore one backup that’s saved before, click Restore now.
6. Tap Allow on your phone if Smart Switch asks for permission.
7. Once the restore process is complete, you’ll get a breakdown of the data that’s been restored. Click OK to finish the restore.

Some Notes about Samsung Smart Switch

If it’s your first time to connect your smartphone to your computer,  it should check for appropriate drivers and install them automatically. Once you’ve installed Smart Switch program in your computer, your computer should detect your phone in the app. Driver installation can take several minutes so make sure not to interrupt the process.

If you have some specific questions about Smart Switch, be sure to visit Samsung help page about this product.

 

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