When you switch to a new phone, the goal is to carry over everything you want and leave nothing personal behind. That means transferring your data, deduplicating and trimming your media so the move is fast, then wiping the old device cleanly.

Short answer:

  • Transfer contacts, photos, and apps to the new phone first (Quick Start, Google backup, or a transfer cable).
  • Trim and dedupe large videos and duplicate photos before migrating so you don't copy junk.
  • Sign out and factory reset the old phone once the new one is confirmed working.

Step 1: Decide What to Carry Over

Switching is the perfect moment to declutter, because whatever you migrate becomes the new phone's starting baggage. Cleaning before the move means a faster transfer and a tidier fresh start.

Focus on the heaviest, messiest categories:

  • Large videos that you've already saved elsewhere or no longer need.
  • Duplicate and near-identical photos from bursts, edits, and saved-twice images.
  • Old downloads, screenshots, and app caches that don't deserve a place on the new device.

A review-first cleaner like Clenoir for iOS (or Cleanor for Android) scans on-device and groups your largest videos, duplicates, and similar shots, showing you everything before you confirm a deletion. That trims the migration without risking anything you want to keep. See duplicate photos and large videos cleanup.

Step 2: Dedupe Photos and Trim Big Files

Cleaning media before transfer saves time and space on day one of your new phone.

  • iPhone: Use Photos > Albums > Duplicates to merge exact copies, then review big clips with our large videos guide.
  • Android: Use Google Photos > Manage storage to clear blurry, large, and screenshot items it flags, and review duplicates.

Empty Recently Deleted (iPhone) or the Trash in Google Photos afterward so deleted files don't ride along to the new device or keep occupying cloud quota.

Step 3: Back Up and Transfer to the New Phone

Now move everything that matters. The cleanest path depends on your platforms.

  • iPhone to iPhone: Use Quick Start, bring the phones close together and follow the prompts to migrate directly, or restore from an iCloud Backup on the new device.
  • Android to Android: Use the manufacturer's transfer tool or the Copy apps & data flow during setup, often with a cable for speed.
  • Across platforms (iPhone to Android or vice versa): Use the official switch app or Google/Apple's transfer tools, and confirm contacts, photos, and messages arrived.

Before wiping anything, open the new phone and verify your photos, contacts, messages, and key apps are all present and working.

Step 4: Sign Out and Disable Activation Locks

Before resetting the old phone, release it from your accounts so it isn't locked to you.

  • iPhone: Go to Settings > [your name] > Sign Out to remove your Apple Account and disable Find My iPhone.
  • Android: Go to Settings > Accounts > [your Google account] > Remove account, plus any Samsung or manufacturer account.

Skipping this leaves Activation Lock or Factory Reset Protection active, which can block reuse, resale, or trade-in of the old phone.

Step 5: Factory Reset the Old Phone

With data transferred and accounts signed out, wipe the device.

  • iPhone: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
  • Android: Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).

Finally, remove the physical SIM, delete or transfer the eSIM, and eject any microSD card. The old phone is now safe to sell, gift, recycle, or store.

Don't Forget Two-Factor and App-Specific Data

The data that doesn't sync is what trips people up during a switch. Handle it before you wipe the old phone.

  • Authenticator apps: Google Authenticator, Authy, and similar tools may store codes locally. Use their built-in export or transfer feature to move your 2FA codes, or you can get locked out of accounts on the new device.
  • Messaging history: WhatsApp, Signal, and others each have their own migration flow. For cleaning up WhatsApp videos before you move, trim first, then use the app's transfer or chat-backup option.
  • Downloaded files and notes: Check the Files app or Downloads folder and any offline notes that live only on the device.

Confirm every one of these is on the new phone, or safely exported, before you sign out and reset the old one. Once it's wiped, there's no getting local-only data back.

A Clean Switch Checklist

Run through this before retiring the old device:

  1. Media deduped and trimmed before transfer.
  2. Data fully transferred and verified on the new phone.
  3. Accounts signed out; activation locks off.
  4. Old phone factory reset; SIM/eSIM/SD removed.

For more on tidying media and freeing space during a move, see the clean up phone storage hub and the storage cleanup FAQ. Cleaning before you switch means your new phone starts light, organized, and free of the clutter you'd rather leave behind.

Want the fast version? Cleanor for iPhone scans on-device — nothing uploaded — and surfaces your largest videos, duplicate photos, and heavy caches in one pass. For the full routine, see the free up phone storage guide.

FAQ

Should I clean up my old phone's media before transferring to a new one?

Yes, trim large videos and dedupe photos before migrating so you don't copy junk onto the new device. Cleaning before the move means a faster transfer and a tidier fresh start, since whatever you migrate becomes the new phone's starting baggage.

How do I move my two-factor authentication codes to a new phone?

Authenticator apps like Google Authenticator and Authy may store codes locally, so use their built-in export or transfer feature to move your 2FA codes before wiping the old phone, or you can get locked out of accounts on the new device.

What should I verify before factory resetting my old phone?

Open the new phone and confirm your photos, contacts, messages, and key apps are all present and working before wiping anything. Once the old phone is wiped, there's no getting local-only data back.