Google Pixel 9 users can transfer their data from an older Android smartphone anytime after the initial setup. The Android OS developer has eliminated the obligation to decide during the first boot of the brand-new smartphone.
Google allows data transfer to Pixel 9 any time after first setup
Switching smartphones has become a relatively simpler process. With Google Cloud, Workspace, and several other Android features, data transfer is a painless process.
Despite the ease, Pixel smartphone users have to decide to transfer their data from an older device to their new phone during the initial setup. And if users speed through the setup wizard by declining the option to transfer their data, the process becomes complicated later on.
Google has tweaked the Android OS for the Pixel 9 series. Moving forward, even if users decide not to shift their data over to their Pixel 9 smartphone during the initial setup, they can choose to do so anytime.
While setting up a new Pixel device, users can restore their data from a Google backup in the cloud. Alternatively, they can pull data from an existing device. The latter option allows you to transfer a lot more data quickly.
Previously, the only way to access the “Google Data Restoration” page again after completing the setup was to perform a factory reset. However, Google has now reportedly unlocked the setting to transfer data any time after the initial setup process.
How to transfer data on Pixel 9 anytime after the first setup?
Google has tweaked the Settings app on the Pixel 9 series smartphones. There’s a new setting called “Back up or copy data.” Tapping the same reveals a new process called “Copy Data”, which offers to “Bring data from another device.”
The process to transfer data from an older Pixel smartphone is granular. Users can choose to “copy photos, contacts, messages, and more” from their previous devices.
One of the best features of the new Copy Data setting is users need not migrate data from their older devices. The settings page for the feature states by copying data, “you won’t lose recent data” as “the data you copy is merged with the data on” your new device.” If that’s not enough, any modified settings on the Pixel 9 won’t be overwritten while copying data from the older device.
It is not clear why Google didn’t offer this ability for so long. Samsung’s One UI software has long had “Smart Switch”, which does the same thing. Although Google hasn’t confirmed it yet, as the new setting is available in Android, it could make its way to smartphones from other brands.