Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

[Kat_Devine]

I have the same issue. When I have upgraded and kept the same number in the past I have always had a new SIM so the old phone stays on to transfer files etc. How can this be done if you move the SIM from one phone to another?

[bristolian]

Post move to a new thread.

It is the SIM which holds your account details & phone number. You can transfer this from one phone to another in a matter of seconds, independently of the data on a phone. There's no need to unnecessarily replace a perfectly working SIM, just because you're changing phones.

Transferring or copying personal user data from one phone to another should not require a SIM active. It can actually make for a more seamless transfer if a SIM is not present - if you want a new phone to have your existing user data installed first.

[XRaySpeX]

@Kat_Devine : Moving data from 1 phone to another doesn't use a SIM . It's done by Blurtooth or possibly via a PC.

[Kat_Devine]

I have upgraded my phone (keeping the same number). When I have done this in the past I've received a new SIM card, but there isn't one with the new phone. Are they despatched separately now? I've seen some people answer on other posts that you move the old SIM to the new phone  but I then don't understand how you can move files to the new phone, since the old one presumably won't work without a SIM.

[bristolian]

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@Kat_Devine wrote:

I have upgraded my phone (keeping the same number).

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Rather than starting a new thread, please use the "reply" function to add to your existing post - and keep all replies in the same place.

To offer assistance to what seems to be your question, what make & model of phone are you moving from & to?

[Chris_S]

Hi @Kat_Devine 

It's great news to hear that you've upgraded, I hope you love your new phone!

You have the option to request a new sim at the point of upgrade, but if you don't request a new sim, you can keep your old sim and just pop it into your new phone.

You can transfer all of your date when you have your new device, the process would differ depending on which brand of device you have.

Is your new device an Android or an Apple phone?

Chris S

[Kat_Devine]

Hi there, my old phone is a Samsung S20 and the new one an S25 🙂 

[Kat_Devine]

Thank you Chris - I didn't see an option; I've just always got a new SIM automatically before, but in fairness it's a while since my last upgrade! My new phone is Android (Samsung S25) and it replaces an S20.

[bristolian · Accepted solution]

Samsung Smart Switch is your friend here - seamless backup & restore between compatible devices. You can do direct transfer between 2 x Samsung phones, or backup one to PC and subsequently restore. I suspect your S-devices are ones without SD-card support, else that would be another option.

https://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/app/smart-switch

Absolutely no need for a SIM in either device for this to work, I advise from personal experience.

[Kat_Devine]

Thank you, that's very helpful. That's my job for the weekend sorted then! 🙂