If you've already purchased another Samsung device (e.g. tablet or phone), you may want each device to integrate with each other and work seamlessly with the same setup. This wikiHow teaches you how to use Samsung Smart Switch Mobile, Flow, and SideSync to sync your Samsung Galaxy phone with your Galaxy tablet so that they offer a similar experience or setup.
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Method 1 of 3: Syncing Devices Using Samsung Smart Switch
Step 1. Download Smart Switch from Google Play Store on phones and tablets
You can find the Google Play Store icon on either your home screen or app drawer, or by searching for it on your phone or tablet. Smart Switch needs to be installed on phones and tablets in order to use it.
- It is possible that you can use Smart Switch via the latest program update from Samsung. Most newer Samsung watches, tablets, and phones come with the Smart Switch app. This app is the only Samsung app that allows you to send data from a non-Samsung device (e.g. iPad, iPhone, Blackberry device, or Windows phone).
- Search for "Samsung Smart Switch" via the search bar in the Play Store which you can see at the top of the screen. The developer of this app is "Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd."
- Touch " Install ” on your phone and tablet to install the free app.
Step 2. Open Smart Switch on your phone and tablet
The app is marked by a blue icon with a white “S” formed by two curved arrows. You can find this icon on one of your device's home screens or app drawer, or by searching for it.
Step 3. Touch Agree on phones and tablets
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. By selecting the button, you agree to the terms of service of the app. If you want to read more about the app's privacy policy and terms of service, click the bold and underlined text on the pop-up message.
Step 4. Touch Allow on phones and tablets
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. This step gives the app permission to perform data transfer procedures (including access to instant messages, storage space, and device microphone).
Step 5. Touch Send data on the phone
The app will ask " What should this phone do? " Since you want to send data from your phone to a new tablet or device, tap " Send data ".
Step 6. Touch Receive data on the tablet
The app will ask " What should this tablet do? " and since you want to receive data from the phone, you need to set the tablet or device to accept the transferred data.
Step 7. Touch Wireless on the phone
If you have a cable to connect the two devices, you can select “ Cable " If you choose " Wireless ”, you don't need a data cable.
The phone will wirelessly connect to the tablet and emit a sound that is too high for the ear to detect. If your tablet is not within sound output range, your phone and tablet cannot connect to each other
Step 8. Touch Galaxy/Android on the tablet
The app will ask " What's your old device? ". Since you are using a Samsung phone (data transfer source phone), you need to touch the first option in the menu before proceeding.
Step 9. Touch Wireless on the tablet
You need to select the same connection as on your phone so that the two devices can connect to each other.
Step 10. Touch Accept on the tablet
When the devices are connected for the first time, you will see a confirmation message on the tablet indicating that the phone is trying to establish a connection.
Step 11. Select the content you want to receive on the tablet
Touch the circle next to each type of data you want to receive on the tablet (eg. Contacts ”, “ Messages ", or " Apps ”).
Step 12. Touch the forward-pointing arrow icon on the tablet
Files from the phone will be synced to the tablet. A progress bar will be displayed on the screens of both devices, and a confirmation message will appear after the transfer is complete.
If you want to transfer account information, you will be asked to confirm the copy of the information on the phone (original device/data source)
Step 13. Touch
on phones and tablets.
Step 1. Download SideSync from Google Play Store
on phones and tablets.
You can find the Google Play Store icon on either your device's home screen or app drawer, or by searching for it on your phone or tablet. This app needs to be installed on both the phone and the tablet in order to be used to sync the two devices.
- SideSync is not compatible with Samsung Galaxy 9 or later models. You'll need to use Smart Switch or Flow if you're using those devices.
- You also cannot transfer messages or contact entries using SideSync.
- Search for "Samsung SideSync" in the Play Store search bar that appears at the top of the app window. The developer of this app is "Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd."
- Touch " Install ” on your phone and tablet to install this free app.
Step 2. Connect your Samsung phone and tablet to each other
Make sure your phone and tablet are connected to the same WiFi network, or you can connect them using a direct Wi-Fi connection.
Step 3. Open SideSync on your phone and tablet
The icon looks like a purple and blue arrow.
The tablet can detect phones connected to the same wireless network, and load the same apps
Step 4. Tap the phone icon on the tablet screen
This icon is in the SideSync window that appears on the tablet screen.
After the application loads on the phone and recognizes the tablet, your phone screen will be displayed on the tablet screen. From here, you can control your phone via your tablet, as well as transfer documents
Step 5. Open the My Files app (or any other file manager program) on your phone (via tablet)
You can also open the photo gallery if you want to send a photo or video.
Step 6. Drag and drop the files you want to send from the phone screen to the tablet screen
You can move any document with this method, except message entries or contact data.
You can also drag files from your tablet and drop them onto your phone screen to move information from your tablet to your phone
Method 3 of 3: Using Samsung Flow
Step 1. Download Samsung Flow from Google Play Store on phones and tablets
You can find the Google Play Store icon on either your device's home screen or app drawer, or by searching for it on your phone or tablet. This app needs to be installed on both the phone and the tablet in order to be used to sync the two devices.
- Flow is compatible with Android Marshmallow or later.
- Search for "Samsung Flow" using the Play Store search bar at the top of the screen. The developer of this app is "Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd."
- Touch " Install ” on your phone and tablet to install this free app.
Step 2. Open Flow on your phone and tablet
This app icon looks like an infinity symbol with two ends. You can find this icon on one of your device's home screens or app drawer, or by searching for it.
Step 3. Touch your phone icon on the tablet screen
You can see this icon under the "Available Devices" section.
Step 4. Touch the connection method via tablet screen to select it
You can use a WiFi, LAN, or Bluetooth network to continue the sync process.
Step 5. Touch OK on phones and tablets
A passcode will be displayed on both devices and you will need to check it to make sure the codes are the same before continuing. If the codes displayed are different, press “ Cancel ”.
Step 6. Accept the requested permissions
Flow requires permissions to access your device's location, storage space, phone, contact list, text messages, and microphone in order for you to sync and use all the features the app needs.
You can see a blank Flow window on your phone and tablet screen
Step 7. Touch the plus sign (“+”) icon on your phone or tablet
By pressing the icon, you can send information from one device to another.
The application panel will be displayed so that you can share information through the application directly. If you have a folder of downloaded content from Instagram that you want to share, that folder is saved in the My Files app. Most non-Samsung app information/power is stored in the My Files app
Step 8. Touch the app with the information you want to share
You can tap the Images app, for example, if you want to share an image file.
The selected application will open and display the file or information you can share
Step 9. Touch the file you want to share
If you touch the Images app icon, you can see a list of all the pictures taken using your phone or tablet's camera. When you touch the file, you will see a ticked circle in the top left corner of the selected image. The circle indicates that the file has been selected. You can touch multiple images to share more than one file at a time.
Step 10. Touch Done
It's in the upper-right corner of the app window.
- The file will be sent to the other device in a chat-like format, and automatically saved to the receiving device. For example, if you send a photo from your phone to your tablet, it will automatically be saved to your tablet once the file sync is complete.
- You can follow the same steps to change the order in which files are shared (or, more accurately, change the data source device). For example, you can touch the (“+”) icon on your tablet to sync information from or tablet data to your phone.
