Phone-to-Phone transfer

Transferring Data from Your Previous Phone

There are several ways to transfer contact and other information when upgrading to a new phone. The most convenient method depends on:

  • the phone models involved
  • the type of information you are transferring
  • the types of backup systems you have been using
  • whether or not you are changing your operator or service provider.

Common methods of transferring data are:


Transfer via PC is the most effective, but it initially requires more effort to set up. You will need to download and install PC Suite software on your compatible PC and ensure that a number of variables line up, including PC Suite version, Windows operating system, and connection method compatibility.

Transfer via MMC is the easiest method as long as both models support the same size of MMC. SIM card transfer is a simple method for transferring phone numbers only.


Transferring Phone Numbers via SIM Card

SIM card transfer makes sense if you are only transferring phone numbers. Copy the phone numbers to your SIM card, remove the SIM card from your previous phone, insert it into your new phone, and store the phone numbers in your new phone's memory. For basic phone models without additional memory, the phone numbers may already be stored on the SIM card.



What is a SIM card? Your SIM card is the small card with a notched corner that is inserted into your phone and allows your phone to establish a network connection. Provided by your operator or service provider, the SIM card includes your account and network information and a limited amount of memory.

Instructions for copying phone numbers to and retrieving them from your SIM card are phone model-specific and provided in your phone models' user guides. (Refer to your previous model's user guide for information on copying data and your new model's user guide for information on retrieving data.)

For many Nokia phone models, however, the process goes something like this:

1. With your previous phone, select Contacts
2. Select Options -> Mark All
3. Select Options -> Copy to SIM direct.
4. Select the contact details (for instance All) that you want to copy


Once the contacts have been copied, remove the SIM card from your previous phone, insert it into your new phone, and copy the contacts to your new phone's memory:

5. Select Contacts
6. Select Options -> SIM directory
7. Select Options -> Mark All
8. Select Options -> Copy to Contacts


Please note:
  • In some cases, SIM card transfer may modify the appearance of the contact information. For instance, names may be shortened or multiple phone numbers for the same contact may appear as separate contacts after transfer.
  • In some cases, you may also be able to transfer text messages with your SIM card.
  • SIM card transfer also usually works if you are changing phone model manufacturers. In most cases, you can store information from another manufacturer's phone on your SIM card and transfer it accurately to your new Nokia phone's Contacts file.
  • Since your SIM card is provided by your operator or service provider, using your SIM card to transfer data may be tricky if you change operators at the same time as you change phone models. The best thing to do is copy the information before ending your service contract with your previous operator or service provider.
  • Depending on the number of contacts you have stored, you may have to perform SIM card transfer more than once. Usually SIM cards have memory to store several hundred contacts at a time.




Transferring Data via MultiMediaCard (MMC)

What is an MMC? An MMC is a removable memory card that you can use to store many types of data, including documents, photos, music, videos, and messages.

Many newer Nokia phone models have a slot for an MMC in one of two sizes: standard or reduced-size. If you're not sure, you can check if there is an MMC slot in your phone and the size supported from your phone's user guide.

Some of your phone's data may already be stored on your MMC, but in most cases at least some of your phone's data will be stored in your phone's built-in memory.

Instructions for transferring data from your phone's memory to your MMC are phone-model specific and are provided in your user guide. Look for information on:
  • Copying/moving messages
  • Copying/moving the contents of your Gallery (images, videos)
  • Copying/moving music, tones, or other audio files
  • Copying/moving documents

Copying or moving contacts, calendar items, add-on applications*, or games* may not work smoothly with an MMC. For these, try moving the information via Bluetooth or PC.

Once you have copied the data you want to your MMC, simply remove it and install it in your new phone. You can either leave the data on the MMC or move it to your new phone's memory.

Please note:
  • If your previous phone supports a standard MMC and your new phone model supports a reduced-size MMC, use the reduced-size MMC to transfer the data. You will need to use an adapter to insert the reduced-size MMC into your previous phone model. This adapter may be included in your phone's sales package.
  • Depending on the Nokia MMC model, your MMC has storage space for 32, 64, or 128 MB of data. If your MMC is already full, you may need to delete some data, transfer some data to your new phone for storage, or use another MMC with available storage to copy data from your previous phone's memory.

*Not all applications or games are compatible with all phone models. Check with the provider of the application for phone model compatibility. Information on free applications from Nokia is included on the phone model's Support pages: select your phone model from Product Support.



Transferring Data via Bluetooth

What is Bluetooth? Bluetooth is a technology that allows two compatible devices, such as phones and PCs, to communicate wirelessly without the need for a line-of-sight connection. Many of Nokia's current phone models support Bluetooth wireless connections. See our Technology site for more information on Bluetooth and Nokia phones supporting Bluetooth.

Instructions for transferring data via Bluetooth are phone-model specific and are provided in your user guide. All Nokia phone models with Bluetooth support transfer of data one item at a time.

Some of Nokia's newest phone models feature a built-in application called Data Transfer or Data Mover that allows you to transfer an entire Contacts, Calendar, or Gallery folder (Gallery contains images, sound clips, and video clips) via Bluetooth from one compatible Nokia phone to another. Open the application and follow the onscreen instructions to move the supported data formats from any other compatible phone. Compatible phones include all Nokia phones based on the Series 60 platform.

Please click here for the instructions on transferring data from existing phone to new phone via Bluetooth.

Please note that you cannot transfer emails, multimedia messages, or text messages using the Data Transfer or Data Mover applications.



Transferring Data via PC

Nokia offers free software, called Nokia PC Suite, that allows you to transfer data from your phone to a compatible PC via a data cable or a wireless connection. From your PC, you can then transfer the data to your new phone.

Will PC Suite work for me? Transfer via PC Suite can be very effective, but it requires a little effort to set up, and there are a number of variables that can affect how smoothly it will work.

Use PC Suite if:
  • You are transferring data to another phone of the same model
or
  • Both your previous and new phone models support PC Suite version 6 or later
  • Your PC runs on Windows XP or 2000, and
  • Your PC and phone support the same connection types: USB cable, Bluetooth, and/or infrared

PC Suite will not work if:
  • Your phone models support different versions of PC Suite (for instance your previous phone supports PC Suite 4.8 or PC Suite for Nokia 6600, and your new phone model supports PC Suite version 6 or later)
  • Your PC's operating system differs from the Windows operating systems supported by your phone's correct PC Suite version
  • Your PC does not support the connection types supported by one or both of your phones.

In practice, this means that the information from Nokia phone models released prior to 2004 cannot be moved to new Nokia models via PC Suite. However, all Nokia phone models released today use the same version of PC Suite, meaning data transfer during phone model upgrade will become increasingly seamless into the future.

To find the correct version of PC Suite for your previous phone model and new phone model and your PC's operating system, please visit the PC Suite versions table. If the versions do not match, in most cases you cannot use PC Suite to transfer data from one phone to another.

Above the versions table you'll find information on the connection methods supported by Nokia phone models.

Instructions on downloading and using PC Suite (version 6 or later) are provided on the PC Suite pages and the PC Suite User Guide.