Smart Switch is undoubtedly one of Samsung's most underrated piece of software. Not only can it create a complete (and encrypted) backup of your device on a PC/Mac, it can also help recover from a botched software upgrade attempt. In this tutorial, we'll be taking a look at how to create a complete device backup using Samsung Smart Switch.
Step 1: Download and install Samsung Smart Switch on your PC/Mac from Samsung's official website.
Step 2: Download and install the corresponding app from the Google Play Store.
Step 3: Connect your Samsung device to your PC/Mac and run Smart Switch. This is what you should see initially.
Step 4: Once the connection has been established, you should be taken to the following screen.
Step 5: Tap on the "More" button on the top-right and you'll be shown some additional options. Otherwise, you can tap the Backup option to get started immediately.
Step 6: Tap on 'Preferences' to specify what data you need to be backed up. All of it is checked by default, so you need not worry about missing out on anything. Nonetheless, if there's something that you want to exclude, you can do it in the following menu.
Step 7: Once you've made your selections, tap OK and navigate back to the main menu and tap on Backup. You should be prompted to set the location of the backup on your PC/Mac.
Step 8: Once you've successfully set the path, you'll see a prompt that shows you the progress of the data transfer. There'll be a similar prompt on your phone too. Once the process is complete, you have a full backup of your phone at your disposal.
This method is more advantageous than simply copying files onto your device in several ways. For starters, you get to move over device-specific settings, App Data, and the whole shebang. Furthermore, since the process happens over USB, it is a lot faster than downloading a backup file off the cloud.
Furthermore, you can even prompt it to save only the bare essentials and exclude the heavy stuff such as media. It is ideal for people who switch phones often and need their new device up and running quickly.
