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Use the OnePlus Switch app to ditch your old Android phone

If you've decided to make the switch to a OnePlus smartphone, a new app helps make the switch a breeze.

Jason Cipriani Contributing Writer, ZDNet
Jason Cipriani is based out of beautiful Colorado and has been covering mobile technology news and reviewing the latest gadgets for the last six years. His work can also be found on sister site CNET in the How To section, as well as across several more online publications.
Jason Cipriani
Jason Cipriani/CNET

OnePlus recently released a new Android app, OnePlus Switch, aimed at making it easier to keep all of your important information when switching to one of the company's phones .

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As long as your old phone is running Android 6.0 or above, the app will work just fine.

To get started, you'll need to set up your new OnePlus phone, and install the OnePlus Switch app on both phones and approve the various permissions requested by the app.

oneplus-5t-screenshot-of-switch-app
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET

On your new OnePlus phone, select New Device, select the device type (OnePlus or Android) and follow the prompts. Eventually, a QR code will show up on your display.

oneplus-switch-app
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Next, on the old device tap Start to prompt the app to launch a QR code scanner and point the camera at your new OnePlus phone.

Last, decide which data you want to transfer. Currently, the app supports transferring the following:

  • Contacts
  • Call logs
  • Messages
  • Calendar
  • Pictures
  • Audio
  • Video
  • Applications (without saved data)
  • Other files

When you've selected all you want to transfer, select Begin Migration. It's a good idea to have both devices plugged in. During a test run of transferring some apps and pictures, amounting to roughly 6.5GB of data, the OnePlus Switch app estimated it would take about an hour to get the job done.

OnePlus notes that it's working on adding support for older Android devices, more services such as saved app data, and iOS devices.