How To Transfer An Android Phone To A New One?

DallasSteve wrote:
I connected the new phone to my GMail account but that did not cause the phone to install the apps that were on my old phone.

Not going to happen, you have to install the apps you want.

DallasSteve wrote:
I also tried connecting my old phone to my PC but it never appears as a drive in Windows Explorer and there is no way to control my old phone from the damaged scrambled screen.

The default on my Nexus 5x android phone is to connect by USB cable in charge mode. You have to use the phone to select the file transfer mode to see it on the PC. This is ruled out for you as your screen is not viewable.

DallasSteve wrote:
Maybe I need to do something on the new phone so that it is is backed up on my Google Drive in case I have to change phones again.

This is the learning experience benefit of what you are going through. I don't know what kind of documents that you have on your phone to back up but I can list what apps I use and why:

• Gmail for email
  
• Google Contacts, phone contact database as well as visible in Gmail and in the Google Contacts app
  
• Google Photos, use auto backup so all photos are on cloud
  
• Google Drive, I use Google Docs and Google Sheets that ride on Google Drive for my documents and spreadsheets (compatible with Microsoft equivalents).
  
• Google Calendar
  
• Google Maps for alternative to my GPS
  

All of the above use Google Cloud so backup is automatic and all content of these apps is visible/editable on any other devices such as tablet, PC, phone.

And no, I am not a Google employee or do I own any stock in Google. To me this is the most integrated and usable set of apps available.

I am using a no-contract provider named Net10 which I think uses the TracFone system. I connected the new phone to my GMail account but that did not cause the phone to install the apps that were on my old phone. I also tried connecting my old phone to my PC but it never appears as a drive in Windows Explorer and there is no way to control my old phone from the damaged scrambled screen. I guess I'll just have to install the missing apps and files manually. I didn't have a lot that I need to install, but it would be nice if it happened automatically. Maybe I need to do something on the new phone so that it is is backed up on my Google Drive in case I have to change phones again.

One of the advantages of an Android phone is that IF you also use Google apps then everything (contacts, email, calendar, whatever) is on the cloud and synced to any other devices you also have. So, no data needs to be transferred to the new phone and you only have to log into the Google apps with your account info.

You don't mention your carrier or your old phone's brand, but either and/or both (unless the phone was pure android and unlocked) may have put apps on the phone that you were using instead of Google apps. In this case it depends on their backup options as to what transfer methods you have.

I just updated my Samsung phone a couple of says ago. Ran an app called Smart Switch on both. Chose the wIRELESS aoption for each, set new one to RECEIVE and old one to SEND. It conneced the two and then transferred everything I wanted it to, incuding data and music, photos, etc. I don't now if this app will work on non-Samsung devices, though.

I had a Samsung S4 and then got a new S8. They gave you cables and directions to do it. I didn't try it myself I had my computer guy do it. Even he had some problems doing it and had to come back the next day.

I have done this twice. Well the first time it was not an android or even a smart phone
The first time (First Smart PHone) I had the phone store copy the contacts list and such

The android to android consisted of two parts
1: Contacts and apps.
Logged into my Phone and Google account, Sit back and watch. that's all folks.
2: Stored files.. I stored them on an SD card. so we ... Moved the card.

Job done.

There are several apps in the app store.

"If" you had your settings turned on to automatically back up to your Google account you shouldn't have to do a thing with your old phone. On your new phone try going to Settings->Cloud and Accounts->Accounts->Google->and turn on the sync options. Your phone should then sync to your Google cloud storage.

Dave

All the apps that you got through the playstore will transfer so you don't need to do anything with those.

Tons of articles online about backing up your phone for all your settings. If you use google photos, all your photos are backed up automatically.

What service do you have?
Might try using "sync" and blue tooth.
Could plug into computer and transfer using it.