How do I transfer music between Samsung phones?

Transferring music between Samsung devices is a common task for many users. Whether you want to move your music library from an old Samsung phone to a new one, or share songs with friends and family, being able to easily transfer music can save time and effort. The process is generally straightforward, with several different methods available depending on your specific devices.

In this guide, we’ll provide an overview of the main ways to transfer music between Samsung phones and troubleshoot any potential issues. We’ll cover wired transfer using a USB cable, wireless transfer via Bluetooth or WiFi Direct, transferring with the Smart Switch app, using third-party apps, and transferring via cloud storage services. With step-by-step instructions and tips provided, you’ll be able to choose the best method for your needs and successfully move your music library between devices.

Compatibility

For the easiest file transfer experience between Samsung devices, both phones should be relatively newer models running Android 9 or higher. Many of the wireless sharing options require newer Samsung models like the Galaxy S9/S10/S20 and Note 9/10 for compatibility.

The Samsung phones need to support the same wireless transfer technologies in order to connect directly. For example, Samsung details that Nearby Share is compatible between Galaxy devices running One UI 2.1 or higher. So a Galaxy S10 running One UI 2.1 could transfer files to another S10, but not necessarily an older Galaxy S8.

Likewise for Bluetooth file sharing, both devices would need Bluetooth 4.0 or higher. The farther back the Android/OneUI versions, the fewer sharing options are available. So modern Galaxy phones like the S21 or S22 have the most transfer and compatibility options.

Via USB Cable

A USB cable provides a simple way to transfer music between Samsung phones. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

First, use a USB-C cable to connect both Samsung phones. Plug one end into your old phone and the other end into your new phone.1

On both phones, launch the Smart Switch app which comes pre-installed on most Samsung devices. If you don’t have it, you can download Smart Switch from the Google Play Store.

In the Smart Switch app on your old phone, tap “Send data”. Then tap “Cable” on both phones to establish the USB connection.

On your new phone, select the types of content you want to transfer like photos, videos, music, etc. Then tap “Transfer” to start moving the files.

The transfer speed will depend on the amount of content. For just music, it should only take a few minutes.

Once completed, you can disconnect the cable and your music should now be available in the music player app on your new Samsung phone.

Via Bluetooth

One way to transfer music between Samsung devices is by using Bluetooth. To enable Bluetooth on your Samsung phone, go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth and toggle the switch to turn it on. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both the sending and receiving devices.

To send music files via Bluetooth, open the File Manager app on the sending device and browse to the music files you want to transfer. Tap and hold on a song, then select Share > Bluetooth. Your phone will scan for nearby Bluetooth devices – tap the name of the receiving device to begin the file transfer. Accept the file transfer request on the receiving device to complete the music transfer.

Bluetooth transfer works well for transferring a few songs or albums at a time. However, it can be slow to transfer large music libraries, and the devices need to be within close range. Refer to the Samsung device user manuals for exact steps on enabling Bluetooth and sending files.

Via WiFi Direct

WiFi Direct allows Samsung devices to connect directly to each other and transfer files without needing a WiFi network. Here is how to enable WiFi Direct and send files between Samsung phones:

First, open the Settings app on both devices and ensure WiFi Direct is enabled. On some models it is under “Connections” while on others it may be under “WiFi”. Tap WiFi Direct to turn it on.

Next, on the sending device, open the Gallery or My Files app and select a file to share. Tap the Share icon and select WiFi Direct. It will scan and show any devices in range with WiFi Direct enabled. Select the receiving device.

The receiving device will get a WiFi Direct connection prompt. Accept it to connect. Once connected, the file(s) will begin transferring over WiFi Direct instead of mobile data or WiFi.

According to Samsung support, WiFi Direct can transfer files up to 1GB in size.

Some users on Reddit reported issues with WiFi Direct file transfers not working reliably on certain models. Overall though it provides a simple wireless way to send files between Samsung devices.

Using Smart Switch

One of the easiest ways to transfer music between Samsung devices is by using the Smart Switch app. Smart Switch is Samsung’s own content transfer app that lets you move your music, photos, messages, notes, contacts, and more from your old device to your new one.

To use Smart Switch to transfer music between Samsung phones:

1. Download and install the Smart Switch app on both your old and new Samsung phones. You can find Smart Switch in the Google Play Store or Galaxy Store on your devices.

2. Open the Smart Switch app on both phones. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both devices and keep the phones near each other.

3. On the old phone, tap “Send data” and select the content you want to transfer. Tap “Send” to begin sending the data to your new phone.

4. On the new phone, tap “Receive data” to begin receiving the content from your old phone via Bluetooth. The transfer will begin automatically once a connection is established.

5. Your music files and playlists will transfer from your old device to your new one. The transfer time will depend on the amount of content being transferred.

For more details on transferring content with Smart Switch, see Samsung’s support article: Transfer content with Samsung Smart Switch

Using Third-Party Apps

In addition to Samsung’s own Smart Switch app, there are many good third-party apps that can transfer music between Samsung devices. One of the most popular is ShareIt. ShareIt allows you to transfer files and media between Android devices quickly and easily using wifi direct or Bluetooth. Some key features of ShareIt include:

Transfer music, videos, photos, apps, documents and more
Works between Android, iOS, Windows Phone, PC and Mac
No internet connection or cellular data required

Fast transfer speeds using wifi direct
Free to download and use

Overall, ShareIt is a great option for wirelessly transferring music libraries and playlists between Samsung devices. Other top recommended third-party apps include Xender, TrebleShot, and Send Anywhere. These all offer similar file sending capabilities using wifi direct or Bluetooth.

Using Cloud Storage

One of the easiest ways to transfer music between Samsung devices is by using a cloud storage service to sync your music library. Popular options like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive allow you to upload your music library to the cloud and then access it from any device. This keeps your music collection in sync across multiple devices without needing cables or manual file transfers.

For example, with Apple Music, you can enable Sync Library in the settings on your Mac. This will upload your Apple Music collection and playlists to iCloud so they are accessible on any iOS device or Mac signed into your Apple ID. Any new music added on one device will automatically sync across the others with no extra steps needed.

Third party services like Spotify also allow you to save music for offline listening across mobile devices. So songs downloaded on your Samsung phone will be accessible on another Android phone with the same Spotify account.

Using a cloud music service ensures your music library is always up to date and available no matter which Samsung device you are using. Just make sure you have enough cloud storage space for your entire collection.

Potential Issues

Here are some common issues that may come up when transferring music between Samsung devices and tips for troubleshooting them:

Music won’t transfer via Bluetooth – Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both devices and they are paired. The devices need to be within close range, around 30 feet, for Bluetooth transfers.

Transfer is slow or keeps stopping – Check for interference from other devices using Bluetooth or WiFi in the vicinity. Get the devices closer together or turn off other connected devices to improve the connection.
Some songs didn’t transfer – There may be an issue with file formats, as some music files like FLAC may not be supported. Stick to common formats like MP3 to avoid compatibility problems.
Music won’t play on the new device – If transferred music is not showing up in the music app, check they are saved in the right folder location like Music/My Music.

Lost music quality after transfer – Bluetooth can compress audio files to transfer quicker. Use a wired connection to maintain full audio quality.
Smart Switch transfer failed – Update both devices to latest software, use a different USB cable if needed, and restart the transfer. Connect both devices to reliable WiFi if transferring wirelessly.

Refer to Samsung’s troubleshooting guides if issues persist when transferring music between devices. Restarting the devices and trying again can also resolve temporary glitches.

Summary

There are a few key methods to transfer music between Samsung devices:

Using a USB cable allows you to directly connect two Samsung devices and transfer music files.
Bluetooth can be used to wirelessly send music files between nearby Samsung devices.

WiFi Direct creates a peer-to-peer connection between Samsung devices to transfer files.
The Smart Switch app from Samsung lets you backup and restore music libraries between devices.
Third-party apps like ShareMyMusic can transfer music over the internet between Samsung devices.

Cloud storage services like Google Drive allow you to upload music from one device and download it to another device.

In summary, wired connections like USB, wireless direct connections like Bluetooth and WiFi Direct, dedicated transfer apps from Samsung or third parties, and cloud storage provide various methods to transfer your music library between Samsung devices.