Switching Phones or Platforms: What Carries Over and What Does Not

A new phone or a new service is a good moment to clean up. It is also when accounts, histories and loyalty status get lost, unless you check what moves with you.

Two kinds of switching

Switching phones means moving the same accounts to new hardware. Switching platforms means leaving one service for a rival, such as a different streaming service, airline, shop or app. The first is mostly technical; the second is mostly about terms and conditions.

Moving to a new phone

• Use the built-in transfer tool. Both major mobile systems offer a way to copy apps, settings and data from the old device.
• Authenticator apps need special care. Some move their codes automatically; some do not. Confirm every account still works on the new phone before wiping the old one.
• Messaging history often has its own backup setting that must be switched on before you move.
• Reinstall from the store. Let apps download fresh from your device's store rather than copying installer files across; see stores vs sideloading.

Moving to a different service

Here the question is what the old service lets you take with you and what the new one will recognise. Your purchase history, saved lists, points and membership tier usually belong to the old account. Some services let you export data; few will carry status across to a competitor automatically.

Loyalty tiers and status matches

Some industries offer a "status match", where a new provider grants a tier similar to the one you held elsewhere, usually for a trial period and after you show proof. Terms vary widely, and nothing obliges a business to honour status earned at a rival. Before switching, ask the new provider directly what they will recognise, for how long and on what conditions.

Gaming platforms run similar VIP schemes, and the same questions come up there. A Traditional Chinese guide on one gaming information site discusses whether casino VIP status resets when you switch, and seven questions to ask before a transfer (娛樂城VIP轉移). Whatever the service, get the answer in writing before you move money or close an account.

Close the old door properly

1. Download any data or receipts you want to keep.
2. Withdraw or use up any balance, and cancel subscriptions so they do not renew.
3. Remove saved cards and change the password if you reused it elsewhere.
4. Delete the account if you no longer need it, so it cannot be misused later.
5. Factory reset the old phone before selling or giving it away.

Switching is the best time to delete apps you never open. Fewer apps means fewer permissions and fewer accounts to keep safe.

Version checked 2026-11-09 · Rafael Duarte