6 Ways to Transfer Data from SD Card to Phone [Updated]

The main purpose of SD cards is to expand storage space on Android devices. You may store photos, videos, etc. on an SD card, and transfer SD card files to a computer or to a new phone if needed. However, if you get a new phone but it has no place for an SD card, or the SD card not showing up on your new phone, you need to search for a way to transfer the previous SD card to your new phone. Here in this post, we’d like to show you how to transfer data from SD card to phone. And, you can get the tips to move data from the SD card to your new phone, no matter whether the new phone has an SD card slot or not.

Preparation Before Transferring Data from SD Card to Phone

Before moving files from an SD card to your phone, it’s important to prepare properly. Doing so helps avoid data loss, compatibility issues, or corrupted files during the transfer. Here are some key steps:

• Check SD Card Condition: Insert the SD card into a working device or computer and make sure it is readable. If files don’t open or the card shows errors, consider repairing it with a disk utility before transferring.
• Verify Storage Space on Your Phone: Ensure your phone has enough free space in its internal storage to hold all the files you plan to transfer.
• Use the Right Adapter or Cable: For phones without SD card slots, prepare a USB OTG adapter or SD card reader compatible with your device’s charging port.
• Back Up Important Files: Before transferring, it’s wise to create a backup of your SD card on a computer or cloud storage. This ensures you won’t lose valuable files if the transfer is interrupted.
• Check File Compatibility: Some files may not work correctly on the new phone. Make sure you’re transferring only usable files such as photos, videos, or documents.

With these preparations complete, you can start to transfer data from your SD card to your phone using the methods below.

Way 1. How to Transfer Data from SD Card to Phone [Easy & Safe]

To transfer photos from an SD card when your new Android phone doesn’t have a card slot, DroidKit offers a complete Android solution. It works for both phones and tablets, allowing you to move pictures and other files from your SD card straight to your computer within a few clicks. After that, you can connect your new phone to your computer, and then receive files from an SD card without hassle. In addition to the SD card, DroidKit supports transferring data from Android to Android, Android to computer, and computer to Android. It also enables you to recover lost data from an SD card and an Android device.

Steps to Transfer Data from SD Card to Phone via DroidKit:

Step 1. Get the latest version of DroidKit on your computer. Open it and choose Device Manager.

Step 2. Connect your new phone via USB cable and choose Add Content.

Step 3. After clicking Add Content, choose files from SD card folder. Here, we take photos as an example. You can choose photos from the SD card to transfer.

Step 4. Click Open/Start to begin the transfer. Wait until the process finishes, and the selected photos will appear directly in your phone’s storage.

Way 2. How to Transfer Files from SD Card to Phone via Computer

When exploring how to transfer data from SD card to phone, one practical option is to move files to a computer first. This way, you use the computer as an intermediary: copy files from the SD card to the computer, and later move them to your new phone. However, this approach requires enough storage space on your computer and may take longer if the SD card contains large files. Here’s how to transfer files from SD card to computer first:

Step 1. Connect your old Android phone with the SD card via USB cable, or connect your SD card to the computer with a card reader.

Step 2. Click Allows on your device to make sure the computer is connected to your phone or SD card.

Step 3. Locate the folder that stores your SD card files.

Step 4. Copy and paste the files to the folder on your computer.

Way 3. Transfer Data from SD Card to Phone Internal Storage Directly

To transfer data from SD card to phone without relying on third-party tools, another option is to move files directly between the SD card and your phone’s internal storage using built-in settings. This method is straightforward and doesn’t require a computer or extra software. However, it may take longer for large files. And you’ll need to make sure your phone has enough free internal storage space to complete the transfer. Here are the steps:

Step 1. Click on Settings on your phone > click on the Storage option.

Step 2. Choose SD card.

Step 3. Select the folder or file you want to move from the SD card.

Step 4. Back to Menu or click on the three-dot icon > Select Move to…/Copy to option.

Step 5. Drag your phone screen from left an edge to right and then click on the Device icon.

Step 6. Go to Internal Storage and choose a destination to receive files > Click on Move/Copy.

Tips: If the internal storage is invisible: Click on the menu button or three-dot icon > Turn on Show internal storage.

Way 4. Transfer Data from SD Card to Phone via AnyDroid

As the above method only supports managing or transferring data one by one and that’s why if you want to transfer multiple data at one time, then you can use a third-party tool to accomplish this. Luckily, AnyDroid is here for you, which can help you move several data from the SD card to your phone’s internal memory within a few minutes.

Here are its remarkable features:

• It provides users with full access to manage both SD card and internal phone data, which includes messages, contacts, photos, videos, and much more.
• It is 100% safe and secure software to download on a computer for transferring and managing data on an Android phone.
• During the transfer process, there is no data or quality loss.
• With AnyDroid, you can move data from SD card to Android phone or vice versa in 3-5 minutes.

Let’s learn how to use it to transfer data from SD card to phone via AnyDroid:

Step 1. Download the software, install and run it on your system. Connect your Android phone (in which you have inserted an SD card) to the computer using a digital cable.

Step 2. Once the software detects your connected phone, you can move to the file category page. Here, select the file type you want to move.

Step 3. Here, click on the “Add music from computer to device” icon and then select the data from the connected device’s SD card storage space.

Step 4. Within a few minutes, the data from SD card to your Android will be moved successfully, and you will get a “Transfer Completed” message on the interface.

Way 5. How to Transfer Data from SD Card to Phone Using Google Account

Google Account is also a method to transfer SD card data to a phone without cables. First, back up files from the SD card to Google Drive, then sign in on your new phone and download them. This is convenient and secure for important files. However, this method requires a stable internet connection and enough cloud storage space in your Google Drive. Follow the steps below:

Step 1. On your old phone, open Google Drive.

Step 2. Tap + (Add) > Upload and select files from your SD card.

Step 3. Wait for the upload to complete.

Step 4. On your new phone, sign in with the same Google Account.

Step 5. Open Google Drive and download the files to your phone.

Way 6. Direct Data Transfer to Android Phones via Card Reader/Adapter

If your new Android phone supports OTG, you can connect the SD card directly using a USB card reader or adapter. This allows you to move files from SD card to phone without a computer. But not all phones support OTG, and large file transfers may be slower than using a computer. Here are the steps:

Step 1. Insert your SD card into a USB card reader/adapter.

Step 2. Connect the adapter to your new phone’s charging port (USB-C or micro-USB).

Step 3. Open the File Manager app on your phone.

Step 4. Locate your SD card under external storage.

Step 5. Select files, then tap Copy or Move to transfer them to your phone’s internal storage.

FAQs about How to Transfer Data from SD Card to Phone

Q1. How to connect SD card to Android phone?

To connect an SD card to an Android phone, insert it into the SD card slot if available. If your phone doesn’t have a slot, use an OTG card reader/adapter to connect it via the charging port.

Q2. How to retrieve data from SD card in Android?

To retrieve data from an SD card on Android, open the File Manager app, locate the SD card under storage, and copy or move the files you need. You can also use DroidKit to recover lost data on your dead phone/ corrupted SD card .

Q3. How to transfer SD card to new phone Samsung?

To transfer SD card to new phone Samsung, open My Files, go to SD Card, select files, tap Move or Copy, then choose a folder in Internal Storage to finish.

Q4. How to transfer data from SD card to phone without SD card slot?

To transfer SD card data without a card slot, connect the card to a computer or use a USB OTG adapter. Then copy files to your phone’s internal storage or sync them through a cloud service like Google Drive.

The Bottom Line

In summary, this article provides 6 solutions for how to transfer data from SD card to phone. All these methods have their limitations. For a faster and more reliable solution, DroidKit stands out. It not only lets you transfer SD card files directly to any Android device but also helps move data between phone and computer. Download DroidKit today and enjoy a seamless, secure way to manage your Android data effortlessly!