Did you know that you can wirelessly switch from a BlackBerry 7, Android, iPhone or another BlackBerry 10 device to a new BlackBerry 10 device using the Device Switch app?
Install this app on your old and new device, complete a few steps, and you can transfer the following information:
- Contacts (including contact photos, birthdays, etc.)
- Calendar items (including recurring entries)
- Camera photos
- Camera videos
- And more depending on the device that you are switching from
Step 1 – Install the Device Switch app on your old device and new device
Using the web browser on each device, navigate to http://www.deviceswitch.com. Doing so opens the respective store on your device and allows you to install the Device Switch app.
After you complete the installation, connect each device to the same Wi-Fi network.
Step 2 – Open the Device Switch app on your old and new device
After connecting both devices to same Wi-Fi network, open the Device Switch app on each device, review the instructions and you’ll notice that your devices automatically discover each other.
Note: Corporate, academic, or public networks may be configured to prohibit devices from connecting to each other so you may need to use Wi-Fi at home
After your old device discovers your new device, select your new device and enter the PIN that appears on your old device. After you verify your PIN, select the information on your old device that you would like to transfer.
After you select the information, tap Next to start the transfer process. Progress of the transfer will appear on each device.
Transferring a lot of data may take some time but you can still multitask and use your device while the transfer occurs
Step 3 – Add your email and social networking accounts
After you successfully transfer your data, all that’s left to do is set up your email and social network accounts on your new BlackBerry 10 device.
Tap Settings followed by Accounts, and then select the type of account want to add.
Step 4 – Secure your new device and turn on BlackBerry Protect
When you have finished setting up your accounts and adding your personal information to your new device, take a moment to set a device password. Doing so can prevent unwanted access if you leave your device unattended, and in the event you misplace your device, no one can view your personal information.
To set up a device password, complete the following steps:
- On the home screen, swipe down of the top of the screen
- Tap Settings followed by Security and Privacy
- Tap Device Password
- To set a device password comprising characters and numbers, set the Device Password switch to On, and then enter your desired password twice
- To set a quick device password comprising only numbers, set the Simple Password switch to On, and then enter your desired password twice
After you set a device password, turn on BlackBerry Protect. Doing so can save you a lot of frustration if you ever misplace your device. To learn more check out our post on how to find a lost BlackBerry 10 smartphone using BlackBerry Protect.
Step 5 – Learn more and where to find help
The easiest way to learn more about your new BlackBerry 10 device is by opening the Help app, which contains a lot of useful information ranging from tips and tricks to how-to overviews. You can also view, or optionally download and save the user guide for your device by visiting http://docs.blackberry.com.
I also strongly recommend visiting the set-up page—click the following link depending on your BlackBerry 10 device.
- BlackBerry Passport
- Porsche Design P’9983 from BlackBerry
- BlackBerry Z30
- BlackBerry Z10
- BlackBerry Q10
- BlackBerry Q5
If after reviewing this content you have a question, pop by the BlackBerry Support Community Forums or send a tweet to @BlackBerryHelp.
Got a question about using the Device Switch app, leave a comment and let me know!
