The fastest way to sync is through your Samsung account

The quickest route is to sign into the same Samsung account on both devices. Once you do, your contacts, calendar events, notes, and photos back up automatically to Samsung Cloud. You do not need to set up anything extra — the sync happens in the background as long as both devices are connected to Wi-Fi and you stay signed in.

Open Settings on your tablet, tap Accounts and backup, then Accounts. Select Add account and choose Samsung account. Enter the same email and password you use on your phone. Once that is done, go back to Accounts and backup and tap Backup and restore to turn on Back up my data. Your phone will do the same thing automatically once you sign in there.

If you already have a Samsung account on your phone but not on your tablet, just add it to the tablet using the same steps. The devices will start syncing within a few minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Sign into the same Samsung account on both your phone and tablet to sync contacts, calendar, notes, and photos automatically through Samsung Cloud.
  • Turn on Back up my data in Settings > Accounts and backup > Backup and restore on both devices to enable syncing.
  • Samsung DeX lets you control your tablet from your phone or mirror your phone screen on the tablet if they are on the same Wi-Fi network.
  • Google account sync works alongside Samsung account sync and covers Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Photos, and other Google apps.
  • If sync is not working, restart both devices and check that Wi-Fi is on and both are signed into the same accounts.

What syncs automatically and what does not

Your Samsung account syncs contacts, calendar events, notes in the Samsung Notes app, reminders, and photos you save to Samsung Cloud. It does not sync text messages, call logs, or app data from third-party apps like WhatsApp or Telegram — those apps have their own backup systems.

If you use Google apps like Gmail, Google Calendar, or Google Photos, add your Google account to both devices separately. Go to Settings > Accounts and backup > Accounts > Add account and select Google. That way your Gmail inbox, Google Calendar events, and Google Photos library stay in sync across both devices as well.

Some apps like Spotify, Netflix, and Microsoft OneDrive sync their own data when you sign in with your account. Check each app's settings to see whether it offers automatic backup or sync — most do, but you may need to turn it on.

Using Samsung DeX to control one device from the other

Samsung DeX is a separate feature that lets you use your tablet as a second screen or control your phone from your tablet. Both devices need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. On your phone, open Settings > Advanced features > Samsung DeX and turn it on. On your tablet, go to the same location and turn it on there too.

Once both are enabled, open the Samsung DeX app on your tablet. You will see your phone listed. Tap it to connect. Your phone's screen will appear on the tablet, and you can use the tablet's keyboard and trackpad to control your phone. This is useful if you want to type a long message or work with files without picking up your phone.

DeX does not sync data — it just lets you control one device from the other. If you close the connection, nothing transfers. It is a tool for convenience, not for backup.

Syncing photos and files between devices

Photos taken on your phone back up to Samsung Cloud automatically if you turned on Back up my data. They appear in the Gallery app on your tablet within a few minutes, as long as both devices are signed into the same Samsung account and connected to Wi-Fi.

For files and documents, use Samsung Cloud Drive or OneDrive. Open My Files on either device, navigate to the file you want to share, tap and hold it, then select Cloud or OneDrive from the menu. The file uploads to the cloud and becomes visible on your other device within seconds.

If you use Google Drive, sign into your Google account on both devices. Files you save to Google Drive on your phone show up in the Google Drive app on your tablet right away. This works the same way whether you are using Samsung or any other Android tablet.

Troubleshooting when sync is not working

If your contacts or calendar are not syncing, first check that both devices are signed into the same Samsung account. Go to Settings > Accounts and backup > Accounts on each device and confirm the email address is identical. If one device is signed in under a different account, nothing will sync between them.

Next, make sure Back up my data is turned on. Open Settings > Accounts and backup > Backup and restore and check that the toggle is blue. If it is off, turn it on and wait a few minutes. Sync usually starts within five minutes on Wi-Fi.

Restart both devices if sync still is not working. Power off your phone and tablet completely, wait 30 seconds, then turn them back on. Once they are on, connect both to Wi-Fi and wait another few minutes. Most sync problems clear up after a restart.

If you are trying to sync photos and they are not appearing, check that the Gallery app has permission to access your Samsung Cloud account. Go to Settings > Apps > Gallery > Permissions and make sure Storage is turned on. You may also need to open the Gallery app and manually refresh it by swiping down from the top of the screen.

Using Google account sync as an alternative

If you do not want to use a Samsung account, you can sync through your Google account instead. Add your Google account to both devices by going to Settings > Accounts and backup > Accounts > Add account > Google. Enter your Gmail address and password on both your phone and tablet.

Google account sync covers Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Contacts, and Google Photos. It does not cover Samsung-specific apps like Samsung Notes or Samsung Health, but it works reliably across all Android devices, not just Samsung. If you switch to a different brand of tablet later, your Google data will still sync.

You can use both a Samsung account and a Google account at the same time. They do not conflict — your Samsung data syncs through Samsung Cloud and your Google data syncs through Google. This gives you the most complete backup across both ecosystems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Wi-Fi for syncing to work?

Yes, syncing happens over Wi-Fi only. Both devices need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for Samsung Cloud and Google account sync to work. Mobile data does not trigger sync, though some apps like Gmail will read new messages over mobile data once they are synced to your account.

Will syncing drain my battery?

No. Syncing uses very little power because it happens in the background and only when both devices are connected to Wi-Fi. If your battery is draining quickly, the problem is not sync — it is usually a background app or screen brightness. Check Settings > Battery and device care > Battery to see which apps are using the most power.

Can I sync my text messages between my phone and tablet?

Samsung Cloud does not back up text messages. If you use Google Messages as your default SMS app, you can turn on backup in the app's settings, but it only backs up to Google's servers, not to your tablet. Most people read texts on their phone and use their tablet for other tasks, so this is rarely a problem.

What happens if I sign out of my Samsung account on one device?

Syncing stops between that device and your account. Data already on the device stays there, but new changes on your phone will not sync to the tablet anymore. If you sign back in later, syncing resumes and any changes made while you were signed out will sync at that time.

Can I sync my apps between my phone and tablet?

No. Apps do not sync — you have to install them separately on each device from the Google Play Store. However, your app data (like game progress or app settings) syncs if the app developer built that feature in. Check the app's settings to see if backup is available.