The fastest way to back up your S23 Ultra is through Samsung's SmartSwitch software on Windows or Mac

Connect your S23 Ultra to your computer with a USB cable, install SmartSwitch if you don't have it, and the software will walk you through backing up your photos, videos, contacts, messages, and settings in one operation. The whole process takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have. SmartSwitch is free and handles the backup without requiring you to sign into Samsung's cloud service — everything stays on your computer.

If you prefer not to install software, you can also copy files directly to your computer by connecting the phone as a storage device, though this method only transfers photos and videos, not contacts or messages. Both routes work; SmartSwitch is simpler if you want everything backed up, and the storage method is faster if you only care about media files.

Key Takeaways

  • SmartSwitch backs up photos, videos, contacts, messages, call logs, and settings to your computer in one operation without requiring a Samsung account.
  • You need a USB cable, your computer, and the free SmartSwitch software from Samsung's website — no paid subscriptions or cloud storage required.
  • The backup file stays on your computer and can be restored to the same phone or transferred to a new S23 Ultra if you replace your device.
  • If SmartSwitch does not recognize your phone, update your phone's software and install the latest USB drivers for your computer's operating system.
  • Direct file transfer through your computer's file manager only copies photos and videos, not contacts or other data types.

Installing and opening SmartSwitch on your computer

Go to Samsung's SmartSwitch read page and select the version for Windows or Mac. The file is about 100 MB and installs like any other program — no restart required. Once installed, open SmartSwitch and leave it running before you plug in your phone.

If you already have SmartSwitch installed, open it and check for updates through the Help menu. An outdated version sometimes fails to recognize newer phones, so updating first saves troubleshooting time later.

Connecting your S23 Ultra and starting the backup

Plug your S23 Ultra into your computer with the USB cable that came with the phone or any standard USB-C cable. Your phone will show a notification asking whether to allow file transfer — tap Allow or Allow always. SmartSwitch should detect the phone within a few seconds and display a window showing your device name and storage space.

If SmartSwitch does not recognize the phone, disconnect it, wait 10 seconds, and reconnect. If it still does not appear, go to Settings on your phone, tap About phone, and check that the software version is up to date — tap Software update and install any pending updates. Then restart both the phone and SmartSwitch.

Selecting what to back up

SmartSwitch shows a checklist of data types: Photos, Videos, Music, Documents, Contacts, Messages, Call logs, Settings, and Apps. By default, all are checked. Uncheck anything you do not want to back up — for example, if your music library is very large and you have it stored elsewhere, you can skip Music to speed up the process.

The backup includes your home screen layout, wallpaper, and system settings, so if you restore to a new phone later, it will look and feel like your current S23 Ultra. Apps themselves are backed up but must be reinstalled from the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store on the new device — SmartSwitch does not copy the app files themselves, only your login information and settings for each app.

Choosing where to save the backup file

SmartSwitch will ask you to choose a folder on your computer where the backup file will be saved. The default location is usually your Documents folder or a SmartSwitch folder inside Documents. You can change this to any location you prefer — Desktop, an external drive, or a cloud-synced folder like OneDrive or Google Drive.

If you save to an external drive or cloud folder, make sure it has at least as much free space as your phone's used storage. A typical S23 Ultra backup is 5 to 50 GB depending on how many photos and videos you have. Once you choose the location, click Back up and the process will begin.

Monitoring the backup and what happens when it finishes

SmartSwitch shows a progress bar with the percentage complete and an estimate of time remaining. Do not disconnect the phone until the backup finishes — if the connection drops, you will need to start over. The backup usually takes 10 to 30 minutes; larger backups with many photos or videos can take an hour or more.

When the backup is complete, SmartSwitch will show a confirmation message and the backup file will appear in the folder you selected. The file is named with your phone model and the backup date — for example, "SM-S918B_20240115.bak". Keep this file in a safe location. If your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can restore everything from this backup to a new S23 Ultra or another Samsung phone.

Backing up photos and videos without SmartSwitch

If you do not want to install software, you can copy photos and videos directly by connecting your phone as a storage device. Plug in the USB cable, tap Allow on the notification, then open your computer's file manager (File Explorer on Windows, Finder on Mac). Your phone will appear as a removable drive.

Navigate to DCIM (the folder where photos and videos are stored) and drag the folders to a location on your computer. This method is faster for media files but does not back up contacts, messages, or settings. If you later need to restore these files to your phone, you can drag them back into the DCIM folder the same way.

Restoring from a backup to a new phone or the same phone

If you get a new S23 Ultra or another Samsung phone, you can restore your backup through SmartSwitch. Connect the new phone, open SmartSwitch, and select Restore instead of Back up. SmartSwitch will ask you to choose the backup file from your computer, then restore all your data, settings, and app information to the new device.

If you want to restore to the same S23 Ultra — for example, after a factory reset — the process is identical. The backup file is independent of the phone, so you can restore it as many times as you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if SmartSwitch says my phone is not compatible?

The S23 Ultra is compatible with all recent versions of SmartSwitch. If you see a compatibility error, uninstall SmartSwitch completely, restart your computer, read the latest version from Samsung's website, and install it fresh. Also make sure your phone's software is fully up to date by going to Settings, About phone, and tapping Software update.

Can I back up to an external hard drive or USB stick?

Yes. When SmartSwitch asks where to save the backup, navigate to your external drive and select a folder there. Make sure the drive has enough free space and is formatted in a way your computer recognizes (NTFS on Windows, Mac OS Extended on Mac). The backup file will work the same way as if it were on your internal drive.

Does the backup include my passwords and login information?

SmartSwitch backs up app login information and settings, but not passwords to your email or social media accounts. When you restore to a new phone, you will need to log into these accounts again. This is intentional for security — the backup file itself is not encrypted, so storing passwords in it would be risky.

How often should I back up my phone?

Back up whenever you have added or changed important data — after taking a lot of photos, updating contacts, or installing new apps. Many people back up once a month or before a major software update. There is no limit to how many backups you can create; each one is a separate file, so you can keep multiple versions if you want to restore to an older state.

What if my USB cable does not work?

Try a different USB-C cable first — the original cable can wear out. Make sure you are plugging into a USB port on your computer, not a keyboard or hub. On Windows, check Device Manager (search for it in the Start menu) to see if your phone appears under Portable Devices; if it shows an error, right-click it and select Update driver. On Mac, restart both devices and try again.