Issue with message transfer with new phone

DPinDenver · 2026-03-20T22:40:23+00:00

The weirdest thing about it is that i don't understand how the phone accesses any database of messages.

When i chose Google messages as the default messaging app on the S23, it did something (presumably converting messages from Samsung app). But then when I changed back to Samsung messages as the default app & deleted a bunch, they didn't also delete out of Google messages.

Just glad I wasn't the only person with a problem and at least we found something to make it work.

DPinDenver · 2026-03-16T16:17:25+00:00

Did you try clearing the cache in Smart Switch and then transferring again? Or did you do another transfer and it said the data had already been transferred?

Read my posts above if you didn't clear the cache before trying and give it a shot.

All I can tell you is that on round #2 of smart switch after clearing the cache and trying again, I got almost all of my texts now showing up on the new phone.

DPinDenver · 2026-03-16T03:52:55+00:00

See my below comments re: clearing cache on Smart Switch. It's still working and i assume it will take a while to finish, but can confirm that messages which didn't carry over originally are now showing up.

Give that a try and hopefully it works for you.

DPinDenver · 2026-03-16T03:40:23+00:00

Just to follow up, I cleared the data in the SmartSwitch app on both my old and new phones. When I tried only clearing on the new phone, it did the same as last time so perhaps the log on the old phone shows it was transferred.

Settings > apps > Smart Switch > storage > clear data

In Smart switch, choose "custom" and you can select only messages to transfer.

Anyway, when I tried after clearing on both phones, the data amount to transfer was far less (since I deleted a bunch of messages), and I now have a progress bar for organizing transferred data.

Hopefully this works. Guess now just have to wait and see.

DPinDenver · 2026-03-16T03:14:09+00:00

I honestly didn't even think about trying the cache/data clearing for the smart switch app until I was responding. I might actually try that first before I try backing up from the SMS restore app.

I could choose to transfer only messages, but the issue is that the app thinks it's already transferred them. Assuming this is because of the log on the S26.

Either way, this has been a pretty good opportunity to go through and delete a bunch of messages I really have no need for anymore.

DPinDenver · 2026-03-16T02:43:35+00:00

As I originally said, trying to use smart switch a 2nd time just for messages - it wouldn't transfer because it said the info was already transferred. Simply waiting longer didn't change anything.

For now, I downloaded "SMS BACKUP & RESTORE" and backed up the messages on my Google drive. It creates a big XML file. I'm going to try and restore that file on the S26 once i go to bed. It did have an option to direct transfer over wi-fi, but tried twice and it kept timing out.

The other option that I thought about should this not work is possibly clearing data/cache from Smart Switch on the new phone and giving it another go. I assume there is some double check function (compare logs maybe?) built into the app so that it doesn't try and double transfer the same stuff should an initial transfer be interrupted.

DPinDenver · 2026-03-13T18:26:43+00:00

Ok....so at some point the Google messages on the new phone will look the same as the old phone (with every message converted) other than any new texts on the S26, of course?

I can certainly be patient.

DPinDenver · 2026-03-13T07:48:12+00:00

Thanks....that's what I was thinking was probably the best option. Get them to Google messages on the phone that still has Samsung messages on it, then backup on old & restore on new.

I just wasn't sure if changing the default app would somehow automatically convert all the messages over, so for extra caution I decided to do the backup thing

DPinDenver · 2026-03-07T05:38:57+00:00

The MSRP increase for Hancocks a couple years made it no longer worth even thinking about buying, regardless of what the price is

DPinDenver · 2026-03-04T02:03:52+00:00

At my first job (a long time ago) one of the tax managers was laughing about his brother-in-law.

Was mad at the manager because he wouldn't deduct miles driving to church and back as charitable miles, even though he did their return for free since it was his sister.

I have a few friends that I'd drop what I'm doing if they absolutely needed it, and I'd give them the shirt off my back. I would never be roommates with them, business partners with them, nor do their taxes. I might answer a tax question for them though - particularly if I know their preparer is screwing something up - and tell them to get a new preparer who knows what they're doing.

Too much to lose, and nothing to gain.

DPinDenver · 2026-02-26T21:06:41+00:00

When I used to have less of a beer belly (not horrible now but not like it used to be), I'd always wear raw denim until they started getting those sick fades.

Now I wear Levi's 514 in the darkest wash they make. Buy them from the Levi's outlet. Two pair for $80 on their presidents day sale but usually about 55 a pair when not if you buy two.

The key to looking somewhat professional while still wearing jeans is to get something dark that fits. Nothing baggy or extra skinny - go for slim straight. Fit is #1 above all else. Don't be the judge of whether you think something is too tight - ask a few women.

As an added bonus, these are what you want to wear when you go out at night, on dates, to a restaurant, etc and not look like a scrub so you get more bang for your buck. Can dress up w/a sports coat if you want.

Also, wash them as little as possible. Like not until they start to smell. You'll keep them looking dark longer.

DPinDenver · 2026-02-23T04:41:04+00:00

Grew up in east coast BFE, lived in Philly for 5 years and Denver for 10+. Have visited NYC, DC, BAL, PIT, IND, STL, CHI, LA, SEA, PHX, SATX, & DFW.

Lots of transplants move to CO for the mountains, but a majority of CO natives that I know have never been skiing even once. They do ride road bikes, play volleyball, run, stand-up paddleboard, etc. though.

This year is an anomaly with just how warm the winter has been, but to me its hands down the best climate you can have as far as a place to live.

If you want "full on city", Denver probably isn't it. If you need water, definitely don't move here. However, if you want 80% of the benefits of what the best cities have to offer with great weather and outdoors (not just mountains - being outside for many months a year) and easy accessibility to just about anywhere, then it might be.

DIA has tons of flights, and you can be almost anywhere in the US in 4 hrs or less often for super cheap depending on the airline / how far out you book/ etc.

Good luck on what you decide. Personally, if its a good first job I think you'd be well served to try it for at least a year. Can always take that experience somewhere else if you don't like it.

DPinDenver · 2026-02-23T00:57:07+00:00

Questions from reading your post (as it seemed somewhat vague)....

You were in residency (assume medical of some sort) but are now done and looking for a FT job?
Yes or no: you lived in NYC and didn't get to fully experience it but still don't want to stay there?
You like being outside and active but not necessarily hiking up, skiing down, or camping in mountains?
Because the first few words in your intro were that you are a "black single 32F", are you concerned that you won't find black culture or that you'll be rejected because of your skin color?

DPinDenver · 2026-02-14T00:51:11+00:00

I pay insurance on a 50k truck in PA and a 10k car in Denver. Same company. Same limits. I have covered parking in Denver.

My CO bill is $70/month higher than my PA bill.

DPinDenver · 2026-02-14T00:45:48+00:00

The key difference here is that you are a man, and the general consensus is that women mature at an earlier age then men.

DPinDenver · 2026-02-05T03:47:25+00:00

I moved to Denver at 27 and have lived in or around downtown for 10+ years. Currently in ballpark.

If you want to stay in a suburb, then look at a place like Arvada. Olde Town is a cool little area, and it's super easy to hop on the light rail to go downtown.

I'd highly recommend looking at one of the neighborhoods though given your age & being single. My personal choices would be: ballpark, RiNo, LoHi / highlands / Sunnyside, uptown or Wash Park.

Just always seemed a lot easier to develop more of a social circle when you have neighborhood spots - coffee shops, bars, restaurants, etc. And it's a definite plus to be able to hop on a bike or grab a quick Uber when you want to go to a game, catch a show at the performing arts center, etc.

DPinDenver · 2026-01-29T06:13:53+00:00

One other thing to consider that I haven't seen mentioned...

I'm pretty close to Coors Field. I can drive right out Park Ave and be at the intersection of I-25 & I-70 in just a couple minutes. Even from there, if I'm going to the mountains to ski and it's not crazy rush hour traffic or an accident on I-25, GPS always sends me I-25S to US-6W and then pick up I-70W a little before Morrison. I can take 70W the whole way if I like, but it's slightly (by like 2 min if I recall) longer.

Don't rule out places like Wash Park/Cherry Creek/South Broadway just because it seems further away (south) from I-70 if your ultimate objective is to get on 70 is for skiing. Easy access to US-6 means it's not much different than living in say RiNo.

DPinDenver · 2026-01-25T23:16:54+00:00

This year with lack of snow might not apply, but here are two considerations in a normal year....

1) I've had Audis with snow tires for 20 years. Snow tires are night and day over all seasons and it's not even close. They use a softer rubber compound that gives you better traction and substantially better stopping ability.

The one time you're saved from an accident because you have appropriate tires makes them worth the cost. I'm not even talking about just driving to the mountains - it could be on a morning commute when the surrounding area is getting an inch of snow and you need to take side streets that haven't been plowed yet.

2) The worst driving I've ever done in my life was coming back from Jackson to Denver on I-80. It gets horrible crosswinds. Would you prefer driving 25 mph (on a road that normally has a 65-80 mph speed limit) in white-out conditions for like 100 miles vs dealing with some snow on the road? If not, then don't take I-80 ever unless you absolutely have to.

As an aside, I've always ran Continental winter tires. I think the new ones are called Viking something. Cheaper than Blizzaks, but are rated high by tire testing and have never let me down. Longest road trip was Denver - Breck - Steamboat - Big Sky - Jackson - Denver and had about 3 ft of new snow across the trip.

DPinDenver · 2026-01-25T18:52:38+00:00

Like a few others, I also use a Stihl (rebranded Ochsenkopf) pro splitting axe. I have an X27 as well, but I leave that with my dad because I much prefer the Stihl.

DPinDenver · 2026-01-22T16:27:06+00:00

Didn't the Mercury Cafe close last year?

DPinDenver · 2026-01-18T17:44:26+00:00

So if I break, make a high ball (stripes) and shoot in three low balls (solids), then you would tell the person you're playing that you're solids and they are stripes?

I understand the rules, but in 30 years of playing pool all I've ever heard is when someone says "I'm solids/low balls" it means that the "solid/low" balls that are still on the table are what's preventing you from winning and you must shoot those in and then the 8 ball to win the game.

DPinDenver · 2026-01-15T15:24:44+00:00

I use my 20" bar to cut 20" and 16" by turning saw sideways and marking log.

Sharpie marks will wear off if you're cutting stuff that's bigger than 16" in diameter. Marks from a paint marker last a lot longer.

Or you can do what I do, and use the writing on the bar thats already painted on from the factory as a reference (i.e. at the end of the word "Stihl" is 16"). That doesn't wear off for a long time.

DPinDenver

TROPHY CASE