Restoring Settings/Apps when switching phones

[Windows Central Question]

I will be switching from a dead Lumia 521 that died to a new Lumia 640 LTE on built a T-Mobile prepaid account. As far as I know, the old phone was set to back up regularly.

I will be debranding the unlocked ATT 640 and flash it to the T-Mobile ROM. My understanding is that when I turn the phone on with the old T-mobile SIM the old settings and apps won't come to the new phone, but that I have to restore them myself.

What I need to know is how -- is the restoring facility built into the phone, or do I need to download some utility from the store? Also, will all settings and apps be transferred or will I have to reinstall some?

Thanks.

 

[realwarder]

When you first setup the phone and log into your Microsoft account the phone will prompt you to restore a backup. Select the most recent.

Apps will be reinstalled providing it was Windows Phone 8.1 on the 521. I don't think 8.0 backed up those.

Settings are a mix. You may find some apps stored settings in the roaming profile in which case they will restore, but things like game progress generally are lost.

Accounts should be re-added but you'll need to login again. And hopefully you had Calendar and Contact sync on in which case all of that will just work too.