Backup phone contacts and texts prior to configuring new phone

[Looe22]

In a 2014 post here, it was said that if your contacts are Google contacts they will automatically be downloaded  to the new phone.   Maybe so, but I have always used the default local phone storage, NOT Google contacts.  When I used the Google1 backup yesterday, and then displayed the contacts on my PC under my google account (same account as on my current phone, and old moto G6), I only saw a small list of contacts that was obviously gleaned from the few emails I have sent and received on that gmail account .  I want to be SURE my contacts, texts and phone call listings are backed up in a place from which they will restore when I turn on and configure my new S24.  (This is supposed to happen automatically, but I have not seen any documentation on where it looks. )    If I need to buy something to be confident this will work flawlessly, I will do so, but I've seen several posts that these pay-for tools don't necessarily work either.

It looks as though Google1 backup has supplanted the native phone backup, so I don't know if the older backups even exist anymore.  Is there a way I can display them so I can see that they are there? 

I also tried to backup using Verizon back up (after agreeing to pay $5/mo for cloud, but it won't let me log on or change my password.   But then I realized that since the S24 is unlocked, it's not going to try to download from there, and I don't even know if I will be allowed to install the Verizon cloud app.    That is probably where the backups from my native contacts sit, but I wanted to add the text messages and phone call log.  

Actually, I'm fine with not installing this data during initial configuration if it will let me restore it later.  This is what I would have to do if I buy a utility. 

[vzw_customer_support · Accepted solution]

Hello. There are some ways to back up and transfer information to your new Samsung Galaxy S24:

• Smart Switch

  Place the old and new phones close together, then open Settings on both phones and select Accounts and backup. On the new phone, select Bring data from old device and Receive data, then on the old phone, select Send data. Choose the old phone's OS and select Wireless. Then, open the Smart Switch app on the old phone and select Send data. Smart Switch will identify transferable data and present a list. Select the content to move to the new phone.
• Google Backup and Restore

  Add an existing Google account to the new phone or sign in to the same account during setup.
• Verizon Cloud

  Ensure both phones are connected to Wi-Fi, then open Verizon Cloud on both phones. Select More (lower-right), then Account & Content Tools, then Content transfer. Review the information and tap Continue, then tap Start Transfer on both phones. On the new phone, tap This is my new phone, then Next, and on the old phone, tap This is my old phone, then Next. Verizon Cloud can automatically back up files, making it easier to restore files after damage, theft, or loss. 

  More information on the links below:

  https://www.verizon.com/support/knowledge-base-222110/

  https://www.verizon.com/support/knowledge-base-208350/

~Maria