Moving to a new iPhone means transferring your photos, messages, contacts, and settings from your old phone
Apple gives you three main ways to move everything over: using iCloud to back up and restore, connecting both phones side by side with Quick Start, or restoring from a computer backup. Quick Start is the fastest for most people — it takes 15 to 45 minutes depending on how much data you have. The other two methods work if Quick Start won't work for you, or if you want more control over what transfers.
Before you start, charge both phones to at least 50 percent battery. Make sure you know your Apple ID password, because you will need it during setup. If you do not remember it, you can reset it on Apple's website before you begin, which takes a few minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Quick Start is the fastest method — hold your new iPhone next to your old one during setup and follow the on-screen prompts to copy everything over in one go.
- You need your Apple ID password to set up a new iPhone, so reset it beforehand if you have forgotten it.
- iCloud backup works if your old phone is no longer available, but you must have turned it on before you switched phones.
- A computer backup through a Mac or Windows PC gives you the most control and works even if iCloud was never set up on your old phone.
- After the transfer finishes, check that your photos, messages, and important apps are there before you wipe or sell your old phone.
Using Quick Start to transfer everything at once
Quick Start is the easiest method because it moves your data directly from phone to phone without needing a computer or iCloud account. Turn on your new iPhone and place it next to your old one. Your old phone will detect the new one and ask if you want to set it up. Tap "Continue" on the old phone.
Hold your new iPhone above your old one and look through the viewfinder that appears on the new phone's screen. You will see an animated pattern on the old phone — keep the new phone steady until the setup code appears. Once the code shows, enter your old phone's passcode on the new iPhone. Then choose your Wi-Fi network and sign in with your Apple ID.
The new iPhone will now copy your settings, photos, messages, and most of your apps. This can take 15 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have. Keep both phones plugged in and close to each other during this time. Do not interrupt the process or move the phones apart.
Restoring from an iCloud backup if your old phone is gone
If your old iPhone is lost, broken, or no longer available, you can restore from an iCloud backup instead. During iPhone setup, you will see a screen that says "Apps & Data." Tap "Restore from iCloud Backup" and sign in with your Apple ID. Choose the backup from your old phone — it will show the date it was created.
iCloud only works if you turned on iCloud backup before you switched phones. You can check whether a backup exists by going to iCloud.com, signing in with your Apple ID, and looking at your account settings. If no backup is there, you will need to use a computer backup instead.
The restore process downloads your data over Wi-Fi, which can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on your internet speed and how much data you have. Your new iPhone will restart several times during this process — this is normal. Keep the phone plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi until it finishes.
Using a computer backup for the most control
If you have a Mac or Windows PC, you can back up your old iPhone through iTunes or Finder, then restore that backup to your new phone. On a Mac running Monterey or newer, open Finder, plug in your old iPhone, and click the phone's name in the sidebar. Click "General" and then "Back Up Now." On a Windows PC, open iTunes, plug in your old iPhone, click the phone icon, and select "Back Up Now."
The backup saves to your computer and includes everything on your phone. Once the backup finishes, unplug your old iPhone and plug in your new one. During setup, choose "Restore from Mac Backup" or "Restore from Windows Backup," then select the backup you just created. Your new iPhone will copy everything over.
A computer backup is useful if iCloud was never set up on your old phone, or if you want to choose exactly which backup to restore. It also gives you a copy of your data saved on your computer, which is an extra safety measure.
What happens to apps during the transfer
Most of your apps will transfer automatically, but some will not. Apps you bought or downloaded from the App Store will reinstall on your new iPhone as long as you sign in with the same Apple ID. Apps that were deleted from the App Store will not reinstall — you will need to find a replacement or reinstall them manually if they are available elsewhere.
Some apps may ask you to sign in again when they open on your new phone. This is normal. Have your passwords ready for email, social media, banking, and other accounts. Apps that use Face ID or Touch ID will ask you to set those up again on your new phone.
If an app does not transfer, check the App Store to see if it is still available. If it is, you can download it again. If it has been removed from the App Store, you will not be able to reinstall it on your new phone.
Checking that everything transferred correctly
Once your new iPhone finishes setting up, spend 10 to 15 minutes checking that your important data is there. Open Photos and scroll through your camera roll. Open Messages and check that your recent conversations appear. Look at your Contacts to make sure your phone numbers and email addresses transferred. Check your email app to confirm your accounts are still set up.
If something is missing, do not wipe your old phone yet. Go back and try the transfer again, or contact Apple Support for help. If everything looks correct, you can wipe your old phone by going to Settings, tapping "General," then "Transfer or Reset," and choosing "Erase All Content and Settings." This removes all your data from the old phone before you sell it or recycle it.
Troubleshooting when Quick Start will not work
Quick Start requires both phones to be on the same Wi-Fi network and within a few feet of each other. If your old phone is too old — iPhone 5s or earlier — Quick Start will not work. In that case, use iCloud backup or a computer backup instead.
If Quick Start starts but gets stuck, unplug both phones and try again. Make sure both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network. If your Wi-Fi is slow or unstable, move closer to the router or try a different network. If Quick Start keeps failing after two or three attempts, switch to iCloud backup or a computer backup instead.
If you see an error message during setup, write down the exact message and search for it on Apple's support website. Most errors have a known fix that takes just a few minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my data if I do not have my old iPhone anymore?
Yes, if you have an iCloud backup. Sign in with your Apple ID during setup and choose the backup from your old phone. If you do not have an iCloud backup, you can restore from a computer backup if you made one before. If you have neither, you will need to set up your new iPhone from scratch and manually add your contacts and photos.
How long does the transfer take?
Quick Start usually takes 15 to 45 minutes. iCloud and computer backups can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have and how fast your internet is. Keep your phone plugged in and do not interrupt the process.
Will my text messages and iMessages transfer?
Yes, all your messages will transfer if you use Quick Start, iCloud backup, or a computer backup. Make sure you sign in with the same Apple ID on your new phone so iMessage works correctly.
What if I want to start fresh on my new iPhone without transferring anything?
During setup, choose "Set Up as New iPhone" instead of restoring from a backup. You can then manually add your contacts, download your apps, and set up your email accounts one by one.
Can I transfer data from an Android phone to an iPhone?
Not through the methods described here. Apple has a separate app called "Move to iOS" that you download on your Android phone to transfer contacts, photos, and some data. However, Android apps will not transfer — you will need to download iPhone versions from the App Store.