The fastest way is to use iCloud or a direct phone-to-phone transfer
You have three main routes to move your data, apps, photos, and settings to a new iPhone. The quickest is direct transfer, where you hold your old phone next to your new one and let them talk to each other — this takes 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much data you have. The second is iCloud backup, where your old phone backs up to Apple's servers and your new phone downloads everything from there — this is slower but works if your old phone is broken or far away. The third is a computer backup using a Mac or Windows PC, which is the most reliable if you have a large photo library or want to keep a copy on your computer.
Direct transfer and iCloud both require your Apple ID and password. If you do not remember your password, reset it on iforgot.apple.com before you start — you cannot complete the transfer without it. You also need a strong Wi-Fi connection; direct transfer uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi together, while iCloud and computer backups need stable internet for hours.
Key Takeaways
- Direct transfer between phones is fastest and requires only your Apple ID, a Wi-Fi connection, and both phones in the same room.
- iCloud backup works when your old phone is damaged or unavailable, but takes longer and requires enough iCloud storage for your data.
- Computer backup via Mac or Windows is most reliable for large photo libraries and creates a copy you can keep on your computer.
- You must know your Apple ID password before starting any transfer method — reset it beforehand if you have forgotten it.
- After transfer completes, check that your apps, photos, and messages arrived; some apps may need to be re-downloaded from the App Store.
Direct transfer: holding the phones together
Turn on your new iPhone and place it next to your old one. Your old phone will detect the new phone and show a prompt asking if you want to transfer data. Tap "Continue" and follow the on-screen steps. You will be asked to scan a code on the new phone's screen using your old phone's camera — this pairs them securely. Then enter your Apple ID password on the new phone.
The transfer will begin and show a progress bar. Do not move the phones far apart or turn either one off. Depending on your data size, this can take 30 minutes to several hours. Your new phone will restart when it is done. During this time, your old phone can stay in use, but the transfer will be slower if you do.
After the transfer finishes, your new phone will ask you to set up Face ID or Touch ID and choose your Wi-Fi network. Your apps, photos, messages, contacts, and settings should all be there. Some apps may show as "Waiting" or need to download from the App Store — this is normal and happens in the background.
iCloud backup: transferring through the cloud
If your old phone is broken, lost, or far away, use iCloud instead. On your old phone (if it still works), go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap "Back Up Now". This sends your data to Apple's servers. The backup size depends on your photos, messages, and app data — check how much space you have left in iCloud by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage.
If your old phone does not work, skip the backup step. Turn on your new iPhone and when you reach the "Apps & Data" screen, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup". Sign in with your Apple ID and password, then select the backup you want to restore. Your new phone will download everything from iCloud — this takes longer than direct transfer, sometimes several hours for large backups.
After the restore finishes, your new phone will restart and your data will be there. However, iCloud backup does not always transfer everything perfectly — some app data may be missing, and you may need to re-enter passwords for email accounts or other services. Check your messages, email, and important apps to make sure they work.
Computer backup: using a Mac or Windows PC
Connect your old iPhone to a Mac or Windows computer using a USB cable. Open Finder on Mac (or iTunes on older Windows computers, or the newer Windows app called "iPhone Backup"). Your phone will ask if you trust this computer — tap "Trust" and enter your passcode. Then click "Back Up Now" or the equivalent button in your software. This creates a full backup file on your computer that includes everything on your phone.
After the backup finishes, disconnect your old phone and connect your new iPhone. In Finder or iTunes, choose "Restore from Backup" and select the backup file you just created. Your computer will transfer everything to the new phone. This method is slower than direct transfer but is the most reliable for large photo libraries and creates a backup file you can keep.
One advantage of computer backup is that you control where the backup lives — it stays on your computer, not on Apple's servers. This is useful if you have privacy concerns or want a permanent copy. The downside is that you need a computer and a USB cable, and the process takes longer.
What transfers and what does not
All three methods transfer your photos, videos, messages, contacts, calendar events, notes, reminders, health data, and home automation settings. Your app data transfers too — for example, your game progress or saved documents in Pages. Your Apple ID, iCloud settings, and Wi-Fi passwords transfer as well.
What does not transfer: your old phone's passcode (you set a new one on the new phone), your carrier settings (your phone company may need to activate the new phone separately), and some banking or security apps that are locked to a specific device. A few apps may not transfer if they are no longer in the App Store or if they are incompatible with your new phone's iOS version. These apps will show as "Waiting" or will not appear at all — you can re-download them manually from the App Store if they are still available.
Troubleshooting a stuck or slow transfer
If the transfer stalls or takes much longer than expected, the most common cause is a weak Wi-Fi connection. Move both phones closer to your router or restart your Wi-Fi by turning it off and on again. If you are using direct transfer and it keeps failing, try iCloud backup instead — it is more forgiving of network interruptions.
If you see an error message about your Apple ID, make sure you are using the correct password. If you are not sure, reset your password on iforgot.apple.com before trying again. If the error persists, sign out of iCloud on both phones and sign back in.
If your new phone runs out of storage during the transfer, the process will stop. Check how much free space your new phone has by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If it is full, you may need to delete apps or photos on the new phone first, or use a computer backup instead, which can be more selective about what transfers.
After the transfer: what to check
Once your new phone is set up, spend a few minutes verifying that everything arrived. Open your Messages app and scroll through a few conversations to make sure they are there. Check your Photos app and look for your most recent photos. Open a few of your most-used apps — email, banking, social media — and make sure they work and that you are still logged in.
If an app shows as "Waiting" or has a cloud icon with a download arrow, it is still downloading from the App Store. This happens in the background and can take a while if you have many apps. You can tap the cloud icon to speed up individual apps, or just wait.
If you notice that an app is missing or an email account is not working, you may need to re-enter your password for that service. This is normal — some apps and services do not transfer login credentials for security reasons. Your contacts and calendar should work immediately if they are stored in iCloud or Google.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer if my old iPhone is broken?
Yes, use iCloud backup if your old phone still turns on and connects to Wi-Fi, even if the screen is cracked. If the phone is completely dead, you cannot transfer directly, but if you had iCloud backup turned on before it broke, you can restore from that backup on your new phone. If you never backed up, your data may be lost.
How long does a transfer usually take?
Direct transfer takes 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much data you have. iCloud backup takes longer, sometimes 4 to 8 hours for large backups. Computer backup is similar to iCloud. Larger photo libraries and more apps mean longer transfers.
Do I need to keep my old phone during the transfer?
For direct transfer, yes — you need both phones in the same room and connected to Wi-Fi. For iCloud or computer backup, no — your old phone can be anywhere or even turned off. The backup is stored on Apple's servers or your computer, not on the old phone.
Will my passwords transfer?
Wi-Fi passwords, iCloud passwords, and passwords saved in Safari will transfer. Passwords for email accounts, banking apps, and other services usually will not — you will need to re-enter them. This is a security feature to prevent someone from accessing your accounts if they steal your phone.
What if I want to keep my old phone and use both?
You can use both phones, but you should sign out of iCloud on your old phone after the transfer is complete. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out on the old phone. If you do not, both phones will receive the same messages and calls, which can be confusing. You can keep using the old phone for other purposes, but it should not be signed into your Apple ID.