The fastest way: use iCloud to restore everything at once
When you set up a new iPhone, Apple gives you the option to restore from an iCloud backup of your old phone. This copies your apps, their settings, your photos, messages, contacts — nearly everything — to the new device in one step. If you backed up your old iPhone before you stopped using it, this is the simplest route.
To restore from iCloud during setup, turn on your new iPhone and follow the prompts until you reach "Apps & Data." Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup," sign in with your Apple ID, and select the backup from your old phone. The restore takes time — anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have and your internet speed — but you do not have to do anything while it runs.
This method works only if you have an iCloud backup from your old iPhone. If you never set up iCloud backups, or if your old phone is already gone, you will need to use one of the other methods below.
Key Takeaways
- Restoring from an iCloud backup during new iPhone setup copies all your apps and data at once, and is the fastest method if you have a recent backup.
- If you do not have an iCloud backup, you can sign into the App Store on your new iPhone and re-download your apps one by one or in bulk from your purchase history.
- Apps you paid for will re-download free because Apple ties purchases to your Apple ID, not to individual devices.
- Some apps may not restore their settings or saved data unless you also restore from a backup or the app itself has cloud sync built in.
- If your old iPhone is still working, you can use Quick Start to transfer everything wirelessly without needing to have made a backup first.
Using Quick Start if your old iPhone is still available
If you still have your old iPhone and it is powered on, you can use Quick Start to move everything wirelessly without needing an iCloud backup. Place the two phones near each other, turn on the new iPhone, and when you see the Quick Start screen, hold your old iPhone over the new one. Your old phone will show an animation; follow the prompts to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID.
Quick Start transfers your Apple ID, iCloud settings, and apps all at once. The process takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many apps you have. Your old phone stays connected during the transfer, so do not put it away or turn it off until the new phone finishes setting up.
This method works even if you never set up iCloud backups on your old phone, because the transfer happens directly between the two devices. It is often faster than waiting for an iCloud restore to download from Apple's servers, especially if you have a large library of apps.
Re-downloading apps from the App Store if you have no backup
If your old iPhone is gone and you have no iCloud backup, you can still get your apps back by signing into the App Store on your new iPhone and downloading them again. Open the App Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, and sign in with your Apple ID. Go to "Purchased" to see every app you have ever bought or downloaded on that Apple ID.
From the Purchased list, you can download apps one at a time by tapping the cloud icon next to each one. If you want to speed this up, tap "My Purchases" and then the filter icon to show "Not on This iPhone," which displays only the apps you own but have not yet installed. You can then tap multiple apps to download several at once.
Paid apps will re-download free because Apple ties your purchase to your Apple ID, not to the device. Free apps also re-download at no cost. The download speed depends on your internet connection and the size of each app — most apps take a few seconds to a few minutes each.
What happens to app data and settings when you transfer
When you restore from an iCloud backup or use Quick Start, your apps come back with most of their settings intact. Login information, game progress, and customized preferences usually transfer. However, some apps store data only on the device itself, not in iCloud, so that data may not come back.
If you re-download apps manually from the App Store without a backup, you will lose any saved data unless the app has its own cloud sync feature. For example, if you re-download a game without a backup, you start over at level one. If you re-download a note-taking app that syncs to its own cloud service, your notes will still be there because they live in that service's servers, not on your phone.
To avoid losing app data, check whether the apps you care about most have their own backup or sync settings. Many apps let you sign in with an account (like a game account or email login) to restore your data. Set this up on your old phone before you switch, so your data is already in the cloud when you open the app on your new phone.
Transferring apps when switching from Android to iPhone
If you are moving from an Android phone to iPhone for the first time, your apps will not transfer directly because Android apps do not run on iOS. However, many apps you used on Android have iPhone versions available in the App Store. You will need to find and download each one separately.
Apple offers a tool called "Move to iOS" that helps with this transition, but it only moves data like contacts, messages, and photos — not apps themselves. After you use Move to iOS to transfer your data, go to the App Store and search for the Android apps you want. Most popular apps (social media, email, banking, games) have iOS versions. Some smaller or older apps may not be available on iPhone.
Paid apps you bought on Android will not transfer to iPhone for free. You will need to purchase them again on the App Store if they are paid apps, or download the free version if one exists. Check the App Store before buying to see if a free alternative is available.
Troubleshooting apps that do not appear after transfer
Sometimes an app you owned does not show up on your new iPhone after a restore or re-download. This usually happens because the app was removed from the App Store, the app is not compatible with your new iPhone's iOS version, or the app requires a newer iPhone model than you have.
To check compatibility, go to the App Store, search for the app, and look at the "Information" section. It will say "Requires iOS [version] or later" and list which iPhone models support it. If your new iPhone does not meet those requirements, the app will not install. You can still use the app on your old phone if you keep it, but you cannot run it on the new one.
If an app was removed from the App Store entirely, you cannot re-download it. Apple does not allow installation of apps from outside the App Store on iPhone. If you need that app's functionality, search the App Store for a similar app that is still available.
Speeding up the transfer process
The time it takes to move apps depends on your internet connection and how many apps you have. To speed things up, connect to Wi-Fi instead of cellular data — Wi-Fi is much faster for large downloads. If you are using iCloud restore or Quick Start, make sure both phones are plugged in or have good battery, because the process can take hours and will stop if a phone dies.
If you are re-downloading apps manually, you do not have to wait for each one to finish before starting the next. Tap the cloud icon on multiple apps in quick succession, and they will download in parallel. Close other apps and stop using your phone for other tasks while apps are downloading, as this frees up bandwidth and speeds up the process.
If the transfer stalls or fails partway through, do not panic. You can always restart the process. For iCloud restore, you can start setup again and choose the same backup. For Quick Start, just place the phones near each other again. For manual downloads, simply tap the cloud icon again on any app that did not finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my apps if I do not back up before switching phones?
No. Your apps are tied to your Apple ID, not to the old phone itself. As long as you sign into the App Store on your new iPhone with the same Apple ID, you can re-download any app you ever bought or downloaded. You may lose saved data or settings stored only on the old phone, but the apps themselves will still be there.
Will my paid apps re-download free on the new iPhone?
Yes. Apple ties app purchases to your Apple ID, so you can re-download any paid app you bought without paying again. This applies to apps you bought years ago as well as recent purchases. The only exception is if you bought the app on a different Apple ID — then you would need to sign in with that ID to re-download it.
What if I forgot my Apple ID password?
You can reset it at iforgot.apple.com or through the Settings app on any Apple device. You will need access to the phone number or email address associated with your Apple ID. Once you reset the password, you can sign into the App Store on your new iPhone and re-download your apps.
Can I transfer apps to someone else's iPhone?
No. Apps are tied to the Apple ID that purchased them. If you want to give someone an app you bought, they would need to purchase it themselves or you would need to share your Apple ID with them — which is not recommended for security reasons. Some apps offer family sharing, which lets family members use apps you bought without sharing your full Apple ID.
Why is an app asking me to sign in again after I transferred it?
Some apps store login information only on the device, not in iCloud. When you restore or re-download the app, it has no memory of your old login. Sign in again with your username and password. If the app has a "remember me" or "stay signed in" option, use it so you do not have to sign in again on future transfers.