How to Move Your Data From One iPhone to Another

The fastest way to transfer everything is to use iCloud or a Mac or PC

You have three main routes to move your data, photos, apps, and settings from an old iPhone to a new one. iCloud backs up and restores wirelessly if both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network. A Mac or PC with iTunes or Finder lets you plug in and copy everything in one go. Quick Start, built into newer iPhones, walks you through the process on the phones themselves without a computer.

Which one you choose depends on whether you have a computer nearby, how much data you're moving, and whether your old phone still turns on. If your old phone is broken or won't power up, iCloud is your only option — as long as you remember your Apple ID password and the phone was backed up before it failed.

Key Takeaways

iCloud transfers everything wirelessly but requires both phones to be on Wi-Fi and your Apple ID password to be ready.
Quick Start is the simplest method if both phones work and you have them in the same room, taking 15 to 30 minutes depending on data size.
A Mac or PC transfer is fastest for large amounts of data and works even if your old phone has no cellular service.
If your old phone won't turn on, iCloud is your only path forward, provided you have a recent backup.
All three methods preserve your apps, photos, messages, contacts, and settings — the new phone becomes a copy of the old one.

Using Quick Start on the phones themselves

Quick Start is the easiest method if both iPhones are in your hands and working. Turn on the new iPhone and hold it near the old one. The old phone will show a setup screen asking if you want to transfer data. Tap yes, then hold the new phone's camera over the animation on the old phone's screen until it recognizes the code.

After that, enter your Apple ID password on the new phone. The old phone will send your Wi-Fi password, Face ID or Touch ID settings, and other preferences to the new one. Then it begins copying apps, photos, messages, and everything else. This can take 15 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have. Keep both phones plugged in and on Wi-Fi during the transfer — do not walk away or put either phone to sleep.

Quick Start works between any two iPhones running iOS 12.4 or later. If your old phone won't turn on or the screen is cracked and unresponsive, you cannot use this method.

Transferring via iCloud without a computer

iCloud works when your old phone is broken or far away, as long as it was backed up before the problem happened. On the new iPhone, go through the setup screens until you reach "Apps & Data." Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup," then sign in with your Apple ID. The phone will show a list of available backups — pick the most recent one.

The new phone will download everything from that backup: your apps, photos, messages, contacts, calendar, notes, and settings. This takes longer than Quick Start because the data comes over the internet rather than directly between phones. A backup with 50 GB of data might take an hour or more on a typical home Wi-Fi connection. Keep the phone plugged in and on Wi-Fi until the restore finishes.

iCloud backups happen automatically if you have an iCloud account and enough storage space. Most people get 5 GB free, which covers settings and messages but not photos or videos. If your old phone's backup is older than a few weeks, you may be missing recent photos or messages. Check your old phone's iCloud settings before it stops working to see when the last backup occurred.

Using a Mac or PC for the fastest large transfer

If you have a Mac or PC, you can transfer data by plugging in both phones. On a Mac running macOS Monterey or later, use Finder. On a PC or older Mac, use iTunes. Plug in the old iPhone first, select it in Finder or iTunes, and choose "Back Up Now." Then plug in the new iPhone, select it, and choose "Restore from Backup."

This method is faster than iCloud for large amounts of data because the transfer happens over USB rather than the internet. A 100 GB backup might take 20 to 30 minutes instead of several hours. The computer stores a copy of your backup, so if something goes wrong during the transfer, you can try again without losing the backup file.

You need a USB cable that works with your iPhones — the newer iPhones use USB-C, while older models use Lightning. If you don't have the right cable, you can use iCloud or Quick Start instead. The computer must have enough free space to hold the backup file, which is roughly the same size as the data on your old phone.

What gets transferred and what doesn't

All three methods copy your apps, photos, videos, messages, contacts, calendar events, notes, reminders, health data, and home automation settings. Your Apple ID, Wi-Fi passwords, and Face ID or Touch ID setup also transfer. Text message threads, email accounts, and banking apps all move over.

Some things do not transfer: your phone number stays with your carrier and SIM card, not with the backup. If you're switching carriers, contact the new carrier before you transfer data. Voicemail settings may not carry over, so check your voicemail after the transfer. Some apps that use special security features, like banking apps with biometric login, may ask you to sign in again on the new phone.

Downloaded podcasts, audiobooks, and some music files may not transfer if they were not purchased through Apple. Apps you deleted from the App Store may not restore if they're no longer available. The new phone will attempt to download all your apps, but if an app has been removed from the store, you'll see an error and the app simply won't appear.

Troubleshooting when a transfer stalls or fails

If Quick Start or iCloud transfer stops partway through, force-quit the setup and start over. On the new phone, go to Settings, then General, then Reset, and choose "Erase All Content and Settings." This wipes the phone and returns it to the setup screen. Then try the transfer again from the beginning.

If the transfer keeps failing at the same point, try a different method. Switch from Quick Start to iCloud, or from iCloud to a Mac or PC backup. Each method uses a different path to move data, so one may succeed where another fails. If you're using iCloud and the transfer is very slow, move the phone closer to the Wi-Fi router or try the transfer at a different time when your internet is less congested.

If you see an error about storage space, the new phone may not have enough room for all your data. Check Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage to see what's taking up space. You can delete apps or photos on the new phone to make room, then try the transfer again. Some users find that restarting both phones before attempting the transfer resolves connection issues.

Transferring data from an Android phone to iPhone

If you're switching from Android, the process is different. Apple offers a free app called "Move to iOS" that you download on the Android phone. Open the app, choose "Continue," and agree to the terms. The app will generate a code.

On the new iPhone, go through setup until you reach "Apps & Data," then tap "Migrate Data from Android." Enter the code from the Move to iOS app. The Android phone will send your contacts, calendar events, photos, videos, and some app data to the iPhone over Wi-Fi. This takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have.

Not all Android apps have equivalents on iPhone, so some apps won't transfer. Your text messages and call history stay on Android — they don't move to iPhone. You'll need to manually download apps from the App Store and sign into them with your accounts. Move to iOS works on Android 4.0 and later, so most Android phones made in the last decade are compatible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to back up my old phone before transferring?

If you're using Quick Start or a Mac or PC, the backup happens as part of the transfer process, so you don't need to do it separately. If you're using iCloud, the old phone must have been backed up before you start, because the new phone downloads from an existing backup file. Check your old phone's iCloud settings to confirm a recent backup exists.

Can I transfer data if my old iPhone won't turn on?

Yes, but only if it was backed up to iCloud before it stopped working. On the new phone, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" during setup and sign in with your Apple ID. If the old phone was never backed up, the data is lost and cannot be recovered through any of these methods.

How long does the transfer take?

Quick Start usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. iCloud can take an hour or more depending on your internet speed and the amount of data. A Mac or PC transfer is typically 20 to 40 minutes. Keep both phones plugged in and on Wi-Fi or connected to the computer until the transfer finishes.

Will my text messages transfer?

Yes, all three methods transfer your text message threads, including iMessage and SMS. The messages appear in the Messages app on the new phone exactly as they were on the old one. If you're switching from Android to iPhone, text messages do not transfer — you'll need to use a third-party app if you want to preserve them.

What if I don't remember my Apple ID password?

You'll need it to complete any transfer method. Go to iforgot.apple.com on a computer or another device and follow the steps to reset your password. You can also use your phone number or a recovery email address to verify your identity. Reset your password before you start the transfer so you have it ready.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.