The fastest way to transfer apps is to restore from your iCloud or iTunes backup

When you set up a new iPhone, Apple gives you the option to restore from a backup of your old phone. If you chose this route during setup, your apps transferred automatically — you do not need to do anything else. If you skipped that step or set up as a new phone, you can still restore from backup by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Restore from iCloud Backup (or from a computer using Finder or iTunes, depending on your macOS version).

This method transfers not just the apps themselves, but also your login information, settings, and data within each app. It is the least hands-on approach and works for the vast majority of apps available on the App Store.

The catch: restoring from backup takes time and requires either a strong Wi-Fi connection (for iCloud) or a computer (for iTunes). If your old phone is no longer working, you cannot create a fresh backup from it, so you are limited to whatever backup already exists in iCloud or on your computer.

Key Takeaways

  • Restoring from an iCloud or iTunes backup transfers all your apps, their settings, and your login information in one step during iPhone setup.
  • If you already set up your new phone without a backup, you can still restore later through Settings, though this erases the phone first.
  • Apps that are no longer available in the App Store will not transfer, even from a backup — you lose access to them permanently.
  • Manual app download through the App Store works for any app still available, but you have to sign in to each one separately and reconfigure settings.
  • Some apps tied to specific hardware (like banking apps with biometric locks) may require you to re-authenticate even after a backup restore.

What happens to apps that no longer exist in the App Store

If an app was deleted from the App Store before you upgraded, it will not transfer even if it was on your old phone and in your backup. Apple cannot restore something that is no longer available for download. You lose access to it permanently.

This is most common with older games, discontinued utilities, or apps from companies that went out of business. If you have an old iPhone still running the app, you can sometimes keep using it on that device, but you cannot move it to the new phone.

Manually downloading apps one by one through the App Store

If you did not restore from backup or want to add apps you did not have before, open the App Store on your new iPhone and search for each app by name. Tap the cloud icon with a down arrow (not the plus sign — that is for in-app purchases). The app downloads and installs automatically.

After download, you will need to sign in to the app with your username and password. Your saved data within that app may or may not be there, depending on whether the app syncs to the cloud or stores data only on your phone. Some apps (like email clients or note-taking apps) will pull your data back automatically once you log in. Others (like games) may start fresh unless you had cloud save turned on.

This method takes longer than a backup restore, but it gives you control over which apps you actually want on the new phone. It is also the only option if your backup is corrupted or lost.

Using iCloud to sync app data after you download

Even if you manually download apps instead of restoring from backup, iCloud can still recover some of your data. Apps that use iCloud sync (like Notes, Reminders, Mail, Photos, and many third-party apps) will pull your information back once you sign in with your Apple ID.

To check whether an app uses iCloud sync, open Settings on your new phone, tap your name at the top, then iCloud. Scroll through the list — any app shown there with a toggle switch is syncing to iCloud. Turn the toggle on if it is off, and the app will begin downloading your data from the cloud.

This does not work for apps that store data only locally on your phone. For those, a backup restore is your only way to keep the old data.

Apps that require you to sign in again even after a backup restore

Some apps — particularly banking apps, password managers, and apps with biometric authentication — will force you to sign in again on the new phone, even if you restored from backup. This is a security feature. The app does not trust that the new device is actually yours just because the backup says so.

Have your passwords or recovery codes ready before you restore. If you use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock an app on your old phone, that biometric data does not transfer — you will need to set it up again on the new phone after you log in manually.

Transferring apps from an Android phone to iPhone

If you are switching from Android, your apps do not transfer at all — Android and iOS apps are completely separate. You have to download each one individually from the App Store.

Apple provides a tool called Move to iOS that transfers photos, contacts, calendars, and some other data, but not apps. Open Move to iOS on your Android phone during iPhone setup, and it will walk you through the transfer. After that, go to the App Store and search for the iOS versions of the apps you used on Android. Many popular apps (Gmail, Spotify, Instagram, Microsoft Office) have iOS versions, but not all do, and some may have different features.

Checking your storage space before transferring

If you are restoring from a backup, make sure your new iPhone has enough free space. A backup can be several gigabytes, especially if you have a lot of photos or large apps. If your new phone does not have room, the restore will fail partway through.

Check how large your backup is before you start. On your old phone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage, and look at the total backup size. If it is larger than the free space on your new phone, delete some photos or videos from your old phone first, then create a fresh backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my app data if I do not restore from backup?

It depends on the app. Apps that sync to iCloud (Notes, Mail, Reminders) will recover your data once you sign in. Apps that only store data locally on your phone will start fresh. Some apps let you manually back up data before switching phones — check the app's settings for an export or backup option.

Can I restore from a backup if my old iPhone is broken?

Yes, as long as you have a backup in iCloud or on a computer. You do not need the old phone itself. During setup of your new iPhone, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" and sign in with your Apple ID. If you have a computer backup, use Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) to restore instead.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password and cannot restore from backup?

You can still download apps manually from the App Store using your Apple ID. If you forgot your password, go to iforgot.apple.com to reset it. You will need access to your recovery email or phone number. Once you reset it, sign in to the App Store and download what you need.

Will my app subscriptions transfer to the new phone?

Yes. Subscriptions are tied to your Apple ID, not to the phone itself. Once you sign in with the same Apple ID on your new iPhone, any active subscriptions will work automatically. You do not need to resubscribe or pay again.

Can I transfer apps to my new iPhone without Wi-Fi?

Restoring from backup requires either Wi-Fi (for iCloud) or a computer connection (for iTunes). Downloading individual apps from the App Store can use cellular data, but it is slow and may count against your data plan. Set up on Wi-Fi if possible.