The fastest way is to use iCloud or a direct phone-to-phone transfer

You have three main paths to move your photos, messages, contacts, apps, and settings to a new iPhone. The quickest is direct transfer, where you hold the new phone next to your old one and let them sync wirelessly — this takes 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much data you have. The second option is iCloud backup, which uploads everything from your old phone to Apple's servers, then downloads it onto the new one — this is slower but works if your phones aren't in the same room. The third is a computer backup using a Mac or Windows PC with iTunes or Finder, which is useful if you don't trust cloud storage or have spotty internet.

Direct transfer works only if both phones are running recent iOS versions and you're setting up the new phone for the first time. iCloud backup and computer backup both work whether you're replacing an old phone or adding a second device. Each method moves apps, photos, messages, contacts, calendar events, notes, health data, home automation settings, and most other personal content — but not all third-party apps restore their internal data, so you may need to log back into some accounts after the transfer completes.

Key Takeaways

  • Direct transfer (phone-to-phone) is fastest if both devices are in the same room and the new phone is brand new, taking 30 minutes to a few hours.
  • iCloud backup works from anywhere and lets you restore to a new phone days or weeks later, but requires enough iCloud storage space for all your data.
  • Computer backup using Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) is the most reliable method and doesn't depend on internet speed or cloud storage limits.
  • Some apps won't restore their saved data automatically, so you may need to log back into banking, email, or social media apps after the transfer finishes.
  • You'll need your Apple ID password and, if you use two-factor authentication, access to a trusted device or phone number to complete any transfer method.

Direct transfer: holding phones together to sync

Start with your old iPhone powered on and unlocked. Turn on the new iPhone and hold it close to the old one — within a few inches. A setup screen will appear on the new phone asking if you want to transfer data. Tap "Transfer from iPhone" and follow the prompts. You'll be asked to scan a code that appears on the old phone using the new phone's camera, or to enter your Apple ID password manually.

The transfer then begins in the background while you continue setting up the new phone. You can set up Face ID or Touch ID, choose your language and region, and connect to Wi-Fi — the data transfer happens alongside these steps. Keep both phones plugged into power and close together until the transfer completes. The new phone will show a progress bar; when it reaches 100%, the old phone will ask if you want to transfer your Apple Watch settings (if you have one) and then you're done.

This method works only if your new iPhone is completely new or has been factory reset. If you've already set it up and created an account, you'll need to erase it and start over to use direct transfer. It also requires both phones to have good Wi-Fi signal and enough battery to stay on for the full transfer time.

iCloud backup: uploading and restoring from the cloud

Open Settings on your old iPhone, tap your name at the top, then tap "iCloud." Scroll down and tap "iCloud Backup." Turn on "iCloud Backup" if it's not already on, then tap "Back Up Now." The phone will upload your data to Apple's servers — this can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours depending on how much you have and your internet speed. You'll see a progress indicator; when it finishes, the screen will say "Back Up Now" again (not "Back Up in Progress").

On your new iPhone, go through the initial setup screens until you reach "Apps & Data." Tap "Restore from iCloud Backup," sign in with your Apple ID, and choose the backup you just created from the list. The phone will download everything and install it — again, this takes time proportional to your data size. You don't need to keep the old phone nearby for this method, and you can restore from an iCloud backup days or weeks after creating it.

The catch is storage: iCloud gives you 5 GB free, and most people need more. If your backup is larger than your available iCloud storage, you'll need to buy more space (50 GB, 200 GB, or 2 TB monthly plans) or delete old backups from other devices. You can check your backup size in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups.

Computer backup: using Finder or iTunes for the most control

On a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, plug your old iPhone into the computer with a USB cable. Open Finder, click your phone's name in the sidebar under "Locations," and click "General." Under "Backups," select "Back up all of the important data on your iPhone to this Mac." Click "Back Up Now." On a Windows PC, open iTunes, plug in the phone, click the device icon, and follow the same steps under "Summary."

The backup saves to your computer's hard drive — not to the cloud — so it's not affected by iCloud storage limits. When you're ready to restore, plug the new iPhone into the same computer, open Finder or iTunes, select the phone, and click "Restore Backup." Choose the backup you created and enter your Apple ID password. The phone will restore everything from that backup.

This method is the most reliable for large amounts of data and gives you a local copy you control. The downside is that you need a computer and a USB cable, and the backup only lives on that one machine unless you copy it elsewhere. If your computer fails, the backup is gone.

What transfers and what doesn't

All three methods move your photos and videos, messages and call history, contacts, calendar events, notes, reminders, voice memos, health and fitness data, home automation settings, Safari bookmarks, and your home screen layout. They also move your installed apps — but here's the important part: the apps themselves transfer, but not always their internal saved data.

For example, your banking app will transfer to the new phone, but you'll need to log back in with your username and password. Your email app will transfer, but you may need to re-enter your email password. Games often lose saved progress because that data is stored on the game company's servers, not on your phone. Some apps (like Notes and Messages) do transfer their data completely, while others (like most games and social media apps) require you to log in again.

One thing that does not transfer: your carrier's network settings, if you use an eSIM or have special carrier configuration. After the transfer completes, contact your carrier to confirm your phone number and data plan are active on the new device.

Troubleshooting common transfer problems

If direct transfer stalls or fails, restart both phones and try again. Make sure both are on the same Wi-Fi network and that neither is in Low Power Mode. If the transfer keeps failing after two attempts, switch to iCloud backup instead — it's more forgiving of network interruptions.

If iCloud backup says you don't have enough storage, you have three options: delete old backups from other devices (in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups), buy more iCloud storage for the month, or switch to a computer backup. You can also reduce what's backed up by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and turning off backup for apps you don't need (like large games).

If you forget your Apple ID password, you can reset it at iforgot.apple.com before starting the transfer. If you have two-factor authentication turned on (which Apple recommends), you'll need access to a trusted device or phone number to complete the reset. If you're locked out of both, contact Apple Support — they can help you regain access to your account.

If apps won't open after the transfer, try restarting the new phone. If an app still won't open, delete it and reinstall it from the App Store — this usually fixes it. If you're missing photos or messages after the transfer, check that the backup actually completed (in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups, the backup should show today's date and a file size larger than zero).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer from an iPhone to an Android phone?

No, the methods described here work only between iPhones. Android has its own transfer tools through Google. If you're switching to Android, you'll need to use Google's "Switch to Android" app or manually move your photos and contacts through Google services.

What if my old iPhone is broken and won't turn on?

If you have an iCloud backup from before the phone broke, you can restore from that backup on the new phone. If you don't have a backup and the phone won't power on, you've lost that data — this is why regular backups matter. Apple Support can sometimes recover data from a broken phone, but it's not may provide.

Do I need to erase my old iPhone after transferring everything?

Not immediately, but you should before selling or giving it away. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This removes all your personal data from the old phone so the next owner can't access it.

Will my text messages transfer if I use a different phone number?

Yes. Your text messages are tied to your Apple ID and iCloud account, not your phone number. They'll transfer to the new phone regardless of whether you keep the same number or switch carriers.

How much iCloud storage do I actually need?

That depends on your photos and videos. If you take a lot of high-resolution photos or 4K video, you'll need more space. A rough guide: 50 GB covers most people with a few years of photos; 200 GB is safer if you record video regularly. You can check your current usage in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage.