The fastest way to move everything to a new iPhone

The quickest method is Quick Start, which transfers your apps, photos, settings, and passwords directly from your old iPhone to your new one over Wi-Fi. You hold the two phones next to each other, scan a code on the new phone with the old one, and the transfer begins automatically. This takes 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much data you have, and you stay connected to both phones during the process.

If Quick Start doesn't work — because your old phone is broken, too old, or you're switching from Android — you can restore from an iCloud backup instead. This uploads everything from your old phone to Apple's servers, then downloads it onto the new one. It's slower than Quick Start but works even if you don't have the old phone anymore.

A third option is to restore from a computer backup using a Mac or Windows PC with iTunes or Finder. This is useful if you want to keep a local copy of your data or if you have an older iPhone that doesn't support Quick Start.

Key Takeaways

  • Quick Start is the fastest method and works by holding your old and new iPhones together to transfer data wirelessly.
  • iCloud backup lets you transfer data even if your old phone is damaged or you're switching from Android, though it takes longer.
  • You need your Apple ID password and, for some transfers, your old phone's passcode to complete the process.
  • After transfer, your new iPhone will have the same apps, photos, messages, and settings as your old one, but you should verify important data arrived correctly.

Using Quick Start for the fastest transfer

Quick Start requires both phones to be powered on and near each other. Turn on your new iPhone and place it next to your old one. Your old iPhone will detect the new device and show a setup screen. Tap "Continue" and hold your old phone above the new one so the camera can scan the animation on the new phone's screen.

After scanning, you'll enter your Apple ID password on the new phone. Then choose whether to use Face ID or Touch ID on the new device — you can set these up now or skip and do it later. The phones will then begin transferring data over Wi-Fi. Keep both phones plugged in and close together until the transfer finishes. You'll see a progress bar on both screens.

Once the transfer completes, your new iPhone will restart and you'll be able to use it immediately. Your old iPhone will remain unchanged, so you can keep using it or wipe it later.

Restoring from an iCloud backup when you don't have the old phone

If your old iPhone is broken, lost, or you're coming from Android, you can restore from iCloud instead. First, make sure your old iPhone backed up to iCloud before it stopped working. You can check this by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup on any device that still has access to that Apple ID.

On your new iPhone, go through the initial setup screens until you reach "Apps & Data." Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" and sign in with your Apple ID. Select the backup you want to restore — usually the most recent one. The phone will download your apps, photos, messages, and settings from iCloud. This can take an hour or more depending on your internet speed and how much data you have.

If you're switching from Android, you won't have an iCloud backup. Instead, use Apple's "Move to iOS" app on your Android phone to transfer contacts, photos, and some app data. This creates a temporary iCloud backup that your new iPhone can then restore from.

Restoring from a computer backup using Finder or iTunes

If you have a Mac with macOS Catalina or newer, connect your new iPhone with a USB cable and open Finder. Click your iPhone in the sidebar, then click "Restore." If you have an older Mac or a Windows PC, download iTunes from Apple's website and follow the same steps.

You'll be asked to choose a backup file. Select the most recent backup from your old iPhone. The computer will restore all your data, apps, and settings to the new phone. This method is faster than iCloud if you have a fast computer and USB connection, but slower than Quick Start.

After restoration, your new iPhone will restart and you'll need to enter your Apple ID password. The phone will then download any apps that weren't included in the backup file.

What gets transferred and what doesn't

Quick Start and iCloud backups transfer most of your data: photos, videos, messages, contacts, calendar events, notes, reminders, health data, home automation settings, and your app library. Your home screen layout, wallpaper, and notification settings also transfer. Passwords stored in Keychain (Apple's password manager) transfer as well, though you may need to re-enter some banking or payment passwords for security reasons.

Some things do not transfer: your phone number (your carrier handles this), Apple Pay card information (you'll need to re-add cards), and some app data if the app developer doesn't support iCloud sync. Voicemail also doesn't transfer — you'll need to contact your carrier to move it. Downloaded music and movies from iTunes may not transfer if they're not available in your region anymore.

If you're restoring from a computer backup, the same rules apply. Anything that was on your old phone and backed up will restore to the new one.

Verifying your data arrived correctly

After the transfer finishes, spend a few minutes checking that everything is there. Open Photos and scroll through your library. Check Messages to make sure your conversations are present. Open a few of your most-used apps to confirm they installed and still have your data. Check your contacts by opening the Phone app and looking at your recent calls or favorites.

If something is missing, don't panic. Sometimes apps take time to download and sync their data in the background. Wait 15 minutes and check again. If an app still hasn't restored its data, you can delete it and reinstall it from the App Store — it will usually restore its data automatically.

For critical data like banking apps or health records, log in and verify that your information is there. Some apps require you to sign in again for security, even though your login credentials transferred.

Preparing your old iPhone after the transfer

Once you've confirmed everything transferred correctly, you can wipe your old iPhone. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This removes all your personal data from the phone. You'll need your Apple ID password to complete this step.

If you're selling or giving away the old phone, erasing it is important for privacy. If you're keeping it as a backup, you can leave it as is or turn it off and store it. If you're recycling it, Apple will take it back for free at any Apple Store, or you can use a certified e-waste recycler.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

If the phone won't power on at all, you'll need to restore from an iCloud backup instead. Quick Start requires both phones to be on. Make sure your old phone backed up to iCloud before it stopped working — you can check this on any device using the same Apple ID.

How long does Quick Start take?

Quick Start usually takes 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much data you have and your Wi-Fi speed. Keep both phones plugged in and near each other. The progress bar on your new iPhone shows how much time remains.

Will my text messages transfer?

Yes, all your text messages, iMessages, and group chats transfer through Quick Start or iCloud backup. They'll appear in the Messages app on your new iPhone exactly as they were on the old one.

Do I need to do anything with my carrier after transferring?

Your carrier doesn't need to do anything for data transfer — that's handled by Apple. However, you may need to contact your carrier to transfer your phone number to the new device, or to move voicemail. This is separate from the data transfer process.

What if I want to keep using my old iPhone alongside the new one?

You can use both phones with the same Apple ID, but this can cause problems with iMessage and FaceTime — calls and messages might go to the wrong phone. If you want to keep both active, sign out of iMessage and FaceTime on the old phone, or use a different Apple ID on one of them.