The quickest way to move apps is to sign in with your Apple ID during iPhone setup

When you turn on a new iPhone and sign in with the same Apple ID you used on your old phone, iOS automatically downloads all the apps you previously owned. This happens in the background while you set up Face ID, location services, and other settings. You don't have to manually select which apps to move — every app you bought or downloaded on that Apple ID comes over.

This automatic method works because Apple stores a record of every app you've ever downloaded to that account. Even if you deleted an app months ago, it's still in your purchase history. The new phone reads that history and reinstalls everything. Apps start downloading immediately, though larger ones may take several minutes to finish.

The trade-off is that your app data — login information, game progress, saved documents — does not transfer this way. You'll need to sign back into each app individually or use iCloud backup to restore that data alongside the apps.

Key Takeaways

  • Signing in with your Apple ID during setup automatically downloads all apps you previously owned, without manual selection.
  • App data like passwords and game progress requires either iCloud backup or manual sign-in to each app.
  • iCloud backup restores both apps and their data if you have enough storage space and a backup from your old phone.
  • You can also restore from a Mac or PC using Finder or iTunes if you prefer a wired connection.
  • Apps that you no longer own — ones you deleted or that were removed from the App Store — will not transfer.

Using iCloud backup to move apps and their data together

If you want your apps plus all their settings, login information, and saved data to move to the new phone, iCloud backup is the most complete method. Before you set up the new iPhone, make sure your old phone has a recent iCloud backup. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup on your old phone and tap "Back Up Now" to create one immediately.

When you turn on the new iPhone, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" during setup instead of "Set Up as New iPhone." Sign in with the same Apple ID, select the most recent backup from your old phone, and iOS will restore everything — apps, app data, photos, messages, and settings. The process takes time depending on how much data you're moving and your internet speed, but you'll have an exact copy of your old phone's setup.

The limitation is iCloud storage. A free account includes 5 GB, which covers most app data but not large photo libraries. If your backup is larger than your available iCloud space, you'll need to buy more storage (50 GB, 200 GB, or 2 TB plans are available) or delete old backups from other devices before creating a new one.

Restoring from a computer using Finder or iTunes

If you have a Mac with macOS Catalina or newer, or a Windows PC with iTunes installed, you can connect your old iPhone with a USB cable and create a backup through Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows). This backup includes everything — apps, app data, photos, and settings — and stores it on your computer instead of in iCloud.

To restore to the new iPhone, connect it to the same computer, open Finder or iTunes, and choose "Restore from Backup." Select the backup from your old phone, and iOS will copy everything over. This method is faster than iCloud for large amounts of data because the transfer happens over USB rather than the internet.

The trade-off is convenience. You need the computer available, a compatible USB cable, and enough storage space on the computer to hold the backup file. For most people, iCloud is simpler because it works wirelessly and doesn't require a computer.

Transferring apps manually if automatic methods don't work

If you're switching from Android to iPhone, or if you have apps that aren't available on your new phone's region, you'll need to download them manually from the App Store. Open the App Store on your new iPhone, tap the search icon, and find each app by name. Tap the cloud icon (or "Get" if you haven't owned it before) to download it.

For apps you previously owned but are no longer available in your region or have been removed from the App Store, you're out of luck — there's no way to transfer them. You may be able to find similar apps that do the same thing, or contact the app developer to ask if they offer an alternative version.

If you're moving from an older iPhone and some apps won't download because they require a newer iOS version, update your new phone to the latest iOS first. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates before trying to download apps again.

What happens to app data during transfer

App data — your login credentials, game saves, document edits, photo libraries within an app — lives separately from the app itself. When you use automatic app download or iCloud backup, the data comes along. When you manually download an app from the App Store, the data does not.

Some apps sync data through their own cloud services (like Google Drive, Dropbox, or a game's cloud save feature). If you sign back into those apps on your new phone, your data reappears automatically. Other apps store data only on the phone itself, so you lose it unless you restored from backup.

To avoid losing data, always create an iCloud backup or computer backup before setting up your new phone. If you've already set up the new phone without a backup, you can still go back to your old phone, create a backup now, and then restore the new phone from that backup — you'll just have to redo any changes you made on the new phone in the meantime.

Checking storage space before transferring apps

Apps take up storage space on your new iPhone. Before you start the transfer, check how much space your old phone's apps are using. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage on your old phone to see a list of apps and their sizes. Add up the largest ones to get a rough idea of how much space you'll need.

Your new iPhone's storage capacity is fixed — you can't add more later. If you're moving from a 256 GB phone to a 128 GB phone, some apps may not fit. In that case, you'll need to delete apps you don't use regularly or choose which ones to keep. The App Store will tell you if there's not enough space during download and let you skip individual apps.

If storage is tight, delete apps you rarely use before setting up the new phone, or wait to download them until you've had time to clean up photos and videos on the new device.

Troubleshooting apps that won't transfer or download

If an app doesn't appear on your new phone after automatic download, or if it fails to download when you try manually, check a few things. First, make sure you're signed in with the same Apple ID you used to buy the app. Go to Settings > [Your Name] and verify the email address matches your old phone.

Second, check your internet connection. Apps download over Wi-Fi or cellular data, and a weak connection can cause downloads to stall or fail. Switch to a different Wi-Fi network or move closer to your router and try again.

Third, restart the App Store. Close it completely (swipe up from the bottom of the screen and close the app), wait a few seconds, and open it again. Sometimes the App Store gets stuck and a restart fixes it.

If an app still won't download, it may have been removed from the App Store, may not be available in your region, or may require a newer iOS version than your phone is running. Check the App Store page for the app to see if there's an error message, or update iOS to the latest version and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my apps if I don't back up before setting up the new phone?

No. Your apps are tied to your Apple ID, not to the old phone. As long as you sign in with the same Apple ID on the new phone, you can download them again. What you lose is the app data — saved games, login information, documents — unless you create a backup first.

Can I transfer apps from someone else's iPhone to mine?

No. Apps are tied to the Apple ID that purchased them. You can only download apps to your own Apple ID. If someone else bought an app and you want it, you'll need to buy it yourself or ask them to share their Apple ID (which is not recommended for security reasons).

What if my old iPhone is broken and I can't turn it on?

If you have an iCloud backup from before it broke, restore from that backup on the new phone. If you don't have a backup, sign in with your Apple ID during setup and let automatic download restore your apps. Your app data will be lost unless you had a backup, but the apps themselves will come back.

Do I need to delete apps from my old phone before transferring?

No. Deleting apps from your old phone doesn't affect the transfer. Your purchase history is stored on Apple's servers, so apps you deleted months ago will still download to the new phone if you use automatic download or iCloud backup.

How long does it take to transfer all my apps?

Automatic download during setup usually finishes within 10 to 30 minutes, depending on how many apps you have and your internet speed. iCloud backup can take longer if you have a large amount of data. Computer backup over USB is typically faster than iCloud.