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

When you turn on a new iPhone for the first time, you'll see a screen asking whether you want to restore from a backup. If you choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" or "Restore from Mac/PC," your apps will download automatically to the new phone in the background over the next few hours. This is the method most people use because it requires almost no work on your part — the phone does the heavy lifting.

The backup must exist before you get the new phone. If you've been regularly backing up your old iPhone to iCloud (Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now), that backup will be waiting for you. If you synced your old phone to a Mac or PC using Finder or iTunes, that backup is also available. During new-phone setup, you'll sign in with your Apple ID and choose which backup to restore.

Apps that you've deleted from your old phone won't restore — only the apps currently on your old device will transfer. If you want an app back, you'll need to download it again from the App Store after setup is complete.

Key Takeaways

  • Restoring from an iCloud or computer backup during initial setup transfers all your apps automatically without manual work.
  • Your backup must already exist on iCloud or your computer before you set up the new phone — you cannot create a new backup after the old phone is gone.
  • Apps deleted from your old phone will not restore, so if you want them back you must download them again from the App Store.
  • If you don't restore from a backup, you can download apps one at a time from the App Store, or use iCloud.com to reinstall multiple apps at once on the new phone.
  • App data (login information, game progress, photos within apps) transfers only if the app itself transfers — data does not move separately.

What happens to your app data when you transfer apps

App data — your login credentials, saved games, photos stored in an app, messages, settings — travels with the app only if you restore from a backup. The app and its data are bundled together in the backup file. When you restore, both arrive on the new phone.

If you download an app fresh from the App Store without restoring from backup, you're starting with a blank version of that app. You'll need to log back in, and any saved data from the old phone stays on the old phone. Some apps (like Gmail or Slack) sync your data to their own servers, so logging in will show your old messages and settings. Others (like games or note-taking apps that don't use cloud sync) will have lost your progress.

This is why restoring from backup is almost always the better choice — you keep everything exactly as it was, including app settings you may have forgotten you customized.

Restoring from iCloud during setup

Turn on your new iPhone and follow the on-screen prompts until you reach "Apps & Data." Tap "Restore from iCloud Backup." Sign in with the Apple ID that was used on your old phone. You'll see a list of available backups, each labeled with the device name and date. Choose the most recent backup from your old iPhone.

The phone will begin downloading your apps immediately. Depending on how many apps you have and your internet speed, this can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. You can use the phone while apps are downloading — they'll continue in the background. A progress indicator in Settings > General > iPhone Storage shows how many apps have finished.

Do not unplug the phone or turn it off during this process. If your internet connection drops, the download will pause and resume when you reconnect. Once all apps have downloaded, you're done — your old phone's setup is complete on the new device.

Restoring from a Mac or PC backup

If you synced your old iPhone to a Mac using Finder or to a Windows PC using iTunes, that backup exists on your computer. During new-phone setup, choose "Restore from Mac or PC" at the Apps & Data screen. Connect your new phone to the same computer with a USB cable.

Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) and select your new iPhone when it appears. Click "Restore" and choose the backup file from your old phone. The computer will transfer the backup to your new phone, which takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on backup size and USB speed. Keep the phone connected until the process finishes.

This method is slower than iCloud but useful if your backup is very large or your internet is unreliable. It also works if you don't have enough iCloud storage for a backup — computer backups don't count against your iCloud limit.

Downloading apps without a backup

If you set up your new iPhone without restoring from a backup, or if you want to add apps you didn't have on your old phone, you can download them from the App Store. Open the App Store app, tap the profile icon in the top right, and scroll to "Purchased." You'll see every app you've ever downloaded with your Apple ID, organized by "Not on This iPhone" and "Installed."

Tap the cloud icon next to any app in the "Not on This iPhone" section to download it. You can download multiple apps at once this way — just tap each cloud icon and they'll queue up. This method does not transfer app data, so you'll need to log in and reconfigure settings manually.

Alternatively, visit iCloud.com on any web browser, sign in with your Apple ID, and open the App Store section. You can initiate downloads to your new phone from there as well. This is useful if you're away from your phone or want to queue up a large batch of apps before you sit down to set them up.

Transferring apps between two iPhones without a computer

If both your old and new iPhones are in front of you and you want to move apps without using a backup, you can use Quick Start. Turn on your new iPhone and hold it near your old iPhone. A setup screen will appear on the old phone asking if you want to set up the new device. Tap "Continue," then hold the new phone up to scan the animation on the old phone's screen.

Follow the prompts to sign in with your Apple ID and choose which data to transfer. When you reach the Apps & Data screen, select "Transfer from iPhone." The new phone will download your apps directly from the old phone over a local connection, which is faster than downloading from Apple's servers. This process can take 30 minutes to an hour depending on how many apps you have.

Quick Start is convenient if you're upgrading in person and want to avoid waiting for iCloud backups to upload. It requires both phones to be charged and within a few feet of each other during the transfer.

Troubleshooting apps that won't transfer or download

If an app doesn't appear on your new iPhone after restoring from backup, check whether it's still available in the App Store. Developers sometimes remove apps, and if an app has been deleted from the store, it cannot be restored to a new device. You can see which apps are no longer available by checking your Purchased list in the App Store — apps that have been removed show a cloud icon with a prohibition symbol.

If an app is still in the App Store but didn't transfer, try downloading it manually from the App Store. If it fails to download, check your available storage — if your phone is nearly full, app downloads will fail. Delete photos, videos, or other apps to free up space, then try again.

Some apps require you to be in the country where you purchased them, or they may not be available in your current region. If you moved internationally, certain apps may not download. Check the App Store to see whether the app is available in your current location. If it's not, you may need to change your App Store region in Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to back up my old iPhone before getting a new one?

Yes. If you want your apps and data on the new phone, you must create a backup before your old phone is gone or erased. Back up to iCloud by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now, or connect to a Mac or PC and use Finder or iTunes. Once your old phone is wiped, that backup is your only way to recover your apps and data.

Will my app passwords and login information transfer?

Yes, if you restore from a backup. Passwords stored in the Keychain (Safari passwords, app login credentials) transfer along with the backup. You won't need to log back into most apps. If you download apps without restoring from backup, you'll need to log in manually to each one.

Can I transfer apps from an Android phone to an iPhone?

No. Android and iOS apps are different and not compatible. You'll need to find and download the iOS version of each app from the App Store. Some apps exist on both platforms, but some Android apps have no iOS equivalent. Check the App Store for each app you want before assuming it's available.

What if I don't have enough iCloud storage for a backup?

You can buy more iCloud storage (50 GB, 200 GB, or 2 TB plans are available), or you can back up to a Mac or PC instead. Computer backups don't use iCloud storage. Alternatively, you can reduce your backup size by turning off iCloud Backup for large apps or photo libraries, then back up only the essentials.

How long does it take for all apps to download on the new phone?

It depends on how many apps you have and your internet speed. Most people see all apps downloaded within 1 to 3 hours. Apps download in the background, so you can use the phone while it's happening. Check Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see the progress.