The fastest way to move your data is through iCloud or a direct device-to-device transfer

You have three main routes to move your photos, messages, contacts, apps, and settings to a new iPhone: iCloud backup, direct transfer (iPhone to iPhone), or Mac or Windows computer. Direct transfer is usually fastest if both phones are in front of you. iCloud works if you have time to wait and want to avoid cables. A computer backup gives you the most control and works if your old phone is broken or you're switching from Android.

The method you choose depends on whether your old phone still works, how much data you have, and whether you want to set up the new phone right away or later. All three preserve your apps, photos, messages, contacts, calendar events, and most settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Direct iPhone-to-iPhone transfer works only if both phones are powered on and nearby, and takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have.
  • iCloud backup requires both phones to be on Wi-Fi and your Apple ID password, but you can restore to the new phone days or weeks later.
  • A Mac or Windows backup through Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) is necessary if your old phone is damaged or if you're coming from Android.
  • Apps download fresh from the App Store during any transfer method, so you don't need to back them up separately — but your app data and login information transfer automatically.
  • Two-factor authentication on your Apple ID will pause the transfer and ask you to verify on a trusted device, so have another device nearby or know your recovery key.

Direct iPhone-to-iPhone transfer: the fastest method if both phones work

If you have both iPhones in front of you and both are powered on, direct transfer is usually the quickest option. Turn on the new iPhone and hold it near your old iPhone. Your old phone will detect the new one and prompt you to set it up. Tap Transfer from iPhone and sign in with your Apple ID when asked.

The old phone will send your data directly to the new one over a local connection. This includes photos, messages, contacts, calendar events, app data, and most settings. The transfer time depends on how much data you have — anywhere from 30 minutes for a lightly used phone to several hours for one with hundreds of gigabytes of photos and videos. Keep both phones plugged in and close together during the process. Do not use either phone until the transfer finishes.

If the transfer fails partway through, you can restart it. The new phone will ask whether you want to start over or resume. If you resume, it will pick up where it left off rather than starting from the beginning.

iCloud backup: the method to use if you have time

iCloud backup works if your old phone is still working but you don't have time to transfer right now, or if you want to set up the new phone later. On your old iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and turn it on. Tap Back Up Now. Your phone will upload your photos, messages, contacts, app data, and settings to iCloud. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have and your Wi-Fi speed.

When you're ready to set up the new iPhone, turn it on and follow the setup screens. When you reach the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup. Sign in with your Apple ID and choose the backup you just created. The new phone will download everything from iCloud and restore it. This part takes time too — usually as long as the original backup took, sometimes longer.

iCloud backup is useful if your old phone is broken or if you're switching from Android, because you can restore the backup to your new iPhone even if the old phone is gone. However, iCloud stores only 5 GB free. If your backup is larger, you'll need to pay for more storage (50 GB, 200 GB, or 2 TB monthly plans) or delete old backups to make room.

Computer backup: necessary if your old phone is damaged or you're coming from Android

If your old iPhone is broken or won't turn on, or if you're switching from an Android phone, you'll need to use a computer. On a Mac with macOS Monterey or newer, plug the iPhone into the USB port and open Finder. Click the iPhone in the sidebar, then click General and choose Back Up Now. On a Windows PC, download iTunes from the Microsoft Store, plug in the iPhone, and click Back Up Now in the device summary screen.

The backup file stores on your computer's hard drive. When you're ready to set up the new iPhone, plug it in, open Finder or iTunes, and click Restore from Backup. Choose the backup file you just created. The new phone will restore everything from that backup.

If you're coming from Android, you won't have an iPhone backup to restore. Instead, use Apple's Move to iOS app on your Android phone before you switch. It transfers your contacts, messages, photos, and some app data to iCloud, which you can then restore to your new iPhone. Some Android data — like text message threads and app-specific settings — may not transfer perfectly, so you might need to re-download a few apps and log back into them manually.

What transfers and what doesn't

Photos, videos, messages, contacts, calendar events, reminders, notes, and voice memos all transfer completely. App data transfers too — your login information, game progress, saved documents, and app settings come with you. However, the apps themselves download fresh from the App Store during the transfer, so you need an active App Store account and internet connection.

Some things do not transfer: voicemail (you'll need to re-set that up), health and fitness data from third-party apps (Apple Health data transfers, but not all connected apps), and some banking or security apps that are tied to your old phone's security chip. Passwords stored in iCloud Keychain transfer automatically, but passwords saved only in Safari on the old phone may not. If you're unsure whether a specific app's data will transfer, check the app's settings before you switch — most apps let you export or back up your data manually.

Two-factor authentication and recovery keys

During any transfer method, you'll be asked to sign in with your Apple ID. If you have two-factor authentication turned on (which Apple recommends), your old iPhone or another trusted device will receive a verification code. You'll need to enter that code to proceed. If you don't have another device nearby, you can use your recovery key instead — a 28-character code Apple gave you when you set up two-factor authentication.

If you've lost your recovery key and don't have access to another trusted device, you can still transfer your data, but the process is slower. You'll need to answer security questions about your Apple ID or verify your identity through your recovery email address. Keep your recovery key in a safe place — a password manager, a locked drawer, or written down somewhere secure. You won't need it often, but when you do, you'll need it immediately.

Troubleshooting a transfer that's stuck or failed

If a direct transfer stalls, check that both phones are still on Wi-Fi (not cellular data) and plugged in. Move them closer together. If it's been more than an hour with no progress, force-restart both phones by pressing and holding the power and volume buttons until the restart screen appears, then slide to power off. Wait 30 seconds, turn both back on, and try again.

If an iCloud or computer backup won't complete, make sure you're on a stable Wi-Fi network and that your old phone has enough storage space free (at least 1 GB). If the backup keeps failing, try backing up over Wi-Fi instead of USB, or vice versa. Restart both the phone and the computer, then try again.

If the new phone gets stuck on the Apps & Data screen during restore, force-restart it and try again. If it still fails, you can set up the new phone without restoring, then restore the backup later through Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Restore from iCloud Backup.

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 cannot use direct transfer or iCloud backup. Your only option is a computer backup if you made one before the phone died. If you didn't, you'll lose any data that wasn't already backed up to iCloud. Going forward, turn on iCloud backup so your data syncs automatically.

How long does a transfer usually take?

Direct transfer typically takes 30 minutes to 2 hours for a phone with 64 GB of data, longer if you have more. iCloud backup and restore each take about as long as the amount of data you're moving — a 100 GB backup might take 1 to 3 hours depending on Wi-Fi speed. Computer backups are usually faster than iCloud because they use a direct USB connection.

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

No. Transfer everything, then delete what you don't want from the new phone afterward. It's safer to have too much data than to accidentally leave something behind. If your old phone is full and the transfer keeps failing, delete photos or videos temporarily, complete the transfer, then restore them from iCloud later.

Will my text messages transfer if I'm switching from Android?

Text messages from Android do not transfer to iPhone through Move to iOS or any other method. Your contacts and photos will move, but SMS and MMS threads stay on Android. You can export them manually through your Android phone's settings or a third-party app, but they won't appear as native iPhone messages.

What if I want to keep my old iPhone and use it as a backup?

You can keep both phones active on the same Apple ID, but this creates confusion with messages and calls — both phones will receive them. Instead, sign out of iCloud on the old phone after the transfer completes, then sign back in with a different Apple ID or leave it unsigned. This way the old phone won't sync with the new one, and you can use it as a standalone device or sell it.