The fastest way to move everything to a new iPhone

The quickest method is Quick Start, Apple's built-in transfer tool that moves your apps, photos, messages, settings, and passwords in one go. You hold your old iPhone next to your new one, scan a code with the new phone's camera, and the transfer happens automatically over Wi-Fi. Most people finish in 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much data you have.

If Quick Start doesn't work — your old phone is broken, too old, or you're switching from Android — you can restore from an iCloud backup or a computer backup instead. Each method takes longer but works when Quick Start can't.

Key Takeaways

  • Quick Start is the fastest option and requires both phones to be powered on and near each other during the transfer.
  • You need your Apple ID password and the Wi-Fi network password to complete any transfer method.
  • iCloud backup works if your old phone is damaged or you're switching from Android, but requires enough iCloud storage for your data.
  • A computer backup via Mac or Windows gives you the most control and works offline, but takes longer than Quick Start.

Using Quick Start to transfer between two iPhones

Turn on your new iPhone and place it next to your old one. On the new phone, you'll see a setup screen asking if you want to set up as new or restore. Tap "Restore from iPhone" or "Transfer Directly from iPhone" (the exact wording depends on your iOS version). Your new phone will display an animated code on its screen.

Pick up your old iPhone and point its camera at the code on the new phone's screen. You don't need to take a photo — the camera will recognize the pattern automatically. Once it does, your old phone will ask you to enter your Apple ID password. Type it in, then choose whether to transfer your Apple ID settings, payment methods, and Face ID or Touch ID data.

The transfer then begins over Wi-Fi. Your new phone will download your apps, photos, messages, mail, contacts, calendars, and most settings from your old phone. Don't disconnect either phone or move them out of range until the progress bar finishes. If the transfer drops, you can restart it by holding the phones together again.

Transferring from an iCloud backup

Use this method if your old iPhone is broken, lost, or if you're switching from Android. First, make sure your old iPhone has a recent backup in iCloud. On an iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap "Back Up Now" if you haven't backed up recently. On Android, you'll need to have synced your contacts, photos, and other data to Google or another cloud service beforehand.

On your new iPhone, go through the initial setup screens until you reach "Apps & Data." Tap "Restore from iCloud Backup," then sign in with your Apple ID. Choose the backup you want to restore — usually the most recent one with today's date. The phone will download your data over Wi-Fi. This can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on your backup size and internet speed.

One limitation: iCloud backups include most data, but not everything. They don't back up photos or videos stored in iCloud Photos if you're using iCloud Photo Library, because those sync separately. They also don't include data from apps that store information only on your device and don't sync to iCloud.

Transferring via a computer backup

Connect your new iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC with a USB cable. Open Finder on Mac (or iTunes on older Windows computers), then click your iPhone's name in the sidebar. Under "Backups," select "Restore Backup," then choose the backup from your old iPhone. Enter your Apple ID password and any backup password if you encrypted the backup.

The restore process takes 20 minutes to an hour depending on your backup size. Your phone will restart during the process — this is normal. Don't disconnect the cable until the progress bar completes and your phone shows the home screen.

Computer backups are more complete than iCloud backups because they include everything stored on your phone, including cached app data and some settings that iCloud doesn't capture. The trade-off is that you need access to the computer that made the original backup, and the process is slower than Quick Start.

What transfers and what doesn't

All three methods move your apps, photos, messages, mail, contacts, calendars, reminders, notes, voice memos, and most settings. Your home screen layout, wallpapers, and app organization transfer too. Passwords stored in Keychain move with you, as do payment methods in Wallet.

Some things don't transfer automatically: text messages from Android phones (you'll need a third-party app for those), data from apps that don't sync to iCloud or your computer, and some banking or security apps that lock themselves to a specific device for safety reasons. Health data, fitness records, and HomeKit configurations usually transfer, but some apps may require you to sign in again after the transfer completes.

Troubleshooting a stuck or failed transfer

If Quick Start stalls, force-restart both phones by holding down the power button and volume button together until you see the shutdown slider, then slide to power off. Turn them back on and try again. Make sure both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network and that the network is stable — a weak or congested network is the most common reason transfers fail.

If an iCloud or computer backup restore fails partway through, your phone will usually offer to retry. If it keeps failing, check that you have enough free storage on your new phone (go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see how much space is available). You may also need to delete apps or photos on your new phone to make room for the incoming data.

If you see an error about your Apple ID or password, make sure you're using the correct password — not a saved one from your browser, but the actual password you set. If you've forgotten it, you can reset it on Apple's account recovery page before trying the transfer again.

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 can't use Quick Start or a computer backup. Your only option is an iCloud backup, which requires that you backed up before the phone stopped working. If you don't have an iCloud backup, you'll lose data from that phone, though your contacts and photos may still be recoverable through Google or another cloud service if you synced them there.

How long does a transfer usually take?

Quick Start typically takes 30 minutes to an hour. iCloud backups take 30 minutes to several hours depending on your data size and internet speed. Computer backups take 20 minutes to an hour. Larger backups and slower internet connections make any method take longer.

Do I need to keep my old iPhone after the transfer?

No, but don't erase it immediately. Wait a few days and check that everything transferred correctly — especially photos, messages, and any apps you use regularly. Once you're confident everything is there, you can erase the old phone or sell it. To erase it, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

What if I'm switching from Android to iPhone?

Quick Start won't work because Android phones don't support it. Use iCloud backup if you've synced your Android data to Google or another cloud service, or use Apple's "Move to iOS" app on your Android phone, which transfers contacts, photos, messages, and some app data. For text messages, you'll need a third-party app because Android and iPhone use different formats.

Can I transfer data to an iPhone that already has apps and photos on it?

Yes, but the restore process will overwrite everything on the new phone with data from your backup. If you have photos or apps on the new phone that aren't in your backup, they'll be deleted. Back up the new phone first if you want to keep anything that's currently on it.