How to Transfer Your iPhone to a New Phone

The fastest way to move everything to a new iPhone

The quickest method is Quick Start, Apple's built-in transfer tool. Turn on your new iPhone next to your old one, hold them close together, and follow the on-screen prompts. Your new phone will scan a code from your old one and begin copying your data — apps, photos, messages, settings, and passwords — over Wi-Fi. This takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have, and you need both phones charged and nearby during the process.

If Quick Start doesn't work or you prefer not to use it, you can restore from an iCloud backup instead. This works even if your old iPhone is no longer in your hands. You'll need your Apple ID password and a Wi-Fi connection on the new phone. The transfer happens in the background after initial setup, so you can use your new phone while it restores.

A third option is restoring from a computer backup using a Mac or Windows PC with iTunes or Finder. This is slower than the other two methods but gives you the most control over what transfers and when.

Key Takeaways

Quick Start is the fastest method if you have both phones together — it copies everything wirelessly in one process without needing a computer.
iCloud backup works if your old phone is gone or you prefer not to have both phones present, but requires your Apple ID password and Wi-Fi.
Computer backup via Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) is the slowest option but lets you choose exactly what transfers and restore to a specific point in time.
Your Apple ID, iCloud password, and two-factor authentication codes are required for any transfer method to work properly.
Apps and data begin transferring immediately, but large backups can take several hours to fully restore depending on file size and internet speed.

Using Quick Start when you have both phones

Quick Start is the method most people should use because it's the fastest and requires no computer. Turn on your new iPhone and place it next to your old one. Your old iPhone will detect the new phone and show a setup screen. Tap "Continue" on the old phone, then hold it above the new phone's camera until a viewfinder appears on the new phone's screen. Your old phone will display an animated pattern — keep it steady until the new phone finishes scanning it.

Next, enter your old iPhone's passcode on the new phone when prompted. The new phone will then ask for your Apple ID password. Enter it, and agree to the terms. At this point, data transfer begins. Your new phone will copy your iCloud data, app data, photos, messages, contacts, calendar events, and settings. Keep both phones plugged in and close together during this process — don't put them in different rooms or turn off Wi-Fi.

Once the initial transfer completes, your new phone will download your apps from the App Store. This happens in the background and can take hours if you have many apps or a slow internet connection. You can use your new phone while this happens, but apps won't be fully ready until they finish downloading.

Restoring from iCloud backup without your old phone

If your old iPhone is broken, sold, or no longer available, you can restore from an iCloud backup. During setup on your new iPhone, you'll reach a screen that says "Apps & Data." Tap "Restore from iCloud Backup," then sign in with your Apple ID. You'll see a list of available backups — choose the most recent one. The new phone will begin downloading your data over Wi-Fi.

This method requires that you backed up your old phone to iCloud before losing access to it. If you never turned on iCloud backup, this option won't work. You can check whether a backup exists by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup on any device where you're signed in with that Apple ID, or by visiting iCloud.com in a web browser.

The restore process happens in stages. Your settings, photos, and basic data download first so you can start using the phone. Apps and their data download afterward in the background. A full restore from iCloud can take several hours, especially if you have thousands of photos or a large app library.

Using a computer backup with Finder or iTunes

On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, connect your new iPhone with a USB cable and open Finder. Click your iPhone in the sidebar, then click "Restore." On a Windows PC, open iTunes, connect your iPhone, and click the device icon, then "Restore iPhone." Both will ask you to choose a backup file from your old iPhone. Select the most recent backup and click "Restore."

Your computer will copy the backup to your new iPhone. This process is encrypted and can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on backup size. Keep your iPhone connected and don't interrupt the process. Once it finishes, your new phone will restart and show your old phone's data, apps, and settings.

Computer backup is useful if you want to restore to a specific backup from weeks or months ago, or if you have a very large backup that's faster to transfer over USB than over Wi-Fi. It's also the only method that works if you don't have an internet connection strong enough for iCloud or Quick Start.

What transfers and what doesn't

All three methods copy your photos, videos, messages, contacts, calendar events, notes, reminders, health data, and home automation settings. Your apps download from the App Store, and their data restores alongside them. Your Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth pairings, and Face ID or Touch ID settings transfer as well. Wallpapers, ringtones, and custom keyboard settings move over too.

Some things don't transfer: your old phone's carrier settings, certain banking apps that require re-authentication, and some apps that store data outside of iCloud. A few apps from the App Store may not be available in your country or may have been removed since you last used them — those won't restore. Your voicemail doesn't transfer; you'll need to set that up again with your carrier.

If you're switching from Android to iPhone, none of these methods work. You'll need to use Apple's "Move to iOS" app on your Android phone, which transfers contacts, messages, photos, and some app data, but not everything. Most people moving from Android end up manually re-downloading apps and re-entering passwords.

Troubleshooting when transfer fails or stalls

If Quick Start stops responding, restart both phones and try again. Make sure both are on the same Wi-Fi network and that Wi-Fi is working — Quick Start won't work on cellular data. If your new phone says "Unable to Complete Setup," your old phone may have lost connection. Move them closer together and ensure your old phone's Wi-Fi hasn't disconnected.

If an iCloud restore stalls, check your internet speed. A slow connection can cause timeouts. Disconnect and reconnect to Wi-Fi, or move closer to your router. If the backup itself is missing or corrupted, you'll see an error message during restore. In that case, you can set up your new phone as new and manually download your apps, then sign into each one with your Apple ID to recover app-specific data.

For computer backups, make sure your Mac or PC has enough free storage space for the backup file — at least as much space as the backup itself. If iTunes or Finder says the backup is corrupted, try creating a new backup from your old phone first, then restore from that new backup instead.

Preparing your old phone after transfer

Once your new iPhone is set up and working, you should erase your old phone before selling it, giving it away, or recycling it. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your passcode and Apple ID password when prompted. This removes all your personal data and returns the phone to factory settings. It takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how much data was on the phone.

If you're keeping your old iPhone as a backup, you can leave it as is. Just make sure you're not paying for two cellular plans if you had one. Contact your carrier to remove the old phone from your account or switch it to Wi-Fi only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Wi-Fi for Quick Start to work?

Yes. Quick Start uses Wi-Fi to transfer your data. Both phones must be on the same network. If your Wi-Fi is slow or unstable, the transfer may fail or take much longer than expected. A wired connection on your router or moving closer to it usually helps.

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

If your old phone won't power on, you can't use Quick Start. Your only option is iCloud backup, which works if you previously backed up that phone to iCloud. If you never enabled iCloud backup, your data may be lost. You can check for an iCloud backup by signing into iCloud.com with your Apple ID.

How long does a full transfer take?

Quick Start typically takes 30 minutes to 2 hours for the initial transfer, then several more hours for apps to download in the background. iCloud restore takes 1 to 4 hours depending on backup size and internet speed. Computer backup is usually fastest, taking 30 minutes to 1 hour for the transfer itself, though apps still download afterward.

Will my text messages transfer to the new phone?

Yes, all three transfer methods copy your text messages, iMessages, and group chats. However, very old messages may not transfer if they were deleted from iCloud. Messages stored only on your old phone transfer via Quick Start or computer backup, but not via iCloud if they weren't synced.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password?

You'll need to reset it before transferring. Go to iforgot.apple.com on any computer or phone, enter your Apple ID email, and follow the recovery steps. You can also reset it during iPhone setup by tapping "Forgot passcode or Apple ID?" on the setup screen. The reset process takes a few minutes and may require access to a recovery email or phone number.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.