The fastest way to move everything to a new iPhone

You can transfer your data to a new iPhone using iCloud, a cable connection, or by setting up the new phone next to your old one and letting them communicate wirelessly. The wireless method — called Quick Start — is the fastest for most people and requires nothing but both phones and your Apple ID password. If you have a lot of photos or videos, or if your internet is slow, a cable transfer through a computer may be more reliable.

The method you choose depends on whether you have a computer available, how much data you're moving, and whether your old phone still works. All three routes preserve your apps, settings, photos, messages, and contacts — but they work differently and take different amounts of time.

Key Takeaways

  • Quick Start (wireless, phone-to-phone) is the fastest method for most people and requires only your Apple ID password and both phones in the same room.
  • iCloud backup works if your old phone is broken or far away, but requires a strong internet connection and takes longer than Quick Start.
  • A cable transfer through a Mac or Windows computer is most reliable for large amounts of data and works even if your old phone won't turn on.
  • Your Apple ID password is required for all methods, and you should know it before you start.
  • After transfer completes, your new phone will have the same apps, photos, messages, and settings as your old one, though some apps may need to be re-signed into.

Quick Start: The wireless phone-to-phone transfer

Quick Start is the method Apple designed for this moment. Turn on your new iPhone and place it next to your old one. Your old phone will detect the new one and show a setup screen. Hold your old phone over the new one's camera so it can read the animation on the new screen. This takes about 10 seconds.

After the camera scan, your old phone will ask for your Apple ID password. Enter it, then choose whether to use the same settings (recommended for most people) or customize them. Your old phone will then begin sending your data wirelessly to the new one. This step takes anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, depending on how much data you have and your Wi-Fi speed. Keep both phones plugged in and close to each other until the transfer finishes.

Quick Start transfers your apps, photos, messages, contacts, calendar, notes, health data, home automation settings, and most of your phone's configuration. Some apps — particularly banking apps and apps that store passwords — may ask you to sign in again after the transfer completes. This is normal and a security feature.

iCloud backup: When your old phone isn't available

If your old iPhone is broken, lost, or too far away to use Quick Start, you can restore from an iCloud backup instead. This requires that you backed up your old phone to iCloud before it stopped working. To check whether a backup exists, go to iCloud.com on a computer or another device, sign in with your Apple ID, and look for your old phone's name in the account settings.

During setup of your new iPhone, you'll see a screen that says "Apps & Data." Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup," then sign in with your Apple ID. Select the backup from your old phone. The new phone will download your data from iCloud, which can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on file size and internet speed. Your phone will need to stay connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in during this process.

iCloud backup restores everything Quick Start does, but it's slower because the data has to travel from Apple's servers rather than directly from your old phone. If you have a lot of photos or videos, or if your internet connection is unreliable, this method can stall partway through. If it does, you can usually resume by connecting to Wi-Fi and plugging in again.

Cable transfer through a computer

If you have a Mac or Windows computer, you can connect both iPhones with cables and transfer data directly. This method is most reliable for large amounts of data because it doesn't depend on Wi-Fi. On a Mac, use the Finder; on Windows, use iTunes or the newer Windows app called "Apple Devices." Connect your old iPhone first, select it in the app, and choose "Back Up Now." Then connect your new iPhone, select it, and choose "Restore from Backup," then pick the backup you just created.

The transfer speed depends on the cables and your computer's speed, but it's usually faster than iCloud for large files. This method also works if your old phone won't turn on — as long as it can be recognized by the computer, the backup can proceed. After the backup and restore finish, disconnect both phones and continue with the normal setup process on your new phone.

What happens to your apps and accounts after transfer

All three transfer methods move your app icons and app data to your new phone, but they don't always move your login sessions. Apps like Mail, Messages, and social media apps will usually stay signed in. Apps that handle sensitive information — banking apps, password managers, two-factor authentication apps — typically require you to sign in again. This is intentional; these apps are designed to log out when you switch devices for security reasons.

If an app doesn't appear on your new phone after transfer, it may have been removed from the App Store or may not be compatible with your new phone's iOS version. You can reinstall it manually from the App Store. If you had subscriptions through apps (like a streaming service or fitness app), those subscriptions transfer with your Apple ID, but you may need to open the app and sign in to use them.

Troubleshooting a transfer that's stuck or slow

If Quick Start or iCloud transfer seems frozen, check that both phones are still connected to Wi-Fi and that neither has gone to sleep. Restart both phones and try again. If you're using iCloud and the transfer keeps stopping, try connecting to a different Wi-Fi network or moving closer to your router. For cable transfers, try a different USB cable or USB port on your computer.

If the transfer fails completely, you can start over. Erase your new phone (Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings) and begin the transfer process again. You won't lose anything because the data hasn't been fully transferred yet. If you're still having trouble after a second attempt, try the cable method instead — it's more stable than wireless transfers for large amounts of data.

Verifying your transfer is complete

After your new phone finishes transferring data, check a few things to make sure everything came through. Open Photos and scroll through your library to confirm your pictures and videos are there. Check Messages to see if your text conversations appear. Open Settings and verify that your Wi-Fi networks are listed and that your Apple ID is signed in. Try opening a few of your most-used apps to confirm they're there and working.

If you notice an app is missing, you can download it again from the App Store using your Apple ID — you won't be charged again for paid apps. If you notice that some photos or videos are missing, they may still be downloading in the background. Leave your phone plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi for a few more hours to let the transfer finish completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know my Apple ID password before I start?

Yes. All three transfer methods require your Apple ID password at some point. If you don't remember it, you can reset it at iforgot.apple.com before you begin. Have your password ready before you start the transfer process.

Can I use my old iPhone while the transfer is happening?

Not during Quick Start — both phones need to stay close and connected. If you're using iCloud or a cable transfer, your old phone can be used normally. The transfer happens in the background on your new phone.

What if my old phone is completely dead and won't turn on?

If you have a cable and a computer, you can still create a backup from the dead phone — sometimes the phone will charge enough to be recognized. If that doesn't work, you can only restore from an iCloud backup if one exists. If no backup exists, your data cannot be recovered.

Will my text messages and iMessages transfer?

Yes, all three methods transfer your entire Messages app, including text messages, iMessages, and group chats. The transfer includes message history, photos sent in messages, and conversation threads.

Do I need to cancel my old phone's service before transferring?

No. The data transfer has nothing to do with your phone service. You can transfer data first, then contact your carrier to move your phone number to the new phone. Keep your old phone until you've confirmed everything transferred correctly.