Moving your data, apps, and service to a new iPhone

You can move everything from your old iPhone to a new one using iCloud, a computer, or by setting up the new phone next to the old one. Apple's built-in tools handle your photos, messages, contacts, and app data automatically. The fastest method is usually Quick Start, which lets you point your new iPhone at your old one and copy everything wirelessly. If you're switching phone numbers or carriers, you'll need to contact your service provider separately — transferring the phone itself doesn't move your cellular plan.

Each method has a trade-off. Quick Start is fastest but requires both phones in the same room. iCloud backup works if you don't have both phones at once, but it depends on your internet connection. Computer backup is useful if your Wi-Fi is slow or you want to keep a copy on your computer, but it takes longer than Quick Start. All three methods preserve your apps, photos, messages, and settings — the choice is mainly about what's convenient for your situation.

Key Takeaways

  • Quick Start is the fastest way to transfer data: turn on your new iPhone, hold it near your old one, and follow the on-screen prompts to copy everything wirelessly in 30 minutes to a few hours.
  • iCloud backup works if you don't have both phones at once — back up your old iPhone, then restore from that backup on the new one using your Apple ID.
  • Your cellular service and phone number stay with your carrier, not your phone; you must contact them separately to move service to the new device.
  • Apps and their data transfer automatically if you sign in with the same Apple ID on both phones.
  • Photos, messages, and contacts all move with your backup, but verify important data arrived before you erase the old phone.

Using Quick Start to transfer everything at once

Quick Start is Apple's fastest transfer method and requires both phones in the same room. Turn on your new iPhone and place it next to your old one. Your old iPhone will recognize the new one and show a setup screen. Hold your old iPhone over the new one's camera until a blue circle appears on the new phone's screen, then follow the prompts to complete the transfer.

The new iPhone will ask you to enter your Apple ID password and, if you use Face ID or Touch ID, to set up biometric authentication. After that, it will copy your apps, photos, messages, contacts, calendar events, and app settings from the old phone. The transfer can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have and your Wi-Fi speed. Keep both phones plugged in and close to each other during the process. Don't interrupt the transfer or move the phones apart until it finishes.

Backing up to iCloud and restoring on the new phone

If you don't have both phones available at the same time, back up your old iPhone to iCloud first. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select iCloud, then tap iCloud Backup. Turn on iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now. This uploads your data to Apple's servers and can take 15 minutes to an hour depending on file size and connection speed. Make sure you're connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in while the backup runs.

When you set up your new iPhone, you'll see a screen asking how you want to restore. Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup," sign in with your Apple ID, and select the backup you just created. The new phone will download your data, apps, photos, and settings. This method works well if you're upgrading weeks or months after your old phone stops working, but the backup only includes data that was synced to iCloud — some app data may not transfer if the app doesn't use iCloud storage.

Transferring data using a computer

You can also back up to a Mac or Windows PC using iTunes or Finder. Connect your old iPhone to the computer with a USB cable. On a Mac with macOS Catalina or newer, open Finder and select your iPhone from the sidebar. On Windows or older Mac, open iTunes. Click the phone icon, select "Back Up Now," and wait for the backup to complete. The backup usually takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have.

When you're ready to set up the new iPhone, connect it to the same computer. In Finder or iTunes, select the new phone and choose "Restore from Backup." Pick the backup you just created and let the computer transfer your data. This method is useful if you have a slow internet connection or want to keep a copy of your data on your computer, but it's slower than Quick Start or iCloud for most people. Computer backup also doesn't require Wi-Fi, which can be helpful if your internet is unreliable.

Moving your phone number and cellular service

Your phone number and cellular plan belong to your carrier, not to your iPhone. Transferring to a new phone means telling your carrier to activate service on the new device's SIM card or eSIM. Contact your carrier — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or your regional provider — and tell them you have a new phone. They'll either mail you a new SIM card or activate an eSIM over the phone, which takes a few minutes. You can do this before or after you transfer your data.

If you're keeping the same carrier and phone number, this is usually a quick call or online chat. If you're switching carriers, you'll need to request a port authorization code (PAC) from your old carrier and give it to the new one. The new carrier will handle moving your number, which typically takes 24 hours. During the transfer, you may lose service for a few minutes. Keep your old phone powered on until the new carrier confirms the transfer is complete, so you can receive any verification codes or calls.

What doesn't transfer automatically

Most of your personal data transfers, but some things don't. Text messages from third-party apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal don't transfer unless those apps have their own backup feature — check each app's settings for backup options. Banking apps and two-factor authentication codes may need to be set up again on the new phone. Voicemail settings don't transfer; contact your carrier to set up voicemail on the new device.

Some older apps may not restore if they're no longer available in the App Store. If an app is missing after transfer, search the App Store for it — if it's still there, download it again and sign in. Your app data usually restores automatically if you sign in with the same account. Passwords stored in iCloud Keychain do transfer, but passwords saved only in individual apps may require you to sign in again. Take note of any apps you use regularly so you can check them after the transfer completes.

Verifying your data arrived and erasing the old phone

Before you erase your old iPhone, spend a few minutes checking that everything transferred correctly. Open your Photos app and scroll through recent photos. Check that your contacts appear in the Contacts app. Open a few apps you use regularly and confirm your settings are there. Send yourself a text message to verify messaging works. This takes 10 minutes and can save you from losing data you didn't realize was missing.

Once you've confirmed everything is on the new phone, you can erase the old one. Go to Settings, select General, tap Transfer or Reset, and choose Erase All Content and Settings. This wipes the phone completely and removes it from your Apple ID account. If you're selling or recycling the old phone, this step is important for privacy. If you're keeping it as a backup, you can skip this step, but remember that it will still be linked to your Apple ID unless you sign out first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Wi-Fi to transfer my iPhone?

Quick Start and iCloud backup both need Wi-Fi. Quick Start uses a local connection between the two phones, while iCloud backup uploads to Apple's servers. Computer backup doesn't need Wi-Fi — the USB cable handles the data transfer. If your Wi-Fi is slow, computer backup or Quick Start may be faster.

Can I transfer my iPhone if my old phone is broken?

If your old phone won't turn on, you can't use Quick Start. If you have an iCloud backup from before it broke, restore from that backup on the new phone. If you don't have a backup, your photos and messages won't transfer, but your contacts and calendar may sync if they were saved to iCloud. Contact your carrier to move your phone number to the new device.

Will my old iPhone still work after I transfer everything?

Yes. Your old iPhone will still have all its data until you erase it. You can use it as a backup device, give it to someone else, or sell it. If you erase it, all data is removed. If you don't erase it, it will still be linked to your Apple ID, which can cause confusion if you try to use it later.

What if the transfer stops halfway through?

If Quick Start disconnects, start over from the beginning — your new phone will pick up where it left off if you use the same backup. If iCloud backup is interrupted, reconnect to Wi-Fi and tap Back Up Now again; iCloud will resume the backup. Computer backups can usually resume if you reconnect the phone and try again.

Do I need to sign out of my old phone before transferring?

No. Quick Start and iCloud backup handle sign-out automatically. Your old phone will be removed from your Apple ID account once the transfer completes. If you're using computer backup, you can sign out manually before erasing, but it's not required.