How to Transfer Everything from an Old iPhone to a New iPhone

To move everything from your old iPhone to a new one, turn on the new iPhone and set it next to the old one. A Set Up New iPhone card appears on the old phone; tap Continue, scan the animation that shows up on the new phone, and follow the prompts. When asked how to transfer your data, choose to transfer directly from your old iPhone or download from iCloud.

This is Apple’s Quick Start. It copies your apps, settings, photos, messages, accounts and Home Screen layout. It only works while the new iPhone is still at its setup screens, both phones need Bluetooth on, and your old iPhone needs iOS 11 or later. If you already finished setting up the new phone, you’ll need to erase it first (covered below).

Which transfer method should you use?

Quick Start offers two ways to move your data, and Apple supports a wired option and a computer backup as well.

Method	Best for	Trade-off
Quick Start, direct from iPhone	Getting a complete copy without depending on iCloud storage or internet speed	You can’t use either phone until the transfer ends
Quick Start, download from iCloud	Using the new phone right away	Apps and data keep downloading in the background, so it needs a recent iCloud backup and good Wi-Fi
Wired (cable between phones)	Slow or crowded Wi-Fi	Needs the right cable or adapter for your two models
Mac or PC backup	No iCloud space and no old phone handy at setup time	Requires a computer and a recent backup

For most people, a direct transfer is the most complete and least fussy option. Pick iCloud if you need the new phone working immediately and your iCloud backup is current.

Before you start

• Update the old iPhone. Apple recommends having both devices on the latest iOS version. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
• Back up the old iPhone. A fresh backup is your safety net if the transfer fails. See how to back up an iPhone to iCloud.
• Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on the old iPhone.
• Have your Apple Account password and your old iPhone’s passcode ready.
• Plug in both phones or make sure they’re well charged. A large transfer can run for an hour or more.
• If you wear an Apple Watch, update it and keep it on your wrist, unlocked, so the new iPhone can offer to take it over.

How to transfer your data with Quick Start

1. Unlock your old iPhone and go to the Home Screen.
2. Turn on the new iPhone and place it next to the old one.
3. On the old iPhone, check that the Set Up New iPhone card shows the Apple Account you want to use, then tap Continue. If the card doesn’t appear, make sure Bluetooth is on.

4. When an animation appears on the new iPhone, hold the old iPhone over it and center the animation in the viewfinder. If you can’t use the camera, choose the option to authenticate manually instead.
5. When asked, enter your old iPhone’s passcode on the new iPhone.
6. Connect the new iPhone to Wi-Fi or your cellular network.
7. Activate your cellular service if you’re prompted. With an eSIM, you can usually move your number over at this point.
8. Set up Face ID or Touch ID. Your face or fingerprint doesn’t transfer, so you’ll scan it again here.
9. On the Transfer Your Data screen, choose to transfer directly from your old iPhone, or pick the iCloud option to download your most recent backup.

10. Accept the terms and choose whether to carry over settings such as Apple Pay, Siri and location. Some screens only appear on certain models or iOS versions.
11. Keep both phones next to each other and plugged in until the transfer finishes. The new iPhone shows a progress bar and an estimated time remaining.

When the new iPhone restarts to its Lock Screen, the transfer is done. If you chose iCloud, apps and photos keep downloading for a while afterward; leave the phone on Wi-Fi and power overnight to let it catch up.

Transfer with a cable instead

If Wi-Fi is slow, you can connect the two phones directly. Apple’s wired transfer instructions list the right connection for each pair:

• iPhone 15 or later to iPhone 15 or later: a USB-C charge cable.
• iPhone 14 or earlier to iPhone 15 or later: a USB-C to Lightning cable.
• iPhone 14 or earlier to iPhone 14 or earlier: a Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter connected to power (12W or higher), plus a Lightning to USB cable.

Plug the phones together, turn on the new one, and follow the same prompts as above.

Already set up the new iPhone? Here’s how to start over

Quick Start and backup restores only appear during setup. If you’ve already skipped past them, erase the new iPhone to get back to the Hello screen.

Warning: Erasing removes everything on the new iPhone. Only do this if nothing on it needs saving, such as photos you’ve taken since you unboxed it.

1. On the new iPhone, open Settings > General.
2. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Tap Erase All Content and Settings and confirm.
4. When the Hello screen appears, start the Quick Start steps above.

Don’t have enough iCloud storage? Use Prepare for New iPhone

If your iCloud plan is too small for a full backup, Apple gives you temporary free iCloud storage for moving to a new device. Do this on the old iPhone before the new one arrives:

1. Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
2. Under Prepare for New iPhone, tap Get Started.

3. If iCloud Backup is off, tap Turn On Backup to Transfer, then tap Continue and follow the prompts.

According to Apple’s temporary iCloud storage page, you then have 21 days to restore that backup to the new phone, and you can ask for 21 more days if the new iPhone hasn’t arrived. After you restore it, the temporary backup is kept for 7 more days, then deleted.

Check these things before you erase the old iPhone

Most data moves over, but a few things need attention on the new phone. Keep the old iPhone intact until you’ve checked:

• Your phone number works. Make a call and send a text. If service didn’t move, see how to transfer an eSIM to a new iPhone or contact your carrier.
• Apple Pay cards. Open Wallet. You may need to add cards again or verify them with your bank.
• Banking and two-factor apps. Open each one and sign in. Many authenticator apps need their own export or account sign-in, so don’t delete them from the old phone until codes work on the new one.
• Messages and photos. Scroll back through a few old conversations and albums.
• Apple Watch. If the new iPhone didn’t offer to take over your watch, or asks you to start pairing from scratch, follow our guide to pairing an Apple Watch with an iPhone.

Once everything checks out, you can erase the old iPhone for trade-in, which also signs it out of Find My and removes Activation Lock.

What to do if Quick Start stalls or fails

• No Set Up New iPhone card: turn Bluetooth on, unlock the old phone, and move the phones closer together.
• Transfer stuck at the same estimate: give it time; large libraries can take hours. If there’s no progress at all, restart both phones and try again, or use a cable.
• Asked to update iOS during setup: a new iPhone sometimes needs to update before it can restore a backup made on newer software. Let the update install, then continue.
• Work or school iPhone: Apple says Quick Start can’t be used for data transfer if either phone is enrolled in Apple School Manager or Apple Business. Ask your IT team.

Common questions

How long does transferring to a new iPhone take?

It depends on how much data you have and your connection. Apple only says the time varies with network conditions and the amount of data. A lightly used phone can finish in well under an hour, while a large photo library can take several hours. The new iPhone shows an estimate on screen.

Do my apps transfer, and do I have to sign in again?

Your apps and their data come over, but some apps, especially banking, streaming and messaging apps, ask you to sign in again or verify with a code for security.

Can I use Quick Start with an iPhone that runs an older iOS?

Yes, as long as the old iPhone runs iOS 11 or later. Updating it first reduces the chance of errors.