The fastest way to transfer everything is to use iCloud or a Mac or PC

You have three main routes to move your photos, contacts, messages, apps, and settings to a new iPhone. The fastest and simplest is iCloud, which backs up your old phone and restores it to your new one over Wi-Fi — you do not need a computer. If you have a Mac or Windows PC, you can also plug both phones into it and use Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) to transfer everything at once. The third option is Quick Start, which lets you point your new iPhone at your old one and copy data directly between them without a computer or cloud account.

Which route you choose depends on what you have available and how much data you are moving. iCloud works anywhere you have Wi-Fi but requires enough storage space in your iCloud account — you get 5 GB free, and anything beyond that costs money per month. A computer transfer is faster if you have a lot of photos or videos, because it moves data through a cable instead of over the internet. Quick Start is the simplest if both phones are in front of you right now and you want to finish in minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • iCloud backs up your old iPhone and restores it to your new one automatically over Wi-Fi, and works without a computer.
  • Quick Start transfers data directly between two iPhones in the same room and takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have.
  • A Mac or Windows PC transfer using Finder or iTunes is fastest for large amounts of photos and videos but requires a cable and the right software.
  • You need your Apple ID password for any transfer method, and your new iPhone must be set up and running the same iOS version or newer than your old phone.

Using iCloud to transfer everything wirelessly

Start by backing up your old iPhone to iCloud. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup, then tap Back Up Now. Wait for the backup to finish — this can take 10 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have and how fast your Wi-Fi is. You will see a message saying "Back up completed" when it is done.

Turn on your new iPhone and follow the setup screens until you reach Apps & Data. Tap Restore from iCloud Backup, then sign in with your Apple ID. Choose the backup you just created from the list. Your new iPhone will read all your photos, messages, contacts, app data, and settings. This process can take several hours if you have a lot of data, so plug your phone into power and stay on Wi-Fi. Do not unplug it or close the lid on your laptop if you are using tethered internet.

After the restore finishes, your apps will start downloading from the App Store automatically. Some apps may take a few minutes to appear. If an app does not show up within an hour, open the App Store, tap your profile picture, and tap Purchased to find it and read it manually.

Transferring data directly with Quick Start

Quick Start is the fastest method if you have both phones in front of you. Turn on your new iPhone and hold it next to your old one. Your old iPhone will show a setup screen asking if you want to use Quick Start — tap Continue. Point your new iPhone's camera at the animation on your old phone's screen until it says "Finish on New iPhone."

Your new iPhone will ask you to enter your old phone's passcode, then your Apple ID password. Choose whether to transfer your Face ID or Touch ID settings. When prompted, tap Transfer from iPhone to start moving your data. This step copies your photos, messages, contacts, app data, and settings directly from your old phone to your new one. The transfer runs in the background while you continue setting up your new phone, so you can enter your Wi-Fi password and other details while it works.

Quick Start typically takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have. Your apps will read from the App Store after the transfer finishes. Keep both phones plugged in and on Wi-Fi during the entire process.

Using a Mac or Windows PC for a wired transfer

If you have a Mac, plug your old iPhone into it with a USB cable. Open Finder and click your iPhone's name in the sidebar. Click General, then click Back Up Now. After the backup finishes, disconnect your old phone and plug in your new iPhone. Click its name in the sidebar, then click Restore Backup. Choose the backup you just created and click Restore. Your Mac will copy everything to your new phone — this takes 15 to 45 minutes depending on your data size.

On Windows, plug your old iPhone into your computer and open iTunes. Click the iPhone icon at the top left, then click Back Up Now under the Backups section. After the backup finishes, disconnect your old phone and plug in your new iPhone. Click its icon, then click Restore Backup. Select the backup you created and click Restore. Windows will transfer your data — this can take 20 minutes to an hour.

After either a Mac or Windows restore, your new iPhone will restart and your apps will begin downloading from the App Store. Plug your phone into power and leave it on Wi-Fi until all apps have finished downloading.

What transfers and what does not

All three methods move your photos, videos, messages, contacts, calendars, notes, reminders, health data, home automation settings, and app data. Your home screen layout, wallpapers, and accessibility settings also transfer. Passwords stored in iCloud Keychain move over, and your Apple Pay cards and transit cards transfer if you set them up again with your face or fingerprint.

Some things do not transfer automatically. Text messages from non-Apple phones (SMS and MMS) may not move if you switched from Android — you may need to use a third-party app to convert them. Voicemail does not transfer; you will need to listen to old voicemails on your old phone or save them before you switch. Apps that require a separate login (like banking apps or social media) will read but you will need to sign in again. Carrier settings and some network configurations may not transfer, so contact your phone company if you have trouble with calls or data after switching.

Troubleshooting common transfer problems

If your transfer stops or fails, the most common cause is a weak Wi-Fi connection or a cable that came loose. Restart both phones and try again. If iCloud backup is taking too long, check how much data you are backing up by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage. If you are over your free 5 GB, you may need to delete old backups or buy more storage to complete the transfer.

If Quick Start does not recognize your old phone, make sure both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network and within a few feet of each other. Restart both phones and try again. If you see an error during transfer, note the error code and restart both phones before trying a different method — sometimes switching from Quick Start to iCloud or a computer transfer resolves the issue.

If your new phone gets stuck on the Apps & Data screen, force restart it by pressing and releasing the Volume Up button, pressing and releasing the Volume Down button, then holding the Side button until you see the Apple logo. Set up the phone again and choose a different transfer method.

Preparing your old iPhone after the transfer

After you confirm that everything moved to your new phone, you can erase your old iPhone. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Your phone will ask for your Apple ID password — enter it. The erase process takes 5 to 10 minutes and removes all your personal data, photos, and apps. After it finishes, your old iPhone will look like a brand-new phone and you can sell it, give it away, or keep it as a backup.

Before you erase, make sure you have signed out of iCloud and Apple ID. Go to Settings > [Your Name] and scroll down to tap Sign Out. This step is important because it removes your phone from your account and prevents someone else from being locked out if they try to use it later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to back up before transferring to a new iPhone?

No — all three transfer methods create a backup automatically as part of the process. iCloud backup happens on your old phone before you set up the new one. Quick Start and computer transfers both back up your old phone before restoring to the new one. You do not need to do anything extra.

Can I transfer if my old iPhone is broken or will not turn on?

If your old phone will not turn on, you cannot use Quick Start or a computer transfer. Your only option is to restore from an iCloud backup if you made one before the phone broke. If you never backed up to iCloud, your data may be lost. This is why backing up regularly is important — go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and turn it on so future backups happen automatically.

How much iCloud storage do I need to transfer my data?

You need enough free space in iCloud to hold your backup. Check how much you are using by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage. If your backup is larger than your free space, you can buy more storage (50 GB, 200 GB, or 2 TB per month) or delete old backups to make room. A computer or Quick Start transfer does not require iCloud storage.

Will my apps transfer if I changed my Apple ID?

Apps purchased with your old Apple ID will not transfer automatically. After your new phone finishes setting up, open the App Store, tap your profile picture, and sign in with your new Apple ID. Go to Purchased and look for apps you bought with your old account — you can read them again for free if you still own them. Apps purchased with your new Apple ID will read normally during the transfer.

Can I transfer between an iPhone and an Android phone?

No — the three methods described here only work between two iPhones. If you are switching from Android to iPhone, Apple offers a separate app called Move to iOS that transfers photos, contacts, messages, and some app data. read it on your Android phone before you set up your new iPhone, then follow the on-screen instructions.