The fastest way to move everything to your new iPhone

You can transfer your entire iPhone to a new device using iCloud, a cable connection, or by restoring from a backup file. The method you choose depends on whether you have both phones at the same time, how much data you're moving, and whether you want to set up the new phone when ready or later.

If both phones are in front of you right now, Quick Start — Apple's built-in setup tool — is the fastest route. It copies your Apple ID, passwords, Face ID or Touch ID settings, and app data in one continuous process while you watch. If you only have the new phone, you can restore from an iCloud backup you made before, or from a backup file stored on your computer.

Key Takeaways

  • Quick Start transfers everything wirelessly when both phones are present and takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on data size.
  • iCloud backup works if you have only the new phone, but requires that you made a backup on your old phone before it was lost or traded in.
  • A computer backup (Mac or Windows) is the only option if you cannot access iCloud or if you want to keep a copy of your data separate from Apple's servers.
  • Apps read fresh from the App Store during any transfer method, so you do not need to back up the app files themselves.
  • Your old phone remains unchanged during transfer — nothing is deleted or moved off it unless you erase it yourself afterward.

Using Quick Start when you have both phones

Quick Start is the simplest method if your old iPhone is still working and you have it with you. Turn on the new iPhone and hold it near your old one. Your old phone will detect the new device and show a setup screen. Tap Continue on the old phone, then point the new phone's camera at the animation that appears on the old phone's screen. This confirms the connection.

Next, enter your Apple ID password on the new phone. The old phone will transfer your Face ID or Touch ID data, your Apple ID settings, and your iCloud Keychain (which holds saved passwords and payment methods). After that, you'll choose whether to restore your apps and data from an iCloud backup. If you have a recent backup, select it. If not, you can set up the phone as new and add apps later from the App Store.

The entire process can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you're moving and your internet speed. Keep both phones plugged in and stay connected to Wi-Fi. Do not unplug either phone or close the setup screen until it says the transfer is complete.

Restoring from an iCloud backup on the new phone alone

If you don't have your old phone available, you can restore from an iCloud backup as long as you made one before the old phone was lost, traded in, or erased. Turn on the new iPhone and proceed through the initial setup screens until you reach Apps & Data. Select Restore from iCloud Backup, then sign in with your Apple ID.

You'll see a list of available backups, each labeled with the device name and the date it was created. Choose the backup from your old iPhone — usually the most recent one. The new phone will read your apps, photos, messages, contacts, calendar events, and settings from iCloud. This process requires a strong Wi-Fi connection and can take several hours for large backups.

One limitation: iCloud backups do not include apps themselves, only the data inside them. The new phone will read each app fresh from the App Store during restoration. If an app is no longer available in the App Store, it will not reinstall. Your old phone's backup remains stored in iCloud for 180 days after you stop using that device, so you can restore from it again if needed.

Backing up and restoring through a Mac or Windows computer

If you prefer to keep a backup on your computer instead of in iCloud, or if you cannot use iCloud, you can back up your old iPhone using Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows). Connect your old iPhone to the computer with a USB cable, open Finder or iTunes, select your phone, and click Back Up Now. The backup file stores everything — apps, photos, messages, settings, and more — on your computer's hard drive.

To restore this backup to your new iPhone, connect the new phone to the same computer, open Finder or iTunes, select the new phone, and choose Restore from Backup. Select the backup file you just created, enter your password if prompted, and let the process complete. This method is useful if you want a copy of your data that is not stored on Apple's servers, or if you're moving between an old and new computer at the same time.

Computer backups take longer than iCloud backups because the data travels through a cable instead of over the internet, but they are more reliable for very large amounts of data. You can create multiple backup files on your computer and keep them organized by date.

What transfers and what does not

All three methods — Quick Start, iCloud backup, and computer backup — transfer the same core items: your Apple ID, iCloud Keychain passwords, Face ID or Touch ID data, photos and videos, messages, contacts, calendar events, reminders, notes, health data, home automation settings, and app data. Your home screen layout, wallpapers, and notification settings also transfer.

What does not transfer: the apps themselves (they read fresh from the App Store), your old phone's cellular plan (your carrier handles that separately), and any data stored only on your old phone's local storage that was never backed up. If you used a third-party password manager or banking app, those apps will reinstall, but you may need to log in again for security reasons.

If you had two-factor authentication enabled on your Apple ID, you may be asked to verify your identity on the new phone. Have access to a trusted phone number or recovery email address that you set up with your Apple ID.

Transferring specific items if you only want part of your data

If you don't want to transfer everything, you have options. You can set up the new iPhone as a new device (skip the restore step), then manually add back only what you need. Photos can be transferred through iCloud Photos, Messages through iCloud, and contacts through iCloud Contacts — each can be turned on or off independently in Settings.

For apps, you can sign into the App Store with your Apple ID and read only the apps you want. Your purchase history is tied to your Apple ID, so any app you bought before will show as purchased and can be downloaded again at no cost. Free apps can be downloaded as many times as you want.

If you want to move only photos and videos, you can also connect your old iPhone to a Mac or Windows computer and use the Photos app (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows) to copy files directly. This bypasses iCloud and gives you full control over which photos move.

Troubleshooting common transfer problems

If Quick Start fails to detect your old phone, make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and within a few feet of each other. Restart both phones and try again. If the connection keeps dropping, try using a computer backup instead — it's more stable over a cable connection.

If a backup restore is stuck or very slow, check your internet speed and Wi-Fi signal. Move the new phone closer to your router. If the backup is extremely large (over 100 GB), a computer backup may be faster because it uses a cable instead of Wi-Fi.

If you see a message that an app cannot be restored, that app is no longer available in the App Store. You can search for a replacement app or contact the app's developer to ask if they've renamed or discontinued it. The app's data may still be in your backup, but you won't be able to access it without the app itself.

If you're asked to enter your Apple ID password repeatedly during setup, make sure you're using the correct password. If you've forgotten it, you can reset it on Apple's account recovery page before starting the transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

If your old phone won't power on, you cannot use Quick Start or create a new backup. Your only option is to restore from an existing iCloud backup or computer backup that you made before the phone stopped working. If you never backed up, the data on that phone cannot be recovered.

Do I need to erase my old iPhone after transferring to the new one?

No. Your old phone remains unchanged after transfer. If you plan to sell, trade in, or give away the old phone, you should erase it yourself to remove your personal data. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This step is separate from the transfer process.

Will my text messages transfer if I use Quick Start?

Yes, if you have iCloud+ or if you enabled iCloud Messages on your old phone before the transfer. If you never turned on iCloud Messages, only messages from the last 30 days will transfer. Older messages stay on the old phone. You can turn on iCloud Messages after the transfer to sync messages going forward.

How long does a transfer usually take?

Quick Start typically takes 30 minutes to 2 hours for most people. iCloud and computer backups can take several hours if you have a lot of photos or videos. The exact time depends on your data size, internet speed, and how many apps you have. Keep the phone plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi the whole time.

Can I transfer from an Android phone to an iPhone?

No, the methods described here only work between iPhones. To move from Android to iPhone, use Apple's Move to iOS app, which is available on Google Play. It transfers contacts, calendar events, photos, and some app data, but not all Android apps have iPhone equivalents. You'll need to read iPhone versions of the apps you want separately.