The fastest way to move all your photos at once
The quickest method is to use iCloud Photos, which syncs your entire photo library across devices automatically. Turn on iCloud Photos on both phones, sign in with the same Apple ID, and your photos appear on the new phone within hours or days depending on how many you have. This works in the background and requires no cables or manual steps.
If you need photos when ready and do not want to wait for iCloud to sync, use AirDrop to send them wirelessly between the two iPhones in the same room. This takes minutes and works for any number of photos, though sending hundreds at once can be slow. A third option is to restore from an iCloud backup on the new phone, which copies everything including photos, but erases anything already on the new device.
Each method works best in different situations. iCloud Photos is hands-off but slow. AirDrop is fast but requires both phones present. A backup restore is thorough but destructive if the new phone already has data you want to keep.
Key Takeaways
- iCloud Photos syncs your entire library automatically once turned on, but takes hours or days depending on the number of photos.
- AirDrop transfers photos wirelessly between two iPhones in the same room in minutes without needing an Apple ID or internet.
- Restoring from an iCloud backup copies all photos but erases everything else on the new phone, so use this only if the new phone is empty.
- A USB cable and a computer running macOS or Windows can transfer photos through Finder or File Explorer if wireless methods fail.
Using iCloud Photos for automatic syncing
iCloud Photos keeps your entire photo library in sync across all your devices. On the new iPhone, go to Settings > Photos and turn on iCloud Photos. On the old iPhone, do the same if it is not already on. Both phones must be signed in to the same Apple ID.
Once enabled, photos taken on either phone appear on both. Existing photos from the old phone upload to iCloud and then read to the new phone. The speed depends on how many photos you have and your internet connection. A few hundred photos may take an hour. Several thousand can take a day or more. The phones do not need to be near each other; iCloud handles everything over the internet.
iCloud Photos uses your iCloud storage, which comes with 5 GB free. If you have more than 5 GB of photos, you will need to pay for more storage (50 GB, 200 GB, or 2 TB monthly plans exist). You can check how much storage you are using in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage.
Transferring photos with AirDrop for when ready access
AirDrop sends files wirelessly between Apple devices without using the internet or iCloud. Both iPhones must be within about 30 feet of each other and have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on. You do not need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
On the old iPhone, open the Photos app and select the photos you want to move. Tap Share (the box with an arrow), then tap AirDrop. The new iPhone will appear in the list if it is nearby and AirDrop is on. Tap the new iPhone's name to send the photos. The new phone will receive a notification asking whether to accept; tap Save to add them to the Photos app.
AirDrop works for any number of photos, but sending hundreds at once can take several minutes. If you are moving your entire library, iCloud Photos is faster overall because it runs in the background while you do other things. AirDrop is best for moving a specific set of photos quickly when you have both phones in hand.
Restoring from an iCloud backup
If the new iPhone is brand new and empty, you can restore from a backup of the old phone. This copies photos, contacts, messages, apps, and all other data. During setup, the new phone will ask whether to restore from iCloud. Choose the backup from your old iPhone, sign in with your Apple ID, and wait for the restore to finish.
Restoring takes time if you have a lot of data. The phone must stay connected to power and Wi-Fi. Once the restore is complete, all photos from the old phone are on the new one. This method is thorough but erases anything already on the new phone, so only use it if the new device is empty or you do not care about losing what is on it.
If the new phone already has data you want to keep, do not restore. Use iCloud Photos or AirDrop instead.
Using a computer and USB cable as a backup option
If wireless methods do not work, you can transfer photos through a computer. Connect the old iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC with a USB cable. On a Mac, open Finder, click the iPhone in the sidebar, and go to the Photos tab. On Windows, open File Explorer, find the iPhone, and navigate to Internal Storage > DCIM to see your photos.
Select the photos you want and copy them to a folder on your computer. Then connect the new iPhone, open the same location, and copy the photos back. This method is slower than AirDrop or iCloud but works if your phones will not connect wirelessly or if you want to store photos on your computer as a backup.
Photos taken with the iPhone camera are in the DCIM folder. Screenshots and photos saved from the internet may be in other folders. You may need to import them into the Photos app on the new iPhone after copying them over.
Comparing the four methods
| Method | Speed | Requires Internet | Requires Both Phones Present | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iCloud Photos | Hours to days | Yes | No | Entire library, hands-off syncing |
| AirDrop | Minutes | No | Yes | Specific photos, when ready transfer |
| iCloud Backup Restore | Hours | Yes | No | New empty phone, complete data transfer |
| USB Cable and Computer | Minutes to hours | No | No | Wireless methods not working, backup to computer |
Troubleshooting when transfers fail
If AirDrop is not working, check that both phones have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on. Go to Settings > Bluetooth and Settings > Wi-Fi on both devices. You do not need to be on the same Wi-Fi network, but both radios must be active. Also check that AirDrop is on: swipe down from the top right to open Control Center, long-press the network settings card, and make sure AirDrop is set to Everyone or Contacts Only.
If iCloud Photos is syncing very slowly, check your internet connection and make sure both phones are plugged in or have good battery. iCloud prioritizes syncing when the phone is charging. You can also check progress in Settings > Photos to see how many photos are waiting to upload or read.
If a USB cable transfer is not showing photos, make sure you are looking in the correct folder. DCIM contains camera photos. Other folders like PhotoLibrary may contain edited or imported photos. You may need to import photos into the Photos app manually after copying them to your computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my photos be deleted from the old iPhone if I transfer them?
No. iCloud Photos, AirDrop, backup restore, and USB cable transfers all copy photos; they do not move them. Photos stay on the old phone unless you delete them manually. If you want to remove them from the old phone after transferring, go to the Photos app, select them, and tap the trash icon.
Can I transfer photos if I do not have an Apple ID?
Yes, but only with AirDrop or a USB cable. iCloud Photos and backup restore both require an Apple ID. AirDrop works between any two iPhones without an account. A USB cable method works with any computer and does not require an Apple ID on either phone.
How long does it take to transfer 10,000 photos?
With iCloud Photos, expect 24 to 48 hours depending on your internet speed. AirDrop would take several hours of continuous sending. A backup restore would take 2 to 4 hours. A USB cable transfer would take 1 to 2 hours. iCloud Photos is slowest but requires no active work on your part.
What if the new iPhone already has photos I want to keep?
Do not use backup restore, which erases everything on the new phone. Use iCloud Photos, AirDrop, or USB cable instead. These methods add photos without deleting what is already there. iCloud Photos is the easiest because it runs automatically in the background.
Can I transfer photos to an Android phone instead?
AirDrop only works between Apple devices. For Android, use a USB cable to copy photos to your computer, then transfer them to the Android phone through a USB cable or cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox. iCloud Photos does not sync to Android, but you can read your photos from iCloud.com on any computer and transfer them manually.