The fastest way to move everything over

Apple's Quick Start feature copies your apps, settings, photos, messages, and passwords from your old iPhone to your new one in a single process. You hold the two phones next to each other, scan a code on the new phone with the old one, and let them talk to each other over Wi-Fi. This takes 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much data you have, and it moves nearly everything without you typing anything twice.

If Quick Start does not work — because your old phone is too old, or the phones are far apart — you can restore from an iCloud backup instead. This is slower but works the same way: your new phone downloads your data from Apple's servers and sets itself up. Either path is better than setting up manually, because you will not forget accounts or lose settings.

The one thing Quick Start and iCloud backups do not move is your phone number and cellular plan. Your carrier handles that separately, and you may need to call them or visit a store to switch your number to the new phone. Some carriers do this automatically when you set up the new phone; others require you to ask.

Key Takeaways

  • Quick Start is the fastest method: hold your old and new iPhones together, scan a code, and let them sync over Wi-Fi for 30 minutes to a few hours.
  • If Quick Start fails, restore from an iCloud backup by signing into your Apple ID on the new phone and choosing the backup you want.
  • Your phone number and cellular service are separate from your data and require a call or visit to your carrier to transfer.
  • Before you start, charge both phones to at least 50 percent battery and make sure your old phone is backed up to iCloud.
  • Apps that use two-factor authentication may ask you to sign in again on the new phone, even though your password moved over.

Using Quick Start to move everything at once

Turn on your new iPhone and place it next to your old one. The old phone will show a notification asking if you want to set up the new device. Tap "Continue" and hold the new phone's camera up to the animation on the old phone's screen. The old phone will scan the code and begin the handoff.

You will be asked to enter your Apple ID password on the new phone. This is the password for your iCloud account, not your phone's lock code. If you do not remember it, you can reset it on Apple's website before you start, or use your old phone to reset it during setup. After you enter the password, the new phone will read your iCloud backup and begin copying your apps and data.

While the transfer is happening, keep both phones plugged in and close to each other. Do not use either phone. The process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on how many apps and photos you have. When it finishes, your new phone will restart and show your home screen with all your apps in the same places they were on the old phone.

Restoring from iCloud backup if Quick Start does not work

If your old iPhone is too old to use Quick Start, or if the phones cannot connect, you can restore from a backup stored in iCloud instead. Turn on your new iPhone and go through the setup screens until you reach "Apps & Data." Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup."

Sign in with your Apple ID and password. You will see a list of backups — usually labeled with the phone model and the date it was made. Choose the most recent backup from your old phone. The new phone will read it and set itself up. This takes longer than Quick Start because the data comes from Apple's servers instead of directly from your old phone, but it moves the same things: apps, photos, messages, contacts, and settings.

If you do not see a recent backup, it means your old phone was never backed up to iCloud, or the backup is too old. In that case, you can set up the new phone manually and then use individual apps to recover what you can — for example, signing into your email app to read old messages, or using Google Photos to restore photos you uploaded.

What moves and what does not

Quick Start and iCloud backups move your apps, app data, photos, videos, messages, contacts, calendar events, notes, reminders, health data, home automation settings, and your lock screen customizations. They also move your saved Wi-Fi passwords and your Apple ID sign-in, so you do not have to type those again.

What does not move: your phone number, your cellular plan, your carrier's apps or settings, and any data stored only on your old phone's storage (not in iCloud). Some banking apps and security apps may not restore their data because they store it in a locked part of the phone for safety. You will need to sign into those apps again on the new phone.

Your Apple Watch, if you have one, will not automatically pair with the new phone. After your new iPhone is set up, go to the Watch app, unpair the old phone, and then pair the watch to the new phone. This takes a few minutes and moves your watch settings and apps.

Signing in to accounts and two-factor authentication

Most of your passwords move over with Quick Start or iCloud backup, so apps will sign you in automatically. However, apps that use two-factor authentication — a security feature that requires a code from a text message or an authenticator app — may ask you to sign in again. This is intentional: the app is checking that you really own the new phone.

If an app asks you to verify your identity, look for a "Verify" or "Confirm" button in the app itself, or check your email for a sign-in link. Some apps will text a code to your old phone number; if you have already switched your number to the new phone, you will receive it on the new phone instead. If you have not switched your number yet, you may need to do that first, or use a backup verification method like an authenticator app or a recovery code.

Before you switch your phone number, write down which apps use two-factor authentication. Common ones are email, banking, social media, and password managers. Sign into each one on your new phone and make sure you can receive verification codes before you call your carrier to move your number.

Transferring your phone number and cellular service

Your phone number and cellular plan are managed by your carrier — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or another company — not by Apple. Moving your number to the new phone is a separate step from moving your data.

Some carriers set up the new phone automatically when you insert the SIM card or when you turn on the phone and connect to Wi-Fi. Others require you to call customer service or visit a store. Check your carrier's website or call their customer service number to find out what you need to do. Have your account number and the phone number you want to transfer ready.

If you are switching carriers entirely — moving from Verizon to T-Mobile, for example — the process is more involved. You will need to contact the new carrier and ask them to port your number. They will handle contacting your old carrier. This can take a few hours to a few days. During the transfer, you may not be able to make calls or texts, so plan for this if you need your phone for work.

Backing up your old phone before you start

Before you touch your new phone, make sure your old phone has a recent backup in iCloud. This is your safety net: if something goes wrong during the transfer, you can restore from this backup. Open Settings on your old phone, tap your name at the top, then tap "iCloud." Scroll down and tap "iCloud Backup."

Tap "Back Up Now" and wait for the backup to finish. This can take 10 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have. Your phone will show a progress bar. Do not close Settings or lock your phone while the backup is running. When it finishes, you will see the date and time of the backup.

If you have a lot of photos or videos, iCloud backup may run out of storage. Apple gives you 5 GB free; beyond that, you pay for more. If you are out of space, delete old photos from your phone, or buy more iCloud storage before you back up. You can also use a computer to back up instead: connect your old phone to a Mac or Windows PC with a cable, open Finder or iTunes, and click "Back Up Now."

What to do if something goes wrong

If Quick Start stops halfway through, unplug both phones, wait a minute, and try again. Make sure both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network and that you are holding them close together. If it keeps failing, restart both phones and try once more.

If your new phone gets stuck on a setup screen, force restart it by pressing and releasing the volume up button, pressing and releasing the volume down button, then pressing and holding the side button until the Apple logo appears. Let go and wait for the phone to restart. Then try the setup again.

If you completed the setup but an app is not working or a photo is missing, check that your new phone has finished downloading everything from iCloud. Go to Settings, tap your name, tap "iCloud," and look at the storage meter at the top. If it shows "Optimizing," wait a few hours for the process to finish. If a specific app is broken, delete it and read it again from the App Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Quick Start if my old iPhone is much older?

Quick Start works on iPhones from iPhone XS and newer. If your old phone is older than that, use iCloud backup instead. Both methods move the same data; Quick Start is just faster because it transfers directly between phones instead of going through Apple's servers.

What if I do not remember my Apple ID password?

Go to iforgot.apple.com on a computer or another phone and enter your Apple ID email address. Apple will send you a link to reset your password. You can do this before you start the transfer, or during setup on your new phone — the setup screens include a link to reset your password if you get it wrong.

Will my text messages and iMessages move to the new phone?

Yes, if they are backed up to iCloud. Go to Settings on your old phone, tap your name, tap "iCloud," and make sure "Messages" is toggled on. Then back up to iCloud before you transfer. Text messages (SMS) and iMessages will both move.

Do I need to do anything special for my Apple ID on the new phone?

No. Quick Start and iCloud backup both sign you into your Apple ID automatically. You will see your name at the top of Settings, and you will be able to read apps from the App Store without signing in again.

What happens to my old phone after I switch?

You can erase it and sell it, give it away, or keep it as a backup. Before you erase it, make sure your new phone is fully set up and working. Then go to Settings on the old phone, tap "General," tap "Transfer or Reset," and tap "Erase All Content and Settings." This removes everything and prepares the phone for a new owner.