The fastest way to move your data
The simplest path is to use iCloud, Apple's cloud storage service. If you already have an iCloud account on your old iPhone, you can set up your new phone and it will automatically read your photos, contacts, messages, apps, and settings during the initial setup. This takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have, but you do almost nothing — the phones handle it themselves.
If you do not have an iCloud account yet, create one before you start. Go to Settings on your old iPhone, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. If you see "Create Apple ID", follow the prompts. If you already see an Apple ID listed, you are ready to go.
The second option is direct transfer, which moves data from old phone to new phone without using iCloud. This is faster for large amounts of data and works even if your iCloud storage is full. You hold the phones next to each other during setup, and the new iPhone copies everything directly from the old one. This takes 20 to 45 minutes depending on your data size.
Key Takeaways
- iCloud transfer is the easiest method if you already have an iCloud account — your new iPhone downloads everything automatically during setup.
- Direct transfer is faster for large amounts of data and does not require iCloud storage space, but you must have both phones available at the same time.
- Back up your old iPhone before you start, so you have a copy if something goes wrong during the transfer.
- After transfer completes, sign out of your old iPhone so apps stop trying to use it and your new phone becomes your primary device.
- Some apps may need to be reinstalled manually if they were deleted from the App Store, but your data within those apps will still transfer.
How to transfer using iCloud
Start on your old iPhone. Go to Settings, tap your name, then tap iCloud. Scroll down and tap "iCloud Backup". Tap "Back Up Now" and wait for the backup to finish — you will see a progress bar. This creates a copy of everything on Apple's servers, so your new phone can read it.
Turn on your new iPhone. When you see the "Hello" screen, follow the prompts until you reach "Quick Start". You will see an option to transfer from another iPhone. Hold your old iPhone above the new one and point the camera at the animation on the new phone's screen. The phones will connect automatically. Enter your Apple ID password when prompted.
When asked "Transfer from iPhone", choose "iCloud Backup" if you want to use the backup you just created, or "Transfer Directly" if you want to copy from the old phone in real time. If you choose iCloud Backup, the new phone will read everything from the cloud. If you choose Transfer Directly, keep both phones plugged in and close to each other until the transfer finishes.
Once transfer completes, your new iPhone will restart. You will see your old home screen layout, apps, photos, and settings. Some apps may show a cloud icon with a down arrow — tap the icon to read them. This happens when an app was deleted from the App Store but still exists on your old phone; the new phone cannot copy it directly, but your data inside that app transferred fine.
How to transfer using direct transfer
Direct transfer works without iCloud and is often faster. On your old iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, then tap iCloud and make sure you are signed in with your Apple ID. You do not need to back up first, but it is safer to do so anyway.
Turn on your new iPhone. When you see "Hello", follow the prompts until Quick Start appears. Hold your old iPhone above the new one and point the old phone's camera at the animation on the new phone's screen. The phones will pair automatically.
When asked how you want to transfer, tap "Transfer Directly from iPhone". Enter your Apple ID password. Plug both phones into power and keep them close together — do not use them during the transfer. The process copies your data directly from the old phone to the new one without uploading to iCloud first. This is faster if you have a lot of data or limited iCloud storage.
When the transfer finishes, your new iPhone will restart and show your old setup. The old iPhone will ask if you want to erase it. You can tap "Erase" now or do it later — either way, sign out of your Apple ID on the old phone so it stops trying to receive messages and calls meant for your new phone.
What to do if transfer fails or gets stuck
If the transfer stops or shows an error, the most common cause is a weak Wi-Fi connection or the phones losing contact during setup. Restart both phones and try again. Make sure you are on a strong Wi-Fi network — if your home Wi-Fi is slow, try moving closer to the router or using a different network.
If direct transfer keeps failing, switch to iCloud transfer instead. Go back to your old iPhone, make sure the latest iCloud backup is complete, then start the new iPhone setup again and choose iCloud Backup instead of Transfer Directly.
If you get stuck on a specific step, force restart the new iPhone by pressing and holding the power button and volume-down button together until you see "slide to power off", then release and wait for the phone to restart. This clears temporary errors without erasing anything.
Signing out of your old iPhone
After your new iPhone is set up and working, sign out of your old phone so it stops trying to receive your messages, calls, and notifications. Go to Settings on the old iPhone, tap your name at the top, scroll down, and tap "Sign Out". Enter your Apple ID password when prompted. Tap "Keep a Copy of iPhone Data" if you want to keep a local backup on the old phone, or tap "Delete" if you want to erase everything.
If you plan to sell or give away the old iPhone, tap "Delete" to erase all your data. If you are keeping it as a backup, tap "Keep a Copy". Either way, signing out removes your Apple ID from the device so it will not interfere with your new phone.
Moving photos and videos if transfer did not work
If your photos did not transfer, you can move them manually. On your old iPhone, open the Photos app, select the photos you want, tap "Share", and choose "Mail" or "Messages" to send them to yourself. On your new iPhone, save them from the email or message.
A faster method is to use a computer. Plug your old iPhone into a Mac or Windows PC with a USB cable. On a Mac, open the Photos app and click your iPhone in the sidebar, then click "Import". On Windows, open File Explorer, find your iPhone, and drag photos to a folder. Then plug your new iPhone in and drag the photos back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to back up before transferring?
No, but it is safer to do so. If something goes wrong during transfer, a backup lets you restore your data to either phone. Creating an iCloud backup takes five to ten minutes and gives you a copy stored on Apple's servers.
What if I do not have my old iPhone anymore?
You can restore from an iCloud backup without the old phone. Turn on your new iPhone, follow the setup prompts, and when asked how you want to transfer, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup". Sign in with your Apple ID and select the backup you want to restore. This downloads everything from the cloud.
Will my text messages transfer?
Yes, both iCloud transfer and direct transfer copy all your text messages, including group chats. Messages stored in iCloud will read automatically. If you use an older iPhone that does not support iCloud Messages, your recent messages will transfer but very old ones may not.
What about my passwords and logins?
Yes, passwords stored in iCloud Keychain transfer automatically. This includes passwords for websites, apps, and Wi-Fi networks. You may need to sign in to some apps manually the first time you open them, but your saved passwords will be available.
Can I transfer to an iPhone with a different storage size?
Yes. You can transfer from a 128GB iPhone to a 256GB iPhone or vice versa. The only limit is that your new phone must have enough free space for all your data. If your old phone has 100GB of data and your new phone only has 50GB free, the transfer will fail — delete some photos or apps on the new phone first to make room.