The fastest way: use iCloud or a computer to transfer automatically

When you set up a new iPhone, Apple gives you the option to restore from a backup instead of starting fresh. This moves your apps, photos, messages, contacts, passwords, and settings all at once — usually in under an hour if your internet is fast. You have two paths: restore from an iCloud backup (the easiest, no computer needed) or restore from a backup stored on a Mac or Windows PC (faster if your internet is slow).

Both methods work the same way on the new phone: during setup, you'll see a screen that says "Apps & Data." Choose either "Restore from iCloud Backup" or "Restore from Mac/PC Backup," then sign in with your Apple ID and pick which backup to restore. The phone downloads everything and installs it while you wait.

The catch: your old iPhone must have created a backup first. If you've never backed up before, you'll need to do that on the old phone before you can move anything. That's why this guide sits under the backup section — the backup is the thing you're moving from.

Key Takeaways

  • iCloud backup is the simplest method if your internet is reliable, because you don't need a computer and the backup happens automatically in the background.
  • Computer backup (Mac or Windows) is faster for large amounts of data and works better if your internet connection is slow or unreliable.
  • Your old iPhone must have an up-to-date backup before you can transfer anything, so check that the backup finished before you start setup on the new phone.
  • During new iPhone setup, choose "Restore from Backup" on the "Apps & Data" screen and sign in with the same Apple ID you used on the old phone.
  • Some apps and settings transfer automatically, but a few things (like banking apps, two-factor authentication codes, and some game progress) may need to be set up again by hand.

Restoring from iCloud: what happens and how long it takes

iCloud backup stores your data on Apple's servers. When you restore from iCloud, the new phone downloads everything from there. This works as long as both phones are on Wi-Fi and you have enough iCloud storage space (most people get 5 GB free, which covers photos, messages, and app data but not video libraries).

The restore process itself takes 10 to 30 minutes on a fast home Wi-Fi network, but the phone will keep downloading in the background for hours afterward if you have a lot of photos or videos. You can use the phone while this happens — it just runs slower. If you have a large photo library or video collection, plan for the full read to finish overnight.

One important detail: iCloud backup does not back up everything. It skips photos and videos stored in iCloud Photos (those sync separately), anything in iCloud Drive, and some app data for apps that store their own backups in iCloud. For most people this doesn't matter — your messages, contacts, calendar, and app settings all transfer fine. But if you use iCloud Photos, those photos will appear on the new phone automatically once you sign in, separate from the backup restore.

Restoring from a computer: faster for large libraries

If you have thousands of photos, large video files, or a slow internet connection, backing up to a Mac or Windows PC and restoring from there is much faster. The backup file lives on your computer's hard drive instead of on Apple's servers, so the transfer happens over USB cable or Wi-Fi between your phone and computer — usually 5 to 15 minutes for a full restore.

To create a computer backup on a Mac, plug in your old iPhone, open Finder, click the phone name in the sidebar, and click "Back Up Now" under the General tab. On Windows, use iTunes or the newer Windows app called "iPhone Backup" (search the Microsoft Store). The backup saves to your computer automatically.

To restore on the new phone, plug it into the same computer during setup. When you see the "Apps & Data" screen, choose "Restore from Mac/PC." The computer will show a list of available backups — pick the most recent one. The phone will restore from that backup file instead of downloading from iCloud.

What transfers and what doesn't

Most of your data moves over: all your apps (except ones you deleted), messages and iMessage conversations, photos and videos, contacts, calendar events, notes, reminders, health data, home automation settings, and your saved Wi-Fi passwords. Your home screen layout transfers too, so your apps appear in the same places.

A few things do not transfer and need to be set up again on the new phone. Banking apps and payment apps (like your bank's app, Venmo, or PayPal) require you to sign in again for security reasons — the backup doesn't include login sessions. Two-factor authentication codes from the Authenticator app don't transfer; you'll need to set those up again in the app or use your backup codes. Some games don't transfer progress because they store it on the game company's servers, not on your phone. Fitness data from third-party apps (like Strava or MyFitnessPal) may not transfer if those apps store data in their own cloud accounts instead of on your phone.

If you use Face ID or Touch ID, those don't transfer either — you'll set up your face or fingerprint again during setup on the new phone. Your Apple ID password doesn't transfer; you'll sign in with it during setup.

Transferring data without a full backup: manual options

If you don't have a backup and can't create one (your old phone is broken, for example), you can still move some data by hand. Contacts sync through iCloud if you have iCloud Contacts turned on — sign into iCloud on the new phone and they appear. Photos in iCloud Photos sync the same way. Messages don't sync this way, but you can export them from the old phone if it still works.

For everything else — apps, app data, settings — you'll need to read the apps again from the App Store and sign into each one. This is slower than a full restore but works if your old phone is damaged or lost. Some apps let you sign in and restore your data within the app itself (like Gmail, Slack, or Spotify), while others start fresh and you'll lose any local data.

Troubleshooting a stuck or slow restore

If the restore is taking much longer than expected, check your Wi-Fi connection first. Move closer to the router or switch to a wired connection on your computer if you're restoring from a Mac or PC. A weak signal can slow the read to a crawl.

If the restore stops or fails partway through, unplug the phone (if it's connected to a computer) and try again. If you're restoring from iCloud, go back to the "Apps & Data" screen and choose the backup again. If you're restoring from a computer, plug the phone back in and the computer should pick up where it left off.

If the phone gets stuck on the Apple logo or a loading screen for more than 30 minutes, force restart it: on iPhone 8 and newer, quickly press and release the volume up button, quickly press and release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Then try the restore again.

Keeping both phones for a few days to catch what didn't transfer

After the restore finishes, keep your old phone for at least a day or two. Some apps take time to sync their data after you sign in on the new phone, and you might notice something missing that you need to move by hand. Check your banking apps, email, and any apps that store important data — sign in and make sure everything is there.

If you find something that didn't transfer, you can often retrieve it from the old phone. Messages, notes, and photos can be forwarded or exported from the old phone and sent to the new one. App-specific data (like a list in a to-do app) might need to be exported from the app itself — check the app's settings for an export or backup option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I restore from a backup that's more than a few weeks old?

Yes. iCloud keeps your most recent backup, and computer backups stay on your computer until you delete them. You can restore from any backup you have, but it will only include data from when that backup was created — anything you added after that date won't transfer. If you have multiple backups on your computer, Finder or iTunes shows all of them and lets you pick which one to use.

What if I don't have enough iCloud storage for the backup?

iCloud backup only counts against your storage if it's larger than your free 5 GB. If your backup is bigger, you can buy more storage (50 GB for $0.99 per month is the smallest paid plan), or you can restore from a computer backup instead, which doesn't use iCloud storage at all. You can also delete old backups from iCloud Settings to free up space.

Do I need to use the same Apple ID on the new phone?

Yes, to restore from a backup. The new phone needs to sign in with the same Apple ID that created the backup. If you want to use a different Apple ID on the new phone, you can set it up fresh without restoring, but then you'll lose all your app data and settings. You can always change your Apple ID later after the restore finishes.

Will my text messages transfer if I switch from Android to iPhone?

No. iCloud backup only works between iPhones. If you're switching from Android, you'll need to use a different method — Apple's "Move to iOS" app can transfer some data, but text messages from Android don't move to iMessage. You can export messages from Android as a file, but iPhone doesn't have a built-in way to import them. Most people accept that old Android messages stay on the old phone.

Can I restore to an older iPhone model?

No. You can only restore a backup to a phone running the same version of iOS or newer. If your new phone has an older iOS version than your old phone, you'll need to update it first. You can't restore a backup from a newer iOS version to an older one — the backup file is incompatible.