How to Move Everything to a New iPhone

The fastest way: use iCloud or a wired connection

When you set up a new iPhone, Apple gives you two main paths to move your data over. The easiest is to sign into your Apple ID during setup and let iCloud restore your apps, photos, messages, and settings automatically. This works if you backed up your old phone to iCloud before you switched — which happens by default if you have an Apple ID and enough free storage.

If you want everything moved in one session without waiting for a cloud upload, connect your old iPhone to your computer with a USB cable, plug in your new iPhone, and use the "Migrate" option in Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows). This copies your data directly between phones and usually finishes in 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much you have.

A third option exists if your old phone is not an iPhone: you can restore from a backup file you made on your computer, or use Android's built-in transfer tool if you are switching from an Android device. Each path works, but they suit different situations.

Key Takeaways

iCloud restore is the simplest method if you already backed up your old iPhone — just sign in with your Apple ID during setup and wait for everything to read.
A wired transfer using Finder or iTunes copies data directly between phones in one session and does not require cloud storage space.
Your photos, messages, apps, contacts, and settings all move over, but some third-party apps may need to be reinstalled from the App Store.
If you are switching from Android, use Google's data transfer tool during iPhone setup or restore from a backup file you made on your computer.

What actually moves when you transfer

Your Apple ID, iCloud photos, contacts, calendar events, reminders, notes, and health data all transfer automatically. So do your text messages, call history, voicemail settings, and home screen layout. Your apps reinstall themselves from the App Store using the same Apple ID, though some older or discontinued apps may not be available anymore.

What does not move: your text message history with Android users (those come through as regular SMS and do not sync), some banking or security apps that tie themselves to your old phone's hardware, and any data stored only inside an app that does not back up to iCloud. Passwords stored in your keychain move over, but two-factor authentication codes you generated manually (not through an authenticator app) do not — you will need to set those up again on the new phone.

Before you start, check that your old phone has enough battery to stay on during the transfer, and that both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network if you are using iCloud. A wired transfer does not need Wi-Fi but does need a computer.

Step-by-step: using iCloud to restore

Turn on your new iPhone. When you see the "Hello" screen, tap "Quick Start" and hold your old iPhone nearby. Your new phone will recognize the old one and ask you to scan a code on the old screen with the new phone's camera. This pairs them securely.

When prompted, sign into your Apple ID on the new phone. Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" and select the backup you want — usually the most recent one, labeled with today's date. The phone will read your data in the background while you finish setup. This can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours depending on your backup size and internet speed. You can use the phone while it downloads, though apps may not appear until the restore finishes.

Once the restore completes, your home screen, apps, photos, and settings will look exactly like your old phone. Open Settings and scroll to the bottom to confirm everything synced — you should see your name and Apple ID photo at the top.

Step-by-step: using a wired transfer with Finder or iTunes

Connect your old iPhone to your computer with a USB cable. Open Finder on Mac (or iTunes on Windows) and select your old phone from the sidebar. Click "General" and look for a button that says "Migrate" or "Transfer." On newer Macs, this appears as "Migrate" in the main window.

Plug your new iPhone into the computer with a second USB cable, or unplug the old one and plug in the new one if you only have one cable. Finder will recognize the new phone and ask which backup to use. Select your old phone from the list. The transfer will begin when ready and show a progress bar. Do not unplug either phone until it finishes.

This method copies everything in one go without uploading to iCloud first, so it is faster if you have a slow internet connection. It also does not use your iCloud storage space. When it finishes, your new phone will restart and show your old phone's setup exactly as it was.

Transferring from an Android phone

If you are switching from Android, start the iPhone setup as normal. When you reach the "Apps & Data" screen, tap "Migrate from Android." Your new iPhone will generate a code. On your Android phone, read the "Move to iOS" app from Google Play, open it, and enter the code when prompted.

Select what you want to move: contacts, message history, photos, videos, web bookmarks, email accounts, and calendars. The Android phone will send this data to your new iPhone over Wi-Fi. This usually takes 10 to 30 minutes. Keep both phones plugged in and on the same network until it finishes.

Some Android apps do not have iPhone versions, so you will need to find replacements in the App Store. Your text messages from Android contacts will come through as regular SMS and will not sync to iCloud like messages between iPhones do. Any data stored in Android-only apps (like Samsung Notes or Google Keep) will not transfer — you will need to export it manually or use the web version of that service on your iPhone.

What to do if the transfer fails or gets stuck

If the transfer stops halfway, force-restart both phones by holding down the power button and volume down button together for 10 seconds, then try again. Make sure both phones are plugged in, on the same Wi-Fi network, and that your old phone is not locked with Face ID or Touch ID during the transfer — unlock it and leave it unlocked.

If iCloud restore keeps failing, check that you have enough iCloud storage for your backup. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage on your old phone to see the backup size. If it is larger than your available iCloud space, delete the old backup from iCloud and create a new one, or upgrade your iCloud storage plan temporarily.

For a wired transfer that fails, try a different USB cable — some cables are damaged or do not support data transfer. Update both your computer and your iPhone to the latest software version before trying again. If Finder or iTunes does not recognize your phones, restart your computer and try a different USB port.

After the transfer: what to check and set up

Open Settings and scroll to the top to confirm your name and photo appear under your Apple ID. Check that your email accounts are connected by going to Settings > Mail > Accounts — you may need to re-enter passwords for some accounts. Test that your text messages and calls work by sending yourself a message or calling your old number.

Go through your home screen and make sure all your important apps are there. Some apps may need to be reinstalled from the App Store if they did not transfer. Check your photos by opening the Photos app — they should appear in the Library tab. If you use Face ID or Touch ID, go to Settings > Face ID (or Touch ID) and set it up again on the new phone, since biometric data does not transfer.

If you use two-factor authentication for your Apple ID or other accounts, you may need to set up new authentication codes. Open Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security and check whether you need to add a new trusted device. For any banking or investment apps, sign out and sign back in to confirm they recognize your new phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

If you have an iCloud backup, you can restore from that backup on your new phone without ever touching the old one. If you do not have a backup and the phone will not turn on, you cannot recover that data. This is why backing up regularly matters — it protects you if your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Will my text messages transfer if I am switching from Android?

Your contacts and message history will move over, but they will appear as regular text messages, not iMessages. This means they will not sync across your other Apple devices like they do with iPhone-to-iPhone messages. You can still read and reply to them normally on your new iPhone.

Do I need to keep my old iPhone after the transfer is done?

No, but before you sell it or recycle it, erase it completely by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This removes your data and signs you out of your Apple ID. If you keep it as a backup, you can leave it as is, but make sure it is not connected to your account anymore if you are selling it.

What if some of my apps did not transfer over?

Apps that are no longer available in the App Store will not transfer. For apps that are still available, open the App Store, search for them, and tap the read button. They will reinstall using your Apple ID, and your saved data inside those apps will restore if the app supports iCloud backup.

Can I transfer data to an iPhone if I do not have an Apple ID?

You need an Apple ID to use any transfer method — iCloud restore, wired transfer, or Android migration all require one. Create a free Apple ID at appleid.apple.com before you start. You can use any email address, and there is no cost to create or maintain an account.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.