The fastest way: use iCloud to transfer automatically
When you turn on a new iPhone for the first time, Apple gives you the option to restore from your old phone using iCloud. This is the simplest path because it copies your photos, messages, contacts, app data, and settings all at once — you do not have to pick and choose what moves over.
Before you start, make sure your old iPhone is backed up to iCloud. Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then iCloud, then tap the name of your device. Scroll down and tap "Back Up Now". Wait for the backup to finish — you will see a timestamp that says when it completed. This usually takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how much data you have.
When your new iPhone arrives, power it on and follow the setup screens. When you reach the screen that says "Apps & Data", choose "Restore from iCloud Backup". Sign in with the same Apple ID you used on your old phone, then select the backup you just created. The phone will read everything and set itself up — this can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on your internet speed and how much data is transferring.
Key Takeaways
- Back up your old iPhone to iCloud before you get a new one by going to Settings, your name, iCloud, your device name, and tapping "Back Up Now".
- When you turn on the new iPhone, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" during setup and sign in with the same Apple ID to move everything over automatically.
- If you do not have iCloud space, you can use a computer and iTunes or Finder to back up and restore instead, which does not count against your iCloud storage limit.
- Apps read again automatically after restore, but you may need to sign back into some apps like email, banking, or social media with your passwords.
- Your old iPhone stays unchanged during this process — nothing is deleted from it unless you erase it yourself later.
Using a computer if you do not have enough iCloud space
iCloud gives you 5 GB free, and if your phone has more data than that, you will need to pay for more storage or use a computer instead. A computer backup does not count against your iCloud limit and actually backs up more things — like your voicemail and some app settings that iCloud skips.
On a Mac with macOS Catalina or newer, plug your old iPhone into the computer with a USB cable. Open Finder, click your phone's name in the sidebar, and click "Back Up Now". On a Mac with an older operating system, or on a Windows PC, use iTunes instead — read it from Apple's website, plug in your phone, and click the device icon, then "Back Up Now".
When your new iPhone is ready, plug it into the same computer. In Finder or iTunes, click "Restore Backup" and choose the backup you just made. The phone will restore everything from that backup. This method is slower than iCloud — it can take 1 to 3 hours — but it is more reliable if your internet connection is weak.
What happens to apps and passwords during transfer
When you restore from a backup, your apps read again automatically from the App Store. This happens in the background while you use your phone, so you do not have to wait for all of them to finish before you start using it. However, the apps themselves are empty until they finish downloading — you may see a cloud icon next to an app name while it is still coming over.
Passwords for apps like email, banking, and social media do not transfer automatically. Your phone will ask you to sign back in the first time you open each app. This is intentional — it is a security feature. Have your passwords ready, or use the password reset option if you do not remember them. For email accounts, your phone usually remembers the email address but asks for the password again.
Some apps store data in the cloud instead of on your phone — things like Google Photos, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive. These apps will show your old data automatically once you sign back in, because the data lives on their servers, not on your phone.
Moving data without a backup if you do not have time
If your old phone is not backed up and you need to move to the new phone right away, you can transfer some things directly from phone to phone. During the new iPhone setup, when you reach "Apps & Data", choose "Migrate from iPhone". Hold your old phone next to the new one, and they will connect wirelessly. Your old phone will send over photos, messages, contacts, and some settings without needing iCloud or a computer.
This direct transfer is slower than iCloud restore — it can take 1 to 2 hours — and it only works if both phones are nearby and plugged in. It also does not transfer apps, so you will need to read those from the App Store afterward. Use this method only if you have no backup and cannot wait to set up your new phone properly.
Checking what transferred and what did not
After your new phone finishes restoring, spend a few minutes checking that the important things came over. Open Photos and scroll through to make sure your pictures are there. Open Contacts and search for a few people you know. Check your Messages app and look for a conversation from a few months ago. These quick checks catch problems early.
If something is missing, do not assume it is gone from your old phone — it might just not have been backed up. Go back to your old iPhone, open Settings, and check that iCloud backup is turned on. If it is, tap "Back Up Now" again and wait for it to finish. Then on your new phone, go to Settings, your name, iCloud, and tap "iCloud Backup" to turn it off and back on. This forces the new phone to check for a fresh backup.
Some things never transfer no matter what: your SIM card information, your Apple Pay cards (you need to add those again), and any data from apps that do not support backup. Your carrier's voicemail and any custom ringtones you made on your old phone also do not transfer — you will need to set those up again on the new phone.
Erasing your old iPhone safely after the transfer
Once you have confirmed that everything important is on your new phone, you can erase your old iPhone. This removes all your personal data so that if you sell it, give it away, or recycle it, the next person cannot access your photos, messages, or passwords.
On your old iPhone, open Settings, tap "General", scroll down and tap "Transfer or Reset", then tap "Erase All Content and Settings". The phone will ask for your Apple ID password — this is a security step to prevent someone else from erasing your phone without permission. Enter your password and tap "Erase". The phone will restart and wipe itself clean. This takes 5 to 15 minutes.
After erasing, your old iPhone will show the setup screen again, as if it is brand new. At this point it is safe to sell, give away, or recycle. If you are keeping it as a backup, you can leave it at this screen or set it up again with a different Apple ID.
Troubleshooting when restore gets stuck or fails
If your restore stops halfway through or shows an error, the most common fix is to start over. Unplug your new iPhone from power and internet, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in and try again. If you are using iCloud, make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi connection — a weak signal often causes restore to fail partway through.
If the error mentions your Apple ID, make sure you are signing in with the correct ID — the same one you used on your old phone. If you have changed your password recently, sign out of iCloud on your new phone and sign back in with your current password. If you do not remember your Apple ID password, go to iforgot.apple.com on a computer and reset it before trying the restore again.
If restore keeps failing and you have already tried restarting, try using a computer instead of iCloud. Plug your new iPhone into a Mac or PC, open Finder or iTunes, and restore from a backup file on that computer. Computer restores are more stable because they do not depend on your internet connection. If you do not have a backup file on your computer yet, create one from your old iPhone first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to keep my old iPhone turned on while the new one restores?
No. Once the backup is complete on your old phone, you can turn it off or use it normally. The new phone downloads the backup from iCloud or from your computer, not directly from the old phone. The only exception is if you use the "Migrate from iPhone" method during setup — then both phones need to stay on and nearby until the transfer finishes.
What if I want to move only some apps, not everything?
If you restore from a backup, all your apps come back. If you do not want that, set up your new iPhone as a new phone instead of restoring. Then manually read only the apps you want from the App Store. You will lose your old app data and settings this way, so only do this if you are sure you do not need them.
Can I restore a backup from an iPhone to a different type of phone, like an Android?
No. iPhone backups only work on iPhones. If you are switching to Android, you will need to use Google's transfer tool or move things manually. Contact your new phone's manufacturer for instructions on how to bring over photos, contacts, and messages.
How long does a full restore usually take?
iCloud restore takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have and your internet speed. Computer restore takes 1 to 3 hours. Direct phone-to-phone transfer takes 1 to 2 hours. Larger phones with more photos and apps take longer. Plug your new phone in and use Wi-Fi during the process — do not unplug it or disconnect from the network.
Will my text messages and iMessages transfer over?
Yes, if you back up to iCloud or a computer. All your text messages and iMessages, including photos and videos sent in those conversations, will come back on your new phone. You will see the same conversation history you had before.