How to Transfer Everything From Your Old iPad to a New One

The fastest way: use iCloud to move everything at once

When you turn on a new iPad, Apple gives you the option to restore from an old device. This is the simplest path because it copies your apps, settings, photos, documents, and passwords all at once — you do not have to pick and choose. The process takes 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much data you have and your internet speed.

To use this method, keep your old iPad nearby and plugged in. Turn on the new iPad and follow the setup screens until you see "Quick Start". Your old iPad will ask if you want to set up the new one. Tap "Continue", then hold the old iPad above the new one so the camera can read a pattern on the new screen. After that, enter your Apple ID password on the new iPad, and the transfer begins automatically.

This works best if both iPads are on the same Wi-Fi network and you have enough battery on both devices. If your old iPad is very old or runs an older version of iOS, you may not see the Quick Start option — in that case, use the iCloud method described in the next section instead.

Key Takeaways

Quick Start (holding the old iPad over the new one) is the fastest method and copies everything automatically without you choosing what to move.
If Quick Start does not appear, sign into iCloud on the new iPad with your Apple ID and choose which backups to restore from.
Your old iPad must be plugged in and on the same Wi-Fi network as the new one for either method to work smoothly.
Apps and data transfer during setup, but you may need to sign into some apps individually afterward if they use passwords separate from your Apple ID.
If you are switching from Android or a very old device, you can transfer photos and contacts separately using Apple's Move to iOS app or manual methods.

Using iCloud if Quick Start is not available

If your old iPad does not show the Quick Start option, you can restore from an iCloud backup instead. This requires that you have already backed up your old iPad to iCloud — if you have not, go to Settings on the old device, tap your name at the top, then iCloud, then iCloud Backup, and turn it on. Let it finish backing up before moving forward.

On the new iPad, go through the initial setup screens until you reach "Apps & Data". Tap "Restore from iCloud Backup", then sign in with your Apple ID. You will see a list of available backups — choose the most recent one from your old iPad. The new iPad will read and restore everything from that backup, which can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on file size.

One thing to know: iCloud backups do not include photos or videos stored in your Photos app if you have iCloud Photos turned on. Those sync separately through iCloud Photos, so they should appear on the new iPad automatically once you sign in with your Apple ID. If they do not appear within a few hours, go to Settings on the new iPad, tap your name, then iCloud, and make sure iCloud Photos is turned on.

What happens to your apps and passwords

When you restore from Quick Start or iCloud, your apps reinstall automatically, but the process works differently depending on where you got them. Apps from the App Store reinstall and sign you in using your Apple ID. Apps you bought or downloaded from other sources may not reinstall — you may need to read them again from the App Store or their own websites.

Passwords stored in iCloud Keychain (Apple's password manager) transfer automatically and should work right away. However, some apps store passwords separately and may ask you to sign in again the first time you open them. This is normal and a security feature — the app is checking that it is really you. If you do not remember a password, use the "Forgot Password" option in that app.

Two-factor authentication codes (the six-digit codes some apps send to your phone) may not transfer. If an app asks for a code when you first open it on the new iPad, check your phone or email for the code, or use a backup code if the app provided one when you first set up two-factor authentication.

Transferring photos and documents if you did not use Quick Start

If you used iCloud Backup instead of Quick Start, your photos should sync automatically through iCloud Photos. However, if you want to move photos without using iCloud, or if you have a very large photo library, you can connect both iPads to a computer and use a USB cable to copy files directly.

For documents, the same rule applies: if you use iCloud Drive, OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox, your files sync automatically once you sign in on the new iPad. If you stored documents only on your old iPad and not in a cloud service, connect the old iPad to a computer, open Finder (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows), and copy the files to your computer first. Then connect the new iPad and copy them over.

If you have a large number of files and want to avoid using a computer, you can also use AirDrop to send files between iPads. Make sure both are on the same Wi-Fi network, swipe down from the top-right corner of the old iPad to open Control Center, tap AirDrop, and choose "Everyone" or "Contacts Only". Then open the file, tap Share, and select the new iPad from the AirDrop list.

Moving from an Android tablet or very old iPad

If you are switching from Android, Apple provides an app called Move to iOS that transfers contacts, calendar events, photos, and some messages. read it on the Android device from the Google Play Store, open it, and follow the on-screen steps. It will give you a code to enter on the new iPad during setup.

Move to iOS does not transfer apps — you will need to read those from the App Store yourself. It also does not transfer email accounts, so you will need to add those manually. Go to Settings on the new iPad, tap Mail, then Accounts, then "Add Account", and enter your email address and password.

If you are switching from an iPad that runs iOS 5 or older (released before 2012), Quick Start and iCloud Backup may not work. In that case, use Move to iOS if you have an Android device, or manually copy photos and documents using a computer and USB cable as described in the previous section.

Checking that everything transferred correctly

After the transfer finishes, spend a few minutes checking that your data arrived. Open the Photos app and scroll through to make sure your photos are there. Check your email by opening Mail and confirming that your accounts are listed. Open a few apps you use regularly and sign in if prompted.

If an app does not appear on the new iPad, it may not have transferred because you deleted it from your old iPad at some point, or because it is no longer available in the App Store. You can read it again from the App Store if it still exists. If a photo or document is missing, check iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, or your cloud storage service to see if it is there but has not synced yet — sometimes this takes a few hours on slower connections.

One common issue: if you see a message that says "Unable to read App" when trying to open an app, it usually means the app requires a newer version of iPad software than you have. Go to Settings, tap General, then Software Update, and install any available updates. Then try opening the app again.

Erasing your old iPad safely

Once you have confirmed that everything is on the new iPad, you can erase the old one. This removes all your personal data so it cannot be recovered if the device is lost or stolen. Go to Settings on the old iPad, tap General, then tap Transfer or Reset (the exact wording depends on your iPad model), then "Erase All Content and Settings". You will be asked to enter your Apple ID password — this is a security feature to prevent someone else from erasing your device remotely.

After you erase the old iPad, it will restart and show the setup screen as if it were brand new. At this point, you can sell it, give it away, or keep it as a backup. If you plan to give it to someone else, do not set it up again — let them do that with their own Apple ID so their data stays separate from yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Wi-Fi for the transfer, or can I use cellular data?

Wi-Fi is strongly recommended because transfers use a lot of data and are much faster on Wi-Fi. If you only have cellular, the transfer will work but may be very slow and could use a large amount of your data plan. Plug both iPads in and use Wi-Fi if possible.

What if the transfer stops halfway through?

If the connection drops, the transfer pauses. Plug both iPads back in, make sure they are on the same Wi-Fi network, and try again. You may need to restart the new iPad and begin the setup process over. Your old iPad will not be affected — the data stays there until the transfer completes successfully.

Can I use my old iPad while the transfer is happening?

No. During Quick Start or iCloud Backup restore, your old iPad must stay on and connected to Wi-Fi, and you should not use it. Using it during the transfer can interrupt the process and cause data to copy incorrectly. Wait until the transfer finishes before opening apps on the old device.

Will my subscriptions transfer to the new iPad?

App subscriptions tied to your Apple ID transfer automatically. Subscriptions through other services (like a newspaper app or streaming service) may ask you to sign in again on the new iPad. You will not be charged twice — you already paid for the subscription on your old device.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password?

You will need it to complete the transfer. Go to iforgot.apple.com on a computer or another device, enter your Apple ID email, and follow the steps to reset your password. You can also use your phone number or recovery email if you set those up. Once you reset your password, use the new one on the new iPad.

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.