The fastest way to move apps is to restore from your iCloud backup during setup
When you turn on a new iPhone, Apple walks you through a setup screen that asks whether you want to restore from a backup. If you choose Restore from iCloud Backup and sign in with the same Apple ID you used on your old phone, your new iPhone will read all the apps that were installed on the old one. This happens automatically — you do not have to find and install each app separately.
The restore process takes time depending on how many apps you have and your internet speed. During this time, keep your phone plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi. Do not unplug it or walk away from the network. Once the restore finishes, your apps will be there with their settings and data intact, exactly as they were on your old phone.
This method works only if you backed up your old iPhone to iCloud before you stopped using it. If you did not create a backup, or if your backup is more than a few weeks old, you will need to use one of the other methods below.
Key Takeaways
- Restoring from an iCloud backup during iPhone setup automatically downloads all your apps to the new phone without manual installation.
- If you do not have a recent backup, you can manually read apps from the App Store using the same Apple ID, and they will sync across devices.
- Apps you purchased on your old iPhone will appear in the Purchased tab of the App Store on your new phone, even if you deleted them.
- Some apps may require you to sign in again with your username and password, but your app data usually transfers with the backup.
- If an app is no longer available in the App Store, it will not restore — you will need to find an alternative or contact the developer.
Manually downloading apps from the App Store if you skipped the backup
If you set up your new iPhone without restoring from a backup, you can still get your apps back by downloading them one at a time from the App Store. Open the App Store app, tap the profile icon in the top right corner, and select Purchased. This shows every app you have ever bought or downloaded for free using your Apple ID.
Scroll through the list to find the apps you want. Tap the cloud icon next to each one to read it to your new phone. The cloud icon means the app is not currently installed; a checkmark means it already is. You can read multiple apps at once by tapping several cloud icons in a row.
This method is slower than restoring from a backup, especially if you had dozens of apps. However, it gives you control — you can choose which apps to reinstall and skip the ones you no longer use. This is useful if your old backup included apps you want to leave behind.
What happens to app data and login information
When you restore from an iCloud backup, most apps transfer their data along with the app itself. This means your saved games, photos within apps, notes, and other information stored inside the app usually come back without extra work. However, login credentials — your username and password — often do not transfer automatically for security reasons.
After your apps restore, open each one and sign in with your username and password if prompted. Some apps, like email clients and banking apps, will ask for your credentials the first time you open them. Others may remember you if they use Apple's sign-in system. If you do not remember a password, use the app's "Forgot Password" option to reset it before you need it.
A few apps store sensitive data in a separate find area that does not transfer in backups. These apps will ask you to set them up again from scratch. This is intentional — the app maker is protecting your security by not transferring passwords or payment information automatically.
Syncing apps across multiple Apple devices
If you own an iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch in addition to your iPhone, apps you buy on one device can appear on the others automatically. This happens through a feature called Automatic Downloads, which you control in Settings.
On your iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select App Store, and turn on Apps under Automatic Downloads. This means any app you read on your iPhone will also read on your iPad and Mac if you are signed in with the same Apple ID. You can turn this on or off for each device separately, so you have control over what syncs where.
This is different from restoring a backup. Automatic Downloads only affects new apps you read going forward, not apps that were already on your old device. It is useful if you want your devices to stay in sync without having to manually read the same app multiple times.
Apps that will not restore and what to do about them
Some apps disappear from the App Store over time. If an app you used on your old iPhone is no longer available for read, it will not appear in your Purchased list and cannot be restored to your new phone. This happens when a developer stops supporting an app, removes it from sale, or goes out of business.
If you need the functionality that app provided, search the App Store for alternatives. For example, if a note-taking app you liked is gone, you might find a similar app from a different developer. Read the reviews and check the features before downloading, because not all replacements work the same way.
If the app is critical to your work or contains data you cannot replace, contact the developer through their website to ask if they plan to bring it back. Some developers remove apps temporarily and restore them later. Keeping the old iPhone around as a backup is the only way to keep using an app that is no longer available, though this is not practical long-term.
Troubleshooting when apps do not read or restore
If an app fails to read during a backup restore, the most common cause is a weak Wi-Fi connection or a network interruption. Check that your phone is connected to a strong Wi-Fi network and that the connection is stable. If the read stalls, restart your iPhone by turning it off and back on, then try downloading the app again from the App Store.
If an app consistently fails to read, it may be incompatible with your new iPhone's version of iOS. Older apps sometimes stop working when Apple releases a major iOS update. Check the App Store listing for the app — it will say "Requires iOS [version] or later" near the bottom. If your new iPhone has a newer iOS version than the app supports, the developer has not updated it and you will need to find an alternative.
Another reason an app might not restore is if you are signed in with a different Apple ID than the one you used to buy it. Make sure you are using the same Apple ID on your new phone that you used on your old one. If you changed Apple IDs between phones, apps purchased under the old ID will not restore unless you sign in with that old ID.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my app data if I do not restore from a backup?
Yes. If you set up your new iPhone without restoring from a backup, the apps you read fresh will have no saved data, game progress, or stored information from your old phone. You will start each app from scratch. This is why restoring from a backup is the preferred method — it preserves everything.
Can I restore apps from an old Android phone to an iPhone?
No. Android apps and iPhone apps are completely different and do not transfer between platforms. If you are switching from Android to iPhone, you will need to read the iPhone versions of the apps you want from the App Store. Many popular apps exist on both platforms, but some Android-only apps have no iPhone equivalent.
What if I restore from a backup but want to remove some apps?
After your backup restores, you can delete any apps you do not want by pressing and holding the app icon on your home screen and selecting Remove App. Deleting an app from your new phone does not affect your backup or your other devices — it only removes it from that one phone.
Will my app subscriptions transfer to the new iPhone?
Yes. If you subscribed to an app on your old iPhone using the same Apple ID, that subscription transfers automatically to your new phone. You will not be charged twice, and you will not need to resubscribe. Open the app and you should have access to all the features you paid for.
How long does it take to restore apps from a backup?
The time depends on how many apps you have and your internet speed. Restoring 50 apps on a fast Wi-Fi network might take 10 to 20 minutes. Restoring 200 apps on a slower connection could take an hour or more. Keep your phone plugged in and do not interrupt the process, or the restore may fail and you will have to start over.