The fastest way to transfer everything is to use iCloud or a wired connection during setup
When you turn on a new iPhone for the first time, Apple walks you through a setup screen that asks whether you want to restore from a backup. If you have an iCloud backup from your old phone, you can sign in with your Apple ID and let the new phone read everything — photos, messages, apps, settings, contacts — automatically. This takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have and your internet speed.
If you want the transfer to happen faster and without relying on internet, you can plug both phones into a computer with a USB cable and use a wired connection instead. This method, called direct device-to-device transfer, moves data straight from the old phone to the new one without uploading to iCloud first. It is faster for large amounts of data and works even if your internet is slow.
Both methods transfer the same things: your photos and videos, text messages, email accounts, app data, home screen layout, and system settings like wallpaper and notification preferences. The main difference is speed and whether you need internet access.
Key Takeaways
- iCloud backup during setup is the easiest method if you have a stable internet connection and can wait 30 minutes to several hours.
- Wired transfer using a computer is faster for large amounts of data and does not depend on your internet speed.
- Both methods transfer photos, messages, apps, email accounts, and settings — you choose the method based on your internet and time constraints.
- Apps themselves read fresh from the App Store rather than copying directly, so you need to be signed into your Apple ID on the new phone.
- If you do not have a recent backup, you can still transfer some data manually by signing into individual apps or using AirDrop for photos and files.
Setting up iCloud backup before you get a new phone
If you have not backed up your old iPhone recently, do this before you switch phones. Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup. Turn on the toggle, then tap Back Up Now. This creates a snapshot of everything on your phone at that moment.
The backup saves to Apple's servers using your Apple ID. You get 5 gigabytes of free storage; if your phone has more data than that, you can buy more storage (200 gigabytes costs about $3 per month) or delete old photos and videos to make room. Check how much space you are using by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage.
Once the backup finishes, you are ready to set up the new phone. When you turn it on, you will see a screen that says "Quick Start" — this is where you choose to restore from a backup.
Restoring from iCloud on your new phone
Turn on the new iPhone and follow the on-screen prompts until you reach the "Apps & Data" screen. 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 phone.
The phone will read your backup over Wi-Fi. During this time, keep the phone plugged in and connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Do not unplug it or switch networks, or the transfer may pause or fail. Depending on your backup size and internet speed, this can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.
While the backup is restoring, apps will begin downloading from the App Store in the background. Some apps may not be available if they have been removed from the App Store or if they are not compatible with your new phone's iOS version. In those cases, you will see a notification that the app could not restore.
Using a wired connection for faster transfer
If you have a computer (Mac or Windows), you can transfer data directly between phones without uploading to iCloud. Plug your old iPhone into the computer with a USB cable, then plug your new iPhone in as well. On the new phone, follow the setup prompts until you reach "Apps & Data," then tap "Restore from iPhone."
The new phone will search for nearby iPhones to restore from and should find your old phone automatically. Tap your old phone's name, then enter the passcode from your old phone on the new phone to verify. The transfer will begin when ready and run over the wired connection, which is much faster than Wi-Fi.
This method works best if both phones are plugged into the same computer and stay connected throughout the transfer. If either phone disconnects, the transfer pauses until you reconnect it. Keep both phones plugged in until the process finishes.
What happens to apps and what you need to know about storage
Apps themselves do not copy directly from your old phone. Instead, the backup stores information about which apps you had installed and their settings — your login details, game progress, preferences. When you restore the backup, the new phone downloads fresh copies of those apps from the App Store.
This means you need to be signed into your Apple ID on the new phone before the restore begins, and you need an internet connection for apps to read. If an app is no longer available in the App Store or is not compatible with your new phone's iOS version, it will not restore. You will see a notification for each app that could not restore.
Your new phone will have the same amount of storage as the old one — transferring data does not change the phone's capacity. If your old phone was nearly full, your new phone will also be nearly full after the restore. If you want to free up space, delete old photos, videos, or apps before you transfer, or do it after the transfer is complete.
Transferring data manually if you do not have a backup
If your old iPhone is lost, broken, or you do not have a recent backup, you can still move some data to your new phone manually. Photos and videos can be transferred using AirDrop — hold down on a photo in the Photos app on your old phone, tap Share, then tap AirDrop and select your new phone. The new phone will receive a notification to accept the transfer.
Contacts, calendars, and email accounts can be set up by signing into the same accounts on your new phone. Open Settings, tap Mail, then tap Accounts. Add each email account you used on your old phone, and your contacts and calendar events will sync automatically. Text messages cannot be transferred manually — they are only available through a full backup restore.
App data is harder to recover without a backup. Some apps (like banking apps or social media) will restore your login and recent activity when you sign back in. Others may start fresh. If you had important notes, lists, or documents in an app, check whether that app has a cloud backup or export feature you can use to save your data separately.
Troubleshooting common transfer problems
If the transfer stops or fails partway through, the most common cause is a lost internet connection or a phone that disconnected from power. Plug both phones back in, make sure you are on a stable Wi-Fi network, and try again. If you were using iCloud backup, you can restart the restore from the "Apps & Data" screen — just tap "Restore from iCloud Backup" again and choose the same backup.
If an app will not restore, try downloading it manually from the App Store on your new phone. Some apps require you to update iOS first — go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates, then try the app again. If the app still will not work, it may not be compatible with your new phone's iOS version or may have been removed from the App Store.
If you see a message that your iCloud backup is too large, you may have run out of free storage. Check your iCloud storage by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage. You can delete old backups you no longer need, buy more storage, or delete photos and videos from your old phone to make the backup smaller.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer data from an iPhone to an Android phone?
No, iCloud backups only work with iPhones. However, Google has an app called "Switch to Android" that can transfer some data like contacts and photos if you move to an Android phone. You would need to set up your Google account on the Android phone and use that app to pull data from your iCloud backup.
What if my old iPhone is broken and will not turn on?
If you have an iCloud backup from before the phone broke, you can restore from that backup on your new phone — you do not need the old phone to be working. If you do not have a backup, you can only recover data that was synced to iCloud automatically, like contacts and calendar events tied to your Apple ID.
Do I need to erase my old iPhone after transferring to a new one?
You do not have to, but it is a good idea for privacy. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This removes all your data from the old phone. If you plan to sell or give away the old phone, erasing it first prevents the new owner from accessing your information.
Will my text messages transfer if I use iCloud backup?
Yes, iCloud backup includes all your text messages, including group chats and attachments. They will restore to your new phone automatically. If you are switching from iPhone to Android, text messages will not transfer because they are stored in Apple's format.
How long does a backup take if I have a lot of photos and videos?
The first backup can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on how many photos and videos you have and your internet speed. Subsequent backups are faster because iCloud only backs up new or changed files. If you have thousands of photos, consider deleting old ones before backing up to speed up the process.