What moves to your new iPhone and what doesn't

When you set up a new iPhone, you can move almost everything from your old one — your photos, messages, contacts, calendar events, app data, and settings. The process is called migration, and Apple built it to be automatic. You do not manually copy files one by one.

What transfers depends on how you set up the new phone. If you use iCloud (Apple's cloud storage), your data syncs automatically during setup. If you use a computer backup, you restore from that backup file. Both methods move the same things: apps, photos, messages, notes, reminders, health data, and passwords stored in Keychain.

A few things do not transfer. Your old phone's operating system does not move — the new phone comes with its own. Voicemail messages from your carrier do not transfer; you will need to save those separately if they matter. Some very old apps may not work on the new phone if they were built for an older iOS version. Banking apps and apps that store passwords sometimes require you to log in again for security reasons.

Key Takeaways

  • The easiest path is to use iCloud during setup — sign in with your Apple ID and let the new phone read your data automatically.
  • If you do not use iCloud, you can back up your old phone to a computer with iTunes or Finder, then restore that backup on the new phone.
  • Apps, photos, messages, contacts, and calendar events all transfer; voicemail and some security-locked apps do not.
  • The transfer takes time if you have many photos or apps — plan for 30 minutes to several hours depending on your data size and internet speed.
  • Keep your old phone plugged in and nearby during setup in case the new phone needs to ask you questions about your accounts.

Using iCloud to transfer during setup

This is the fastest method for most people. When you turn on your new iPhone for the first time, you will see a screen that says "Quick Start". On your old iPhone, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Make sure the toggle next to iCloud Backup is turned on (it will be blue). This backs up your phone to Apple's servers.

On the new phone, stay on the Quick Start screen. You will see an option to sign in with your Apple ID — the email and password you use for iCloud. Enter those details. The new phone will ask which data to restore. Select "Restore from iCloud Backup" and choose the most recent backup from your old phone. The phone will then read your photos, apps, messages, and settings over WiFi.

This process can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have and how fast your internet is. Keep the new phone plugged in and on WiFi the entire time. Do not unplug it or turn it off. Your old phone can be put away, but keep it nearby — sometimes the new phone needs you to unlock it to verify your identity for certain accounts.

Backing up and restoring using a computer

If you do not use iCloud or prefer to keep a backup on your computer, you can use iTunes (on Windows or older Macs) or Finder (on newer Macs). Plug your old iPhone into your computer with a USB cable. On a Mac running Monterey or newer, open Finder and click your phone's name in the sidebar. On Windows or older Macs, open iTunes and click the phone icon.

Click "Back Up Now" or the equivalent button. The computer will create a file containing everything on your phone. This takes 10 to 30 minutes. When it finishes, unplug the old phone and plug in the new one. Go through the initial setup screens until you reach "Apps & Data". Choose "Restore from Mac Backup" or "Restore from Windows Backup". Select the backup file you just created and let the restore run.

Like the iCloud method, this takes time and requires the phone to stay plugged in. The advantage is that you have a backup file on your computer that you can restore from again later if something goes wrong.

What to do if you cannot use iCloud or a computer

If you do not have access to a computer and do not want to use iCloud, you can still set up the new phone, but you will have to manually sign back into your apps and re-read them. During setup, when you reach the "Apps & Data" screen, choose "Set Up as New iPhone". The phone will start empty.

After setup finishes, open the App Store and search for each app you used on your old phone. read them one by one. When you open each app, sign in with your username and password. Your app data (like saved games or preferences) may not come back — it depends on whether the app developer stores that data in the cloud. Messages, photos, and contacts will not transfer this way, so you will lose them unless you backed them up separately.

This method is slow and error-prone. Use it only if you have no other choice. If you have time, set up iCloud on your old phone first, wait for a backup to complete, then use that backup on the new phone.

Transferring photos and videos separately

If you have thousands of photos or videos, the automatic transfer might be slow or incomplete. You can move them separately using iCloud Photos or a computer. In Settings on your old phone, tap your name, then iCloud, then Photos. Turn on "iCloud Photos". This uploads all your photos to iCloud over time — it can take hours or days if you have a lot.

Once the upload finishes, sign into iCloud on your new phone the same way and turn on iCloud Photos. Your photos will read automatically. Alternatively, you can connect your old phone to a computer, open Finder or iTunes, and manually copy the Photos folder to your computer. Then connect the new phone and copy the folder back. This is slower than iCloud but gives you a local backup.

Handling accounts and passwords after transfer

After your data transfers, some apps will ask you to log in again. This is normal for banking apps, email apps, and password managers — they do this for security. Have your passwords ready. If you use two-factor authentication (a code sent to your phone or email when you log in), make sure you can receive those codes. You may need your old phone nearby to receive a text message code while you are setting up the new phone.

Check your email and messaging apps first. Open Mail and make sure your email accounts are connected. Open Messages and verify that your text messages and iMessages are working. If you use WhatsApp, Telegram, or another messaging app, open it and verify your phone number or account. These apps sometimes require you to re-verify your identity on a new device.

Troubleshooting a stuck or slow transfer

If the transfer stalls or seems frozen, check your WiFi connection. Move the phone closer to your router or restart the router. If the phone is still stuck on the same screen after 15 minutes, force restart it by pressing and releasing the volume up button, pressing and releasing the volume down button, then pressing and holding the side button until the Apple logo appears.

If the transfer fails partway through, you can start over. Erase the new phone (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings) and begin setup again. Choose the same backup or iCloud account. The second attempt usually works because the backup file is still there.

If you are running out of storage space on the new phone, the transfer may fail. Check Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If you are near the limit, delete large apps or videos you do not need, then try the transfer again. Some people find that transferring over a wired connection (using a USB-C or Lightning cable connected to a computer) is faster and more reliable than WiFi, especially for large backups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer to a new iPhone if I forgot my Apple ID password?

You will need to reset it before you start. 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 go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security on your old phone and tap "Change Password". Once you have reset it, use the new password during setup on the new phone.

What happens to my old phone after I transfer everything?

Your old phone still has all its data on it. You can erase it by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This wipes everything and prepares the phone to be sold, recycled, or given away. Do this only after you have verified that everything transferred correctly to the new phone.

Will my text messages transfer if I switch from Android to iPhone?

Text messages from Android do not transfer automatically because Android and iPhone use different systems. You can use a third-party app like Samsung Smart Switch or Google Takeout to export your messages, but they may not import perfectly into iPhone's Messages app. Photos, contacts, and calendar events transfer more reliably. Plan to lose some message history when switching from Android.

How long does the transfer usually take?

A transfer with a small amount of data (a few apps, some photos) takes 15 to 30 minutes. A transfer with hundreds of apps and thousands of photos can take 2 to 4 hours. The speed depends on your WiFi connection, how much data you have, and whether your phone is doing other things at the same time. Keep the phone plugged in and on WiFi, and do not use it while the transfer is running.

Can I transfer to an iPhone if I do not have WiFi?

You can use a computer backup instead. Plug your old phone into a computer, back it up using Finder or iTunes, then plug the new phone in and restore from that backup. This does not require WiFi. However, after the restore finishes, you will need WiFi to read apps and sync with iCloud, so you will eventually need internet access to complete the setup.