Getting a new iPhone is exciting—until you realize you need to move everything from your old one. Photos, apps, messages, settings, passwords... it can feel overwhelming. The good news? Apple has made this process remarkably smooth. Whether you're upgrading to the latest model or replacing a broken phone, you can transfer everything in under an hour.

Let me walk you through every method, from the easiest automatic transfer to manual options for specific situations.

Quick Start: The Easiest Method

If both iPhones are running iOS 12.4 or later (and they almost certainly are), Quick Start is the way to go. It's fast, wireless, and transfers everything.

What You'll Need

  • Your old iPhone (charged and unlocked)
  • Your new iPhone (turned on, at setup screen)
  • Both phones on the same WiFi network
  • Bluetooth enabled on both
  • About 30-60 minutes depending on data size

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Turn on your new iPhone and place it near your old one
  2. Wait for the Quick Start screen to appear on your old iPhone
  3. Tap Continue on your old iPhone
  4. Use your old iPhone to scan the animation displayed on the new iPhone
  5. Enter your old iPhone's passcode on the new iPhone
  6. Set up Face ID or Touch ID on the new iPhone
  7. Choose "Transfer from iPhone" when prompted
  8. Keep both phones near each other until the transfer completes

What Gets Transferred

  • All apps and app data
  • Photos and videos
  • Messages and call history
  • Contacts and calendars
  • Email accounts and settings
  • Health data
  • Keychain passwords
  • Apple Pay cards
  • Home screen layout
  • Wallpapers and settings
Quick Start is genuinely magical. You end up with a new iPhone that feels exactly like your old one, just faster. Even your app folders and widget layouts transfer perfectly.

iCloud Backup Method

If you can't have both phones together (selling your old one first, for example), iCloud backup is your best option.

Creating an iCloud Backup

On your old iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup
  2. Tap Back Up Now
  3. Wait for backup to complete (check the timestamp to confirm)

Important: Make sure you have enough iCloud storage. A full backup often exceeds the free 5GB. You can temporarily upgrade to a larger plan, transfer, then downgrade.

Restoring from iCloud Backup

On your new iPhone:

  1. Turn on and begin setup
  2. When you reach Apps & Data, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup"
  3. Sign in with your Apple ID
  4. Select your most recent backup
  5. Stay connected to WiFi until restore completes
  6. Apps will download in the background

iCloud Backup Limitations

  • Requires sufficient iCloud storage
  • Slower than direct transfer (depends on internet speed)
  • Some data requires re-authentication (banking apps, etc.)
  • Apple Pay cards need to be re-added

Computer Backup Method

For the fastest transfer with the most control, use a computer backup. This is also the only way to create an encrypted backup that includes passwords and health data.

Using Mac (macOS Catalina or later)

  1. Connect your old iPhone to your Mac
  2. Open Finder and select your iPhone in the sidebar
  3. Click "Back up all data on your iPhone to this Mac"
  4. Check "Encrypt local backup" and set a password
  5. Click Back Up Now
  6. Once complete, disconnect old iPhone
  7. Connect new iPhone
  8. Choose "Restore from this backup"
  9. Select your backup and enter the encryption password

Using Windows (or older Mac with iTunes)

  1. Open iTunes
  2. Connect your old iPhone
  3. Click the iPhone icon
  4. Select "This computer" under Backups
  5. Check "Encrypt local backup"
  6. Click Back Up Now
  7. Connect new iPhone and restore from backup

Why Encrypted Backups Matter

Encrypted backups include:

  • Saved passwords
  • WiFi settings
  • Health data
  • Call history
  • Website history

Without encryption, you'll need to re-enter passwords and lose some data. Always encrypt your backup.

Transferring Specific Data Types

Sometimes you don't want everything—just specific data. Here's how to handle common scenarios.

Photos Only

Using iCloud Photos:

  1. On old iPhone: Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Photos → Enable iCloud Photos
  2. Wait for upload to complete
  3. On new iPhone: Sign in and enable iCloud Photos
  4. Photos sync automatically

Using AirDrop:

  1. Select photos in the Photos app
  2. Tap Share → AirDrop
  3. Select your new iPhone
  4. Accept on new iPhone

Using a Computer:

  1. Import photos to your computer
  2. Import to new iPhone via Photos app or iTunes

Contacts Only

Contacts sync via iCloud automatically if you're signed into the same Apple ID. To verify:

  1. Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud
  2. Ensure Contacts is enabled
  3. Sign into same Apple ID on new iPhone

Messages

Messages transfer automatically with Quick Start or backup restore. For iCloud-based sync:

  1. Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Messages
  2. Enable on both devices
  3. Messages sync across devices

WhatsApp

WhatsApp has its own transfer process:

  1. On old iPhone: WhatsApp → Settings → Chats → Chat Backup → Back Up Now
  2. On new iPhone: Install WhatsApp, verify phone number
  3. Choose to restore from iCloud backup when prompted

For more on connecting Apple devices, see our guide on how to connect iPhone to MacBook.

Move to iOS: From Android

Switching from Android? Apple's Move to iOS app makes it relatively painless.

What Transfers from Android

  • Contacts
  • Message history
  • Photos and videos
  • Web bookmarks
  • Mail accounts
  • Calendars
  • Free apps (if available on iOS)

What Doesn't Transfer

  • Paid apps (must repurchase)
  • App data (games, etc.)
  • Music (unless using a streaming service)
  • PDFs and documents (transfer manually)

How to Use Move to iOS

  1. On your new iPhone, during setup, choose "Move Data from Android"
  2. On your Android, download Move to iOS from Play Store
  3. Open the app and tap Continue
  4. Enter the code displayed on your iPhone
  5. Select what to transfer
  6. Wait for transfer to complete

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Transfer Taking Too Long

  • Check WiFi: Both devices need strong, stable WiFi
  • Reduce data: Delete unused apps and photos before transferring
  • Use wired transfer: Connect both phones to computer for faster transfer
  • Be patient: Large photo libraries can take hours

"Not Enough iCloud Storage"

  • Temporarily upgrade iCloud storage (can downgrade after)
  • Delete old backups: Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Storage
  • Use computer backup instead

Apps Not Downloading

  • Check WiFi connection
  • Verify Apple ID is correct
  • Some apps may no longer be available
  • Tap the app icon to prioritize its download

Missing Data After Transfer

  • Passwords: Did you use encrypted backup?
  • Health data: Requires encrypted backup
  • Some apps: May need to re-authenticate
  • Apple Pay: Cards must be re-added manually

Quick Start Not Working

  • Ensure both phones have Bluetooth enabled
  • Both phones need iOS 12.4 or later
  • Try restarting both phones
  • Move phones closer together
  • Disable any VPN connections

After the Transfer

Once your data is transferred, there are a few things to check and set up.

Verify Your Data

  • Open Photos and check your library
  • Verify contacts are present
  • Check Messages for conversation history
  • Open important apps and verify data

Re-authenticate Apps

Some apps require you to sign in again:

  • Banking apps (security requirement)
  • Streaming services
  • Social media apps
  • Two-factor authentication apps

Set Up Apple Pay

  1. Open Wallet app
  2. Tap + to add cards
  3. Re-add your credit and debit cards
  4. Verify with your bank if required

Update Your Old iPhone

Before selling or giving away your old iPhone:

  1. Unpair Apple Watch if applicable
  2. Sign out of iCloud: Settings → [Your Name] → Sign Out
  3. Erase all content: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings
  4. Remove from your account: Check iCloud.com → Find My

Got Questions About iPhone Data Transfer? Let's Clear Things Up.

How long does iPhone to iPhone transfer take?

It depends on how much data you have. A typical transfer (50-100GB) takes 30-60 minutes via Quick Start. Larger libraries (200GB+) can take several hours. iCloud restore depends on your internet speed—expect 1-3 hours for most users.

Will I lose anything during the transfer?

With Quick Start or encrypted backup, virtually nothing is lost. Unencrypted backups don't include passwords or health data. Some apps require re-authentication regardless of transfer method. Downloaded music and movies may need to be re-downloaded.

Can I transfer data without WiFi?

Quick Start can use a direct device-to-device connection, but it's slower than WiFi. Computer backup doesn't require WiFi at all—it's the fastest method. iCloud backup and restore require WiFi.

Do I need to keep my old iPhone after transferring?

Keep it for at least a few days to verify everything transferred correctly. Once you're confident, you can erase and sell it. Don't erase until you've confirmed all data is on your new phone.

What if my old iPhone is broken?

If you have an iCloud backup, restore from that. If you have a computer backup, restore from that. If neither exists and the phone won't turn on, data recovery is difficult and may require professional services. This is why regular backups are important.

Ready to set up your new iPhone? Explore more Apple guides and tips at Celmin to get the most out of your devices. https://celmin.ca