If you have both iPhones in hand and the old one works, use Quick Start: turn the new one on, hold them next to each other and follow the assistant (Solution 1). It is the most complete route, because it transfers straight from device to device without relying on a cloud backup. If iCloud is out of space, request the free temporary storage Apple grants to people switching phones before you start (Solution 2). Without both phones together, restore from an iCloud backup (Solution 3) or from a computer (Solution 4) - the computer route is faster and, if you tick the encryption box, it also carries saved passwords and health data. Set aside time: the transfer itself can take anywhere from twenty minutes to a few hours, and afterwards a handful of items always need manual attention, such as the Apple Watch, banking apps and two-factor verification codes (Solutions 6 and 7).
What causes this problem
- Lack of iCloud space is the number one reason for an incomplete backup: the phone finishes the transfer but leaves photos and messages behind.
- A low battery or an unstable Wi-Fi connection on either device interrupts the copy halfway and forces you to start over.
- Too little free space on the new iPhone, when the old one holds more content than fits at the destination.
- Apps that keep data only on their own servers, such as banks and messengers verified by phone number, which need fresh authentication even after a flawless transfer.
- The wrong backup picked at restore time, bringing back a snapshot from weeks ago instead of the current state.
- An Apple Watch paired to the old phone, which only comes along if the watch is unpaired and paired again in the right order.
- Confirm the old iPhone is updated and working. If its screen is broken or it will not turn on, skip to restoring from a backup (Solutions 3 and 4).
- Keep both devices charging and on the same Wi-Fi network. Transferring on a low battery is the easiest way to end up starting over.
- Check how much content the old device holds, in the storage section of Settings, and compare it with the new iPhone's capacity.
- Write down your Apple Account password and have access to the phone number that receives verification codes. Without those, setup stalls right at the start.
- Set aside an unhurried block of time. Do not start the transfer fifteen minutes before you have to leave the house.
Solutions, in the order to try them
1Use Quick Start with both iPhones side by side
This is the most direct route and the one that carries the most: with both devices close together, the old iPhone recognises the new one and offers to transfer the data directly, without going through a backup. It works over Wi-Fi or over a cable between the two, and the cable tends to be much faster for anyone with a lot of photos.
- Turn the new iPhone on and leave it on the first setup screen, without touching anything.
- Bring the old iPhone close, unlocked and with Bluetooth on. A prompt offering to set up the new device appears on it.
- Tap continue and point the old phone's camera at the animation that shows up on the new phone's screen.
- Enter the old device's passcode on the new one when asked and follow the assistant to the screen that asks where to bring the data from.
- Choose the option to transfer directly from iPhone rather than downloading from a backup.
- Leave both together and plugged in until the bar finishes. Do not use either device during the transfer.
2Request the free temporary iCloud space before you start
Apple grants extra storage at no cost, for a limited period, precisely for people switching phones who do not have room in their iCloud plan for a full backup. Turn this on before attempting the backup, not after it fails for lack of space.
- On the old iPhone, open Settings and tap your name at the top.
- Go into the iCloud section and then into the backup part.
- Find the option to transfer or prepare your data for a new iPhone and read the notice: it explains that the extra space is granted for a limited period.
- Turn it on and wait for the full backup to finish before setting up the new device.
- Restore on the new iPhone within the deadline shown on screen, because the extra space is temporary.
3Restore from an iCloud backup
This is the route for anyone who no longer has the old device in hand, or who prefers to set the new one up somewhere else. It needs a recent backup and a good connection, because everything is downloaded from the internet. Photos and videos usually keep arriving for hours after the phone already looks ready.
- On the old iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, open iCloud and force a backup now. Check the date shown on screen when it finishes.
- On the new iPhone, follow the initial setup to the apps and data screen and choose to restore from an iCloud backup.
- Sign in with the same Apple Account and select the most recent backup, checking its date and size.
- Keep the device on Wi-Fi and plugged in. The screen will say everything is ready ahead of time: apps will still be filling in gradually.
- Open the gallery and confirm the photo download finished before deleting anything from the old device.
4Restore from a backup on your computer
The computer backup is the fastest of the three and the only one that does not depend on the size of your iCloud plan. It also has one important advantage: if you tick the option to encrypt the backup, it carries saved passwords and health data, which a non-encrypted backup leaves out.
- Connect the old iPhone to the computer with a cable and authorise the connection on both ends.
- Open the application that manages the device (on a Mac it is Finder, on Windows it is Apple's program for devices) and select the iPhone in the sidebar.
- Choose to back up to this computer and tick the box to encrypt the local backup. Keep the password you create somewhere safe: without it the backup cannot be restored.
- Wait for the backup to finish and check the date and time displayed.
- Connect the new iPhone to the same computer, follow the initial setup to the apps and data screen and choose to restore from a computer.
- Select the backup you just made, type the encryption password and wait.
5Move your phone number to the new device
Transferring data does not move the phone line by itself, and it is common to finish everything and notice the new iPhone has no signal. If your SIM is physical, it is a simple swap. If it is an eSIM, there is a guided transfer between the two devices, and in some cases the carrier has to authorise it.
- With a physical SIM: turn the old device off, pop the tray out with the tool that came in the box and put the SIM in the new iPhone.
- With an eSIM: on the new iPhone, go to Settings and find the cellular section. An option to transfer a line from another nearby iPhone should appear.
- Confirm the transfer on the old device when the prompt shows up there.
- If the carrier requires activation through its app or by phone call, do that before erasing the old device.
- Test with a call and a text message before calling the job done.
6Set the Apple Watch up again in the right order
The watch is paired to one specific iPhone, and that link is what has to be rebuilt. Unpairing through the watch app on the old iPhone creates an automatic watch backup, which is then offered when you pair with the new device. Doing it in the wrong order, by erasing the old iPhone first, costs you your settings and activity data.
- With the old iPhone still working, open the Apple Watch app and unpair the watch. It backs itself up at that moment.
- Finish transferring the data to the new iPhone by whichever route you chose.
- On the new iPhone, open the Apple Watch app and start pairing.
- Choose to restore from the watch backup when the option appears.
- Once it is done, check that the watch's payment cards are still there: they usually need to be confirmed again.
7Deal with the apps that do not migrate on their own
Even in a flawless transfer, one group of apps comes back asking for authentication: they store identity on the device rather than in the account, for security reasons. Knowing that in advance spares you the shock of opening your banking app and finding a sign-up screen.
- Banking and payment apps: expect to reactivate access through the app, usually with a password, fresh biometrics and sometimes a code sent through another channel.
- Two-factor code apps: check whether yours offers export or cloud sync and do that while the old device is still active, otherwise you lose access to your codes.
- Messengers verified by phone number: open them, redo the verification, and restore the history from the app's own backup, which is separate from the iPhone backup.
- Payment and transit wallets: cards usually need to be confirmed again on the new device.
- Do all of this before erasing the old iPhone, while it can still receive a verification code.
8Check what arrived and only then erase the old device
Rushing to erase the old device is what turns a small problem into a permanent loss. Use the new iPhone for a few days first. When you are sure, erase the old one from inside Settings, not just by removing the account, so it leaves your account and can be used by someone else.
- Check on the new device: the number of photos and videos in the gallery, old conversations in messengers, contacts, notes and files.
- Test calls, the camera, biometrics and the apps you use most.
- Leave the old iPhone charged and put away for a few days, without erasing anything.
- When you feel safe, on the old device go to Settings, then general, then the transfer or reset option, and choose to erase all content and settings.
- Confirm the old device left your account's device list before selling or giving it away.
Applies to
| System | Status |
|---|---|
| iPhone on iOS 17 and iOS 18 | Confirmed |
| iPhone on iOS 15 and iOS 16 | Confirmed |
| iPad on iPadOS | Quick Start and backup restore work the same way; the phone line part does not apply |
Menu names can change slightly between versions. If a step above does not match what you see on screen, the official support page from the manufacturer has the most current wording for your version.
Frequently asked questions
Last checked: Jul 5, 2026 · We review this guide whenever the manufacturer changes the process.