It’s that time of year when Apple introduces new iPhone models, and many of us face the challenge of ensuring all our apps, settings, and personal data are safely transferred from our old phones.
Whether you’ve purchased an iPhone 16 or snagged a great deal on an earlier model, you don’t have to start from scratch.
Here, we’ll guide you through four methods to safely transfer your data from your old phone to your new iPhone. If you’re simply updating your current device, check out how to download iOS 18 and read our iOS 18 review.
1. Restore from iCloud
During the setup process, you’ll be prompted to use Quick Start to directly transfer apps and data from your old iPhone to the new one. This feature, introduced in iOS 12.4, might be new to you if it’s been a while since your last upgrade. The simplest and fastest way to set up your new iPhone is by restoring it from a recent iCloud backup. As you go through the initial setup, tap Restore from iCloud Backup, sign in with your Apple Account (formerly Apple ID before iOS 18), and select the most recent backup of your old device.
If your backup is more than a day or two old, take a few minutes to create a new one. Open the Settings app on your old phone, search for iCloud Backup at the top, and select the relevant result. Then tap Back Up Now to update the backup.
Once complete, return to your new iPhone and select the freshly created backup to restore from.
Your new phone will restore your settings and preferences, allowing you to start using it in around 15 minutes. Meanwhile, your apps will continue downloading in the background.
Once everything is restored, you’ll need to sign back into any accounts you added to your phone, as well as go through your apps and make sure you’re still signed in.
2. Apple direct transfer
If you don’t have a recent iCloud backup or if your internet connection is slow, you can transfer everything from one iPhone to another either wirelessly or via cable. When Quick Start prompts you to select the source, choose the direct transfer option.
Ensure both phones are plugged in and charging to avoid any interruptions, and have a stable Wi-Fi connection, as the process may take over an hour. You can speed things up by connecting both phones with a USB cable. However, if you’re using an iPhone 14 or earlier with a Lightning port, you may need an adapter. Apple provides more details on how to perform a wired transfer.
The more data you have, such as photos, the longer the transfer will take. The phones will provide a time estimate when the transfer begins, which is typically accurate within a few minutes. This method is especially useful if you’re not using Apple’s iCloud service for backups.
3. Use a Mac or PC
The method works when setting up a new iPhone is restoring from an encrypted backup on a Mac or PC. This not only transfers all your apps, settings, and preferences but also saves you from having to sign into all your apps again.
To do this, you’ll first need to create an encrypted backup of your current iPhone. Although it may sound complicated, it just requires checking an extra box and entering a password.
On a Mac, you’ll use Finder to back up your old iPhone. We’ve previously detailed the steps when Apple phased out iTunes. Be sure to check the “Encrypt backup” box and enter a password you’ll remember. Once done, your Mac will handle the rest, and notify you when the backup is complete.
If you’re using a PC, you’ll still use iTunes to create the backup. Follow the steps provided here, ensuring that you check the “Encrypt backup” box and enter a password.
To restore your new iPhone, open Finder or iTunes and connect your new device to your computer. Click “Trust” when prompted and follow the steps, selecting the backup you just made. You’ll need to enter the password you used for the encrypted backup before the restore process begins, so don’t forget it.
Once it’s done, your new phone will be an exact copy of your old phone and you won’t have to spend any time signing into apps or random accounts.
4. Move to iOS for Android users
Apple doesn’t offer many Android apps on the Google Play Store, but one key exception is Move to iOS. This free app enables you to connect your Android phone to a new iPhone and transfer essential data seamlessly.
According to Apple, the app has been redesigned for faster and more efficient migration from Android to iPhone. With Wi-Fi transfer speeds now reaching up to 5GHz, you can connect your iPhone to your Android device wirelessly. Additionally, for a quicker transfer, you can use a USB-C or USB-C to Lightning cable to move everything over, depending on your phone models.
Regardless of how you set up your new iPhone, there’s plenty of excitement ahead as you explore its features and capabilities.