Old iPhone → New iPhone
Moving to a new device? What transfers on its own, what you'll move yourself, and Apple's steps as a checklist — every line quoted from Apple.
Apple's tool for this move: Quick Start or a backup
What transfers
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Quick Start
Apple: “Quick Start: Use your iPhone or iPad to automatically set up a new device.”
Transfer data from your previous iOS or iPadOS device to your new iPhone or iPad ↗
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iCloud backup
Apple: “iCloud: Transfer your data and purchased content to your new device from your previous device's iCloud backup.”
Transfer data from your previous iOS or iPadOS device to your new iPhone or iPad ↗
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Computer backup
Apple: “Transfer your data and purchased content to your new device from a backup you made with the Apple Devices app, iTunes, or the Finder.”
Transfer data from your previous iOS or iPadOS device to your new iPhone or iPad ↗
What you move yourself
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Health and Activity from an unencrypted computer backup
Apple: “If your backup isn't encrypted, your Health and Activity data from your iOS device or Apple Watch won't transfer.”
Your move, step by step
Each step quotes Apple. Tick them off as you go — ticks stay in this browser only.
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Before you start
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Apple: “Make sure that you have a backup of your device.”
Transfer data from your previous iOS or iPadOS device to your new iPhone or iPad ↗
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Apple: “Have your Apple Account password ready.”
Transfer data from your previous iOS or iPadOS device to your new iPhone or iPad ↗
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Apple: “If you buy a new iPhone or iPad and don't have enough iCloud storage to back up your current device using iCloud Backup, you're eligible to get temporary iCloud storage.”
Get temporary iCloud storage when you buy a new iPhone or iPad ↗
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Apple: “Quick Start occupies both devices, so make sure that your devices have been updated to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS and choose a time when you won't need to use your current device for several minutes.”
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Apple: “If you already set up your new device, you need to erase it before you can transfer your backup.”
During the transfer
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Apple: “If you download from iCloud, your apps and data download in the background so that you can start using your new device right away.”
Osnivo tip Transferring directly from the old iPhone means waiting before you can use either phone; downloading from iCloud lets you start sooner.
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Apple: “Keep your devices near each other and plugged in to power until the data migration process is complete.”
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Apple: “If you're asked to transfer your phone number during setup of your new iPhone, transfer your physical SIM or eSIM using the onscreen prompts.”
Afterwards
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Apple: “If possible, keep your device connected to Wi-Fi and plugged into power after setup. This allows content like your photos, music, and apps stored in iCloud to automatically download back to your device.”
Use iCloud to transfer data from your previous iOS or iPadOS device to your new iPhone or iPad ↗
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Apple: “Do not erase your current iPhone or iPad until you restore your temporary backup to your new device.”
Get temporary iCloud storage when you buy a new iPhone or iPad ↗
Every iPhone setup screen, explained
Setup Companion: what each screen means and where to change it later.
Can't find a setting?
Settings Pathfinder: the exact path on your iPhone.
Sources for this page
- 1 Transfer data from your previous iOS or iPadOS device to your new iPhone or iPad support.apple.com
- 1 Get temporary iCloud storage when you buy a new iPhone or iPad support.apple.com
- 1 Use Quick Start to transfer data to a new iPhone or iPad support.apple.com
- 1 Use the Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes to transfer data from your previous iOS device to your new iPhone or iPad support.apple.com
- 1 Set up eSIM on iPhone support.apple.com
- 1 Use iCloud to transfer data from your previous iOS or iPadOS device to your new iPhone or iPad support.apple.com