How to transfer data from one iPhone to another

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Losing all the stuff on your phone was no big deal before the smartphone age. These days, it's practically a Netflix horror movie plot. Wondering how to switch iPhones or iPads successfully, without losing anything in the process? If you're looking to upgrade (these are the best iPhones to buy right now), it is possible to do so painlessly. Your photos, contacts, videos, message history, music, calendars, mail accounts, and many of your apps can all be transferred from your previous device to the new one. We've outlined the steps below.

Updated September 2022: We tweaked the instructions for the latest version of iOS and added details on eSIM.

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1. Back Up Your Old iPhone or iPad

First, you need to back up your old device, which can you do via iCloud or your computer. We've broken down these steps below. 

Using iCloud

Photograph: Apple

Make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi. Then go into your iPhone or iPad’s settings and click your name at the top, which will take you to your Apple ID page. Depending on which model you have, you will either choose iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now, or after clicking your Apple ID page, you'll see a list of devices your ID is signed into. If that's the case, click on your iPhone or iPad. From there, choose iCloud Backup, toggle it on, click on Back Up Now, and let your device back up while it’s still on Wi-Fi. It might be worth setting your new device to automatically backup daily, but be aware that Apple only lets you store 5 GB for free.

Using a Mac

Plug your iPhone or iPad into your MacBook or iMac and open Finder. On the left, you should see your device come up under Locations. You can go through all your saved data, from music and podcasts to photos and files. If your photos have been saved via iCloud, they won't show up here unless you turn that feature off. Under the General tab, you can select Back Up Now. To save Health and Activity data, choose the option to encrypt your backup, or else it will not be saved; not saving unencrypted Health and Activity data is a default privacy feature. All iCloud backups are encrypted automatically.

Using a Windows Computer

You'll need to download iTunes for Windows and plug your iPhone or iPad into your laptop or desktop via USB. Click the iPhone/iPad button at the top left of the iTunes window, then go to Summary > Back Up Now. Encrypt your backup by clicking Encrypt local backup and setting a password. Encrypting allows you to back up your Health and Activity data, as well. To find your backups, click Edit > Preferences > Devices. Apple also goes through the steps here.

2. Swap SIMs or Activate eSIM

Photograph: Apple

Once you're fully backed up, it's time to sort your SIM card. If you're in the US, the iPhone 14 range no longer has a physical SIM card slot, so you have to use eSIM. If you have previously used an eSIM on an iPhone, you can activate it during setup by following the onscreen instructions. If you are switching from an older iPhone using a physical SIM card, then you will be asked about transferring your number as a part of the Quick Start process described below. Apple has full eSIM setup instructions for different scenarios. Just know that once you go from a physical SIM to eSIM, your physical SIM card will no longer work. 

To use a physical SIM card with an older iPhone, simply swap the SIM card from your old phone into the iPhone. You can also do this step after setting up your new iPhone, in case you don't want to miss any calls or messages during the process. Lightly pushing a SIM tool or paperclip into the SIM tray hole will help you open it up. The SIM card has one sloped side, which you can line up on the SIM tray of your new iPhone.

3. Turn On Your New Device

We recommend fully charging both your old device and your new iPhone before you begin, and keep a charger handy just in case. You are ready to turn on the new device. The next part depends on the version of iOS or iPadOS your old device is running. 

Note: Before we run through the methods, anyone using the Google Authenticator app (or any other two-factor authenticator app) should be careful not to delete this app on their old iPhone until they have moved their accounts across to the new one or they may lose access. Here are Google's instructions for transferring Authenticator codes to a new phone.

Have you just upgraded your iPhone? You’ll probably want to transfer all your contacts, photos, music, apps, and settings from your old to new iPhone. There are a couple of ways to do it, and we’ll guide you through each of them. As a result, you’ll get the same iPhone with all your files and apps in place. At the same time, it will be a new, more beautiful and powerful device.

Three ways to transfer everything from iPhone to iPhone:

1. Use Quick Start — if your old iPhone runs iOS 11 or later, you can just place both devices close to each other to automatically set up your new iPhone.
2. Transfer your data with iCloud— you can create an iCloud backup on your old iPhone and then use it while setting up your new device. All you need is a Wi-Fi connection; you don’t have to bother with plugging your iPhone into a computer.
3. Restore your iPhone from iTunes — use your Mac or PC to create an iTunes backup. Then, you’ll need to connect your new iPhone to the same computer to transfer your data.

How to switch iPhones using Quick Start

1. Bring your old and new iPhone close to each other. Make sure Bluetooth on your old device is on.
2. Turn on your new iPhone.
3. Your old iPhone shows the Quick Start screen offering you to set up a new device. Tap Continue.
4. An animation will appear on your new iPhone. Hold your old device over the new one to scan this image.
5. After your iPhones are connected, wait till the data and settings migrate between devices. Keep both iPhones close to each other.
6. When prompted, enter the passcode from your old iPhone on your new one as well as your Apple ID password.
7. Set up Touch ID or Face ID on your new iPhone.
8. Select if you’d like to restore data from the most recent iCloud backup or backup your old device now and then restore information.
9. Next, you can change your preferences related to location, Apple Pay, Siri, etc. By default, these settings are the same as on your old device. You’ll also be able to adjust them later in the Settings app.

Now, all your contacts, photos, settings, and other data have moved to your new iPhone.

How to transfer data from your old iPhone to a new one with iCloud 

1. Connect your old iPhone to Wi-Fi.
2. Open the Settings app.
3. Tap [your name] > iCloud.
4. Select iCloud Backup.
5. Tap Back Up Now.
6. Wait until the backup process completes. 

Once you have a backup, it’s time to pick out your new iPhone and start setting it up:

1. Turn on your new iPhone. 
2. Select your country and language.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to connect to Wi-Fi, set up Touch or Face ID, and create a passcode.
4. Once you reach the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud backup.
5. Sign in with your Apple ID.
6. When asked, select the backup you’ve just made on your old iPhone.
7. Wait for your data to transfer from your old to new iPhone.
8. Complete the rest of the onscreen setup steps.

Do you have too many backups? Learn how to view and delete old iPhone backups in iCloud.

How to transfer data from your old iPhone to a new one using iTunes

1. Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes on your Mac or PC.
2. Open iTunes.
3. Plug your old iPhone into your computer.
4. If there’s a pop-up message asking for access to your iPhone, follow the onscreen steps.
5. Select your iPhone on the top toolbar.

1. If you want to transfer your Health and Activity data as well as saved passwords, click Encrypt backup.
2. Create a password for your backup.
3. Click Back Up Now.

Once your backup is ready, put your old device aside. Now, you can transfer data to new iPhone:

1. Turn on your new iPhone. You’ll see the “Hello” screen.
2. Follow the setup steps until you reach the Apps & Data screen.
3. Tap Restore from iTunes Backup.
4. Plug your new iPhone into the computer you used to back up your previous device.
5. Open iTunes and select your new iPhone at the top left of the screen.
6. Click Restore Backup.
7. Select your most recent backup.
8. If your backup is encrypted, enter your password.
9. Keep your iPhone connected to iTunes and Wi-Fi until the transfer finishes.
10. Complete the rest of the setup steps on your iPhone.

Do your iTunes backups take up too much space? Learn how to move them to an external drive.

In this article, you’ve learned how to switch iPhones and transfer all your contacts, photos, music, and other content to your new device. At the same time, if you're going to sell your old iPhone, it's helpful to learn how to reset it.

We hope your new iPhone will help you become even more productive. How often do you upgrade your iPhone? Share your experience in comments!