How to Transfer Data to a New iPhone

Buying a new iPhone is incredibly exciting, but the prospect of moving years of photos, messages, and app data to the new device can feel overwhelming. In the past, this process required plugging both phones into a computer and using iTunes. Today, Apple has made it almost entirely wireless and automated.

The fastest and most reliable method is called Quick Start. It uses a secure, direct Wi-Fi connection between your old phone and your new phone to transfer absolutely everything. Here is how to transfer your data to a new iPhone.

The Prerequisites

Before you begin the transfer, you must prepare both devices. If you skip these steps, the transfer will likely fail halfway through.

• Plug them in: The transfer process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour, depending on how much data you have. Plug both iPhones into a wall charger. If a phone dies during the transfer, you will have to start over.
• Update your old iPhone: Your old iPhone should ideally be running the latest version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any pending updates.
• Enable Bluetooth: Ensure Bluetooth is turned on on your old iPhone.
• Keep them close: Place the two iPhones physically next to each other on a table.

Step 1: Initiate Quick Start

Once you have prepared the devices, you can turn on the new iPhone.

1. Turn on your new iPhone and swipe up on the “Hello” screen.
2. Select your Language and your Country.
3. A screen labeled Quick Start will appear on the new phone.
4. At this exact moment, unlock your old iPhone. A large pop-up card will appear on the old phone’s screen saying Set Up New iPhone.
5. Ensure the Apple ID displayed on the pop-up is yours, and tap Continue.

Step 2: Authenticate the Transfer

To prove that you actually own both devices, Apple requires a visual authentication step.

1. An animation of a swirling blue cloud will appear on the screen of your new iPhone.
2. Your old iPhone will automatically open a circular camera viewfinder.
3. Hold your old iPhone directly over the new iPhone, centering the blue animation inside the circular viewfinder.
4. Wait for a message that says Finish on New [Device].

If your old iPhone’s camera is broken, do not panic. Simply tap “Authenticate Manually” at the bottom of the screen, and the new phone will display a six-digit code that you can type into the old phone.

Step 3: Transfer Your Data

You can now put your old iPhone down. All the remaining steps take place on the new device.

1. The new iPhone will ask you to enter the passcode of your old iPhone. This acts as the master decryption key for your data.
2. Follow the on-screen prompts to set up Face ID or Touch ID.
3. You will arrive at the Transfer Your Data screen. Tap the first option: Transfer from iPhone.
4. Agree to the Apple Terms and Conditions.
5. The transfer will begin. A progress bar will appear on both screens showing the estimated time remaining.

Do not touch either phone until the new iPhone reboots. Once it turns back on, you will find all your photos, text messages, app layouts, and even your alarms copied perfectly to the new device.