Got a shiny new iPhone? The good news is Apple has made moving everything over about as easy as it gets. You don't have to be techy, and you almost never have to manually re-add your photos, contacts, or apps one by one. In most cases you just set the two phones side by side and let them talk to each other.
This guide walks you through the two simplest ways to do it: Quick Start, which copies straight from your old iPhone to the new one, and restoring from an iCloud backup if your old phone isn't handy. We'll also cover moving your phone number, what comes across, and the little things that trip people up. If you'd rather have someone do it with you, the team at Browning PC in Valdosta is always happy to help.
Charge both phones and back up the old one first
Plug in both iPhones and connect the old one to Wi-Fi. Before you start, make a fresh backup of your old iPhone so nothing recent gets left behind. On the old phone, open Settings, tap your name at the top, tap iCloud, tap iCloud Backup, then tap Back Up Now and wait for it to finish.
Settings[Your Name]iCloudiCloud BackupBack Up Now
💡 Stay on Wi-Fi and keep the phone plugged in so the backup completes fully. The date and time of your last backup show right under Back Up Now.
Turn on the new iPhone and bring the old one close
Press and hold the side button on the new iPhone until you see the Hello screen, then pick your language and region. A box will pop up on your old iPhone asking if you want to use your Apple Account to set up the new one. Tap Continue.
💡 If that box doesn't appear, make sure Bluetooth is turned on on your old iPhone and that both phones are awake and unlocked.
Pair the two phones with the floating animation
A swirling animation will appear on your new iPhone. Hold your old iPhone over it so the animation lands inside the circle on the old phone's camera view. When you see 'Finish on New iPhone', enter your old phone's passcode on the new phone, then follow the prompts to set up Face ID or Touch ID.
💡 Steady hands help. If the camera can't catch the pattern, tap 'Authenticate Manually' and follow the prompts instead.
Choose how to move your data
When you reach the 'Transfer Your Data' screen, tap 'Transfer from iPhone' to copy directly from your old iPhone for the most complete copy, or tap 'Download from iCloud' if your old phone is gone. Transferring directly copies your photos, apps, settings, and most everything straight across between the two phones.
Transfer Your DataTransfer from iPhone
💡 Direct device-to-device transfer brings over the most, including some app data that an iCloud download may not.
Move your phone number (eSIM or SIM)
During setup the iPhone will offer to transfer your phone number. If you use an eSIM, follow the on-screen prompts to transfer it (you may briefly need an internet connection or a quick text from your carrier). If you have a physical SIM card, you can move it from the old phone to the new one with the SIM tool.
💡 If the number transfer needs a code, watch your old phone for a text from your carrier. You can also finish this later under Settings, Cellular, Set Up Cellular.
Keep both phones near each other until it finishes
Leave both iPhones plugged in and sitting next to each other while the transfer runs. A progress bar shows how much is left. The time depends on how much you're moving and your Wi-Fi speed, so it's fine to walk away and let it work.
💡 Keep the phones within a few feet of each other until the bar is full.
Restore from an iCloud backup instead (if you don't have the old phone)
No old iPhone handy? On the 'Transfer Your Data' screen, tap 'Download from iCloud', sign in with your Apple Account, then pick your most recent backup by looking at the date and size. Your apps and photos download in the background, so you can start using the phone right away.
Transfer Your DataDownload from iCloud
💡 Pick the backup with the newest date so you don't lose recent photos or texts.
Finish up and double-check
Stay connected to Wi-Fi and power for a while after setup so apps and photos finish downloading. Then check that your messages, contacts, photos, and favorite apps are all there. Some apps (like banking or social ones) may ask you to log in again, which is normal.
💡 Open your Photos and Messages apps and scroll back a bit to confirm everything came across before you set the old phone aside.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What actually transfers to my new iPhone?
Quite a lot. Using Quick Start or an iCloud download, your photos, videos, messages, contacts, calendars, apps, app data, settings, Wi-Fi passwords, and home screen layout all come across. A few things need a quick re-login, like banking apps, and some apps may re-download their content in the background.
Do I need both phones to do this?
Not always. Quick Start (the easiest, most complete method) needs both phones side by side. But if you've lost or already traded in your old iPhone, you can still restore everything from your most recent iCloud backup, as long as you were backing up to iCloud.
How do I move my phone number to the new iPhone?
During setup, the iPhone walks you through transferring your number. Most newer iPhones use a digital eSIM, so the number moves over with a few taps (sometimes with a quick code from your carrier). If your old phone uses a physical SIM card and your new one has a tray, you can simply move the card over.
How long does the transfer take?
Usually 30 minutes to an hour, but it depends on how many photos and apps you have and how fast your Wi-Fi is. Keep both phones plugged in and close together, and feel free to let it run while you do something else.
What if it gets stuck or something didn't come over?
First, make sure both phones stayed near each other on Wi-Fi and power. If something is missing, give it time, since apps and photos can keep downloading in the background for a while after setup. If it's still not right, Browning PC in Valdosta can take a look and get everything moved over for you.