How to Transfer Everything to Your New iPhone (A Step-by-Step Guide)

By Hassan Ahmed ⏐ 4 weeks ago

Remember a time when there was no problem switching from one phone to the next? Of course, if you have ever only known the era of smartphones, you can likely not relate. These days, changing phones and worrying about losing some data is an ever-present horror.

Opening the package to a brand-new iPhone is quite unlike any other experience, and we get it. A fresh design, free of wear and tear, unchanged design, and interesting new features to test. However, we all wish to keep one thing constant: our data.

If you know which precautions and steps to take, you can rest easy when upgrading to a new phone. Your data can only take a few minutes to transition to the new device, instead of hours that you dread. However, it is only possible if you know how to make it happen for yourself.

Luckily, we have compiled this how-to for those who are looking for device switching but are not aware of proper data backup and reinstating.

Data Backups: Methods and Ways to Safely Do So

There are a few things you will need to do before switching to make sure that all your data ports over correctly.

First, and most importantly, you need to save your current iPhone’s data if something goes wrong. This means making a backup that can be retrieved once you sign in to your new device. Remember that even if you do not feel the need for a backup, it is always wise to do so as a precaution.

There are two ways you can back up all your data on an iPhone. These include:

From iCloud
From Mac/Windows

From iCloud

The good news is that you can back up both your iPhone and iPad using iCloud, making things easier. Next, you can choose to manually backup data or allow iCloud to automatically do so on your behalf.

Manual iCloud Backup

Make sure your iPhone is connected to the internet (preferably Wi-Fi)
Go to Settings > Tap on [your name] (e.g., Danny Rico) and go to iCloud
Click on iCloud Backup > Backup Now
Make sure that your internet connection does not break at this point. Set your device to automatically backup your data daily.
Be aware that Apple only lets you store 5 GB for free.
If you have iOS 15 or above, Apple will allow you to back up your data to iCloud to switch to a new iPhone.
If you don’t have enough iCloud storage space to complete the backup, buy more iCloud storage.

Automatic iCloud Backup

Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup
Make sure Back Up This [Device] is turned on.
Make sure the internet connection is stable.
It is better to plug in the device to a power outlet.
Make sure your device’s screen is locked.
If you receive an alert stating that you don’t have enough iCloud storage space to complete the backup, follow the onscreen steps to buy more iCloud storage.

Simple and wireless, this solution guarantees that the cloud safely stores all your critical data. If you want to back up your new iPhone strictly without any cables, this method is the one for you.

From Mac/Windows

On a Mac, do the following:

Plug your iPhone or iPad into your MacBook or iMac and open Finder.
Look for your device under Locations.
Under the General tab, you can select Back Up Now. All iCloud backups are encrypted automatically.

On a Windows desktop or laptop, you will need to get iTunes for Windows:

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.
Go to Summary > Back Up Now.
Encrypt your backup by clicking Encrypt Local Backup and setting a password.
To find your backups, click Edit > Preferences > Devices.

What To Do if iCloud Storage is Full?

Now, if your iCloud storage is full and you do not want to buy more storage, there is a nifty little trick you can use to bypass it. But be warned that this trick will only help you hang on to photos and videos and not your other data, so use this step wisely.

If you are sure to go with this method, consider the following:

Connect your current iPhone via USB cable to your PC or Mac
Answer the prompts for allowing the computer to access your files on the iPhone
Locate [your device] under My Computer.
Once you click on your device, you will see folders.
Go into each folder and copy and paste them into a folder under My Documents or just into a folder called “iPhoneBackup” on your desktop.
Start with the latest photos first, especially if you’ve backed up your files previously, your older files might already be saved.
Do not do any other activities on your computer or your phone, while the files are being transferred.
Once the files are backed up, go to the folder on your computer and make sure you can see the pictures and videos you want to save.

Data Restoration on the New iPhone

Now that we have successfully backed up your phone data, we can now move onto setting up the new device. It is recommended to fully charge your new device before usage. Once you turn it on, follow the instructions, and your phone is set up.

Now, there are two ways you can transfer data on the new iPhone: from Quick Start and from iCloud.

From Quick Start

If your old device is running iOS 12.4 or iPadOS 13.4 or newer, then you can use Quick Start to directly transfer data from your old iPhone or iPad to the new one. There is no need to go into any settings because as soon as you turn on the device, you will be prompted to use Quick Share, provided your iOS version supports it. Here are the steps:

On the new device, make sure Bluetooth is enabled.
Bring it in the range of your old phone.
You should see a Quick Start screen with a Set Up New iPhone option on your old device. Tap Continue to begin the process.
You should see an animation appearing on your new phone, asking you to hold your current device over the new one and center the View Finder as instructed on the screen. Wait for a message that says Finish on New [Device].
Enter your passcode on your new device and follow the instructions to set up Face ID or Touch ID.
At this point, you can choose to migrate data directly from your old iPhone or iPad to your new one by selecting Transfer from [Device].
Keep both devices close and plugged into power until the transfer is complete and you’re done.

From iCloud

Getting your data from iCloud is another option prompted to you as soon as you turn on the new iPhone. If you have previously backed up your data via iCloud, you can directly choose this option. You can also choose this option if you feel like the Quick Start option is a bit time-consuming.

Here is how to do it in three easy steps:

Follow the initial setup instructions until you reach the “Apps & Data” screen.
Sign in with your Apple ID and select the most recent backup.
Your new iPhone will download all your backed-up data.

Quick tip: You can set up the new iPhone without transferring any data, and then just email any photos, videos, or files you want to yourself and re-save them. But while this might give you more control over what data you carry over, it takes a lot more time.

Swapping SIM/eSIM Cards

After ensuring you have a full backup, now is the time to sort out the SIM situation. In the United States, iPhones do not now feature a conventional SIM card port, so the only other option left is to use an eSIM.

If you have activated your eSIM on an iPhone before, you know it is simply following the on-screen prompts during setup.

Things are a little more technical with a physical SIM card, you will be asked about moving your number as part of the Quick Start process.

What to Do If Some Data is Lost

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, some files or data may not swap as easily as you like. In these cases, it is necessary to be cool and act fast to retrieve the missing data instead of worrying.

To begin with, see if the data is still on the old device. It is possible that the data you are trying to transfer is heavy in size and is taking time to load over. Also, it may yet have to start the transfer process, in which case, you can try transferring it again using a third-party tool. For all types of files, you can try using Google Drive and Dropbox for safekeeping.

Use data recovery software if the data is missing from the old device, e.g., Disk Drill, iBeeSoft and TunesKit. The storage on your old device may help you recover lost or deleted files but there is no assurance that you will be able to recover every bit of lost data.

Always have a backup strategy if you lose important contacts, pictures, or other data that cannot be recovered. You can prevent significant file loss by regularly backing up your data to cloud storage or an external hard drive.

To Sum Up

There isn’t anything else to transfer data to a new phone. If you went ahead and fired up your new iPhone or iPad without transferring anything, you’ll have to either erase it and start over or transfer your content manually. However, be warned that it’s going to be a lot more work than doing a full transfer.

We recommend taking the above steps to get all your data over at once, without hassle or a chance of loss. Do not delete data on your old device until your new one is up and running. Have fun with your new iPhone or iPad once the switching process is complete.