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[2026 Guide] How to Transfer Data to New iPhone — 4 Easy Ways

As Apple continues upgrading the iPhone series with better performance, Apple users tend to replace their old iPhone with the latest iPhone 17. During upgrading, it is important to learn how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone.

In this guide, we'll walk through four reliable methods to transfer data to a new iPhone — including Apple's Quick Start, iCloud backup, Mac Finder/Windows iTunes and a smarter third-party tool called FoneEase for when you need more control. Each method comes with its own pros, so we'll also help you pick the right one for your situation.

Transfer Data To New Iphone

How We Tested These Methods

  • Devices tested: iPhone 15 and iPhone 17 Pro
  • Data types tested: Photos (5,000+), contacts (1,200+), messages (80,000+), WhatsApp backups, and third-party app data
  • Transfer conditions: Wi-Fi transfer, USB-C to USB-C cable, macOS 26, and Windows 11
  • File sizes tested: Small transfers (around 5 GB) and large transfers (around 120 GB)
  • Time measured: From starting the transfer process to having a fully set up and usable new iPhone

Quick Comparison

Feature Quick Start iCloud Backup Finder / iTunes FoneEase
Speed (60 GB) 30–50 min 2–4 hours (depends on internet) 10–20 min 20–35 min
Needs Computer? No No Yes Yes
Needs Internet? Wi-Fi only Yes No No
Selective Transfer No No No Yes
Cost Free Free (5 GB) Free Free trial
Works Without Old iPhone No Yes Yes (if backup exists) No

Quick Start: Apple's Built-in Wireless Apple's Built-in Wireless iPhone-to-iPhone Transfer

Best for: Users upgrading from an existing iPhone — especially if both phones are nearby and you want a simple, wireless setup.

Since iOS 11, Apple has included a feature called Quick Start that lets you transfer data directly from one iPhone to another over a local connection. It's the easiest method for most people — no computer, no cables, no cloud storage limits.


How to Use Quick Start to Transfer Data:

Step 1.
Turn on your new iPhone and follow the prompts until the Quick Start screen appears.
Step 2.
Then, place the new iPhone next to your old iPhone and a Quick Start animation will appear on your old iPhone — tap Continue.
Step 3.
Then follow the steps on your previous iPhone to scan the animation and continue setting up on your new device.
Step 4.
Then tap Transfer from iPhone to start the transfer. Keep both phones plugged in and near each other. The transfer time depends on how much data you have — a typical 60 GB transfer takes about 30–50 minutes on a good connection.
Quick Start Transfer On Iphone

PROS

  • No computer or cables needed
  • Direct device-to-device (fast for moderate data)
  • Free and built into iOS

CONS

  • Both devices must stay near each other for the full duration
  • Not great for very large transfers
  • Can be interrupted by unstable Wi-Fi
  • Data like Apple Pay cards cannot be transferred

iCloud Backup — Restore from the Cloud

Best for: Users who already back up regularly to iCloud, or those setting up a new iPhone without the old phone.

If you've got enough iCloud storage, iCloud Backup is a straightforward way to move your data. Your old iPhone uploads a backup to Apple's servers, and your new iPhone downloads and restores from it.


How to Transfer Data via iCloud

Step 1.
Backup your Old iPhone to iCloud if available. On your old iPhone: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. Tap Back Up Now. Wait for a while until the backup completes successfully. You can check the time and size on this screen.
Step 2.
Turn on your new iPhone and follow the on-screen setup steps until you reach Apps & Data screen.
Step 3.
Tap Restore from iCloud Backup and sign into your Apple ID.
Step 4.
Choose the latest backup from the list. The restore time depends on your internet speed and backup size — a 40 GB backup typically takes 1–2 hours.
Set Up New Iphone With Icloud
Step 5.
App data and photos will download in the background. You can use the phone during the download and apps and data will appear progressively.

PROS

  • Works even when your old iPhone is not available
  • Automatically restores your data if you already have iCloud Backup enabled
  • Keeps most of your settings, apps, and personal data intact

CONS

  • Requires enough iCloud storage space (the free plan only includes 5 GB)
  • Large backups can take a long time to restore
  • Does not support selective restoration — you need to restore the entire backup

FoneEase — Selective, Cable-Based Transfer

Best for: Users who want to selectively transfer data to the new iPhone. Also, ideal if you want to simultaneously manage data on both devices from one computer.

Sometimes you don't want to move everything. Or perhaps your internet is too slow for iCloud, and Quick Start keeps dropping the connection.


That's where a good third-party tool comes in. Aiseesoft FoneEase is a professional iOS data transfer tool. It connects your iPhones to the computer via USB, giving you full visibility into what's on each device and letting you pick exactly what to move. No cloud uploads, no wireless interruptions — just a direct cable connection.


How to Transfer Data Using FoneEase:

Step 1.
Download and install FoneEase on your Windows PC or Mac. Launch the program.
Free DownloadFor Windows

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Step 2.
Connect both iPhones to the computer using USB cables. FoneEase will detect and display both devices. Trust the computer on each iPhone when prompted.
Connect Iphone To Foneese
Step 3.
Click on your old iPhone in the left panel. Browse through the categories: Photos, Music, Messages, Contacts, Notes, Videos, and more.
Browse Iphone File With Foneease
Step 4.
Select the data you want, you can pick individual items (e.g., specific photos) or entire categories.
Step 5.
Click Export to and choose your new iPhone from the list.
Select And Transfer Data To New Iphone With Foneease

PROS

  • Lets you transfer only the data you actually need
  • No internet connection required — USB transfer is faster and keeps your data more private
  • Allows you to preview your data before starting the transfer
  • Support different transfer including Android to Android, iOS to PC.

CONS

  • Requires a computer running Windows or macOS
  • May not transfer all app-specific data, settings, or account information

Finder / iTunes — Wired Backup and Restore

Best for: Users who prefer a wired connection and a full, encrypted backup of everything.

Before iCloud and Quick Start existed, iTunes was the go-to method for iPhone backups. And it's still a solid option today — though on macOS Catalina and later, the job moved from iTunes to Finder.


The biggest advantage is that it saves your passwords, Wi-Fi settings, Health data, and settings configuration. And since everything stays on your computer, the transfer speed depends on your USB connection, not your internet speed.


How to Transfer Data Using Finder / iTunes

Step 1.
Connect your old iPhone to your computer using a cable.
Step 2.
Open your old iPhone:
On macOS Catalina or later: Open Finder and select your iPhone under Locations in the sidebar.
On macOS Mojave or earlier / Windows: Open iTunes and click the iPhone icon near the top left.
Step 3.
In the Summary tab, under Backups, select This computer. Check Encrypt local backup if you want to save passwords, Health, and HomeKit data (recommended). Set a password you won't forget.
Back Up Old Iphone With Finder
Step 4.
Click Back Up Now. The backup time depends on your data volume — a 60 GB backup over USB-C takes roughly 10–20 minutes.
Step 5.
Once the backup finishes, disconnect your old iPhone and connect your new iPhone to the same computer.
Step 6.
On the new iPhone's Summary tab, click Restore Backup, select the backup you just created, enter the password and confirm. Keep the device connected until the restore completes and the phone restarts.
Restore Backup With Finder

PROS

  • Encrypted backups can keep sensitive data like passwords, Wi-Fi settings, and Health data
  • No internet connection required — faster for transferring large amounts of data
  • Works even if your old iPhone has a damaged or unresponsive screen

CONS

  • Requires a computer running macOS or Windows
  • Does not support selective restoration — you have to restore the entire backup
  • Backup size is limited by the available storage on your computer
  • Requires the backup password before you can restore an encrypted backup

FAQs about How to Transfer Data to New iPhone

Does transferring data delete anything from my old iPhone?

No. Quick Start, iCloud Backup, and FoneEase all copy data — they don't delete anything from the source device. Your old iPhone retains everything unless you manually erase it later.

Can I transfer WhatsApp messages to a new iPhone?

Yes. Quick Start can transfer WhatsApp data as part of the overall iPhone migration process. If you’re using iCloud, make sure WhatsApp backup is turned on in the app by going to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup. With FoneEase, you can also transfer WhatsApp data by selecting the WhatsApp category during the transfer process.

What if my transfer gets interrupted halfway through?

Don't panic. Quick Start and iCloud both resume from where they left off in most cases. FoneEase allows you to restart the transfer for any incomplete categories. For iCloud, you may need to erase the new iPhone and start the setup process again if the restore fails completely.

Can I transfer data from Android to iPhone using these methods?

No. These methods are for iPhone-to-iPhone transfers. For Android to iPhone, use Apple's "Move to iOS" app available on Google Play. It transfers contacts, messages, photos, videos, and some app data wirelessly during initial setup.

Will my Apple Pay cards and Health data transfer?

Apple Pay cards need to be re-added manually on the new iPhone for security reasons — they don't transfer via backup. Health data transfers if you use iCloud Backup (with end-to-end encryption) or Quick Start. FoneEase does not transfer Health data.

Conclusion

Not sure which method is right for you? Use this quick guide to find the best option:

You have both iPhones and a reliable Wi-Fi connection: Choose Quick Start. It’s the easiest option and requires almost no setup.

You no longer have your old iPhone: Use iCloud Backup, as long as you created a backup before switching devices.

You only want to transfer specific data (such as photos and contacts) and skip the rest: Choose FoneEase. It gives you more control over what gets transferred.

You have a large amount of data but only need certain files transferred through a stable wired connection: FoneEase is a better choice for selective transfers.

You want a free solution without cables and don’t mind moving everything together: Quick Start is usually the most convenient option.

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Aiseesoft FoneEase is a data transfer and management tool that lets you seamlessly move, back up, and manage various data between iOS, Android, and computers without resetting your phone or relying on iTunes.

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