How to Transfer Data From iPhone to iPhone

March 15, 2024 By Janne Smith No Comments 9 minutes

Getting a new iPhone often leads to another head-scratching activity, such as how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone. And despite how technical it sounds, learning how to transfer data to a new iPhone is way easier than you thought.

Speaking of data transfers, we see a flood of Gen Z rushing to get their hands on every new iPhone release. According to Bloomberg Intelligence’s study (2023), a 7% yearly growth in Apple’s user base is predicted due to Gen Z choosing iPhones. With slightly higher prices, this could lead to a 10% revenue increase for Apple.

Jumping back to “how to transfer data to a new iPhone,” this article covers a list of different ways for different devices, such as PC, Macs, and iPhones. Let’s dive in!

Note: We don’t encourage using third-party apps for transferring data from iPhone to iPhone. Since they aren’t directly associated with Apple, you should expect a few of them to contain cybersecurity threats, such as malware or viruses. Even if you opt for them, you must use FastestVPN for guaranteed data protection.

How Do I Prepare My iPhone for Data Transfer?

If you’re switching to iPhone 15, then transferring data from iPhone to iPhone is going to be effortless. The latest iPhone comes with a Prepare for New iPhone feature, where your device gives you a 21-day free temporary iCloud storage space. Meanwhile, this comes

If you move your data to your new iPhone within 21 days of starting the transfer process, you won’t need to pay for additional storage. If 21 days isn’t sufficient, you can request an additional 21-day extension. Here’s how to use the Prepare for New iPhone feature for transferring data from iPhone to iPhone:

• Go to Settings > General.
• Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Navigate “Prepare for New iPhone” and select Get Started.
• Review and choose Continue.
• If required, tap Turn on Backup to Transfer > Move All App Data with iCloud > Done. Wait for the data to upload to iCloud.
• Once the backup is complete, or if you’ve already backed up to iCloud, transfer data to your new iPhone.

How to Transfer Data From iPhone to iPhone via Quick Start

Following the standard ways of transferring data, there are 3 primary ways for data transfer iPhone to iPhone. This includes moving the data via:

• Quick Start
• iCloud Backup
• iTunes Backup

We’ll walk you through all the methods. Here’s how to transfer data from your old phone to your new iPhone via Quick Start:

Note: Ensure your new and old iPhones have a sufficient battery or are plugged into the power supply for data transfer iPhone to iPhone.

• Bring both iPhones close together (Turn the Bluetooth on in the old iPhone).
• Power on your new iPhone and wait for a prompt on the old iPhone.
• Tap “Continue” on the old iPhone. Scan the animation on the new iPhone with the old iPhone’s camera.
• Enter your new iPhone’s passcode and Apple ID (set up Face ID optionally).
• Choose “Transfer from iPhone.” Wait for the transfer to complete.

How to Transfer Data From iPhone to iPhone via iCloud Backup

Note: Ensure your iCloud is updated before transferring data from iPhone to iPhone. Additionally, you’ll need to reset your iPhone if you’ve already set up your iPhone. However, if you haven’t moved on with the setup, simply ensure a backed-up iCloud, and that’s all.

Here’s how you can restore data to a new iPhone using iCloud:

• Verify that a recent backup exists before proceeding.
• Switch on your new iPhone and connect it to a Wi-Fi network.
• Navigate to the “Apps & Data” section.
• Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup” and sign in with your Apple ID and password.
• Select the most recent and relevant backup from your available options.

How to Transfer Data From iPhone to iPhone via iTunes

You can also transfer data from iPhone to iPhone through iTunes and your PC. However, you must ensure that you have the latest iTunes version. Similar to iCloud, you have to keep iTunes backed up.

Here’s a step-by-step tutorial for data transfer iPhone to iPhone through iTunes:

• Back up the old iPhone to iTunes.
• Power on the new iPhone and start setup.
• Choose “Restore from Mac or PC” & connect iPhones.
• Open iTunes, locate the new iPhone, select “Restore Backup,” and choose the desired backup.
• Wait for restoration to complete.

How to Transfer Data From iPhone to iPhone Using a Windows PC

Note: Ensure the PC accepts your Type-C or the USB cable connecting your iPhone and the PC.

Once you have the PC and your iPhone connected through the cable, here’s a tutorial for data transfer iPhone to iPhone:

• Download and install iTunes from the Microsoft Store.
• Connect your iPhone to your PC.
• Open iTunes and click Summary on the left side.
• Under Backups, select This Computer, and then click Back Up Now.
• Tap Set Up Manually and then Restore from Mac or PC on the Apps & Data screen.
• Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup.

How to Transfer Data From iPhone to iPhone Using a Mac

For example, when transferring data on a PC, you must connect your iPhone and PC via a cable. The same goes for transferring data using a Mac. Once you connect both, here’s how to transfer the data from your old iPhone to the new one using Mac:

• Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a cable.
• Open Finder, select your iPhone from the sidebar and click Back up all of the data on your iPhone to your Mac. Choose Back Up Now.
• On your new iPhone, tap Set Up Manually and select Restore from Mac or PC on the Apps & Data screen.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the setup.

Can You Transfer Data From iPhone to iPhone After Setup?

If you got a new iPhone and forgot to transfer data before setup, that’s totally fine! According to Exploding Topics, iPhone holds a 58.81% share of the smartphone market in the US. And, this comes from the accessible features it offers.

You can always learn about transferring data from iPhone to iPhone after setup. You can do this through a factory reset, which we’ll already cover in the coming sections of this article.

However, there are 3 ways for transferring data from iPhone to iPhone after setup:

• Transfer Data Through a Factory Reset
• Transfer Data From iPhone to iPhone Through PC
• Transfer Data From iPhone to iPhone via Third-Party Apps

Does Transferring Data From iPhone to iPhone Need WiFi

Typically, data transfers from iPhone to iPhone require WiFi. However, data transfers through cable or a few other methods don’t specifically require a stable WiFi connection. Here are the typical methods for “how to transfer data to a new iPhone” and why they require WiFi:

1. Data Transfer Quick Start

This method uses a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection between the two iPhones to transfer data directly. Cellular data wouldn’t be sufficient for the large amount of data involved.

2. Data Restoration Through iCloud Backup

This method downloads your data from the iCloud servers, requiring a stable internet connection (ideally Wi-Fi, as cellular data usage can be significant and costly, depending on your plan).

Now that you know of the benefits of the WiFi connection, let’s jump on to the next section, focusing on ways for transferring data from iPhone to iPhone.

Why Can’t I Transfer Data From iPhone to iPhone? Troubleshooting Steps

There can be a list of reasons why you might be unable to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone, such as:

• Insufficient proximity
• WiFi/Bluetooth connection issues
• Outdated software
• A low battery of both devices

Speaking of the factors that can lead to data transfer failures, here are the 3 troubleshooting steps for addressing these failures:

1. Check the Operating System Version of the iPhone

Note: If your iPhone runs on a beta version of iOS, you must remove that before proceeding with further updates. Remove the “iOS Beta Software Profile” in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. Restart your iPhone to receive updates after removing the profile.

If you’re using the Quick Start method for transferring data, you must ensure that your iPhone has version 12.4 or later. Here’s how you can check your phone’s OS version and if there’s any software update available:

• Open Settings > General.
• Select the Software Update option.
• If you see any available updates, tap Install Now.
• If it needs downloading first, tap Download and Install.
• Enter the passcode, and then tap Install Now.

2. Force Restart of Both iPhones

Note: The process for restarting your iPhone for data transfer iPhone to iPhone can differ over iPhone models.

• Press and release the Volume Up button.
• Press and release the Volume Low button right after releasing the Volume Up button.
• Locate the Side button (or the Sleep/Wake button on older models). Press and hold this button firmly.
• Hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears on your iPhone’s screen. Once the logo appears, release the button immediately.
• Your iPhone will now perform a forced restart and power on automatically.

3. Check Bluetooth and Cable Connection

This section for how to transfer data to a new iPhone is divided into 2 parts for Bluetooth and Cable Connection:

a. Bluetooth

• Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on both iPhones. Otherwise, the data transfer iPhone to iPhone will fail.

b. Cable Connection

The steps to ensure a robust connection between your device and the lightening cable involve:

• Connect the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter to your old iPhone.
• Connect the Lightning to USB Cable to your new iPhone and its other end to the adapter. This establishes a wired connection for data transfer.

Wrapping Up

While backing up your new iPhone barely takes long, you can opt for the built-in data transfer options or third-party apps that aren’t directly associated with Apple. However, these apps don’t ensure data protection, and it’s best to use FastestVPN for elevated data security during data transfer iPhone to iPhone.

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