Getting a new iPhone is exciting — whether it’s the iPhone 16, iPhone 17, a second-hand iPhone 13 Pro, or you’re helping a family member move from an old iPhone 11. The very first question everyone asks is: how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone without losing anything?

Good news: Apple has made the process easier and faster than ever in 2025. Real people on Reddit and Apple forums report moving 100–250 GB of data (photos, videos, messages, apps, logins, Health data¹, and even exact home-screen folders) in as little as 12–35 minutes.

This complete guide covers every single working method in 2025 — including the ones Apple doesn’t always advertise. We’ll answer every version of your question:

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Why Millions of People Successfully Transfer Data Every Year (And You Will Too)

Every year, Apple sells over 220 million iPhones. Almost every single one of those buyers needs to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone. Apple knows this, so they keep improving the tools²:

• iOS 18 and iOS 19 (2024–2025) made Quick Start 3× faster than in 2020
• Encrypted end-to-end transfer means your passwords and Health data stay 100% private
• You no longer lose your home-screen layout or app folders
• Even Apple Watch pairing moves automatically

Let’s look at every method in detail.

Method 1 – Quick Start Direct Transfer (The #1 Choice in 2025)

This is the magical “place two iPhones next to each other” method you see in Apple commercials — and it actually works exactly like that.

When this method is perfect for you:

• You have both the old and new iPhone in your hands right now
• Your new iPhone is brand new or has been completely erased
• You want the fastest and most complete transfer possible
• You’re upgrading to iPhone 16, iPhone 17, or any model

What moves over (literally everything):

• All photos and videos (original quality)
• Messages and iMessages (with attachments)
• Contacts, call history, favorites
• Apps and every app’s data (bank logins, game progress, WhatsApp chats)
• Home-screen layout and folders exactly as you had them
• Wi-Fi passwords, VPN settings, wallpapers
• Apple Watch pairing and data
• Health data, HomeKit devices, Safari tabs, notes, reminders — everything

Step-by-Step: Wireless Quick Start (Most Popular)

1. Turn on your new iPhone and place it right next to your current iPhone
2. A “Quick Start” card pops up on your old iPhone — tap Continue
3. A swirling animation appears on the new iPhone
4. Use your old iPhone’s camera to scan that animation (like scanning a QR code)
5. Enter your current iPhone passcode on the new phone when asked
6. Tap Transfer from iPhone (not “Restore from iCloud Backup”)
7. Agree to the terms and wait — a progress bar shows exactly how long
8. Keep both phones plugged in, close together, and unlocked
9. Done! Your new iPhone restarts and looks identical to the old one

Real-world times reported in 2025:

• 60 GB → 12–18 minutes
• 128 GB → 20–30 minutes
• 256 GB → 30–45 minutes

Lightning-Fast Version: Wired Quick Start

Want it even faster and no Wi-Fi needed?

• Connect both phones with a USB-C to Lightning (or USB-C to USB-C) cable
• The same Quick Start screen appears — just choose the wired option
• Users report 200 GB in under 25 minutes

how to transfer data from old iPhone to new iPhone

Method 2 – How to Transfer Data from iPhone to iPhone with iCloud (Great When Phones Are Apart)

You don’t have both phones at the same time? Or you just want to set things up from anywhere? Use iCloud.

Requirements:

• Both phones signed into the same Apple ID
• Enough iCloud storage (5 GB free is almost never enough — 200 GB or 2 TB is common)
• Decent Wi-Fi (50 Mbps+ recommended)

Detailed Steps:

1. On your old iPhone go to Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup
2. Turn on iCloud Backup if it’s off
3. Tap Back Up Now and wait (you’ll see the exact time of the last backup)
4. Keep the phone on Wi-Fi until it finishes (big backups can take hours)
5. Now pick up your new iPhone and start setup
6. When you see “Apps & Data” screen → choose Restore from iCloud Backup
7. Sign in with your Apple ID
8. Pick the backup you just made (it will have today’s date)
9. Stay on Wi-Fi and keep the phone charging — everything downloads automatically

Method 3 – How to Transfer Data from iPhone to iPhone Without iCloud (Using Mac or Windows PC)

Hate paying for iCloud? Have 1 TB of photos and slow internet? This is your best option.

Why people love the computer method:

• Completely free (no iCloud storage cost)
• Super reliable — works even with bad internet
• Encrypted backup keeps passwords and Health data safe
• Works perfectly with second-hand or refurbished iPhones

On a Mac (macOS Catalina or newer):

1. Connect your old iPhone with a cable
2. Open Finder → click your iPhone in the sidebar
3. Under “Backups” choose Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac
4. Very important: Check “Encrypt local backup” and set a password
5. Click Back Up Now — wait until it finishes
6. Now connect your new iPhone (or erase it first³)
7. During setup choose Restore from Mac or PC → pick the backup you just made

On Windows 11/10 or older Macs:

Use the free Apple Devices app (2023+) or iTunes — exact same steps.

How to Transfer Data from iPhone to iPhone After Setup (Yes, Even If You Already Started Using It!)

You skipped the transfer screen and set up your new iPhone as new? Don’t panic — millions do this every year.

Option 1 (Recommended – Full Transfer):

1. On the new iPhone go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone
2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings (don’t worry — you’re about to get everything back)
3. The phone restarts like it’s brand new
4. Now use Quick Start or iCloud restore exactly as shown above

Option 2 (Partial Transfer Without Erasing):

iOS 18+ lets you move some data later:

• Messages → use “Move to iOS” style transfer for chats
• Photos → turn on iCloud Photos on both phones
• Contacts → enable iCloud Contacts But for a perfect clone, erasing and doing a full transfer is still best.

Situations People Search For in 2025

• How to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone without wifi → Use wired Quick Start or computer backup
• How to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone using AirDrop → AirDrop is only for individual files, not full transfer
• Transferring to a used or second-hand iPhone → Just erase it first (factory reset) then use Quick Start
• iOS version difference → Update the old iPhone if possible; otherwise computer backup works best
• Transfer stuck at 1 minute remaining → Turn on Airplane Mode → turn Wi-Fi back on → wait 10 minutes

What Almost Never Transfers (And Easy Fixes)

ItemDoes it transfer?Fix if neededMusic downloadsNoRe-download in Apple MusicSome banking app loginsSometimes asks againNormal security featureThird-party app data99% yesUpdate the app if notApple Pay cardsYesYou may need to verify again

FAQ: How to Transfer Data from iPhone to iPhone (2025 Edition)

What is the easiest way to transfer everything from my old iPhone to a new one?

The absolute easiest and fastest method in 2025 is Quick Start direct transfer. Just place both iPhones next to each other, scan the animation, and everything (apps, photos, passwords, home-screen layout) moves over in 15–40 minutes.

Can I transfer data from iPhone to iPhone without resetting the new phone?

For a 100% perfect copy (including app layout and logins), you still need to erase the new iPhone once and use Quick Start or a backup. However, you can move photos, contacts, and messages later without erasing by turning on iCloud syncing.

How do I transfer data from iPhone to iPhone after setup is already done?

Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings. The phone will restart like new. Then use Quick Start or restore from iCloud/Mac backup. It only takes 30–60 minutes total and is worth it for a perfect result.

How to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud?

Use a Mac or Windows PC:

1. Connect old iPhone → make an encrypted backup in Finder or Apple Devices app
2. Connect new iPhone → restore from that backup Completely free and works even with no internet.

How to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone with iCloud?

On an old phone: Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now. On new phone during setup choose “Restore from iCloud Backup” and pick the latest one.

Conclusion: Your Perfect Transfer Plan for 2025

Here’s the simple decision tree:

1. Have both phones right now? → Use Quick Start (wired if you want max speed)
2. Only one phone or far apart? → Make an iCloud backup tonight
3. Slow internet or huge data? → Use Mac/PC encrypted backup (free & reliable)
4. Already set up the new phone? → Erase it and start over — takes 30 minutes and worth it

You now know more than 99% of iPhone users about how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone in 2025.

Reference

1. Hundreds of recent experiences: reddit.com ↩︎
2. Apple’s complete 2025 guide: support.apple.com ↩︎
3. Helpful community answers: quora.com/If-I-buy-a-new-iPhone-whats-the-easiest-way-to-transfer-everything-apps-contacts-apps-arrangement-from-my-old-phone-to-my-new-phone ↩︎