TRANSFERRING DATA TO AN iPHONE OR IPAD USING QUICK START
Use Quick Start to set up your new iOS device automatically using information from your existing iPhone or iPad. You can then restore the rest of your data and content to your new device from your iCloud backup.
If you're setting up a new device using your current device – and your current device is using iOS 12.4 or later or iPadOS – Quick Start allows device-to-device migration. This allows you to transfer all of your data wirelessly from your current device to your new one.
Using Quick Start occupies both devices, so best to choose a time when you won't need to use your current device for several minutes.
How to use Quick Start
- Turn on your new device and place it near your current device. The Quick Start screen appears on your current device and offers the option of using your Apple ID to set up your new device. Make sure you’re using the Apple ID you want to use, then tap Continue. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on if you can't see this option on your current device.
- When the animation appears on your new device, hold your current device over your new one and centre the animation in the viewfinder. Wait for a message that says Finish on your new device. If you can't use the camera on your current device's, tap Authenticate Manually, and follow the steps that appear.
- When asked, enter your current device's passcode on your new device.
- Follow the instructions to set up Face ID or Touch ID on your new device.
- When asked, enter your Apple ID password on your new device. If you have more than one device, you might also need to enter their passcodes.
- Your new device will give you the option of transferring data from one device to another, or restoring apps, data and settings from your most recent iCloud backup. To restore from a backup on your computer tap Other Options. After you've selected a backup, you can choose whether to transfer some settings related to location, privacy, Apple Pay and Siri.
- If you’ve got an Apple Watch and you're setting up a new iPhone, you'll also be asked if you'd like to transfer data and settings from your Apple Watch.
Transfer data directly from one iPhone or iPad to another
If your current iPhone or iPad is using iOS 12.4 or later or iPadOS, you can use device-to-device migration to transfer data directly from your previous device to your new one. This can be done wirelessly, or with a cable.
Here’s how to use device-to-device migration:
- Turn on your new device and place it near your current device. The Quick Start screen appears on your current device and offers the option of using your Apple ID to set up your new device. Make sure that it's the Apple ID that you want to use and tap Continue. If you can't see this option, make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
- Wait for an animation to appear on your new device. Hold your current device over your new one, centre the animation in the viewfinder, and wait for the new device to display Finish. If you can't use the camera on your current device, tap Authenticate Manually, and follow the steps.
- When asked, enter your current passcode on your new device.
- Follow the instructions to set up Face ID or Touch ID on your new device.
- Now, tap Transfer to begin transferring your data from your previous iPhone or iPad to your new device. You can also choose whether to transfer some settings, such as Apple Pay and Siri, from your previous device to your new iPhone or iPad.
- If you’ve got an Apple Watch and you're setting up a new iPhone, you'll be asked if you'd like to transfer your Apple Watch data and settings.
- Keep your devices next to each other and plugged into a power source until the data migration process is complete. The time this takes varies based on the connection type, network conditions and the amount of data being transferred.
Migrate data from your iPhone using a wired connection
If the wireless network you're using is slow or congested, choosing the wired method will be faster. To migrate data from one iPhone to another using a wired connection, get a Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adaptor and a Lightning to USB Cable and follow these steps:
- Connect the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adaptor to power through its Lightning port. Make sure your using a power adaptor that’s 12W or higher.
- Connect the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adaptor to your current iPhone.
- Plug the Lightning to USB Cable into your new iPhone and then connect the other end to the adaptor.
- Continue by following the steps outlined in the Transfer data directly from one iPhone or iPad to another section above.
- Using a wired connection to migrate data only works on iPhones, not iPads.
Finish
When you transfer data to your new iOS or iPadOS device, you may need to complete a few more steps to finish the process. Make sure you set up and transfer your content to your new device before you sell or give away your previous iOS or iPadOS device.