How to transfer everything from iPhone to iPhone without Quick Start

Did you just get a new iPhone for yourself? Whether that's a brand new iPhone 13, arguably the best iPhone currently available, or maybe it's a slightly older iPhone 12 or iPhone 11. After all, you could be coming from a much older iPhone and have been long overdue for an upgrade. Regardless of which iPhone you came from and what you picked up, congratulations! A new iPhone is always exciting.

But what about all of your data on your old iPhone? You probably have a ton of data on it that you want to keep, such as messages, voicemails, photos and videos, contacts, various files and documents, and so much more. All of this data is important, and you'll want to make sure that everything makes it over to your best iPhone safe and sound.

How are you going to transfer your old data to your new iPhone, like the iPhone 13 Pro? Don't worry; there are a few ways you can do this, including using iCloud or even going the more traditional route with a wired connection with your favorite Mac or PC. Here are all the best ways to transfer data to a new iPhone.

Using Automatic Setup to transfer data to a new iPhone

1. Select your language on your new iPhone with your new and current devices nearby.
2. Tap Continue on your iPhone on the popup that appears asking you to set up your new iPhone with your Apple ID.

1. Use your current iPhone to scan the image that appears on your new iPhone.
2. Enter your current iPhone or iPad's passcode on your new iPhone.
3. Set up Touch ID or Face ID on your new iPhone.

1. Choose whether or not to restore your new iPhone from your most recent compatible backup — if that option presents itself.
2. Choose to restore your new device from an iCloud or iTunes backup, set it up as a new iPhone, or transfer data from an Android device.

1. Agree to the terms and conditions.
2. Tap Continue under Express Settings to use the settings for Siri, Find My iPhone, Location, and usage analytics that were transferred over from your current iPhone.

1. Complete the setup process for your new iPhone as you normally would.

How to restore from an iCloud backup to transfer data to a new iPhone

1. Open Settings on your old iPhone.
2. Tap the Apple ID banner.
3. Tap iCloud.

1. Tap iCloud Backup.
2. Tap Back Up Now.

1. Turn your old iPhone off once the backup is finished.
2. Remove the SIM card from your old iPhone or if you're going to move it to your new one.

Wait for the backup to complete before proceeding. You can now set aside your old iPhone.

NOTE: Make sure that your new iPhone is off when you start these next steps.

1. Insert your old SIM card into your new iPhone if you want to move it between devices.
2. Turn on your new iPhone.
3. Slide up or press the Home button depending on which device you're setting up.
4. Follow the directions to choose your language and set up your Wi-Fi network.
5. Tap Restore from iCloud backup.
6. Sign in to your iCloud account (this is also your Apple ID).
7. Tap Next.
8. Tap Agree.
9. Tap Agree again.
10. Choose the backup you just made.

How to transfer your data to your new iPhone on macOS Catalina and newer

1. Plug your old iPhone into your Mac running macOS Catalina or newer.
2. Click on the Finder icon in the Dock to open a new Finder window.
3. Click on your iPhone under Locations.

1. Click Trust if you're asked to trust your iPhone.
2. Click the checkbox for Encrypt Local Backup.
3. Create a password if this is your first time setting up encrypted backups.
4. Click on Back Up Now.

1. Skip Backup Apps, if asked. (They'll likely re-download anyway.)
2. Unplug your old iPhone when done.
3. Turn off your old iPhone.
4. Take your SIM card out of your old iPhone. (If you don't have a new or separate SIM card for your new phone.)

Wait for the backup to complete before proceeding with these next steps.

1. Put your SIM card into your new iPhone. (If it didn't come with a new or different SIM card.)
2. Turn on your new iPhone.
3. Plug your new iPhone into your Mac.
4. Slide to set up on your new iPhone.
5. Follow the directions to choose your language and set up your Wi-Fi network.
6. Select Restore from Mac or PC.
7. Click your new iPhone under Locations in the Finder window.
8. In Finder on your Mac, click the button next to Restore from this backup.

1. Choose your recent backup from the drop-down list.
2. Click Continue.

1. Enter your password and click Restore if your backup was encrypted and the Finder asks.

How to transfer your data to your new iPhone using macOS Mojave and older

1. Make sure you're running the most recent version of iTunes.
2. Plug your old iPhone into your Mac or Windows PC.
3. Launch iTunes.
4. Click on the iPhone icon in the menu bar when it appears.
5. Click on Encrypt Backup; you'll be asked to add a password if this is your first time encrypting a backup.

1. Click on Back Up Now.

1. Skip Backup Apps, if asked. (They'll likely re-download anyway.)
2. Unplug your old iPhone when done.
3. Turn off your old iPhone.
4. Take your SIM card out of your old iPhone. (If you don't have a new or separate SIM card for your new phone.)

Wait for the backup to complete before proceeding with these next steps.

1. Put your SIM card into your new iPhone. (If it didn't come with a new or different SIM card.)
2. Turn on your new iPhone.
3. Plug your new iPhone into your Mac or Windows PC.
4. Slide to set up on your new iPhone.
5. Follow the directions to choose your language and set up your Wi-Fi network.
6. Select Restore from iTunes backup.
7. On iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC, select Restore from this backup.
8. Choose your recent backup from the list.

1. Click Continue.
2. Enter your password if your backup was encrypted and it asks.

Keep your iPhone plugged into iTunes until the transfer is complete and on Wi-Fi until all re-downloads are complete. Depending on how much data you have to re-download, including music and apps, it might take a while.

Make sure your most important data goes with you from iPhone to iPhone

We all have a lot of incredibly important data and memories on our iPhones. While it may seem a little daunting to get all of that information transferred over to a new iPhone, it's actually very easy and you have several ways to go about it, from the automatic setup process to iCloud to just relying on a good old wired data transfer between your computer and iPhone.

Speaking of wired transfers, you'll want to make sure that you have a good Lightning cable for the job. Though Apple doesn't give you an iPhone charger anymore, it still provides a basic USB-C to Lightning cable for you, though the quality may not be the best. If you want something that's more durable than Apple's cables, which are known to fray and break down over time, then check out our recommendations on the best USB-C to Lightning cables for your buck.

Anker USB-C to Lightning Cable 3FT MFi Certified

Anker is a brand that is well known for quality power accessories, and this is an excellent USB-C to Lightning cable for your iPhone needs, whether it's charging or data transfer.

Christine Romero-Chan was formerly a Senior Editor for iMore. She has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade at a variety of websites. She is currently part of the Digital Trends team, and has been using Apple’s smartphone since the original iPhone back in 2007. While her main speciality is the iPhone, she also covers Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac when needed.

When she isn’t writing about Apple, Christine can often be found at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, as she is a passholder and obsessed with all things Disney, especially Star Wars. Christine also enjoys coffee, food, photography, mechanical keyboards, and spending as much time with her new daughter as possible.