Just got a new iPhone? Congratulations! Now comes the most important step — moving all your contacts, photos, messages, and apps from your old phone to your new one. Whether you're switching from an old iPhone or moving from Android, here's the complete guide to transferring your data safely and easily.
Option 1: iPhone to iPhone — Using Quick Start (Easiest Method)
If you're moving from one iPhone to another, Apple's Quick Start feature makes the process almost effortless.
- Place your old iPhone next to your new iPhone
- On your new iPhone, turn it on and follow the setup prompts
- When asked, tap "Set Up from Another iPhone"
- Hold your old iPhone over the new one to scan the animated pattern
- Enter your old iPhone's passcode on the new device
- Choose to transfer directly (device-to-device) or restore from iCloud
- Wait for the transfer to complete — this can take 20 minutes to several hours depending on data size
What transfers: Apps, photos, contacts, messages, settings, Apple Pay cards, and more.
Tip: Keep both phones plugged in and on the same Wi-Fi network for best results.
Option 2: iPhone to iPhone — Using iCloud Backup
This method is ideal if you're not setting up both phones at the same time.
- On your old iPhone: go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now
- Wait for the backup to complete (make sure you're on Wi-Fi)
- On your new iPhone: follow the setup process and select "Restore from iCloud Backup"
- Sign in with your Apple ID and choose the most recent backup
- Wait for the restore to complete
Note: You'll need enough iCloud storage for your backup. Free iCloud plans include 5GB — if you need more, you can upgrade to iCloud+ temporarily.
Option 3: Android to iPhone — Using Move to iOS App
Switching from Android? Apple's free Move to iOS app makes the process straightforward.
- On your Android phone, download the Move to iOS app from the Google Play Store
- On your new iPhone, follow setup until you reach the "Apps & Data" screen
- Tap "Move Data from Android"
- Open the Move to iOS app on your Android and tap Continue
- On your iPhone, tap Continue and wait for a code to appear
- Enter the code on your Android device
- Select the data you want to transfer (contacts, messages, photos, videos, bookmarks)
- Tap Next and wait for the transfer to complete
What transfers: Contacts, message history, photos and videos, web bookmarks, mail accounts, and free apps (if available on the App Store).
What doesn't transfer: Paid Android apps, app data, and music purchased outside of iTunes.
Option 4: Transfer Photos Manually
If you just want to move your photos without doing a full transfer:
- Using iCloud Photos: Enable iCloud Photos on your old phone and sign in on your new phone — all photos sync automatically
- Using Google Photos: Back up all photos to Google Photos on your old phone, then download the app on your new iPhone and sign in
- Using a computer: Connect your old phone, copy photos to your computer, then transfer to your new iPhone via iTunes or Finder
Before You Start: Important Checklist
- ✅ Charge both phones to at least 50%
- ✅ Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network
- ✅ Back up your old phone first (iCloud or Google)
- ✅ Note down any important passwords you might need
- ✅ Sign out of iMessage on your old phone if switching away from iPhone (Settings > Messages > toggle off iMessage)
- ✅ Disable Find My iPhone on your old device before selling or trading it in
After the Transfer: What to Do Next
- Check that all your contacts, photos, and apps have transferred correctly
- Re-download any apps that didn't transfer automatically
- Set up Face ID or Touch ID on your new iPhone
- Configure your email accounts
- Set up Apple Pay if you use it
- Factory reset your old phone before selling or recycling it (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings)
Need a New iPhone First?
If you're still looking for your next iPhone, OzPhoneMart has a wide range of certified refurbished iPhones starting from just $299 AUD. Every device comes with a 2-year warranty, minimum 80% battery health, and free express shipping across Australia.
Browse our range at ozphonemart.com.