The Best Way To Transfer Data From iPhone to iPhone

Wondering how to transfer iPhone to iPhone data in the fastest, simplest ways? We’ll cover several of them here, making it easy to select the one that makes the most sense for your situation. First things first, though. The content primarily assumes you need to move data between iPhones due to getting a new device. However, we’ll also briefly look at other possibilities, such as if you just want to send a few files to someone else who also has an iPhone. 

Learn How To Transfer iPhone to iPhone With Quick Start

Isn’t it great when you get a new phone and it has all the same data as your old one within minutes? That’s the concept behind Apple’s Quick Start capability. You can use it as long as the old and new iPhones have iOS 11 or later. 

Choose a time to use Quick Start when you can go a short while without using either device. Plug both devices into a power source that is usable for the duration of the data transfer. A last thing to note before we go further is that you can only use this option if you have not already started setting up your new iPhone. 

Then, turn on your old iPhone and make sure its Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections are active. You may also need to activate mobile data on both devices. 

Next, turn on your new device and place it close to the old one. You should see prompts on the screen to follow. Those will take you through the rest of the process. However, you may occasionally see the prompts on the old device disappear before the data transfers to the new phone. Restart both devices if that happens. 

One of the main questions to answer is the method you’ll use to transfer the data. Select the option to pull the information from iCloud if you want to begin using the new device right away. It will download your apps and data in the background. Then, they will gradually appear without compromising functionality. 

Alternatively, you can pull data directly from the old device and cannot use either phone while that happens. The main reason to take the information from the old device is if you do not have an iCloud backup or have not updated it in a while. 

Knowing how to transfer iPhone to iPhone this way is ideal if both devices have new enough operating systems and you want to get the job done by doing little more than following some prompts. 

Use iCloud to Transfer iPhone Data

iCloud is Apple’s cloud backup service, and it is ideal if you do not have a physical phone from which to transfer the desired data. Perhaps it got lost, stolen or damaged. Those issues are annoying, but not the end of the world if you have a current iCloud backup. Make sure to use this option before transferring data to your old phone using any other method.

Begin by turning on the new phone and following the steps on the screen until you get to the point of needing to connect to Wi-Fi. Begin using an available network, and then keep following the instructions on the screen until you see the option to transfer your apps and data. 

Once it appears, select From iCloud Backup from the list. You will then need to sign into iCloud with your Apple ID. If you have multiple accounts, sign into all of them, or at least those you can remember. 

When you get into iCloud, the screen will show all available backups. Choose the desired one based on its date and size. Generally, you’ll want to pick the most recent possibility so the data that moves over to the new phone is as current as possible. 

An easy way to ensure your new phone and iCloud have the most recent data is to keep the iPhone connected to Wi-Fi and a power source when you are not using it. The easiest option is to do these things when charging it each day.

Transfer iPhone to iPhone More Specifically

The methods we have covered so far are great if you want everything from one iPhone to show up on another. However, you may want to do things on a much smaller scale, such as by sharing specific pictures with a friend who also uses an iPhone. 

If you want to share photos or videos, the easiest thing to do is tap the Photos app. Both the pictures and videos taken with your iPhone go there. Then, share photos by tapping the desired ones and choosing the Share icon. It looks like a square and an upward arrow. You can share single or multiple images and videos this way. Just select the sharing method you want to use. 

Another iPhone feature lets you share all the photos in a specific collection. While viewing one, tap the three horizontal dots icon. Then, choose the Share option and a method. 

How to Transfer iPhone to iPhone With AirDrop

AirDrop is an Apple feature that allows users to exchange encrypted files. Additionally, recipients will see notifications prompting them to accept or deny each incoming file. Ensure both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled before proceeding with AirDrop. Each phone should also be no more than 30 feet apart for the transfer to succeed. 

Both parties should then activate AirDrop on their iPhones by tapping the Control Center icon. Additionally, the recipient should choose Contacts Only or Everyone For 10 Minutes to determine which senders can distribute files this way. 

Then, the person who wants to transfer files should open them on their iPhone, tap the Share icon and choose the AirDrop button. Alternatively, perhaps the recipient is someone in the sender’s contacts and within an arm’s reach. Then, the recipient can navigate to the file they want to share on their device, and then move the phone close to the recipient’s iPhone. 

Transfers Made Simple With the iPhone

Whether you recently got a new iPhone or want to share some pictures with a friend who also uses one of those devices, one of the options above is easy to use. Although there is no universal best way to proceed, consider reviewing the steps in the previous sections to see which option best suits your tech knowledge and situation.