If you’re transitioning from an older iPhone to a new iPhone 15, there are some measures you must undertake to ensure the transfer of all your data. Here’s how to accomplish it.
You can configure a new iPhone as an entirely fresh iPhone with no existing data, such as documents or settings like email accounts. If it’s your first smartphone, that’s what you must do. There are also reasons why you should do that.
In the past, it was also a need when transitioning from an Android phone, but that is no longer the case. Since 2018, Apple has provided a solution with their Android application, Move to iOS.
However, in most cases, when you transition to a new iPhone, you want it to have all of your info, belongings, and essentially all that was there on the previous device. Given the wide range of items in Wallet, including images and credit cards, as well as several settings like Focus Modes and ringtones, you require assistance.
In general, you get the old phone ready by creating a backup of its data, for example. Then, during the setup of the new phone, you transfer that data.
Transfer data to a new iPhone – The initial step to take
If you have an Apple Watch connected to your previous iPhone, please disconnect it immediately. Believe us, you can have difficulties if you haven’t disconnected it before, for example, when you decide to give that old iPhone away.
Additionally, you desire your Watch to be compatible with your new iPhone, which entails ensuring that all of the Watch’s data remains intact during the transfer process. Disconnect it from your iPhone to create a backup of your Apple Watch data.
Apple Watch does get frequently backed up regardless, but when you unpair it, you initiate a backup to be created immediately. Depending on whether you have music and podcasts saved on the Watch, it may take a few minutes, but it is necessary.
If you possess an older iPhone, please upgrade it at this time.
You’re good if you upgrade from last year’s iPhones to this one. It would be advisable to ensure that your previous phone is running the most recent version of iOS, but it is unnecessary and optional.
Nevertheless, it is crucial if you possess a somewhat more aged phone. When transitioning from an iPhone 6S to an iPhone 15 Pro Max, update the older phone to the most recent iOS version it supports.
Transfer data to a new iPhone — Create a backup of your previous iPhone
Refer to the AppleInsider guide for comprehensive instructions on backing up your iPhone, including guidance on selecting your Mac or iCloud as the backup destination.
In brief, both are now so alike that it is unlikely for you to perceive any distinction. However, the more concise approach is that you should back up to both.
The most effective method for transferring data to a new iPhone
The most effective approach is the one that Apple will guide you to follow, a technique known as Quick Start.
Activate the new iPhone and position it beside your old one. Similar to how iPhones can identify AirPods, the two phones can also detect one other.
Your previous iPhone will prompt you to decide whether to utilize your existing Apple ID to configure the new iPhone. Yes, it is.
Alternatively, if this is not the case, and you wish to begin using a different Apple ID on the new iPhone, ensure that you are entirely sure about your decision. It is not possible to merge Apple IDs at a later time.
Afterward, you will be asked to verify if this new iPhone is the one you wish to move to, and this is done like that of an Apple Watch. Similar to what was shown with the Watch, you need to position the new iPhone so that its camera can capture an animation on the display of the old iPhone.
Once the task is completed, you will receive a notification on the previous phone stating, “Finish on New iPhone.”
The fastest of Quick Starts
Next, you will be asked to select Transfer Data from iPhone. Apple anticipates that this is what you desire, and it is possible; nevertheless, you have choices since you have recently backed up.
Click on the phrase Other Options. When you perform that action, you can upload your data from your most recent iCloud backup or a backup stored on your Mac.
If you made a backup on your Mac, connect the new iPhone to it and select the option to transfer data in that manner. This will be the quickest. However, you may only observe that if you have substantial data to share.
Alternatively, you have the option to transfer from the iCloud backup. If that’s the situation, you will be presented with a list of the most recent backups, and selecting the most recent one would be logical.
Transfer data to a new iPhone — Device to Device transfer
Instead, you may tap the option to Transfer Data from your iPhone. The new iPhone will transfer data immediately from the old one using your Wi-Fi network.
If you have a large amount of data to transfer, anticipate it to take a lot of work. For example, if you are transitioning from a 1TB iPhone 14 Pro Max to a 1TB iPhone 15 Pro and have utilized all the capacity, perform this task overnight.
How to fix an iPhone that is stuck during a data transfer
According to Apple’s new support page, if you select ‘From Another iPhone’ while setting up your new iPhone with iOS 17 to transfer apps and data from your old iPhone, you may encounter an issue where you cannot proceed past the Apple logo.
According to Apple, the recommended course of action is to “reset and utilize an iCloud Backup to finalize the transfer” of data to the new iPhone. Although it doesn’t mention it, Apple implies that customers must carry out a Device Firmware Upgrade (DFU).
To accomplish this, customers must establish a connection between the new iPhone and a Mac, then subsequently:
- Swiftly press and let go of the volume up button
- Next, promptly press and let go of the book down button.
- Afterward, push and continue to hold the side button even after the Apple logo is displayed.
- Release the side button once a picture of a computer and cable is shown.
- In a Finder window on the Mac, locate the new iPhone and select the option to Restore.
- This still needs to finish the upgrade, however fully. The iPhone will bring customers to the standard “Hello” screen and guide them through the remaining setup steps.
According to Apple, customers can transfer data as usual if the new iPhone is an iPhone 15 model. That implies either from their prior iPhone or from an iCloud backup.
The outcome is the only important thing.
Regardless of the method you use to transfer your data, the outcome is that your new iPhone will have all the same content as your old one. It might have taken some time to share all the data, but now you can use the new iPhone just like you used the old one.
All you need to do is connect your Apple Watch to it.