iPhone to iPhone: moving to a new phone

Apple calls this Quick Start. It is built into every new iPhone, so there is nothing to download.

Before you start

Your old iPhone needs Bluetooth turned on (Settings, then Bluetooth).
It helps to update your old iPhone first: Settings › General › Software Update.
Charge both phones, or keep them plugged in the whole time.
Be on your home Wi-Fi. Have your Wi-Fi password ready (it is often on the back of your router).
Know your passwords: the code that unlocks your old phone, and your Apple Account or Google Account password.
Keep your old phone. Don't reset it or hand it in until you have checked everything is on the new one.
Give yourself time. Allow about an hour. Moving lots of photos can take longer.

Step by step

Turn on your new iPhone and put it right next to your old iPhone.
On your old iPhone, a message about setting up your new iPhone appears. Tap Continue. If nothing appears, restart both phones and try again.
A swirling pattern appears on the new iPhone. Hold your old iPhone above it so the pattern fits inside the circle on the old phone's screen.
On the new iPhone, type the passcode you use on your old iPhone.
Follow the steps to set up Face ID or Touch ID. You can choose to do this later.
When you see Transfer Your Data, choose Transfer from iPhone to copy everything straight across. (Or choose Download from iCloud if you want to start using the new phone sooner.)
Keep both phones close together and plugged in until it says it has finished. This can take from a few minutes to over an hour.

When it has finished

Open Photos, Contacts and Messages on the new iPhone and check your things are there.
Your phone network may ask you to move your number across (this is called an eSIM). Follow the steps on screen. If you have a small SIM card instead, move it from the old phone to the new one.

Watch how it's done

Official videos from Apple Support. The video only loads from YouTube when you press play.

Pressing play loads YouTube in privacy-enhanced mode. YouTube may then store data on your device. Watch on YouTube instead.

Official help pages

Apple: Use Quick Start to move to a new iPhone

More guides

Android to iPhoneiPhone to AndroidSamsung to SamsungGoogle Pixel or other AndroidNew HONOR phoneNew OPPO phoneNew OnePlus phoneNew Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO phoneNew Motorola phoneMoving your WhatsApp chatsKeep your contacts and photos safeBefore you trade in, sell or give away

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These guides are written by Norfolk Fibre Watch in plain English. The videos and links come straight from Apple, Google, Samsung and WhatsApp. We don't earn anything from this section. Menus can change after phone updates, so if your screen looks different, follow the official guide linked on each page.