How to switch iPhones and transfer your data | switch iPhones and transfer your data
One of the best aspects of having a new iPhone is how easy it is to set it up to look just like your old one.
When you’re done with this tutorial, your new handset should look just like the old one. It will have the same wallpaper; the same applications grouped and saved in the same folders; all of your pictures in the Photos app; email configured to your liking; old text messages in your Messages app; all of your contacts; and all of your other preferences and settings configured to your liking etc.
This is quite easy and can be done almost anywhere thanks to iOS and iCloud (as long as you have access to Wi-Fi). We’ll show you how to set up a new iPhone from a backup of a previous phone, as well as how to move important data if restoring from backup isn’t possible. Below is how to swap iPhones and transfer all of your data from one to the other.
Method 1: Create or generate a copy of your iPhone.
- You may use iCloud to back up your old iPhone or use iTunes or Finder on your Mac or Computer to restore it. We prefer iCloud because it helps us to access the backup from anywhere, but iTunes/Finder is quicker.
- Generate a backup using iTunes.
- You can use iTunes if you have a Laptop or a Mac running macOS Mojave.
- Link your iPhone to your device, whether it’s a Mac or a Laptop.
- Launch iTunes.
- If possible, unlock your iPhone.
- “Do you want to allow this machine to access information on [your name iPhone?” ]’s you could be asked. Continue by entering your passcode.
- It’s also likely that your Mac or PC would need a software upgrade. If that’s the case, go ahead and install it.
- Next to the Music dropdown menu, you’ll find an iPhone icon. This should be clicked.
- Pick This Machine from the Backups section and press ‘Back Up Now.’
Read: How to Save Facebook Videos to the Camera Roll on Your iPhone
Method 2: Create a backup using Finder.
If you’re using a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, Finder will take iTunes’ place in the above process. (iTunes is no longer accessible in Catalina.)
- Link your iPhone to your Mac.
- Launch the Finder program. If you haven’t done so already, this should open a new window that we can use for this; if it doesn’t, press Cmd + N to open a new window.
In the lefthand column of the Finder window, look for your computer under Locations. - Simply click the button.
- You can see details about your iPhone on the right-hand side of the window. If it hasn’t already been picked, click General in the top tab.
- Select the option to back up your device’s data to the Mac in the Backups section. By selecting ‘Encrypt local backup’ and entering a password, we recommend encrypting the backup.
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Return to the previous page by pressing the Back Up Now button. Method 3: Back up to the cloud with iCloud.
Finally, you can use iCloud to back up your old iPhone. This is a great choice if you ever need to set up a new iPhone without your Mac, or if you want to ensure regular backups (without having to plug your iPhone into your Mac), but keep in mind that you’ll actually have to pay for iCloud storage – here’s how much iCloud costs in the UK.
- On your iPhone, open the Settings app.
- At the top of the screen, tap your name/picture, then iCloud.
- Check the iCloud Apps list to ensure that all of the apps with data you need are backed up.
- Tap on iCloud Backup at the bottom of the tab.
- Ensure that iCloud Backup is allowed (the slider should show green).
- Now press the Back Up Now button.