Restart, recovery, backup, and transfer
Transfer to a new iPhone
Most people call this moving everything to a new phone.
Quick Start moves everything directly from your old iPhone to a new one, or you can restore from an iCloud or computer backup.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 15 and later
- Settings
- General
- Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Prepare for New iPhone
What it does
Quick Start transfers directly between the two phones over a cable or wirelessly, with no need for enough iCloud storage. Restoring from a backup needs the backup to be current and complete.
Apple offers temporary extra iCloud storage for a transfer when your plan is too small.
What changes
When it is on
Not applicable. This is a process.
When it is off
Not applicable.
Should you turn it on?
Battery
No real change
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: Offered when a new iPhone is set up near an existing one.
Worth reading first
Questions people actually ask
- How do I move everything to my new iPhone?
- Turn both on, hold them together, and follow Quick Start. Direct transfer needs no iCloud storage.
If it is not working
- Direct transfer avoids the iCloud storage problem entirely. Keep both phones plugged in.
- Some apps need you to sign in again regardless of the method.
- Do not erase the old phone until the new one is working properly.