Getting a new phone can be a pretty exciting occasion — but before you can enjoy it, you’ve got to transfer your data and set up the phone properly. So, what’s involved in switching iPhones?
The easiest way to switch iPhones is to use Quick Start. This feature allows you to transfer data from your old phone to your new one directly or through a backup. You’ll also have to set up the Apple account, Face ID, and Touch ID. Finally, swap the sim card to the new phone.
Let’s take a closer look at how to switch from one iPhone to another using Quick Start or an iCloud backup. We’ll also look at other methods of restoring data on your new iPhone.
How to Switch From One iPhone to Another
To switch from one iPhone to another, you’ll have to transfer the data from the old device to the new one. You can do so using the Quick Start option on the new phone or by restoring data through a backup.
It’s important to have a backup, even if you’re going to transfer the data through Quick Start. The easiest way to create a backup is to enable automatic iCloud backups on your iPhone. Simply go into Settings, click on your account name and select ‘iCloud.’ Make sure the slider is on next to ‘iCloud Backup.’
Once you have your data saved, you can start transferring it to the new device without worrying about losing it if something goes wrong. The next step will be to choose whether you want to transfer the data through Quick Start or an iCloud backup.
How to Use Quick Start
Quick Start is a feature available on all recent iPhones that allows you to transfer data seamlessly to your new device. It works on all iOS devices, and you can also use it to restore data to a new iPad or Mac.
To use Quick Start, you’ll need to have enough charge in both devices, a stable Bluetooth connection, and the old device should be running iOS 11 or newer.
Follow these steps to set up your new iPhone with Quick Start:
- Turn on the new device and bring it close to the old one. Make sure both devices have enough charge and that Bluetooth is on.
- When you switch on Quick Start, you’ll get a prompt on both your new and old devices asking whether you want to use your Apple ID to transfer data to the new device. Make sure you select your own Apple ID, as the device will scan the Apple IDs of all nearby iPhones.
- An animation using ViewFinder will appear on the new device once you select the Apple ID you want to transfer data from. Hold the old iPhone over this animation until you get a message saying, ‘Finish on New.’
- If you can’t center the animation or your old iPhone’s camera isn’t working, you can click on ‘Authenticate Manually‘ and follow the on-screen steps.
- Enter your passcode on the new device. It should be the same as the old phone’s code. You can change this passcode in settings later on.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set up Face and Touch ID. You can choose one or both options or skip this option altogether. However, it’s safer to have Face or Fingerprint verification to unlock your iPhone.
- When you get a ‘Transfer Data‘ screen, click on ‘Continue‘ if you want to transfer the data directly from the old device to the new one. This is the easiest option and ideal if you don’t have a recent data backup. However, it can take time, depending on the data volume, so make sure both devices are charged.
If you don’t want to use Quick Start to transfer data between both devices, you can click on ‘Other Options‘ instead of ‘Continue‘ in the last step. You’ll get an option to restore the data through iCloud or another backup source.
How to Restore Your Backup
If you choose to restore the data from your old iPhone to the new one using an iCloud backup, you’ll have to select ‘Other Options‘ when the data transfer screen appears on Quick Start setup.
If you want to use a backup stored on your computer, you’ll have to skip the Quick Start steps and move directly to the app and data backup.
How to Restore Backup From iCloud
You can restore apps and data from your old iPhone using the iCloud backup. Before choosing this option, make sure you have a recent iCloud backup. If you’ve already used Quick Start until you reach the data transfer step, you can click on ‘Restore From iCloud Backup.’
Sign in to iCloud using the same Apple ID used on your old phone. You’ll see a list of recent backups for your iPhone data. Choose the most recent backup and follow the on-screen instructions to restore the backup.
You’ll need a stable internet connection to restore a backup using iCloud. Also, ensure that the phone’s battery doesn’t die or the backup won’t be complete. Depending on the size of the backup and your internet connection, this option may take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours to complete.
How to Restore a Backup From Your Computer
If you have an iTunes backup on your old iPhone, you can use it to restore the data to a new device. This option is often faster than other methods, and you don’t need your old iPhone to do it, but the duration of the backup restoration depends on your WiFi connection as well.
Follow these steps to restore a backup to your new iPhone from your Macbook or PC:
- Use Quick Start to set up your new iPhone until you reach the ‘Transfer Data‘ step. Click on ‘Other Options.’
- Choose “Restore From Mac or PC.”
- Connect your new iPhone to your Mac or PC using a USB cable.
- Open the iTunes app on your computer and select your iPhone.
- Click on ‘Restore Backup‘ and choose the most recent backup.
- Enter the passcode and wait for the backup to complete.
Once the backup is complete, you’ll have to follow the on-screen instructions on your iPhone to complete the setup process.
Things to Remember When Switching iPhones
You may be excited to get a new phone, but it’s important to first back up the old phone’s data and follow the correct setup procedure before using your new iPhone. Here are some things to remember when switching phones:
Make Sure Your Data Is Backed Up
While you may not need a backup to transfer data directly from your old iPhone to a new one using Quick Start, having a backup ensures that your data remains safe in case something goes wrong. You’ll also have more backup options to choose from when restoring your data.
The easiest way to back up your iPhone’s data is through iCloud, but you can also use iTunes to create a backup on your computer.
Transfer Your Sim Card
Once the new device is set up, you can transfer the sim card to allow you to make calls and receive messages. You can still use your old iPhone when the sim card is removed, but you won’t be able to make or receive calls unless you get another sim card.