Getting your new iPhone 13 set up with all your stuff is the first step to enjoying it. Apple has a few different ways to move your data over, and the best one for you depends on what phone you're coming from and how much time you have. I'd start with Quick Start if you have your old iPhone right next to you.
Use Quick Start for iPhone-to-iPhone Transfer
This is the smoothest method when both phones are present. Turn on your new iPhone 13 and place it near your old iPhone. You should see a pop-up on your old device asking if you want to set up your new iPhone. Tap Continue.
You'll then see an animation on your iPhone 13's screen. Hold your old iPhone's camera over this animation to scan it. This pairs the two devices. You'll be prompted to enter your old phone's passcode on the new iPhone 13 and set up Face ID.
Finally, choose Transfer from iPhone. The transfer will begin. Keep the phones near each other and, ideally, plugged into power. With the iPhone 13's hardware, the process is generally quick, but it can still take over an hour if you have a very large photo library.
Restore from an iCloud Backup
If your old phone isn't with you or is already erased, restoring from iCloud is your best bet. First, double-check that a recent backup exists on your old device by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
On your iPhone 13, go through the initial setup until you reach the "Apps & Data" screen. Select Restore from iCloud Backup, sign in with your Apple ID, and pick the most recent backup. Your data will download over Wi-Fi.
Since this relies on your internet speed, keep your iPhone 13 connected to Wi-Fi and plugged into a charger. Using a 20W adapter with a Lightning cable will keep it powered up through the download, which is important for a full restore.
Transfer Using a Mac or PC
For the fastest and most reliable transfer, use a computer. Connect your old iPhone to your Mac or Windows PC. On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, use Finder. On a Windows PC or older Mac, use iTunes.
Select your device and click Back Up Now. I always recommend checking the box to Encrypt local backup. This saves your Health data, saved passwords, and Wi-Fi settings, which a regular backup misses.
Once the backup is complete, disconnect your old phone and connect your new iPhone 13. Select Restore Backup and choose the backup file you just created. This cable-based method is much faster than downloading everything from the cloud.
Moving Data from an Android Phone
Switching from Android? Apple's Move to iOS app handles it. First, download the Move to iOS app from the Google Play Store on your Android phone. On your iPhone 13, during the setup process, tap Move Data from Android when you see the "Apps & Data" screen.
A six or ten-digit code will appear on your iPhone. Enter that code into the Move to iOS app on your Android device. You can then select what to transfer: contacts, message history, photos and videos, and even your free mail accounts.
The app will create a temporary private Wi-Fi network to move everything over. Keep both phones plugged in and next to each other until the transfer is completely finished. Afterward, you can finish setting up your iPhone 13.
Manually Moving Specific Items
Sometimes you only need to bring over a few things. For contacts and calendars, make sure they're synced to an account like iCloud or Google, then just add that account to your iPhone 13. Your photos and videos can sync via iCloud Photos or an app like Google Photos.
For WhatsApp chats, use the app's own "Move Chats to iPhone" feature. You'll need to move your SIM card or activate your phone number on the iPhone 13 first. The app will guide you through scanning a QR code from your old phone.
What to Check After the Transfer
Once your data is on the iPhone 13, take a few minutes to make sure everything came across. Open your key apps to see if they need a fresh login, especially banking and authenticator apps. Your app layout and home screen wallpaper should look familiar.
This is also a good time to check your battery health in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging, especially if you bought the phone used. If it's significantly degraded, you might want to plan for a replacement to get the best experience. When you're absolutely sure everything is working on your new iPhone 13, you can securely erase your old device.
