Apple: How to move to a new iPhone
In Touch Telecoms is an authorised Apple reseller on the Distribution Partner Program (DPP).
Use this checklist to prepare your old iPhone, set up the replacement and check that the things you rely on have moved successfully. Make a fresh backup first, and keep the old phone until the checks are complete. Allow time for downloads and signing back into apps.
Make a fresh backup before starting
- Connect the old iPhone to Wi-Fi.
- Open Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
- Choose Back Up Now and leave the phone connected while it finishes.
- Check the date and time of the latest completed backup.
If you do not have enough iCloud storage, resolve that before relying on this backup. You can use a computer backup instead. Have your Apple Account details and old phone passcode ready before starting setup.
Start setup with both phones nearby
- On the old iPhone, enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, unlock it and open the Home Screen.
- Switch on the new iPhone and place it beside the old one.
- Follow the Quick Start prompts to begin setup. If the setup prompt disappears, restart both devices and try again.
- Connect the new phone to a network and follow the activation and Face ID or Touch ID steps offered.
- Choose the transfer method when asked.
Keep both phones close and connected to power until migration finishes. Arrange the transfer when you can leave both devices occupied. Work or school devices enrolled through Apple's management programmes may not support this Quick Start transfer; contact your IT administrator first.
Choose the transfer method that fits your time
Direct transfer: wait until migration finishes on both phones before using them.
Download from iCloud: apps and data can continue downloading in the background. A usable Home Screen does not mean every download has finished.
Transfer time depends on your connection and how much information you are moving. Avoid arranging an immediate handover of the old phone.
Check your information and essential apps
Before retiring the old phone, work through these checks on the new one:
- Open Photos and check the pictures you expect to find.
- Check important contacts and recent messages.
- Open the apps you depend on for work and daily life.
- Sign back into banking, messaging and other protected apps where required.
- Check authenticator apps and follow each provider's transfer process before losing access to the old device.
- Allow outstanding app and content downloads to complete.
If something is missing, keep the old iPhone available while you resolve it. Do not assume every app uses the same transfer method.
Test the SIM or eSIM separately
- Follow your mobile provider's instructions to move or activate the SIM or eSIM.
- Make a test call on the new phone.
- Check that mobile data works, rather than relying only on Wi-Fi.
Finishing the data transfer does not, by itself, confirm that your mobile service has moved. For a business-managed phone, check the required process with your IT team.
Prepare the old phone for handover only after checking
Keep the old device until you have confirmed your backup, important information, essential apps and mobile service. When you are ready to sell, give away or trade it in, use the phone's proper sign-out and erase process rather than deleting personal items one by one.
Manually deleting synced photos or contacts can remove them from your other signed-in devices too. Do not erase the old phone while you still need it to complete an app transfer or recover missing information.
Final checklist before you switch
- A completed backup has been checked.
- Photos, contacts and messages are present.
- Important apps and authentication access work.
- Calls and mobile data work.
- The old phone remains available until any outstanding issues are resolved.
Planning an upgrade for yourself or your team? Browse phones at In Touch Telecoms Ltd and get in touch about business mobile plans.