LOSING ALL OF YOUR PHONE DATA WAS NOT A BIG DEAL BEFORE THE AGE OF THE SMARTPHONES. It’s basically a Netflix horror movie plot these days. Do you want to know how to properly move iPhones or iPads without losing anything? It is possible to upgrade your iPhone without discomfort (these are the greatest iPhones to buy right now). From your old device to the new one, you may transfer your photographs, contacts, videos, message history, music, calendars, mail accounts, and many of your apps. The steps are listed below.

1. Back Up Your Old iPhone or iPad

First, you need to back up your old device, which you can do via iCloud or your computer.

Using iCloud

Ensure that your device is connected to the internet via Wi-Fi. Then go to your iPhone or iPad’s settings and tap on your name at the top to access your Apple ID page. iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now, or after visiting your Apple ID page, you’ll see a list of devices your ID is signed into, depending on which model you have. If that’s the case, press the home button on your iPhone or iPad. Choose iCloud Backup, turn it on, click Backup Now, and let your device back up while it’s still connected to the internet. It may be worthwhile to set your new device to automatically backup every day, but keep in mind that Apple only allows you to save 5 GB of data for free.

Using a Mac

Open Finder after plugging your iPhone or iPad into your MacBook or iMac. Your device should appear in the Locations section on the left. You can search through all of your saved data, including music, podcasts, photos, and documents. If you’ve stored your images to iCloud, they won’t appear here unless you disable the service. You can choose Back Up Now from the General tab. Choose to encrypt your backup to save Health and Activity data, or it will not be saved; not saving unencrypted Health and Activity data is a default privacy feature. All iCloud backups are automatically encrypted.

Using a Windows Computer

You’ll need iTunes for Windows and a USB cable to connect your iPhone or iPad to your laptop or desktop. Go to Summary > Back Up Now after clicking the iPhone/iPad button at the upper left of the iTunes window. By selecting Encrypt local backup and entering a password, you can encrypt your backup. You may also back up your Health and Activity data by encrypting it. Click Edit > Preferences > Devices to find your backups. Apple also walks you through the steps.

2. Swap SIMs

It’s time to transfer SIM cards once you’ve completed your backup. If you don’t want to miss any calls or texts while setting up your new iPhone, you can do this step afterward. You can open the SIM tray by lightly pressing a SIM tool or a paperclip into the hole. One sloped side of the SIM card can be lined up on the SIM tray of your new iPhone.

3. Restore Your Backup

You can pick how to recover your backed-up data while still on the Wi-Fi screen.

iCloud Backup and Restore

Continue through the setup process until you reach the Apps and Data page and press the Restore from iCloud Backup option if you use iCloud to back up your iPad or iPhone. Sign in to your Apple ID (if you’re forgetful, a password manager can help you find and save previous login details) and select the backup you wish to use. Because the backups are time-stamped, there will be several listed if you’ve been regularly backing up your phone; be sure to check the date and size of the backup to ensure you select the correct one.

Restore From a PC

Connect your phone or tablet to your computer if you used it to back up your data. Open Finder and choose your device if you’re using a Mac running Catalina 10.15. Open iTunes if your Mac is running an older operating system or if you have a PC. When your iPhone/iPad appears in the window, select it. Under the General tab, click Restore Backup and select the proper date.

That’s It!

There’s nothing else to say. If you activate your new iPhone or iPad without first transferring your content, you’ll have to either erase it and start over, or manually upload your stuff—which will be a lot more work than a full transfer. To transfer all of your data at once, we recommend starting afresh from the beginning and following the procedures outlined above. Don’t erase anything on your previous device until you’ve set up your new one. Have fun with your new iPhone or iPad and consider selling your old one if you don’t need it. To keep your iPhone 13 safe, check out our guide to the finest iPhone 13 Cases & Accessories.