Move contacts from your old iPhone to your new iPhone

Got a new iPhone? Follow these steps to move your contacts from your old iPhone to your new one. If you also want to move photos, messages and other content, we'll show you how to do that too.

Before you start

Make sure:

  • both phones have enough battery charge
  • you're connected to WiFi
  • you know your Apple ID account details
  • you've updated your phone software if an update is available
  • you've inserted your SIM into your new phone if needed

Need to know

If you would like a step-by-step guide to transferring data, use our interactive device guide for iPhones.

Transfer contacts and content to or from an Apple device

iTunes is required to back up content on an iPhone. You can download iTunes from the Apple website and it's available for PCs and Macs.

If you don't have access to a PC or Mac, you can use the iCloud service available on your iPhone to back up and restore all your content.

How to back up using iTunes

  1. If you have access to a PC or Mac, open iTunes and connect your device to it.
  2. If a message asks for your device passcode, or to 'Trust This Computer', please follow the onscreen steps.
  3. Select your device on the right hand side - this will bring up a summary page and present you with the option to ‘Back Up Now’. Once clicked, the back up process will begin.
  4. You can see when the back up has completed – simply check the space below the back up button and it will display the date and time of the last back up.

How to back up using iCloud

  1. Connect to a WiFi network.
  2. Make sure your device is on the latest software by going into Settings > General > Software Update.
  3. Go to Settings > 'Your Name' > iCloud and make sure all the features that you want backed up are activated and showing a green switch. You can control which content you want backed up by switching them off individually on the right hand side of each option.
  4. Go to Settings > 'Your Name' > iCloud > iCloud Backup and make sure this is switched on, then click 'Back Up Now'. Stay connected to your WiFi network while this process completes.
  5. You can check the progress and confirm the back up has been completed by going to Settings > 'Your Name' > iCloud > iCloud Backup and you'll see the date and time of your last back up.

How to restore your back up to your new device

  1. Insert your SIM in to your new device.
  2. Power on the device and follow the onscreen setup.
  3. Choose to restore from iCloud or iTunes Backup.

How to restore from iTunes Backup

  1. Open iTunes on your PC or Mac computer.
  2. Connect your new device using the USB cable provided. When a message appears asking for your device passcode, or to 'Trust This Computer', please follow the onscreen steps.
  3. Select your device when it appears on the right hand side and then select 'Restore Backup'.
  4. Select the relevant back up by using the date and time that you backed up your old device.
  5. Click 'Restore' and wait for this process to complete.
  6. Keep your device connected after it restarts and wait for it to sync with your computer - you should not disconnect until the sync is fully completed.

How to restore from iCloud Backup

  1. On the Apps & Data section, click 'Restore from iCloud Backup'.
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID.
  3. Once signed in, you need to select the relevant back up.
  4. When required, sign in to your Apple ID account to restore all available apps and purchases.
  5. Stay connected and wait for a progress bar to appear and complete. Depending on the size of the back up and the network speed, it could take anywhere from a few minutes up to an hour to complete. If you disconnect from WiFi too soon, the progress will pause until you reconnect.
  6. Once completed, your new device will be ready to go with all your backed up content now restored.

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