Losing all the stuff on your phone was no big deal before the smartphone age. These days, it's practically a Netflix horror movie plot. Wondering how to switch iPhones or iPads successfully without losing anything in the process? If you're looking to upgrade (these are the best iPhones to buy right now), it is possible to do so painlessly. Your photos, contacts, videos, message history, music, calendars, mail accounts, and many of your apps can all be transferred from your previous device to the new one. We've outlined the steps below.
Updated September 2025: We've verified the instructions for the latest iPhones and iOS 26.
Back Up Your Old iPhone or iPad
Before you switch iPhones, you need to back up your old device, which can be done via iCloud or your computer. We've broken down the steps below.
Using iCloud
First, make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi, then:
Go into your iPhone or iPad’s Settings.
Scroll down to select iCloud , or tap [Your Name] at the top and then iCloud .
, or tap at the top and then . Choose iCloud Backup, toggle it on, click on Back Up Now, and let your device back up.
It might be worth setting your new device to automatically back up daily, but be aware that Apple only lets you store 5 GB for free. Even if you are out of iCloud storage, ever since iOS 15, Apple has allowed you to back up your data to iCloud to switch to a new iPhone.
... continue reading