[Easy Ways] Transfer Data from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud

Whenever you buy a new iPhone, you need to transfer data to the new iPhone, iCloud is certainly not a good choice. 4 easy ways to learn how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud.

Lena

By Lena / Updated on December 29, 2023

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How do I transfer everything from one iPhone to another without iCloud?

“When I browsed my library through iCloud yesterday, I saw photos that didn't belong to me. I question the security of iCloud and no longer want to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone via iCloud. Any safer way to transfer everything between iPhones?”                                                                                                          – Apple Support

You can restore iCloud backup or enable iCloud syncing to transfer data between iPhones, but iCloud is only a cloud storage service with certain limitations on data transfer: Only 5 GB of free storage; requires stable Interner connection; not support selective transfer; less secure; can't transfer iPhone to iPhone with different Apple ID...

Luckily, you have a better iPhone data transfer option. We have compiled 4 safer and more effective ways to help you transfer files from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud. Here are some simple comparisons that may help you choose the right way.

 

Way 1. FoneTool

Way 2. Quick Start

Way 3. iTunes 

Way 4. AirDrop

Full Transfer

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Selective Transfer

×

×

Media Files

×

×

No Data Erase

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Wireless Transfer

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Use USB Cable × ×
Effectiveness High Moderate Low High

Way 1. Transfer Data from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud [Easiest]

FoneTool is an iOS data transfer tool that can help you transfer everything from iPhone to iPhone in one click, you can also transfer photos from iPhone to iPhone wirelessly only, and contacts, videos, etc. also support selective transfer. The transfer process will not erase the existing data on the target device.

FoneTool
Best Free iPhone Transfer Software
  • Transfer data to iPhone/Android without erasing data.
  • 1-Click transfer all data from one iPhone to another.
  • Fully/selectively transfer photos, WhatsApp, etc between devices.
  • 100% safe and reliable iPhone transfer solution, fast and easy.
  • Compatible with all iOS devices and the latest iOS 17.

Launch FoneTool and learn how to transfer everything from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud in one-click; or selectively transfer data from one iPhone to another.

Transfer everything from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud

Step 1. Open FoneTool, click Phone Transfer > iPhone to iPhone and tap Start Transfer option.

iPhone to iPhone

Step 2. Confirm that your source iPhone and target iPhone are in the right position. Tap Start Transfer to switch all iPhone data.

iPhone to iPhone Transfer

Selectively transfer data from one iPhone to another wirelessly

With the FoneTool app, you can wirelessly connect two iOS devices and easily transfer photos, music, videos, contacts, or other files.

Step 1. Go to the App Store or scan the QR code directly to download FoneTool.

Download FoneTool app

Step 2. Launch FoneTool for iOS on both iPhones, tap on one of the iPhones on the other iPhone name shown on Connect Devices.

Connect iPhones

Step 3. Select the files you want to transfer on the source iPhone, then tap Send and wait for it to finish.

Tap Send

🌟Tips:

If you don't want to switch to FoneTool for iOS for iPhone data transfer, you can launch FoneTool on your PC and go to iPhone to PC to selectively transfer files from iPhone to PC first, and then go to PC to iPhone to transfer the files saved to your computer to another iPhone.

Way 2. Transfer everything from iPhone to iPhone with Quick Start

If both your old iPhone and new iPhone are running iOS 12.4 or later, Quick Start is also a way for many users to choose to transfer iPhone to iPhone, especially for those who buy the latest iPhone 15. It needs to be used before the iPhone is not set up.

Step 1. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both iPhones. Place your new iPhone near the old one, and wait for the Quick Start screen to appear on the old iPhone.

Step 2. Make sure that it's the Apple ID that you want to use, then tap Continue.

Step 3. When an animation appears on your new iPhone, capture it and activate your new iPhone.

Quick Start

Step 4. Enter the passcode on new iPhone and follow the instructions to set up Face ID or Touch ID, iMessage, etc.

Step 5. On the Transfer Data from iPhone screen, tap Continue to begin.

⚠️Notes:
  • Make sure that the new iPhone has a higher system version than the old one, otherwise Quick Start won't work.

  • If you've already set up your new iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings to erase your device. (You do lose all your existing data, you'd better backup iPhone for data protection.)

Way 3. Move data from one iPhone to another with iTunes

You can also let iTunes help you transfer everything from iPhone to iPhone. First make a backup for old iPhone and then restore iTunes backup to new iPhone. The whole process is not complicated, but please note that you will lose all the data on your new iPhone.

Step 1. Download and install the latest version of iTunes on computer. Launch iTunes and connect your old iPhone to computer.

Step 2. Choose Device tab > Go to the Summary tab.

Step 3. Select This Computer > Click Back Up Now to backup old iPhone.

iTunes Backup

Step 4. When the backup is completed, plug in new iPhone. Go to Summary and choose Restore Backup > Restore to move data from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud.

Restore from iTunes backup

Way 4. Transfer files from iPhone to iPhone wirelessly via AirDrop

AirDrop allows users to wirelessly share files such as photos, and videos between two iPhones. However, this method only supports selecting a small number of files at a time, which is extremely inefficient. Please turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on iPhones and learn how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone using AirDrop.

Here we take contacts as an example to show the steps to transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud.

Step 1. Open the Control Center on the target iPhone and enable AirDrop: Press wireless control box > Tap AirDrop > Contacts Only, or Everyone.

Access AirDrop

Step 2. Open the Contacts app on the source iPhone, find and select the contact you want to share.

Step 3. Tap on the Share Contacts option, select AirDrop, and then select the target iPhone to confirm.

Airdrop contacts to iPhone

Step 4. On the target iPhone, tap the Accept button to receive the contacts.

FAQs on transferring data from iPhone to iPhone

If you still have questions about how to transfer information from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud, here may be the answer you need. 

#1. Can I transfer data from iPhone to iPhone without Apple ID?

If you forgot your Apple ID password, you can use a third-party tool or AirDrop to transfer your data from iPhone to iPhone without Apple ID. If you just don't want to rely on iCloud, which requires Apple ID to sign in, you can also use Quick Start to complete the data transfer.

#2. What is the fastest way to transfer data to a new iPhone?

Overall, the time it takes to transfer data depends on the amount of data you transfer. In the case of transferring the same amount of data, the third-party transfer tool > Quick Start > iCloud > iTunes.

Final words

You can learn how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud through the above 4 methods. One of the most prominent software, FoneTool, satisfies the needs of most people, you can easily transfer everything or a certain file to another iPhone without losing any data.

What's more, this best free iOS transfer software also supports quickly transferring files like photos, videos, etc. from iPhone to your computer and vice versa.