Moving to an iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone Duo works the same way it always has on iPhone, through Quick Start if your old phone is nearby, or through an iCloud or computer backup if it isn’t. The process transfers your apps, photos, settings and most app data automatically.
Planning to buy? Our guide on how to pre-order the iPhone Duo covers the process, and our iPhone 18 Pro upgrade guide helps you decide whether to move from an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro.
Back Up and Update the Old iPhone Before You Start
A few minutes of preparation makes the transfer smoother and gives you a fallback if it stalls.
- Back up the old iPhone to iCloud or a computer
- Install the latest iOS update available for the old iPhone
- Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on the old iPhone
- Keep your Apple Account password and old iPhone passcode handy
- Check that the new iPhone has enough storage for what you are moving
Our iPhone 18 Pro storage size guide helps if you are still choosing.
Quick Start Moves Everything Directly From the Old iPhone
- Turn on your new iPhone and place it near your old one, both unlocked.
- On the old iPhone, tap Continue when the Quick Start screen appears, then wait for an animation to show up on the new iPhone.
- Hold the old iPhone over the new one so the animation is centered in the viewfinder.
- Enter your old iPhone’s passcode on the new device when prompted.
- Set up Face ID on the new iPhone, then choose to transfer directly from your old iPhone rather than restoring from a backup.
- Keep both phones near each other and connected to power until the transfer finishes. Larger photo and video libraries can take an hour or more over Wi-Fi.
Quick Start works over a direct device-to-device connection, so it doesn’t require uploading anything to iCloud first, and it’s the fastest option when both phones are in the same room.
An iCloud or Computer Backup Works When the Old iPhone Is Not Nearby
If your old iPhone isn’t available, or you’d rather start from a saved backup, choose Restore from iCloud Backup or Restore from Mac or PC during setup instead. Make sure your old iPhone backed up to iCloud recently under Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup, or that you have a current backup saved to a computer through Finder or iTunes.
Check Your Apps, Health Data and Wallet Before Erasing the Old iPhone
- Confirm your apps have finished downloading, since some may still be installing in the background
- Check that Health, Wallet and any two-factor authentication apps carried over their data correctly
- Once everything looks right, erase your old iPhone under Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings
If apps misbehave after the move, our guide to common iOS 27 problems and fixes covers the usual causes.
Our Take
I’d use Quick Start whenever both phones are in the same room. It skips the eSIM and backup complications that come with restoring remotely. I would not erase the old iPhone until my most-used apps open and look right on the new one.
The iPhone Duo Is eSIM-Only, So Your Plan Transfers as an eSIM
Because the iPhone Duo is eSIM-only worldwide, your cellular plan transfers as an eSIM rather than a physical SIM card. If service does not activate afterward, our guide to common cellular problems on iOS 27 covers the fixes. If your carrier doesn’t support automatic eSIM transfer during setup, you may need to contact them directly or use their app to activate service on the new device.
