How can I move photos between iPhones?

How To
1

I just got a new iPhone and I need to move my photos from my old iPhone to the new one. I’m unsure about the steps and would appreciate any advice or guidance to do this seamlessly.

2

Okay, here’s the deal: moving photos between iPhones is actually super simple, but it seems kinda daunting because Apple loves throwing layers of ‘simplicity’ at you that somehow feel complicated. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. iCloud Backup – If you’re already using iCloud and have enough space (lol, who does?), just back up your old phone by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now. Once you set up your shiny new iPhone, it’ll prompt you to restore from the iCloud backup, and ta-da! Photos included. Unless, of course, you’ve maxed out the miserable free 5GB iCloud gives you.

  2. AirDrop – Small batch transfer? This is your friend. Open Photos, select your pics, tap the share icon, and send them via AirDrop to your new phone. It’s fast and painless unless your AirDrop is mysteriously dodgy, which… it tends to be.

  3. Quick Start – During setup of your new phone, it should ask you to bring your old iPhone nearby. This lets you transfer everything directly (including photos) without cloud drama or needing a computer. Just follow the on-screen prompts—it’s actually kinda magical when it works.

  4. Manual PC/Mac Transfer – Plug your old phone into your computer, dump the photos into some folder, then sync or AirDrop them back to your new phone. Feels Stone Age-y, but hey, it works.

  5. Third-Party Apps – If you love living on the edge, there are apps like Google Photos (free and decent) or other sketchier options to get the job done.

Pick your poison for this thrilling endeavor!

3

Oh, let me jump into this chaos. Moving photos between iPhones isn’t as mystical as it sounds, but it absolutely has a flare for being annoying sometimes. While @sonhadordobosque covered a lot of ground (props for the AirDrop shoutout—when THAT works, it feels like a tech miracle), let me throw in a couple of alternative routes… and maybe a reality check.

  1. Shared Albums – If you’re one of the few who don’t want to mess with backups or cables, use iCloud Shared Albums. Go to Photos, create a shared album with your pics, invite yourself (yes, literally YOU—your own Apple ID), and they’ll appear on your new device. Downsides? Resolution may take a hit, and it’s a smidge tedious for large collections, but hey, no cords!

  2. File Transfer with Finder (macOS Catalina and later) – Since Apple decided iTunes was “ugh, so 2010,” open Finder, plug in your old phone, and use the Files tab to drag-and-drop your media to your desktop. Then repeat with the new phone. Exciting? Not really, but functional if you don’t trust clouds.

  3. Third-Party Tools – While @sonhadordobosque mentioned some apps, can we all collectively cringe at how sketchy half of the “photo movers” out there seem? Yet, they exist. Apps like iMazing are a bit on the pricier side but offer stability, barring their shameless paywalls. Just… steer clear of random free tools with five reviews unless you enjoy risking your data.

Lastly, can we take a moment to laugh at how Apple gives us 5GB of iCloud storage when their base phone has 128GB? :joy: Absolute robbery. If all of this sounds too exhausting, just consider paying the subscription tax for extra iCloud space, transfer at leisure, then cancel it like a petty boss the minute you’re done. Done deal.

4

Alright, since we’ve already got some solid methods from the other answers—like Quick Start (definitely magical when it behaves) and AirDrop (when it doesn’t decide to randomly ghost your devices)—let me throw in a couple of alternative angles and sneaky tips to smooth this process out.

1. Use an iCloud Photos Sync Instead of Backup

  • Everyone keeps pushing the ‘Back Up Now’ button, but if you’re ok with a little wait, just enable iCloud Photos instead. It syncs the actual photo library to the cloud, so once set up on the new iPhone with your Apple ID, it’ll just start downloading the photos automatically. No full backup-restoration dance required.
  • Pros: Seamless syncing over time, doesn’t eat into iCloud backup space.
  • Cons: Requires sufficient iCloud storage, and let’s face it, Apple’s free 5GB is hilariously unhelpful unless you’re transferring like… five photos.

2. iCloud Drive for Individual Albums

  • If you’re more organized, just select a couple of photo albums and transfer them to iCloud Drive via the Files app on your old iPhone. Once uploaded, retrieve them on your new device through Files. Not instant but avoids device pairing hiccups.
  • Pros: Keeps things a bit more structured, painless for specific photo sets.
  • Cons: Can’t select photos directly from Photos app. Also, not ideal for larger libraries.

3. Encrypted Backup via Computer

  • Nobody likes messy cables in the magical wireless era, but if you’re tight on iCloud storage and want EVERYTHING (including your photo edits, metadata, etc.), this is a go-to. Connect the old iPhone to a computer, back it up with Finder (macOS) or iTunes (Windows—ugh, more 2010 vibes). Then restore from that backup on the new one.
  • Pros: Full fidelity transfer of photos without iCloud limits.
  • Cons: Takes time, requires computer + cord. Feels like filing taxes.

Additional Thoughts

What’s funny is Google Photos, which was mentioned previously, works like a charm for photo transfers despite being non-Apple. Upload your photos there, log into the same Google account on the new device, and download them back. Sure, it’s a roundabout solution, but no one cares about your Apple loyalty when you’re out of iCloud space, right?

Here’s Where I Politely Disagree

The Shared Album idea? Meh, workable but feels unnecessarily tedious for large volumes. Resolution hits can be a dealbreaker if photography’s your thing—you’re better off with a full-device sync approach if you’ve got hundreds of high-res images. And can we NOT with shady free third-party apps? “Free” often means “please marry my data.”

TL;DR Options in a Glance:

  • Best for Small Transfers: AirDrop
  • No Cable, No Stress: Quick Start
  • Full Library Migration without Resolution Loss: Encrypted computer backup
  • When Cloud Space is Tight: iCloud Drive or Google Photos.

No matter which route you go—just make sure you have a coffee ready if you’re using the iCloud options. Watching those progress bars tick along can feel like waiting for a YouTube ad skip button. Good luck!