I recently got a new iPhone and I’m trying to move photos from my old one. I’m not sure what’s the easiest way to transfer them and could use some advice about which method works best or any tips if someone has done this before.
Ok, transferring photos. Sounds simple, right? WRONG. Apple somehow always finds a way to make you feel like you’re assembling the space shuttle. But hey, I’ll lay it all out so your brain doesn’t melt.
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iCloud: If you already use it to back up your phone, congrats, this is super easy. Go to Settings → Your Name → iCloud → Photos → Turn on iCloud Photos. Once your new iPhone is signed in with the same Apple ID, the photos magically show up… eventually. The catch? You better pray you have enough iCloud storage 'cause that 5GB free limit? Trash. Prepare to fork over a subscription fee if you have more than, like, 17 photos.
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AirDrop: If iCloud ain’t your thing or you’re allergic to subscriptions, open Photos, select what you wanna send, and AirDrop 'em to your new phone. BUT WAIT—it only works if you have both phones near each other, and sometimes AirDrop decides it’s on vacation and just doesn’t wanna work.
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Quick Start/Phone Transfer: Basically the setup wizard when turning on your new iPhone. It moves everything, including photos. The downside? If you already set up the new phone without using this method… oops. Too late.
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Third-party apps: If you want your life spiced up with a dash of risk, apps like Google Photos or Dropbox can transfer your pics, but they require messing with another app. Great if you’re already using one of these, otherwise a hassle.
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Old school cable: Use a computer as the middleman. Plug in your old phone, transfer the photos to the computer, then plug in the new phone and sync 'em over. Seriously feels like something from 2010 but gets the job done if you’re stuck.
So which is ‘best’? Honestly depends. iCloud = easy, but costs $$. AirDrop = fast, but limited to being nearby. Quick Start = seamless, but you have to do it right at setup. Do whatever causes the least headaches. Or just delete all your photos and live minimalist. Your call.
Okay, here’s the thing—everyone seems to circle the same methods (iCloud, AirDrop, Quick Start, blah blah), and sure, they’re fine, but let me throw out a rogue suggestion: direct app-to-app transfer tools. Yes, they exist. Yes, they’re mildly sketchy-sounding. BUT they can actually save you when nothing else plays nice. (Google ‘Photo Transfer App’ or ‘Smart Transfer’ and see what comes up.) These apps require both devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network, and they basically act as middlemen—no subscription fees, no storage limits. Might feel bizarre trusting third-party stuff, but sometimes Apple’s perfectionist playground doesn’t give us an easy route.
That said, I do kinda disagree with @suenodelbosque about AirDrop being ‘fast’—like, in THEORY it’s quick, but try sending a couple thousand photos without hearing your phone fan itself like it’s on life support. Good luck! And the “old school cable” method is more tedious than waiting for an iOS update to install… unless you love staring at a progress bar.
If you’re like me and despise cloud storage commitments (Apple’s 5GB freebie IS a joke, thanks for pointing that out), the app route + manual management works weirdly well. It’s not as glam as AirDrop or Quick Start, but hey, it doesn’t cost an extra penny for storage space upgrades. Nothing like beating the system with minimal effort, am I right?