How to Transfer Data from iPhone to iPhone Without iCloud? (5 Scientific Ways)

"Is there a way to transfer from one iphone to another iphone without enabling icloud? I am planning to buy an iphone 15 pro and keep my old XS, but I would like all things transferred without using icloud (not a big fan of this feature). Any guidance, please?"

- From Apple Support Community

When you've purchased a new iPhone 16 and wish to transfer your data from your old iPhone to the new one, iCloud is a common approach, but it's not the only option. If you prefer not to use iCloud, or if you can't due to insufficient storage, there are plenty of other effective methods at your disposal. This article will provide a detailed overview of 5 ways on how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone without using iCloud.

Way 1. How to Transfer iPhone to iPhone Without iCloud by Coolmuster Mobile Transfer

The best way to transfer from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud is Coolmuster Mobile Transfer, which supports iOS and Android operating systems. Just connect your phone to a computer, and you can transfer files between any two devices directly, quickly, and easily.

Key features of Coolmuster Mobile Transfer

• Transfer contacts, calendars, bookmarks, eBooks (PDFs & ePubs), and notes from iOS to iOS with 1-click.
• 4 transfer modes: iPhone to iPhone transfer, Android to Android transfer, Android to iOS transfer, and iOS to Android transfer.
• Widely compatible with all generations of iOS devices running iOS 5 and up and all Android devices running Android 4.0 and later, including iPhone 16/15, etc.
• 100% read-only, safe, clean, and fast.

How to transfer data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone without iCloud?

01Install and launch Coolmuster Mobile Transfer on your computer.

Free Download for PC

 

Free Download for Mac

02Connect two iPhones to the computer via suitable USB cables. Tap "Trust" when "Trust This Computer?" pops up on your iPhone and confirm it with your password. Make sure your old iPhone is in the source phone's position; if not, you can click "Flip" in between to make a change. After a successful connection, you will see Connected shown in both phone's positions.

03Check desired contents from Select content to copy and click "Start Copy" below to transfer from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud.

Video guide

Way 2. How to Transfer Everything from iPhone to iPhone with Quick Start

If your both iPhones are using iOS 11 or later, you can transfer from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud via Quick Start, an embedded feature of iOS devices, which allows you to transfer all data from your current iPhone to your new one wirelessly.

How to transfer data from one iPhone to another with Quick Start?

Step 1. Turn on both devices and place them close.

Step 2. Wait for an animation to appear on your new device, place your old iPhone over your new iPhone, and center the animation in the viewfinder until you see Finish on New iPhone.

Step 3. Then, input the old iPhone's password on the new iPhone and set up Face ID or Touch ID on your new device as required (if you cannot use the old iPhone's camera in this step, you can tap "Authenticate Manually").

Step 4. Click "Transfer from iPhone" to start iPhone to iPhone transfer, and you need to keep two iPhones near and plug them into power before the transfer process is complete.

Cons

• The target mobile device should be new; otherwise, a complete data wipe is necessary if setup has been done.
• Both iPhones need to be running on the same iOS version for a smooth process.
• It may take a considerable amount of time, especially when dealing with a large volume of data.

Way 3. How to Transfer Everything from One iPhone to Another Using AirDrop

If you do not want to install any iPhone to iPhone transfer apps, you can use the AirDrop feature to transfer from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud. To conduct iPhone to iPhone transfer via AirDrop, you need to enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both iPhones and switch off personal hotspots.

How to transfer an old iPhone to a new iPhone?

Step 1. Place two iPhones near and enable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on both devices.

Step 2. Toggle on AirDrop on both devices and choose to transfer files to "Contacts Only" or "Everyone" on the old device.

Step 3. Select files you want to transfer on the old iPhone, for example, photos, and tap "Share" > "AirDrop" > "New iPhone's name".

Step 4. Hit "Receive" on the new iPhone to begin the iPhone to iPhone transfer.

Cons

• The types of data transmitted are limited.
• It is only capable of transmitting a single file or a small amount of data, making it unsuitable for large-scale data transfer.
• With a limited transmission distance, it necessitates that the two devices be in close proximity to each other.

Way 4. How to Transfer Information from One iPhone to Another Through iTunes

How do I transfer everything from one iPhone to another? Using iTunes as an intermediary is a classic method for data backup and restore. Here are the steps:

Step 1. Connect your old iPhone to your computer via a USB cable, and after iTunes automatically launches, in the iTunes interface, select your old iPhone's name from the left window > "Summary" > "This Computer" under Backups > "Back Up Now" > "Sync".

Step 2. Disconnect the old iPhone and plug your new iPhone into the computer via a USB cable. In the iTunes interface, click your new iPhone's name from the left window > "Summary" > "Restore Backup" > Select the most recent backups > "Restore".

After the whole process is complete, you will transfer from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud.

Cons

• The recovery process will overwrite the existing data on your phone.
• A computer is required to be used.
• It may take a significant period to complete the backup and recovery.

Way 5. How to Transfer Data from iPhone to iPhone Without iCloud via Finder

For users with macOS Catalina or later versions, Finder serves as an alternative to iTunes for data transfer. Below is the guide on how to transfer data to the new iPhone:

Step 1. Connect your old iPhone to your Mac and open Finder.

Step 2. Choose your device and click on "Back Up Now" to create a local backup.

Step 3. Disconnect your old iPhone and connect your new iPhone. Set up your new iPhone until you reach the "Apps & Data" screen.

Step 4. Choose "Restore from Mac or PC", pick the backup you just created, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the data restoration to your new device.

Cons

• Limited to macOS Catalina and later, and also requires a computer.
• The backup and restore process is time-consuming and requires adequate storage space.

Wrapping Up

How to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud? After reading through this article, you have mastered 5 possible ways. Which one do you prefer? In our opinion, Coolmuster Mobile Transfer is the simplest and fastest way for your reference, while other ways are too complicated in operation or have some obvious limitations. Of course, you can choose any way above your free will.

By the way, if you encounter any problem during use, feel free to leave a comment below.

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