How to Transfer All Photos from iPhone to iPhone: 4 Easy Methods

Photos are undeniably a core part of our digital lives, capturing precious moments and memories. In 2024 alone, it’s estimated that a staggering 1.94 trillion photos were snapped globally, with smartphones accounting for 94% of this massive figure. Upgrading to a new iPhone is exciting, but the question of How To Transfer All Photos From Iphone To Iphone is a common concern. You want all your cherished photos to seamlessly move to your new device, right? This guide will walk you through the most effective and straightforward methods to ensure all your photos make the journey to your new iPhone.

Method 1: TouchCopy – The Direct Way to Transfer Photos from iPhone to iPhone Without iCloud

First on our list is TouchCopy, a dedicated software solution renowned for its simplicity and robustness. If you’re looking for a method that bypasses iCloud and offers local control, TouchCopy is an excellent choice.

TouchCopy is your all-in-one tool for managing your iPhone content directly from your computer. Beyond photos, it handles a wide array of data types, including music, messages, contacts, and more. It even lets you transfer photos exchanged in SMS, MMS, and iMessages!

The beauty of TouchCopy lies in its local operation on your computer. You don’t need to rely on Wi-Fi or cloud services like iCloud, offering a secure and private transfer process. This method involves a two-step process: first, transferring photos from your old iPhone to your computer, and then from your computer to your new iPhone.

Let’s break down how to transfer photos from iPhone to iPhone using TouchCopy:

  1. Launch TouchCopy and Connect Your iPhone: Open TouchCopy on your computer and connect your old iPhone using a USB cable.
  2. Access Your iPhone Photos: Within TouchCopy, navigate to your photos by clicking the “Photos” tab. This will display all the photos stored on your iPhone.
  3. Copy Photos to Your Computer: Select the photos you want to transfer or choose to copy all. Click either “Save to PC” or “Copy to Mac” to initiate the transfer of your photos from your iPhone to a designated folder on your computer.

Alt Text: Transfer photos from iPhone to computer using TouchCopy software, showing the “Save to PC” button highlighted.

  1. Disconnect and Connect Your New iPhone: Once the photo transfer to your computer is complete, safely disconnect your old iPhone and connect your new iPhone to the computer.
  2. Sync Photos to Your New iPhone: Open iTunes (for Windows or older macOS versions) or Finder (on macOS).
  3. Initiate Photo Sync: Select your new iPhone in iTunes or Finder. Go to the “Photos” section, check the “Sync Photos” option, and choose the folder on your computer where you saved the photos from your old iPhone. Click “Apply” to start syncing the photos to your new iPhone.

Alt Text: Sync photos from PC to iPhone using iTunes, showing the “Sync Photos” option checked and folder selection.

Alt Text: Transfer photos from Mac to iPhone using Finder, illustrating the “Sync photos to your device from” option and folder selection.

DOWNLOAD TouchCopy (PC) DOWNLOAD TouchCopy (Mac)

Method 2: iCloud – Leveraging Apple’s Cloud for Photo Transfer

Next, we explore iCloud, Apple’s integrated cloud service, as a method for transferring your photos. iCloud is a convenient option, allowing you to access your stored data across all your Apple devices logged in with the same Apple ID. However, it’s essential to note that this method requires a stable internet connection and is subject to your iCloud storage limit.

Upon signing up for iCloud, you receive 5GB of free storage. For extensive photo libraries, you might need to consider upgrading to a paid iCloud+ subscription to accommodate all your photos and videos.

Here’s how to transfer photos from iPhone to iPhone using iCloud:

  1. Enable iCloud Photos on Your Old iPhone: On your old iPhone, go to “Settings” > “[Your Name]” > “iCloud” > “Photos”.
  2. Turn On iCloud Photos: Ensure the “iCloud Photos” toggle is switched ON.
  3. Choose Storage Option: Select either “Optimize iPhone Storage” (to save device space) or “Download and Keep Originals” (to keep full-resolution originals on your iPhone as well as iCloud).
  4. Wait for Upload: Your iPhone will automatically begin uploading your photos to iCloud. The upload time depends on your internet speed and the size of your photo library. Ensure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi and preferably plugged into power for a smooth process.
  5. Enable iCloud Photos on Your New iPhone: On your new iPhone, repeat steps 1 and 2 to enable iCloud Photos using the same Apple ID.
  6. Access Your Photos: Open the “Photos” app on your new iPhone and tap “All Photos”. Your iCloud photos will start downloading and appearing in your photo library.

Alt Text: Enabling iCloud Photos in iPhone Settings, showing the path Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos and the iCloud Photos toggle highlighted.

Alt Text: iCloud Photos settings screen on iPhone, illustrating the options for iCloud Photos toggle, Optimize iPhone Storage, and Download and Keep Originals.

Method 3: iTunes, Apple Devices App, or Finder – Syncing Photos via Computer

The third method involves utilizing Apple’s desktop applications: iTunes, the Apple Devices app (on Windows), or Finder (on Mac). The specific application you use depends on your computer’s operating system. iTunes is applicable for older Windows PCs (Windows 8 or earlier) and Macs running macOS Mojave or earlier. For newer systems, Windows users will employ the Apple Devices app, and Mac users will use Finder.

This method is considered more complex and comes with certain limitations and potential pitfalls, which are crucial to understand before proceeding:

  • Camera Roll Photos Only: You can only transfer photos that are in your iPhone’s Camera Roll. Photos already synced from a computer, iCloud Photos, or shared photos are not transferable using this method.
  • Potential Photo Library Overwrite: Syncing photos from your computer can potentially overwrite your existing photo library on your new iPhone. Data loss is possible if a recent backup hasn’t been performed.
  • Incompatibility with iCloud Photos: This method is not compatible if you are using iCloud Photos. Attempting to sync via iTunes, Finder, or the Apple Devices app while iCloud Photos is enabled can lead to conflicts and is generally not recommended. If you choose to turn off iCloud Photos to use this method, be aware that photos stored in iCloud but not on your device may be deleted from your device.

Due to these complications, especially the risk of data loss and incompatibility with iCloud Photos, using Method 1 (TouchCopy) is often a more straightforward and safer alternative.

If you choose to proceed with this method, here are the steps involved:

Step 1: Transfer Photos from Old iPhone to Computer

  • Windows PC: Connect your old iPhone to your Windows PC using a USB cable. In the AutoPlay popup that appears, click “Import Pictures and Videos”. Choose a destination folder on your PC to save the photos and click “Import”.
  • Mac: Connect your old iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable. The Photos app should launch automatically. Select your device in the Photos app sidebar, choose the photos you want to transfer, and click “Import Selected”. Alternatively, click “Import All New Items” to import all photos not previously imported to your Mac.

Step 2: Transfer Photos from Computer to New iPhone

  • Windows 10 or Later (using Apple Devices app):

    1. Connect your new iPhone to your computer with a USB cable.
    2. Open the Apple Devices app.
    3. Select “Photos” from the settings list.
    4. Check “Sync photos onto your device from:” and select the folder containing the photos you transferred from your old iPhone.
    5. Click “Apply” to begin syncing.

    Alt Text: Syncing photos from PC to iPhone using the Apple Devices app on Windows, showing the “Sync photos onto your device from” option and folder selection.

  • macOS Catalina or Later (using Finder):

    1. Connect your new iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
    2. Open Finder and select your iPhone from the sidebar.
    3. Click the “Photos” tab.
    4. Check “Sync photos to your device from:” and choose the folder with your photos.
    5. Click “Apply” to sync.

    Alt Text: Syncing photos from iPhone to iPhone using Finder on macOS, illustrating the “Sync photos to your device from” option and folder selection within the Finder interface.

  • Windows 8 or Earlier or macOS Mojave or Earlier (using iTunes):

    1. Connect your new iPhone to your computer via USB.
    2. Launch iTunes.
    3. Click the device icon to access your iPhone’s settings.
    4. Go to the “Photos” section.
    5. Check “Sync Photos” and select the folder containing your photos.
    6. Click “Apply” to synchronize your photos.

    Alt Text: Transfer photos from iPhone to iPhone using iTunes on Windows or older macOS, showing the “Sync Photos” checkbox and folder selection within iTunes.

Method 4: AirDrop – Directly Transfer Photos iPhone to iPhone Wirelessly

If you only need to transfer a small selection of photos, Apple’s AirDrop service provides a quick and wireless solution. AirDrop is remarkably fast and simple for sending photos directly between iPhones that are in close proximity.

Before starting, ensure AirDrop is properly configured on both iPhones. Open the Control Center on both devices by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen (or swiping up from the bottom on older iPhone models).

  1. Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: In the Control Center on both iPhones, turn on both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. AirDrop relies on these connections to function.

  2. Turn On AirDrop: In the Control Center, tap and hold the network settings card (where Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons are located). Ensure AirDrop is turned on and set to either “Contacts Only” (if both iPhones are associated with Apple IDs in each other’s contacts) or “Everyone” (for broader discoverability). Also, verify that “Personal Hotspot” is turned off as it can interfere with AirDrop.

    Alt Text: Enabling AirDrop in iPhone Control Center, highlighting the AirDrop option within the network settings card and showing the options “Contacts Only” and “Everyone”.

  3. Select Photos to Transfer: Open the “Photos” app on your old iPhone and select the photos you wish to transfer. To select multiple photos, tap “Select” and then tap on each photo you want to include.

  4. Share and Choose AirDrop: Tap the Share icon (the square with an arrow pointing upwards) at the bottom left of your screen. In the Share Sheet that appears, tap the “AirDrop” option.

    Alt Text: Sharing photos from iPhone Photos app, showing the Share icon and the AirDrop option highlighted in the Share Sheet.

  5. Select the Recipient iPhone: Your new iPhone should appear as an available AirDrop recipient (if AirDrop is correctly configured on both devices). Tap the icon representing your new iPhone to send the selected photos.

    Alt Text: Sending photos via AirDrop, showing the recipient iPhone device icon selected for AirDrop transfer.

  6. Accept on New iPhone: On your new iPhone, a preview of the incoming photos will appear. Tap “Accept” to receive and save the photos to your photo library.

Conclusion

Transferring photos from one iPhone to another is now remarkably accessible, thanks to a range of efficient methods. Whether you prioritize the direct control of TouchCopy, the cloud convenience of iCloud, the system integration of iTunes or Finder, or the quickness of AirDrop, a suitable solution exists for every user’s needs.

By following the detailed steps outlined in this guide, you can confidently and securely migrate your treasured photo memories to your new iPhone, ensuring no moment is left behind.

Thank you for reading!

Publisher: Wide Angle Software

Read Next: 4 Ways to Backup your iPhone properly >

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