How To Transfer Old Iphone Apps To New Phone

How to Transfer Apps from iPhone to iPhone (iPhone 13 Supported)

How to transfer apps from iPhone to iPhone? In this guide, we are going to show you the 6 ways to transfer iPhone apps and app data to the new iPhone 13 or iPhone 12.

Author Avatar Tom Boyer Last Updated: Sep. 30, 2021

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iPhone to iPhone Transfer Tips

I've just got an iPhone 12 from my parents, and I'm looking for ways to transfer some apps, including app files and app games from my old iPhone to the new iPhone 12 device. How do you transfer apps from iPhone to iPhone? Is there any quick approach to make it? Thanks a lot.

Like this user, you may meet the same situation and need to transfer apps or app games, even transfer all data from your old iPhone to the new iPhone. Here in the following guide, we'll show you how to fix apps that didn't transfer to the new iPhone and switchiPhones successfully with 6 simple methods, all iPhone series are supported (including iPhone 13). You can go through these methods firstly, and then choose the one you prefer to finish the task.

Also Read: The Best Way to Transfer Apps from Android to New iPhone >

Why My Apps Didn't Transfer to the New iPhone
iPhone to iPhone Transfer App via iCloud
Transfer Apps to New iPhone with iPhone to iPhone Transfer Tool
Try Quick Start to Transfer Apps from iPhone to iPhone
How to Transfer All Apps to New iPhone with iTunes
How to Transfer Apps to New iPhone using App Store
AirDrop Apps from iPhone to iPhone

Why My Apps Didn't Transfer to the New iPhone 12 or iPhone 13?

I backed up my iPhone XR on my iMac, then disconnected it and plugged in my new iPhone 12 Pro Max, and chose "Restore Backup." It restores all of my info from iCloud, but not any apps or any of my settings and pictures. What am I doing wrong? I've always done it this way and had no trouble whatsoever. Did Apple change something? Help!

— User Mplsmark

When trying to transfer apps to the new iPhone 12 or iPhone 13, some people will choose to backup and restore from iCloud. If your apps didn't transfer to your new iPhone, there are some reasons to consider.

It may take some time to restore the apps, please be patient.
The Wi-Fi network may not be stable or slow.
The iCloud account didn't match on two iPhones.
Something goes wrong during the restoration process.

Next, we will show you all the ways you can try to transfer apps to your new iPhone.

iPhone to iPhone Transfer App via iCloud

Similar to iTunes, transferring apps from iPhone to iPhone with iCloud will also erase all the existing data on your iPhone. If you want to transfer apps only to your new iPhone, just move to Method 2.

Step 1: Turn on your iPhone. If you've already set up your new device, you need to erase it before you can use these steps: Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

How to Transfer Apps from iPhone to iPhone via iCloud - Step 1

How to Transfer Apps from iPhone to iPhone via iCloud – Step 1

Step 2: Connect your iPhone to a stable Wi-Fi network > Reach to the Apps & Data screen > Tap Restore from iCloud Backup.

Step 3: Sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID and password > Choose a backup that contains the apps you want to transfer.

Transfer Apps from iPhone to iPhone via iCloud

Please make sure you already have an iCloud backup before using Apps & Data. Or you can follow the details to back up the old iPhone with iCloud firstly.

Transfer Apps & App Data to New iPhone Transfer Tool

Here recommended users 2 transfer tools that could transfer apps from iPhone to iPhone selectively and wholly within clicks.

#2. AnyTrans – Full-Way iPhone Apps Manager and Transfer Tool

If you want to transfer not only your apps and app files, but manage your apps and all iPhone data, you'd better pick up another professional iOS data manager like AnyTrans. Besides, AnyTrans will build an App Library for you, it's easy to find the older version of apps, downgrade an app, etc. So you can also transfer app and app data after setup. Check how can AnyTrans help you to switch iPhones:

AnyTrans – iPhone App Transfer

Transfer apps, app data to the new iPhone directly.
Move all apps to the new iPhone at once, no need to install one by one.
Also transfer photos, music, contacts, messages, and more iOS data.
Work well with all iPhone models (iPhone 13 & iOS 15).

Now, you can learn how to switch old iPhone apps to new iPhone as below:

Step 1: Free Download AnyTrans on your computer > Run it and connect two iPhones via USB .

Connect Two iPhones

Step 2: Go to Phone Switcher > Head to Apps to iPhone panel and click Transfer Now button, which will help you to transfer apps and app data from the old iPhone to new iPhone with one click.

Go to Phone Switcher and Choose Apps to iPhone

Step 3: Select your previous iPhone as source device and new iPhone as target device > Click Next button to continue.

Confirm New iPhone as the Target Device

Step 4: Select the apps you want to transfer to new iPhone, or you can click Select All button > Click Next button. Then you need to sign in your Apple ID and AnyTrans will start transferring and downloading apps to new iPhone.

Select Apps you Want to Transfer to New iPhone

Once the transferring process is finished, check on your new iPhone and apps will be synced from the old iPhone.

#1. PhoneTrans – Transfer Apps from iPhone to iPhone Directly

PhoneTrans is a professional phone to phone transfer tool. No matter you want to transfer WhatsApp, Line, Viber, or some other apps, PhoneTrans can transfer all apps in one click or select just certain apps to move. Besides, to make you switch to a new iPhone easily, PhoneTrans supports you to transfer contacts, photos, ringtone, music, etc.

And, it provides several phone transfer options. You can quickly transfer and perfectly clone iPhone to iPhone. Considering the safety of every single piece of data on phones, it also supports backing up and restoring phones in diverse ways.

Follow the detailed steps listed below to figure out how to transfer apps and app data from iPhone to iPhone with PhoneTrans.

Note: the app data that are restricted by App Sandbox can not be transferred.

Step 1. Download PhoneTrans and run it on your computer. Click on the App Transfer on the left panel and then tap on Apps. Click on the Start Transfer to go on.

Choose Apps and Click on Start Transfer on PhoneTrans

Step 2. Here you need to connect both of your iPhones to the computer. Once the computer detected the iPhones, you can click on Transfer to go on.

Step 3. Then, PhoneTrans will list all the apps on your old iPhone. Verify your Apple ID > Select All apps > Click Transfer Now button.

Select All Apps to Transfer to New iPhone

Minutes later, you will see all these apps have transferred from the old iPhone to the new iPhone.

Try Quick Start to Transfer Apps from iPhone to iPhone

If your old device is running iOS 11 or later, you can use the iPhone migration feature to move apps to your new iPhone. Here's how to Transfer Apps from iPhone to iPhone via Bluetooth:

Turn on your new iPhone and place it near your old iPhone that's running iOS 12.4 or later. And make sure two iPhones' Bluetooth are turned on and within the Bluetooth range.
The Quick Start screen appears on your current iPhone and offers the option of using your Apple ID to set up your new iPhone > Tap Continue.
Wait for an animation to appear on your new iPhone. Hold your current iPhone over the new iPhone, then center the animation in the viewfinder.
When prompted, enter your current iPhone passcode on your new iPhone.
Follow the instructions to set up Face ID or Touch ID on your new iPhone.
Tap Transfer from iPhone to begin transferring your data from your previous iPhone to your new iPhone.
Keep your devices near each other and plugged into power until the iPhone data migration process is complete.

Tap Continue to continue to set up new iPhone Image credit: Apple Support

Tap Continue to continue to set up new iPhone

Also Read: Best iPhone to iPhone Transfer Software >

How to Transfer All Apps to New iPhone with iTunes

iTunes backup is also a good choice. Firstly you need to make an iTunes backup for your old iPhone, and then just restore your new iPhone with the previous iTunes backup. This method will help you get your apps and app data to your new iPhone, but it will get all backup content to your new iPhone. In other words, your iPhone will be erased and the files on iPhone will be replaced by the iTunes backup files. If you'd like to apply this method, you can follow the steps below:

If you already backed up your old iPhone, just skip step 1.

Step 1: Back Up Old iPhone

Connect old iPhone to computer > Open iTunes if it doesn't pop up automatically > Click the device name on the top right corner.
Tap This computer button > Choose Back Up Now on the Backups column. (For encrypt backup: Click Encrypt iPhone/iPad backup to set a password, then choose Back Up Now)

Step 2: Restore iTunes Backup to New iPhone

Reach the Apps & Data screen on your new iPhone, then tap Restore from iTunes Backup > Next.

Transfer Apps new iPhone via iTunes
Now, Connect your iPhone to the computer that you used to back up your old iPhone.
Open iTunes on your computer > Select your iPhone > Tap on Restore Backup and choose a backup. If you need to restore from an encrypted backup, enter your password when asked.
After the restore process finishes, just follow the steps to complete the rest of the setup steps on your new iPhone. Don't disconnect your iPhone to Wi-Fi.

Further Reading: How to Backup & Restore iPhone/iPad Using iTunes Step By Step >

How to Transfer Apps to New iPhone using App Store

If you switched to the new iPhone, then you can transfer purchased apps from iPhone to iPhone via your Apple ID. Apple keeps a record of every app you've ever downloaded, so you can re-install them at any time on the same phone or an iPhone you later upgrade to. This way allows you to download apps selectively.

This way only applies to transfer the apps, but the app data are not included.

On your new iPhone: Just log into the Apple ID you used on your old iPhone.
Then go to the App Store, tap your photo in the upper-right corner, and click Purchased.
Choose Purchased > Click Not on this iPhone option, then all the purchased apps that have not been installed in your iPhone 12 will be displayed here. Then tap the Download button to install one by one right away.

Transfer Apps from iPhone to new iPhone via App Store

Now, find these apps you want and tap on the download button to install them on your new iPhone.

Transfer Discontinued Apps and App Files to New iPhone

If you want to transfer discontinued or unavailable apps to a new iPhone, App Store can also help you with the same steps above. Although developers removed the app, it will be stored in Purchased.

What's more, if you want to get the app files from discontinued apps, you can use File Sharing in iTunes: just connect your iPhone with iTunes > click File Sharing > choose the files from the app you want to access. And here are the detailed ways to get App Files on iPhone.

AirDrop Apps from iPhone to iPhone

Also, there is an AirDrop that supports sharing apps from the old iPhone quickly and easily, then download those apps on the new iPhone. AirDrop is quite useful between iPhones as it always works out effectively. It's like Bluetooth that can only work between iPhones that are near to each other. Keep on reading and figure out how to send apps from iPhone to iPhone with AirDrop.

Long press the app you want to transfer from your old iPhone.
Click on the Share App button and then choose AirDrop.
Tap Accept on your new iPhone. When the new iPhone clicks on Accept, transfer apps to the new iPhone now is completed. And you will see there is a blue Sent word under the iPhone you choose to send the app.
Open new iPhone and repeat the steps in Method 1.

How to Transfer Apps from iPhone to iPhone via AirDrop

The Bottom Line

Transferring apps to the new iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 is quite an easy job with the help of AnyTrans or PhoneTrans. What's more, it also can give you a big favor when transferring more data from old iPhone to new iPhone, like Messages, Photos, Music, Contacts, etc. If this guide helps, don't forget to share it with your friends.

Author Avatar

A writer for iMobie, has been covering iOS, Mac, and Android related How-to Articles / Apps Reviews for 5+ years. Like sharing something about data transferring & recovering knowledge.