iPhone 14 Pro Max How do you prefer to set up your new iPhone

[fatTribble]

With so many of us setting up new iPhones, I’m curious which method you prefer to use? I tried to transfer directly from my old iPhone one year, but I have a large amount of photos and videos so it took a long time to transfer. I’m not sure if that has been improved since. All other years I download from the iCloud backup. It’s pretty fast for getting the iPhone set up. Then the photos and videos can download over the next few days. Is there any advantage to restoring from Mac or PC these days?

I’d be interested in hearing about which methods have worked well or not so well for you.

 

[bodonnell202]

I used to always backup to a Mac and then restore to the new phone from there, but I haven't done that in years and I just use the iCloud method now.

 

[Ted Lasso]

Usually iCloud backup but this time I set up as new.

 

[timeconsumer]

I always setup as new. Most apps store things in iCloud or on their own servers so as soon as I login to the app all of my data is there. This also allows me to get rid of apps that I no longer use because I don’t install apps on the new device until I need to.

 

[Shadowbech]

I prefer to use the phone to phone transfer.

 

[Chevysales]

I used to setup as new but after 13 and 14 transfer phone to phone and having all (music and artwork) which is biggest thing at 60gbs perfect I’m done with as new.

 

[fatTribble]

I’ll admit I’m scared to set up as new. But next year I might try the direct transfer

 

[Chevysales]

I’ll admit I’m scared to set up as new. But next year I might try the direct transfer

Scared? Everything you have on iCloud now will populate on iPhone once you sign into iCloud on phone and turn it in. Everything bookmarks notes messages emails apps etc.

 

[fatTribble]

Yep I guess it’s more of setting up all of the apps and Putting them back where I want them.

 

[NikkoTuason]

Restore via iTunes. I have all my backup on my PC. Reminds me I need to clear that backup folder out, it’s nearing 500GB of backup since iPhone 6s.

 

[VineRider]

Last couple of upgrades, I have done the phone to phone transfer. I did this from my 13 Pro to my 14 Pro and have had no issues. ESIM transfer worked seamlessly, as did the transfer of all my files and settings.

Just had to log in to a couple apps and after that, off and running.

 

[big samm]

Phone to phone is the best way for me.
No computer involve you don’t even need wifi. All can be done via 4G/5G which i would not advise to do but it’s possible. You basically create a clone of your previous phone.

 

[fatTribble]

Restore via iTunes. I have all my backup on my PC. Reminds me I need to clear that backup folder out, it’s nearing 500GB of backup since iPhone 6s.

Is there an advantage to using your PC? Just curious

 

[fatTribble]

Does iPhone to iPhone transfer take a long time? I’d be fine with overnight but if I have to leave the house and it’s not done, what happens? I have a full 1 TB iPhone

 

[blairh]

I did transfer for the first time ever last week. Worked really well. Still had to sign into my Gmail accounts and a few others. But most were already signed in. It does take longer vs iCloud backup. I don't have much on my iPhone and it didn't finish until I got home after starting at the Apple store and waiting for at least 30 mins. Maybe longer.

 

[JulianL]

I always set up as new. It gives me a chance to have an annual rethink about what apps I really need and what I can ditch, maybe try out a slightly different Home Screen layout and/or other organisational tweaks, and the hour or two it takes me (usually spread out over an evening sat on the sofa in front of the TV) gives me a chance to bond with my new phone.

 

[Shh]

I always set up as new. It gives me a chance to have an annual rethink about what apps I really need and what I can ditch, maybe try out a slightly different Home Screen layout and/or other organisational tweaks, and the hour or two it takes me (usually spread out over an evening sat on the sofa in front of the TV) gives me a chance to bond with my new phone.

That's all the same reasons for me. That and it's like a mental decluttering for me. Feels like a fresh start.

 

[tomtattoo]

Phone to phone. I did it a a friend´s house who has a 200mbit WiFI. Took me less than 30 minutes transferring more than 100 apps, more than 16.000 pics. Smoothest setup ever.

 

[fatTribble]

Okay I’m glad I asked. I realize this poll isn’t scientific, but I’m surprised how many set up as new. I have a friend who does that but I thought he was one of the few. I thought the direct transfer would be my new method when it released, but the slowness when I tried that scared me back to iCloud. Maybe I’ll give that a shot next year.

 

[klky]

I always restore from backup as I want the transition to a new phone to be as smooth as possible. I already have everything set up the way I like it. Starting fresh doesn’t make sense for me.

 

[CC91UK]

Only got my first iPhone a year ago after previously using an iPod Touch. Restored from iTunes backup so that my phone's home screen looked identical to my iPod - it worked pretty well as far as I can remember!

 

[ajo]

I used to setup as new but after 13 and 14 transfer phone to phone and having all (music and artwork) which is biggest thing at 60gbs perfect I’m done with as new.

I was going to set up as new, but this just reminded me, Music! I need that copied across too, so its going to have to be a transfer right?

Im currently have an Apple Music trial, but that wont copy across my old iTunes CD rips will it?

 

[Chevysales]

If you copy from phone to phone yes it will. Long ago I embed all artwork etc in any rips I had. Though I’ve weeded out really old stuff with debatable quality. I have nothing under a clean EAC rip at 260.

I’ve redone it or didn’t like the quality. When I setup as new I would allow all music to populate then bring over rips. Since it’s my largest thing on phone and used so much I have it perfect.

 

[Greenmeenie]

I use an iPad Pro in place of a computer, so I haven’t backed up from one for ages. I‘m a photographer who uses an iPhone as my main camera now. My iphone 11 pro max which used a physical sim card just died, and I will be upgrading to the iPhone 14 Pro Max - which only uses an esim. So i guess I will be using the cloud to set up my new iphone…. WHENEVER i get one that is! The iPhone 14 Pro Max is still very hard to get where I live.

 

[Chevysales]

I use an iPad Pro in place of a computer, so I haven’t backed up from one for ages. I‘m a photographer who uses an iPhone as my main camera now. My iphone 11 pro max which used a physical sim card just died, and I will be upgrading to the iPhone 14 Pro Max - which only uses an esim. So i guess I will be using the cloud to set up my new iphone…. WHENEVER i get one that is! The iPhone 14 Pro Max is still very hard to get where I live.

If you use iCloud for all it will populate your new phone with everything it just takes time. I’m on a gigabit connection and with a super large music library it can take overnight for all data, artwork to complete. But it does complete and is an easy way to do it.

I backup on both iCloud and my MBP 16” with no problems. I like the the ability to have both and the sync part of it does clear out the error log of iPhone which in the past was helpful a few times.