The fastest way: restore from your iCloud backup
When you set up a new iPhone, you can restore your apps automatically by signing in with your Apple ID and choosing to restore from a backup. This copies your apps, their settings, and your data from your old phone to the new one during setup. Most people's apps transfer this way without any extra steps.
To use this method, your old iPhone must have backed up to iCloud at least once. You can check this by going to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and looking for a recent backup date. If the backup is current, turn on your new iPhone and follow the setup prompts until you reach "Apps & Data." Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup," sign in with your Apple ID, and select the backup from your old phone.
This process can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on how many apps you have and your internet speed. Your phone will download and install each app in the background, and you can use it while this happens. Apps will appear on your home screen as they finish installing.
Key Takeaways
- Restoring from an iCloud backup during setup transfers your apps automatically and is the simplest method for most people.
- If you do not have a recent backup, you can download apps individually from the App Store using your Apple ID.
- Apps purchased on a family plan transfer to any family member's iPhone if they use the same Apple ID or have access to the shared purchase history.
- Some apps may not restore if they were deleted from the App Store, if your account was in a different country when you bought them, or if the developer removed them.
Downloading apps one at a time from the App Store
If you do not have a backup or prefer to set up your new iPhone fresh, you can download your apps individually. Open the App Store, tap the profile icon in the top right corner, and go to "Purchased." You will see a list of every app you have ever bought or downloaded for free with that Apple ID, organized by most recent first.
Tap the cloud icon next to any app to download it. Apps you own but have not yet installed show a cloud icon; apps already on your phone show an open circle. You can download multiple apps at once by tapping each cloud icon in succession. The App Store will queue them and install them in order.
This method takes longer if you have many apps, but it gives you control over which apps you actually want on your new phone. You can skip apps you no longer use instead of restoring them automatically. Your login information and saved data for each app will not transfer this way — you will need to sign back into each app individually.
What happens to apps you bought on a family plan
If your family uses Family Sharing, apps purchased by any family member are available to all members with access to the shared purchase history. When you set up your new iPhone with your Apple ID, you can download any app that anyone in your family bought, even if you did not purchase it yourself.
Go to the App Store, tap your profile icon, and select "Family Purchases" to see apps bought by other family members. Tap the cloud icon next to any of them to download. This works the same way as downloading your own apps — you just see a larger library to choose from.
If you are setting up a new iPhone for a family member, you can sign in with their Apple ID during setup. They will then see only the apps purchased under their own account, plus any family purchases they have access to. Apps purchased by one family member do not automatically appear on another member's phone unless you manually download them.
Apps that may not transfer to your new iPhone
Some apps will not show up in your purchase history or will not download even if they do. This happens when an app has been removed from the App Store, when you bought it in a different country's App Store, or when the developer no longer supports it. Apps that require a subscription or license you no longer have may also not transfer.
If an app you want is no longer available, you have a few options. Search the App Store for a newer version or replacement made by the same developer — many companies update their apps under new names. Check whether the developer offers the app on their website or through another app store. Some older or niche apps are only available this way now.
If you bought an app in one country's App Store and later moved to another country, that app may not be available in your new region's store. You can still download it if you switch your App Store region back to the original country temporarily, but you will need to change your billing address and payment method to match that region.
Transferring app data and login information
When you restore from an iCloud backup, most apps restore with their saved data and login information intact. Games restore your progress, email apps restore your account settings, and social media apps keep you logged in. This happens because the backup includes not just the app itself but also the app's local data folder.
If you download apps individually instead of restoring from backup, you will need to sign back into each app. Some apps offer to restore your data if you sign in with the same account — Spotify, Netflix, and most cloud-based apps work this way. Other apps, especially games, may not restore your progress unless you manually sync through the app's own backup system.
Before you switch phones, check whether your most important apps have their own backup or sync feature. Many games let you link your progress to a Game Center account or Facebook account. Email and cloud storage apps usually restore automatically once you sign in. Apps that store data only locally on your phone will lose that data if you do not back up through iCloud or the app's own system first.
Using a Mac or Windows computer to transfer apps
You can also transfer apps using a computer. Connect your new iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC with a USB cable, open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows), and select your phone. Go to the Apps tab and check the boxes next to the apps you want to transfer. Click "Apply" and your computer will copy those apps to your phone.
This method is slower than iCloud backup and is rarely necessary now that iCloud backup works reliably. It can be useful if your internet connection is very slow or if you want to transfer apps from a computer that has them installed. Most people should use iCloud backup or the App Store instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my app data if I download apps from the App Store instead of restoring from backup?
Yes, unless the app has its own backup system. When you download an app fresh, it starts with no saved data. Games, note-taking apps, and other apps that store data locally will lose that data. Cloud-based apps like email or Dropbox will restore your data once you sign in with your account.
Can I transfer apps between iPhones if we use different Apple IDs?
No, apps are tied to the Apple ID that purchased them. If you want to use an app on a different Apple ID, that person must buy it themselves or you must set up Family Sharing so they can access your purchases. You cannot transfer an app license from one Apple ID to another.
What if my old iPhone is broken and I cannot back it up?
If you have an iCloud backup from before your phone broke, you can restore from that backup on your new iPhone. If you do not have a backup, you can download your apps from the App Store using your Apple ID. Your app data will not transfer, but the apps themselves will download.
Why are some of my apps not showing up in my purchase history?
Apps removed from the App Store no longer appear in your purchase history, even if you bought them years ago. Apps purchased in a different country's App Store also will not show up if you are currently in another region. You can download them again only if you switch back to the original App Store region.
Can I download apps to my new iPhone before I set it up?
No, you must complete the initial setup and sign in with your Apple ID before you can download apps from the App Store. Once setup is finished, you can download any app you own or any app available in your region's App Store.