Fix: Transfer Cannot be Completed, iPhone Not Enough Storage

How to fix transfer cannot be completed due to iPhone not having enough storage? With guides on this page, you can learn 3 effective ways to fix not having enough storage to transfer iPhone.

Kelsey

By Kelsey / Updated on September 30, 2024

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Why does my new iPhone say it doesn't have enough storage to transfer?

I am trying to set up my new iPhone 16 and but I keep getting a data transfer error message that says ‘there is not enough storage.’ what do I need to do? How do I fix data transfer cannot be completed on my iPhone?

- Question from Apple Community

iPhone not enough storage

What to do when it says transfer cannot be completed?

When you want to transfer data from old iPhone to new iPhone, but encounter the transfer cannot be completed due to iPhone not having enough storage issues in iPhone, the following tips may help you.

1. Check iPhone storage

The main reason for the new iPhone says not have enough storage to transfer is that the amount of data you are trying to transfer is close to or exceeds the capacity of the new phone. Please check the storage of the old and new iPhone, and also remove unnecessary items from the old phone to reduce the load.

Click Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Then, you will see a list of apps and how much space they are taking up on your iPhone.

check iPhone storage

Tip: You can review the Recommendations such as Offload Unused Apps and Review Large Attachments.

2. Remove unneeded software

After reviewing iPhone storage, you should check if there is any software that is not often used or unneeded after installation, they will occupy a large part of iPhone storage, which is also one of the reasons for transfer cannot be completed.

Click the app name, then select Delete App.

remove unneeded software

3. Remove recently deleted photos

Generally speaking, Photos and videos can take up most of the storage space, so it’s better for you to delete some of the redundant photos.

When you delete photos, these photos will be not removed from your iPhone but removed to a Recently Deleted album. You can delete them manually.

Step 1. Go to the Photos, and next select some photos you don’t need anymore. Then tap the Trash icon.

Step 2. Then it will note you This photo will be deleted from iCloud Photos on all your devices. Click Delete Photo.

Step 3. The deleted photo will be sent to the Recently Deleted album.

Step 4. Swipe down, and select Recently Deleted, you should select the unnecessary photos and delete them.

recently deleted

4. Reset iPhone

Sometimes, your new iPhone has enough storage space, but you will still get a notification that the transfer cannot be completed, it may be that there is an unknown error during the transfer process. In this case, you can reset your iPhone and then try to transfer the data again after a few minutes.

Click Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.

erase all content and settings

How to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone if storage is full?

If the above methods do not free up enough space to transfer data, and your iPhone still got the not enough storage messages, you can keep reading to learn all the potential solutions that can help you address the “can’t transfer data to new iPhone due to not enough storage” issue. These ways apply to all iPhone models, let’s start with the first way.

Way 1: Transfer data via AOMEI FoneBackup

Apart from deleting duplicate photos, AOMEI FoneBackup is a professional iPhone transfer software. With its powerful feature, you can easily finish the data transfer.

Highlights:
 Broad compatibility. It supports most iPhone models from iPhone 4 to the latest iPhone  16 and can be compatible with the latest iOS version.
 Fast transfer speed. You can transfer your data to new iPhone with a fast speed.
 Fully or selectively transfer data: AOMEI FoneBackup support fully or partially transferring data to new iPhone after setup.
 Easy-to-use interface allows you to easily transfer all data from old iPhone to new iPhone within a few clicks.
Download Freeware Win 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

Step 1. Run AOMEI FoneBackup, and click Phone Transfer on the left pane. Click iPhone to iPhone.

⚠️Notes:
  • You can go to Phone Backup > Choose Selective Backup or Full Backup to back up your important data just in case.

  • iPhone-to-iPhone transfer needs 2 USB cables to connect 2 iPhones. If you only have one USB cable, on the AOMEI FoneBackup, you can choose Phone Backup > Full Backup to fully back up your current iPhone on PC. Then go to My Backups to restore to the new iPhone later to complete the migration.

iPhone to iPhone transfer

Step 2. Waiting for the iPhone-to-iPhone program to be launched. You can encrypt the process to transfer personal data, like Keychain, and Health app. Then click Start Transfer.

backup encryption not enabled

Then your data on the old iPhone will be transferred to the new iPhone.

⚠️Notes:
  • If you want to selectively transfer photos, videos, music and contacts t from iPhone to iPhone, you can go to Phone Transfer > Choose iPhone to PC to move data to your computer, then choose PC to iPhone to transfer it to your new iPhone 16.

Way 2: Upload data to iCloud

iCloud is a powerful cloud storage device that helps Apple users store photos, videos, notes, documents, and other data to iCloud storage. Uploading data to iCloud is the most commonly used method, and it's also the most convenient method for users.

Step 1. Go to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Backup. Turn on iCloud Backup, you’ll see an option of Back up Now, please click it.

upload data to iCloud

Step 2. Next, turn on the new iPhone and set up it. When it comes to Apps & Data, click Restore from iCloud backup, and sign in to the iCloud account that you used on the previous iPhone.

Step 3. Click on the backup you recently made on your old iPhone. Please wait for the backup transfer to finish.

apps data

⚠️Notes:
  • Please don’tlet your iPhone run out of battery power.

Way 3: Transfer data via iTunes

iTunes needs you to make an iPhone backup to computer and then restore the backup to the new iPhone. Please read this passage to know what iTunes backup includes and how it works.

Step 1. Download and install the latest version of iTunes on your computer.

Step 2. Connect iPhone to iTunes.

Step 3. Click the Summary tab > Select This Computer > Click Back Up Now. Wait for the backup to be finished.

backup using iTunes

Conclusion

This post shows you 3 useful ways to fix transfer cannot be completed due to iPhone not having enough storage, you can choose one of them as you like. Your most intimate backup helper - AOMEI FoneBackup is mostly recommended because it helps you transfer data from iPhone to iPhone safely and easily.

Kelsey
Kelsey · Editor
Kelsey is an English editor of AOMEI Technology. She is passionate about helping people find effective ways to deal with all problems in computer. She has great insights into data backup and recovery, disk partition and clone, and other data protection measures. She likes learn computer skills to improve herself and enjoy quality time with family and friends.