4 Top Ways: Fix Transfer Directly from iPhone Not Working

Why is iPhone Direct Transfer Not Working?

When you got a new iPhone 16/15 and applied Quick Start to direct transfer data from your old iPhone to the new one but find that transfer directly from iPhone not working, you should check the causes first. Here is a list of possible causes of why you cannot transfer directly from iPhone:

Quick Fixes to Transfer Directly from iPhone Not Working

After knowing what is causing the iPhone direct transfer not working issue, you can apply the following solutions to fix it and transfer data from old iPhone to new iPhone smoothly again.

✍ Force Restart both iPhones

✍ Check iOS Version on iPhone

✍ Check Connection between Devices

✍ Keep Devices in Charged

Way 1. Force Restart both iPhones

Force restarting your devices can activate the self-cleaning feature to make them run properly. So, you can hard restart your iPhones before trying any complicated methods to see if the direct transfer iPhone to iPhone not working problem is resolved.

Check the below guide to restart iPhone to fix iPhone not transferring to new iPhone:

For iPhone 6/6s/SE 1: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button until the Apple logo appears. And then, release both buttons.

For iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold both the Sleep/Wake and Volume Down buttons. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

For iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X/XS/XR/8/8 Plus/SE 2: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button from the left side of the device, then press and immediately release the Volume Down button, press and hold the Side button and release the Side button when the Apple logo shows on your iPhone screen.

Way 2. Check iOS Version on iPhone

As we mentioned above, Quick Start correct run would need to have at least iOS 12.4 or later installed on your device. It is also important to note that if the system version of the source iPhone is higher than that of the target iPhone, the direct iPhone transfer may not work as well.

You can check your iOS version and update to the latest version and then transfer data again.

Step 1. Open the Settings app on iPhone and go to General.

Step 2. Tap on Software Update.

Step 3. If there is a software update available, hit Install Now. If the Download and Install option is accessible, tap it to download the update, enter your passcode, then tap Install Now.

★Note: If you are running a beta version of iOS, please remove it from your iPhone before getting the update.

Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. Tap the iOS Beta Software Profile > Remove Profile. Then restart iPhone to get an iOS update.

Way 3. Check Connection between Devices

No connection between the two devices can result in the direct transfer from old iPhone to new iPhone not working.

If you are using a Bluetooth connection to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone wirelessly, make sure that Bluetooth is turned on both devices. Either device not having Bluetooth turned on will cause iPhone to iPhone transfer not working.

If you are transferring data via a USB cable, you will need a lightning to USB 3 camera adapter and a lightning to USB cable. Please ensure to connect the lightning to USB 3 camera adapter to your old iPhone, then plug the lightning to USB cable into your new iPhone and connect the other end to the adapter.

Way 4. Keep Devices in Charged

Insufficient power of iPhone can cause some features to not function correctly. It is recommended to connect both iOS devices to power using a 12W charging block or higher, and then see if the transfer directly from iPhone not working loop issue is solved.

Free:Zero-error Way to Transfer Data from iPhone to iPhone

What if you have tried all the above solutions, but still iPhone to iPhone transfer is not working? It is highly recommended to try a Quick Start alternative to achieve iPhone to iPhone transfer. 

AOMEI FoneBackup is a professional yet free iOS transfer tool enabling you to quickly and easily transfer all data, including photos, videos, messages, contacts, music, app data, call history, and system settings, from one iPhone to another iPhone with one click.

 Compared with Quick Start or other tools, AOMEI FoneBackup comes with more features:

√ Easy to Use. With its clear interface, it is easy for everyone to transfer data between iOS devices, even for novices.
√ Full and Selective Transfer. You can choose to fully transfer data from iPhone to iPhone, or selectively migrate photos, videos, messages, and contacts.
√ Reliable and Effective Transfer. With a USB cable, AOMEI FoneBackup provides a stable transmission and high rate of successs.
√ Superfast Speed. Complete data transfer in a short time since it provides a much faster speed than most tools.
√ Wide Comptibility. It supports all iOS versions, including the latest iOS, and can also help you transfer data from iPad to iPad, iPhone to iPad, iPad to iPhone, etc.

Free download AOMEI FoneBackup, and follow the guide below to have a try.

Step 1. Run AOMEI FoneBackup > connect your two iPhones to the computer > Tap Trust on both iPhones.

Step 2. Select Phone Transfer on the left > On the iPhone to iPhone interface, click Start Transfer.

Step 3. The source iPhone and the target iPhone will be listed here, you can enable Backup encryption to protect your privacy. Then click Start Transfer.

★Note: AOMEI FoneBackup also has a mobile app for iOS, which can transfer iPhone data to iPhone/iPad with one click via Bluetooth connection. No need for so many requirements, it allows you to airdrop multiple photos, videos, music, contact, etc. from one iOS device to another iOS device wirelessly. 

The Bottom Line

If you don't want to spend time solving the transfer directly from iPhone not working issue, your best option is to use a data transfer tool like AOMEI FoneBackup to perform iPhone to iPhone data transfer without a hitch, which is a great helper when it comes to transferring all kind of files between iOS or iPadOS devices. 

Besides, if you want to wipe your old iPhone after setting up your new iPhone, you can let its iPhone Eraser feature help you.