How to Transfer Data from iPhone to iPhone Without iCloud or iTunes

After reading this article, you will learn FOUR ways on how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud. Whether you are going to set up your new iPhone or just send some files from one iPhone to another, you will find a way that fulfills your needs perfectly.

Overview of Data Transfer from iPhone to iPhone

"How do I transfer data from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud?" is a question frequently asked by iPhone users. Generally, you will want to transfer data from one iPhone to another in one of the two situations:

• When you set up your new iPhone and attempt to transfer data from the old iPhone to the new one.
• When you want to share some files between two iPhones.

When it comes to transferring data from iPhone to iPhone, many of the users may think of iCloud first. Yes, with iCloud, you are able to sync data from one iPhone to another in two ways. You can either turn on the options under iCloud on the iOS devices or use iCloud Backup to copy all the supported files and settings to the new device.

However, there are some drawbacks that may prevent you from using iCloud:

• First, iCloud uses a Wi-Fi connection to sync data. That means if there is no network available, you won't able to transfer data from one iPhone to another. Besides, if the network connection is poor, it will take you a long time to wait for the syncing process to complete.
• Second, using iCloud requires the same Apple ID on both the source device and the target device. If you attempt to share files between two iOS devices that use different Apple ID, iCloud won't help.
• Third, iCloud doesn't allow you to copy files selectively.
• Last but not least, you can only restore the iPhone data from an iCloud backup while setting up a new device. If the target device has been set up already, you will need to reset (erase) it first, which is undesired in most of the cases.

Due to the reasons above, you may want to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud. Luckily, there are other plausible ways available for you to transfer everything from one iPhone to another. 

How to Transfer Data from iPhone to iPhone Without iCloud in 4 Ways

Except for using iCloud, there are four methods for you to transfer files from one iPhone to another, including using professional iPhone data transfer software, AirDrop, Quick Start, and iTunes Backup.

If you intend to copy some files from iPhone to iPhone without syncing, using the iOS file transfer tool or AirDrop is recommended. While if you want to transfer everything (data and settings) from your old iPhone to your new iPhone, use Quick Start or iTunes Backup instead. Apply the one best suited to your needs to finish the file transfer within minutes.

Method 1. Use Third-Party Software to Transfer Data from iPhone to iPhone Without iCloud

Applies To: Photos, videos, contacts, audio files (music, ringtones, voice memos, audiobooks), books...

As long as your iOS devices are running iOS 8 or later, you can use the iOS data transfer tool - EaseUS MobiMover to transfer the supported files from one iPhone to another without iCloud or iTunes. With this software, you are able to transfer multiple or all files to your new device without syncing.

To transfer data from one iPhone to another without iCloud:

Step 1. Connect two iPhones to your computer with compatible USB cables and tap "Trust This Computer" on both devices. Run EaseUS MobiMover and select the "Phone to Phone" mode on the main screen. Next, you need to determine the transfer direction, from iPhone A to iPhone B, or from iPhone B to iPhone A. Once done, click "Next" to continue.

Step 2. At this step, all the iPhone data are presented with numbers and file size. Select one category or multiple categories of data as you want, and click "Transfer".

Step 3. MobiMover will begin to transfer selected files from one iPhone to the other without any hassle. When the process finishes, go to the corresponding apps to check the newly added files. 

With EaseUS MobiMover, you can also enrich the content of your iOS device by importing files from the computer (Mac or PC) to the iOS device or downloading videos from any site using URL to your iPhone/iPad.

Method 2. Share Data from One iPhone to Another via AirDrop

Applies To: Photos, Videos, Websites, Locations, and More

AirDrop enables you to share files between two iOS devices wirelessly. Using AirDrop to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone is quite convenient especially when you attempt to share some files from one AirDrop-supported device to another. Therefore, if what you want is to transfer some photos, contacts, or other files from one iOS device to another, using AirDrop is a good choice.

Step 1. Make sure the two iPhones are within the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range.

Step 2. Enable both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and make sure Personal Hotspot is off on the iPhones. Afterward, turn on AirDrop. (Set to transfer files to "Contacts Only" or "Everyone" accordingly.)

Step 3. Select the files you want to send, for example, photos, and click the "Share" button.

Step 4. Click "AirDrop" and select the target device.

Step 5. On the target iPhone, click "Accept" to receive the items.

It happens that AirDrop is not working on an iPhone/iPad. If you encounter this issue, learn how to fix it first or try one of the other workable ways instead.

The two methods above are more suitable for users who want to copy data to a used iPhone. If you are going to transfer data from an old iPhone to a brand new iPhone that hasn't been set up yet, you may want to know "How do I transfer everything from one iPhone to another without iCloud?" If so, learn how to transfer all data from one iPhone to another using Quick Start or iTunes from the details below. (Many of you want to know how to transfer messages from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud. The two tips below are also applicable in such a situation.)

Method 3. Transfer Everything from iPhone to iPhone with Quick Start

Applies To: All of your iPhone data

If both your old iPhone and new iPhone are running iOS 12.4 and later, you can use the iPhone Migration feature in Quick Start, a utility in iOS 11 and later that can help to transfer information and data to a new device. Make sure your previous iPhone and the new iPhone are running iOS 12. 4 or later, then follow the steps below to set up your new iPhone and transfer all data to your new device wirelessly.

Step 1. Switch on Bluetooth on your previous iPhone and turn on your new iPhone.

Step 2. Place the new iPhone near your old iPhone and then you will see the Quick Start screen pops up on your source iPhone showing the option of using your Apple ID to set up your new iPhone.

Step 3. Make sure that's the Apple ID you want to use and click "Continue".

Step 4. Afterward, you can see an animation on the new iPhone. Hold the old iPhone over the new one, center the animation in the viewfinder, then you can see a message saying "Finish on New iPhone".

Step 5. Enter the passcode of the previous iPhone on the new iPhone.

Step 6. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up FaceID or Touch ID on the new device.

Step 7. Now click "Transfer from iPhone" to start transferring all data from one iPhone to another.

Step 8. When the process has done, you have transferred everything from your old iPhone to the new device seamlessly.

Method 4. Transfer Everything from iPhone to iPhone with iTunes Backup

Applies To: Almost all data and settings

An iTunes backup almost includes all the data and setting on the iOS device. But there are some exclusions, including content from iTunes and App Stores, content synced from iTunes, data already stored in iCloud, and more. (You can check the details from Apple here.)

Using iTunes backup is quite similar to using iCloud backup: To transfer data from iPhone to iPhone with iTunes, you need to back up the old device first, and then restore the new phone data from the iTunes backup while setting up the new device. Download and install the latest version of iTunes on your computer. Then follow to transfer data to your new iPhone/iPad via iTunes:

To make a backup of the old device:

Step 1. Connect your previous device to the computer using USB.

Step 2. In iTunes, click the "Device" button and click "Summary".

Step 3. Click "Back Up Now" to start backing up your old iPhone.

To restore your new device from the backup:

Step 1. Turn on your new device and follow the setup steps until you see the Apps & Data screen.

Step 2. Choose "Restore from Mac or PC" and connect your new iPhone to the computer which you used to back up your old iPhone. 

Step 3. In iTunes, click the "Device" tab and select "Restore Backup".

Step 4. Choose the correct backup and wait for the process to finish. (If you have encrypted the backup, you will need to enter the password before the restoring process.)

Step 5. Finish the rest of the setup steps.

The Bottom Line

As long as you want to copy data from one iPhone/iPad to another, you can follow this guide to get things done. After commanding the methods here, you will know how to do it whenever you need to transfer photos, videos, contacts, and other file types. 

I hope this guide can help you as I expect.