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how to transfer photos from old iphone to new XS without using iCloud?

Hi,

I have a new iphone and I want to transfer my old photos to it. I don't want to use iCloud as my wife has 8 thousand photos on our iCloud account that I don't want loaded onto my phone.

any other ideas?

Thanks!


iPhone XS Max

Posted on Jan 28, 2019 9:41 PM

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Question marked as Best answer

Please tell me you're not sharing an iCloud account...


They are not meant to be shared.

Posted on Jan 29, 2019 7:11 AM

1 reply
Question marked as Helpful

Jan 29, 2019 6:56 AM in response to mikeapplenovice

Hi Mike,


So, an iCloud backup is a backup of all of the data on your device only. If you do not have iCloud Photos turned on for your device (i.e., you do not currently have all of the photos showing on your device), then only the photos showing in your Camera Roll will be backed up.


You can set your device up again using either of the methods to set it up again by erasing it first. Be sure you do not turn on iCloud Photos (if you and your wife are using the same iCloud ID - if her photos are under her own iCloud ID, then there would be no issue at all because photos in iCloud Photos only download to devices that are signed into that iCloud account and that have iCloud Photos turned on).


But the Quick Start is probably the easiest method to use if you are able to use it.


If you cannot, then you can make an iCloud backup of your old device. Make sure that under Settings>your name>iCloud>Photos, you do not have iCloud Photos turned on before you back it up. If that option is turned on, then turn it off before making the backup.


Here are the support articles for erasing your device:


How to erase your iOS device - Apple Support


Once you see the "Hello" screen, follow either the "Quick Start" or for the "Use iCloud" to set up your device again.


Best,


GB

7 replies

Jan 28, 2019 9:49 PM in response to mikeapplenovice

So, you do not have iCloud Photos turned on for your device, correct? The photos you want to transfer are on your device only, and you do not have any of the iCloud Photos on your device, is that right?


If the two statements above are correct, then you can create an iCloud backup of your device, and if you have Photos selected for backing up then they will be restored to your new device when you set it up from that backup. You can also select many other things to back up so that, essentially, your new device will have exactly the same content as your old device.


You can also use Quick Start as described in the support article below (which also has the instructions for creating and restoring from either an iCloud or iTunes backup):


Transfer content from your previous iOS device to your new iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support


Best,


GB



Jan 28, 2019 10:06 PM in response to gail from maine

Hi Gail,

Thanks for your quick helpful response. I have a couple more questions:

1) if I create the iCloud back-up of my phone, will it pull in the photos my wife has from her phone in our iCloud account?

2) I am already past the initial "set-up" phase with my new phone. Can I still go back and select the iCloud back-up as you suggest? - if so, how would I do that? What happens to any new data I have on my new phone if I do that?

Thanks!


Question marked as Helpful

Jan 29, 2019 6:56 AM in response to mikeapplenovice

Hi Mike,


So, an iCloud backup is a backup of all of the data on your device only. If you do not have iCloud Photos turned on for your device (i.e., you do not currently have all of the photos showing on your device), then only the photos showing in your Camera Roll will be backed up.


You can set your device up again using either of the methods to set it up again by erasing it first. Be sure you do not turn on iCloud Photos (if you and your wife are using the same iCloud ID - if her photos are under her own iCloud ID, then there would be no issue at all because photos in iCloud Photos only download to devices that are signed into that iCloud account and that have iCloud Photos turned on).


But the Quick Start is probably the easiest method to use if you are able to use it.


If you cannot, then you can make an iCloud backup of your old device. Make sure that under Settings>your name>iCloud>Photos, you do not have iCloud Photos turned on before you back it up. If that option is turned on, then turn it off before making the backup.


Here are the support articles for erasing your device:


How to erase your iOS device - Apple Support


Once you see the "Hello" screen, follow either the "Quick Start" or for the "Use iCloud" to set up your device again.


Best,


GB

Jan 29, 2019 11:08 PM in response to KiltedTim

Hi KiltedTim,

thanks for your input. perhaps we are using iCloud the wrong way. we have a family account so that all of our devices for my wife and 2 kids (phones and ipads) can use the same apps. My wife set up an iCloud account using our family account, so it pulls photos from all of our devices unless we turn them off on each device. I don't like it because I don't want all my wife's photos showing up on my phone and vice-versa.

Is there a better way to use iCloud for each of us?

Thanks, Mike


how to transfer photos from old iphone to new XS without using iCloud?

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