Why can't I transfer data from iPhone 14 (256 GB) Pro to 16 Pro (128 GB)?

Trying to fill a one gallon bucket with two gallons of water won't work. So too, trying to fill an iPhone with less storage than the amount of storage on the phone you are transferring from won't work.

You have to options. On the current phone, you will need to start deleting things you won't need on the new phone, such as apps, photos, music, files, etc.

But honestly, you made a mistake buying a phone with less storage than you clearly need. If anything, new phones require more storage as time goes on. The best option would be to return the phone you purchased (if purchased from Apple, you have 14 days no questions asked) to return the phone for refund and then buy a phone with enough memory.

Have you made sure you have Photos saved in iCloud and set to Optimize iPhone Storage? This will make it so your photos storage will decrease exponentially.

If that doesn’t do it, I would highly suggest you return the iPhone and purchase one for the same or more amount of storage. Under no circumstance should you be downgrading your storage.

EasyWizzy wrote:

I'm not using iCloud due to a previous negative experience, and there should be someway to move just the data I need to move,

I moved from a 128GB phone to a 64GB phone easily because everything is in iCloud, iCloud Drive or One Drive. Backups are just 1.5GB

Conquer the cloud fears and use it, even if just for the transfer.

EasyWizzy wrote:

I'm not using iCloud due to a previous negative experience, and there should be someway to move just the data I need to move, it's not logic that they forcing the end user to not choose or to change their previous choices.

thank you for your concern

You are welcome to express your opinion to Apple at https://apple.com/feedback

As this is strictly a user community, we can't alter reality.

It is what it is.

I read you entire post and I fully understand what the issue is. Backups are ALL or nothing. If you want to move the backup of your data to your new phone, you bought the WRONG phone.