Transferring data from iPhone 14 Pro Max to iPhone 17 Pro Max via Quick Start takes excessively long

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Level 1

8 points

Transferring data from iPhone 14 Pro Max to iPhone 17 Pro Max via Quick Start takes excessively long

Hello

Following the Quick Start steps I first tried my Wi-Fi system in my house, which may have been set on the wrong router which only has 80mbs .... that I choose when I need to print something. (another issue). The 14 Pro Max has 55gb used out of 256 phone storage, and 201gb total with Apps, Mail, Photos, Music, iOS and System Data. After over 4 hours it was still going so I thought something was wrong and aborted it and erased the new phone.

Next I followed the same steps with first connecting a lightning to USB-C cable to the 14 and 17 models. And let it run twice as long and it still had not finished, so again I aborted and erased the new phone and talked to a nice person on Apple support line.

This 3rd time we decided to have me just let it run, and I made sure I was on my other router which gives me 380mbs. Literally 20 hours later it still was running and had not finished. I thought I must be doing something wrong so got on Chat with a tech support person, and we made sure all the steps to reset the phone had been done which were the same as I had done before, and still the prompts all looked the same. I did not want to burn another day so was extremely hesitant to push the start button AGAIN.

He said I could make an appointment at my closest Apple Store to get help there. But I can't even call them direct it seems, as I get funneled back into the on line information first for setting up the new phone. I'm beyond frustrated and want to simply make an appointment with the Glendale Galleria Apple Store. Or guess I have to show up without an appointment? And hope the wait won't be too long?

Is calling Apple Support and going through the long wait the only way to do that? There was no way it seemed on line without being funneled into all the same information. You know .... like talking to a robot voice on the phone with a specific problem that doesn't match one of its issues before transferring you to a human.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: I have 3 failed (taking waay too long) set up sessions from iPhone 14 Pro Max to new 17 Pro Max

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Posted on Oct 13, 2025 1:38 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 13, 2025 2:35 PM in response to ronfab1

Instead of using Quick Start back up the old iPhone to iCloud, your computer, or both, then reset the new phone, go through setup and restore the backup you just made. Then turn on all the switches in Settings/[your name]/iCloud that were enabled on the old iPhone.

BTW, one thing that can mess up a Quick Start is if you have VPN installed on the old iPhone. If you do delete the VPN profile, don’t just turn it off.

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Answer 2

LD150

Level 10

103,848 points

Oct 13, 2025 3:01 PM in response to ronfab1

ronfab1 wrote:

And now I just realized I can't make or receive phone calls on my 14 Pro Max until this gets resolved. Uggh!!

turn them both off and start again as Lawrence suggested, your old phone is not tied up when using backup restore.

Now, how about the VPN?

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Answer 3

ronfab1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 13, 2025 3:02 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Hi Lawrence. Thank you but how long "should" a download from the Cloud take if I'm still operating with 380mbs? I just saw 20 hours not be enough with the in house attempt. Or does something else come into play doing that?

I have no VPN on the 14 Pro Max.

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Answer 4

ronfab1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 13, 2025 3:31 PM in response to LD150

@LD150 .... and everyone, I apologize for some of these questions probably being not bright to all of you that know your way around this stuff. All I know from memory is when I bought a new 12 Pro Max from the AT&T store and the transfer had to come from a Samsung Note 4 .... wherever it was done, in store or later there was no half day or longer process. And then the very same when again from them I upgraded to the 14 Pro Max.

"turn them both off and start again as Lawrence suggested, your old phone is not tied up when using backup restore."

Does this mean that I will NOT have to keep the 14 alongside the 17 then during the whole process, and I can use it for everything I normally do except making and receiving phone calls and I guess messages too?

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