Questions about Transferring Data to new iPhone (Transfer Process and Content; Backup necessity, Using a new Apple Account)

Question

Level 1

5 points

Questions about Transferring Data to new iPhone (Transfer Process and Content; Backup necessity, Using a new Apple Account)

Hello, I have an old iPhone SE on the verge of battery death, and a brand new iPhone 16E I want to transfer my data over to. I have quite a few questions about the transfer content itself, the need for a backup beforehand, and eventually transferring over to a new apple account in the same family group (I currently use a shared family account), and how that would affect everything. I may have to ask all of these separately, but it'd be best to get as many as I can answered now.

General Transfer Content question

I assume there won’t be any issues transferring over from iOS15 to whatever base OS the iPhone 16E has?

From what I understand, the data transfer would include app data (but not the apps themselves), photos, notes, and voice recordings. Would it include browser pages and history; and contacts?

The data transfer would not include music tracks downloaded from iTunes, correct?

This transfer can be local and not via iCloud, correct? I have a lot of junk photos I need to sort through, so I don’t use the family iCloud storage and don’t intend to start using it now.

I understand that the SIM card needs to be transferred before the new phone is set up (I assume both phones are turned off before the operation begins). Would this prevent access to any data on the phone, apart from maybe WhatsApp data and contacts?? (both of which are independently backed up.)

Backing Up the Old Phone

I have seen it is recommended to back up the old phone beforehand. I assume this is recommended but not necessarily obligatory? 90% of my content is independently backed up (barring some less important photos), but bringing it all back together would be a pain.

It might still be worth doing as a precaution, and in this case I see that it can be done locally on a computer, or through iCloud. Again, would the iCloud backup  (done directly through the Settings in preparation for the transfer) save my photos onto the general iCloud folder, which I explicitly want to avoid? Or would it store them separately?

For a computer-based backup, I used to back my phone up on my old 2013 MacBook Pro that’s still on OSX Mavericks. I don’t really want to do this again as it would take probably hours and hours (it did already last time which must have been 4 years ago). And I’m not even sure it would be compatible anymore. I may have access to newer Macs and PCs from my family, but wouldn’t syncing to a new computer (is this even necessary for a backup??) mess things up on my old phone like removing music? ( I’m really not sure)

Moving to a new apple account

Having been using a single family apple account for a few years now (as it made it easier to keep apps and iTunes songs), I would now like to split off for various reasons. The new family sharing feature makes it so much easier! It seems that purchased music and apps can be fully share using this system?

But I noticed some apps in the store had a “family sharing compatible” notice, does this mean not all apps are compatible with family transfer???

And what happens to app data? Is it kept when changing over to a new account, or reset? Hopefully the former as there’s a LOT of data I wouldn’t want to lose.

I assume that due to needing to make the transfer smooth, it would be best to change from the old apple account to a new one in the family group AFTER having transferred my data to the new iPhone? Or would this be more problematic that doing it before?

Bonus questions surrounding iTunes Music

For now, my old music files and playlists are on my old 2013 MacBook pro on OSX Mavericks. (I use my own song library, no streaming and I would rather stay that way. I haven’t updated my iPhone with music in a few years, I ran out of space and used an old iPod instead, but I’d still like what music I do have to go to the new phone).

Assuming my music files aren’t transferred to the new phone,  I assume my new iPhone 16E might not be compatible to sync with such old operating software? Which would necessitate me syncing it to a newer computer where I’d have to transfer my library and playlists over, or transferring tracks individually from phone to phone and manually remaking playlists?

Thank you for any help you can provide!

Posted on Dec 10, 2025 9:51 AM

Reply

Answer 1

LD150

Level 10

99,703 points

Dec 10, 2025 10:19 AM in response to Cabocel

see also

Transfer data from your previous iOS or iPadOS device to your new iPhone or iPad – Apple Support (UK)

Use Quick Start to transfer data to a new iPhone or iPad – Apple Support (UK)

Reply

Answer 2

Cabocel Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 10, 2025 11:28 AM in response to LD150

Thank you for these answers, they certainly clarify some things! Points me to what questions to ask in further detail. (No obligation to answer further of course, will ask them elsewhere if need be).

Shame about browser history, but I guess there's nothing for it, I can't sync my browser because of the family account.

"Photos not sync'd will transfer unless they were syncd from your computer at any time." -Interesting, I dont think there'd be any photos from the computer barring ones transferred from a previous iPod Touch. These have multiple backups anyway.

"Always back up even if using QuickStart." -Here's my main question then, I might not have the capacity to do a computer based backup in the short-term: The apple help pages are unclear as to whether an iCloud backup will save photos if iCloud photo saving is NOT turned on (and I don't want it turned on). Will it turn iCloud photos on?? Will it store the photos separately? Will it simply not store them?

"Moving to a new Apple ID can be problematic. Any data not transferred would need to be sent from the parental account, big subject." I see, probably best if I save this issue for later then. I guess making and moving to my own account now before the transfer (which would let me use my own portion of the family iCloud to save my photos and browsing history) could lead to unforeseen effects with app data if I then transfer to the new phone?? The transfer needs to happen fast, my other phone is increasingly unstable.

"If you normally sync music from computer to iphone, you will have to sync again to the new iphone." -Yes this was my assumption, however do you know if an iphone on iOS 18 or 26 can even sync to a computer on OSX Mavericks??

Thank you in advance of there's any further help you can provide.

Reply

Answer 3

LD150

Level 10

99,703 points

Dec 10, 2025 10:21 AM in response to Cabocel

Cabocel wrote:

Hello, I have an old iPhone SE on the verge of battery death, and a brand new iPhone 16E I want to transfer my data over to. I have quite a few questions about the transfer content itself, the need for a backup beforehand, and eventually transferring over to a new apple account in the same family group (I currently use a shared family account), and how that would affect everything. I may have to ask all of these separately, but it'd be best to get as many as I can answered now.

General Transfer Content question•

I assume there won’t be any issues transferring over from iOS15 to whatever base OS the iPhone 16E has?

•

correct

From what I understand, the data transfer would include app data (but not the apps themselves), photos, notes, and voice recordings. Would it include browser pages and history; and contacts?

re app data, correct. Transfer of the browser history will happen if sync'd to iCloud. Contacts, yes, either only on phone or syncd

•

The data transfer would not include music tracks downloaded from iTunes, correct?

no don't think they will be transferred

•

This transfer can be local and not via iCloud, correct? I have a lot of junk photos I need to sort through, so I don’t use the family iCloud storage and don’t intend to start using it now.

Photos not sync'd will transfer unless they were syncd from your computer at any time.

•

I understand that the SIM card needs to be transferred before the new phone is set up (I assume both phones are turned off before the operation begins). Would this prevent access to any data on the phone, apart from maybe WhatsApp data and contacts?? (both of which are independently backed up.)

Move the SIM to the new phone before transfer

Backing Up the Old Phone•

I have seen it is recommended to back up the old phone beforehand. I assume this is recommended but not necessarily obligatory? 90% of my content is independently backed up (barring some less important photos), but bringing it all back together would be a pain.

•

It might still be worth doing as a precaution, and in this case I see that it can be done locally on a computer, or through iCloud. Again, would the iCloud backup  (done directly through the Settings in preparation for the transfer) save my photos onto the general iCloud folder, which I explicitly want to avoid? Or would it store them separately?

•

For a computer-based backup, I used to back my phone up on my old 2013 MacBook Pro that’s still on OSX Mavericks. I don’t really want to do this again as it would take probably hours and hours (it did already last time which must have been 4 years ago). And I’m not even sure it would be compatible anymore. I may have access to newer Macs and PCs from my family, but wouldn’t syncing to a new computer (is this even necessary for a backup??) mess things up on my old phone like removing music? ( I’m really not sure)

Always back up even if using QuickStart

Moving to a new apple account•

Having been using a single family apple account for a few years now (as it made it easier to keep apps and iTunes songs), I would now like to split off for various reasons. The new family sharing feature makes it so much easier! It seems that purchased music and apps can be fully share using this system?

But I noticed some apps in the store had a “family sharing compatible” notice, does this mean not all apps are compatible with family transfer???

•

And what happens to app data? Is it kept when changing over to a new account, or reset? Hopefully the former as there’s a LOT of data I wouldn’t want to lose.

•

I assume that due to needing to make the transfer smooth, it would be best to change from the old apple account to a new one in the family group AFTER having transferred my data to the new iPhone? Or would this be more problematic that doing it before?

Moving to a new Apple ID can be problematic. Any data not transferred would need to be sent from the parental account, big subject.

Bonus questions surrounding iTunes Music•

For now, my old music files and playlists are on my old 2013 MacBook pro on OSX Mavericks. (I use my own song library, no streaming and I would rather stay that way. I haven’t updated my iPhone with music in a few years, I ran out of space and used an old iPod instead, but I’d still like what music I do have to go to the new phone).

Assuming my music files aren’t transferred to the new phone,  I assume my new iPhone 16E might not be compatible to sync with such old operating software? Which would necessitate me syncing it to a newer computer where I’d have to transfer my library and playlists over, or transferring tracks individually from phone to phone and manually remaking playlists?

If you normally sync music from computer to iphone, you will have to sync again to the new iphone

Thank you for any help you can provide!

l

Reply