iPhone Transfer Taking Forever (Causes and How to Fix)

As an iPhone user, I have experienced the frustrating issue of a transfer taking forever. I felt helpless and had no idea what to do. After doing some research and testing, I am here to share what I discovered and how I was able to solve the issue.

In this blog post, I will discuss the causes of an iPhone transfer taking forever and how to fix this issue. I hope my experience can help you get your transfer done quickly and efficiently.

Slow internet connection, large data size, not enough storage space, outdated iOS version, and software glitches can all interrupt your data transfer process. Luckily, you can fix all these problems easily.

Cause	Solution
Slow internet connection	Connect both iPhones to the same high-speed WiFi network and ensure no other devices are connected to the same network.
Transferring large files	Delete unnecessary data from your old phone before starting the transfer process.
Not enough storage space	Ensure your target iPhone has enough storage space by checking “Settings” -> “General” -> “iPhone Storage”.
Outdated iOS version	Update both iPhones to the latest iOS version by going to “Settings” -> “General” -> “Software Update”.
Software glitches & system bugs	Reset both iPhones, place them close to each other during the transfer process, and ensure they are charged above 50%.
	Reset network settings on both phones by going to “Settings” -> “General” -> “Reset” -> “Reset Network Settings”.
	Use QuickStart alternatives such as backing up data to iCloud or using iTunes to transfer data using a lightning cable and PC.

Table of Contents

Why Is My iPhone Transfer Taking So Long?

Transferring your data from your old iPhone to your new one shouldn’t take a long time. The transfer process should take about 30 to 45 minutes.

It may take an hour too. Depending on your internet connection speed and the amount of data you’re transferring, it may take up to two hours as well.

What if your data transferring process gets stuck, though? Several factors can cause this problem, including the following:

Slow internet connection
Transferring large files
Your new iPhone doesn’t have enough storage

One of your iPhones has an outdated iOS version
Software glitches and system bugs

How to Fix an iPhone Transfer That Is Taking Too Long?

Now that you know the potential reasons your QuickStart is taking forever, let’s see how to fix these problems:

Connect Both iPhones to the Same WiFi

It goes without saying that you need to connect both phones to a high-speed internet connection. You also need to connect them both to the same WiFi.

It’s best not to have any devices connected to the same internet connection as your phones during the time of the transfer. This is to make sure that no other devices are hogging up the bandwidth.

Reset Network Settings

Again, the problem could be with your internet connection. If you checked that your WiFi is working well and still your transfer is stuck, try resetting the network settings on your phone.

Just go to “Settings” and choose “General”. Select “Reset” and choose “Reset Network Settings”.

You should do this step on both phones. All you need to do now is to connect them both again to the internet and you should be able to transfer your data.

Delete Unnecessary Data From Your Old Phone

It is recommended to do this before the data transfer process begins. Go through your old phone and delete all unnecessary photos, files, videos, and apps.

The larger the data size you’re transferring, the longer the transfer process will take. By deleting some of this data, you’ll make the process go by faster.

Make Sure Your Target iPhone Has Enough Storage

Maybe you’re transferring data to an iPhone that you’ve been using for a while already. It could be that your target phone doesn’t have enough storage.

You can check if your iPhone has enough storage space by heading to “Settings’’. Then, select “General”, and “iPhone Storage”.

If you see that the free storage space is less than the size of the data you want to transfer, you need to delete some things from your phone.

Update Your Phones to the Latest iOS Version

Here’s the thing, QuickStart won’t work if one of your phones is on an older iOS version than 12.4. If that’s the case with one of your iPhones, then you need to update it.

From your “Settings” choose “General”, then “Software Update”. Check if there’s an update available and install it.

Reset Both of Your iPhones

The problem could be because of a software glitch or a system bug and we all know these are common in all phones. The easiest way to fix a problem like that is to reset both of your phones.

Place Both Phones Closer to Each Other

It’s essential to keep both iPhones close to each other during the transfer process. Don’t move them apart until the process has ended.

Make Sure Your Phones Are Charged

You know how your iPhone can’t update iOS unless the battery is above 50%? This applies here too.

If the battery is less than 50%, make sure to plug your phone in to charge. You also need to turn off the “Low-Power Mode” so it won’t interfere with the performance of your iPhone.

Try QuickStart Alternatives

If you tried everything and QuickStart is still not working as it should be, it’s time to try other alternatives. You can back up all your data to iCloud. Then, you can restore them on your target iPhone.

You can also use a lightning cable and connect your old iPhone to your PC. Open iTunes and backup all your data.

Connect your new iPhone this time. Then, restore the backed-up files on it.

Conclusion

There you have it; common causes for your iPhone transfer taking forever problems. Hopefully, you can fix these issues with the nine solutions we included.