How to Transfer Text Messages/iMessages from iPhone to New iPhone XS/XR/X/7/8 (Plus)

Q: “I plan to buy a brand-new iPhone 8 Plus. Meanwhile, I have an old iPhone 6. And all my text messages remain in the old iPhone. Can I transfer text messages from iPhone 6 to iPhone 8, because I don’t want to lose the best memories that carried by text messages? Is it possible to transfer only messages instead of the whole backing up and restoring process?” Thanks for sharing.

— Yahoo Answers

When you get a new iPhone XS/XR/X, the first thing you need to do is to transfer data from the old iPhone to the new one, and of course, the text messages or iMessages are always something you don’t want to leave behind.

To transfer messages to new iPhone, certainly you can back up the old iPhone via iTunes or iCloud, and then restore your new phone from the backup. However, not only messages, some other data that you don’t want anymore may be transferred from old device to your new device. Additionally, there is also a great chance that you may suffer from the slow transferring process, and even sometimes, you may be failed in the midway due to lots of unknown reasons.

In this tutorial, we will share you the easiest and most practical way to transfer text messages/iMessages from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud. In case some of you prefer the traditional way to transfer messages from iPhone to iPhone, we will also show you the detailed steps to transfer messages from iPhone to iPhone via iCloud. Please refer to them and adopt one method catering to your needs most.

Part 1. How to Transfer All Messages from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud

How to transfer text messages from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud? The easiest and most effective way is getting an iPhone to iPhone data transfer tool. In this part, we recommend the best one – AnyTrans for iOS. Why?

• AnyTrans for iOS is capable of transferring all messages, like text messages, iMessages, SMS, etc. from one iPhone to another iPhone within just one click, also enables you to selectively preview each piece of message on your iPhone, and then choose the ones you need to copy to another iPhone.
• Lightening transferring speed – Transferring More than 1000 messages and nearly 200 contacts from iPhone to iPhone is finished in 40 seconds.
• Not just text messages and iMessages, also support message attachments transferring, like the pictures, videos.
• No data erasing happens. Unlike iCloud, AnyTrans for iOS will keep all of your data from loss and erasing during the whole process. 100% Guarantees you data safe & security. 
• Besides to another iPhone, you can also transfer text messages from iPhone to your PC/Mac computer in the formats of .pdf, .html, .txt.
• Besides messages, there are more than 20 other iOS data types supported transferring from iPhone to iPhone, such as contacts, songs, photos, notes, etc.

With the help of AnyTrans for iOS, you can copy messages from iPhone to iPhone in just a few minutes. Free download AnyTrans for iOS and follow the steps below.

Step 1. Launch AnyTrans for iOS > Connect your two iPhones to computer with USB cable. AnyTrans for iOS will detect the two devices automatically > Click “Merge Device” button.

Step 2. Make sure the transferring is correct by checking the target device. And then click “Next” on the right.

Step 3. Choose Message among various types of data, and click “Next” to transfer messages from iPhone to iPhone.

[Video Tutorial] How to Transfer Messages from iPhone to iPhone

Part 2. How to Transfer Messages from iPhone to iPhone with iCloud

For iPhone users, iCloud is the most convenient and most used cloud service to backup iPhone contents in case of any potential data loss. Except making iPhone backups, iCloud also can be used to transfer or move data from one iPhone to another. The messages, including text messages and iMessages are all included. Next, we will show you how to transfer text messages and iMessages from iPhone to iPhone with iCloud backup.

Step 1. Connect both of your iPhones in charge and Wi-Fi connection.

Step 2. On your old iPhone: Go to Settings > Tap your Account Name at the top of the screen > Tap iCloud > Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup. (In iOS 10.3 or older versions, steps are: Tap Settings > iCloud > Backup, or Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup.)

Step 3. Tap on Back Up Now option, then it will start backing up your iPhone, you just need to wait for it finishes.

Step 4. Take out your another iPhone. If it is a new one and hasn’t been activated, please set up and activate it firstly, till when asked tap Restore from iCloud Backup. Then tap Next> Enter your Apple ID and password > Select the backup you created above.

Step 5. If your another iPhone has already been used, you need to ease content and settings on your iPhone:  Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings > Ease iPhone > Set up and activate your iPhone again > Select Restore from iCloud Backup > Select the back you just created.

Step 6. Wait for the restoring process finishes, and all the messages on your old iPhone will be transferred to the new one.

Part 3: How to Transfer iMessages from iPhone to iPhone with iCloud Syncing (Only for iOS 11.4 or later)

Besides, since iOS 11.4 released, Apple has already brought back the Message in iCloud feature. This feature enables users to share messages across different devices. So you can also apply this feature to transfer messages from one iPhone to another. But this feature is only for iMessgaes, and works on devices running with iOS 11.4. Next, we will show you sync iMessages from iPhone to iPhone with iCloud syncing:

Step 1. On one iPhone, go to Settings > Click the account name > Choose iCloud.

Step 2. Scroll down to locate Messages > Toggle it on if it is not, then all iMessages on it will be synced to iCloud.

Step 3. On another iPhone, do the same as above. And then both devices will share all the iMessages.

The Bottom Line

By comparison, method 1 with AnyTrans for iOS is obviously much more easier to help you with transferring messages from iPhone to iPhone. Besides, it supports all messages, not just iMessages. And other iOS contents like, photos, videos, music, contacts, etc., also can be transferred to new iPhone. Download AnyTrans to transfer data to new iPhone Now >