🔥 Why This Happens (Quick Answer)
If your new iPhone gets stuck updating while transferring data from your old iPhone, the problem is often related to the software version on the two devices.
Your old iPhone may already be running a newer version of iOS than the new iPhone. Before the new phone can properly complete the transfer or restore your backup, it may need to download and install an iOS update first.
Weak Wi-Fi, low battery, insufficient storage, a stalled Quick Start session, or a temporary software-update problem can also cause the process to hang.
The safest approach is usually to get the new iPhone fully updated first, then retry the transfer.
🚀 Quick Fix (Try This First)
✔️ Keep both iPhones connected to power.
✔️ Keep both phones close together.
✔️ Make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are working.
✔️ Give the update time if progress is still occurring.
✔️ If it remains stuck, restart the process and update the new iPhone first.
✔️ Retry Quick Start after both phones are running compatible iOS versions.
1. Give the New iPhone Time to Finish Updating
A software update during a phone-to-phone transfer can take longer than expected.
The new iPhone may need to download, prepare, verify, install, and restart before the transfer can continue.
Fix:
Keep both phones connected to power.
Don’t separate them unnecessarily.
If the progress indicator is still changing, give the update additional time.
A slow update isn’t necessarily a frozen update.
2. Check the iOS Version on Your Old iPhone
This is an important clue.
If your old iPhone recently received an iOS update, the brand-new iPhone may have shipped with an older version installed.
That version difference can interfere with transferring or restoring your data.
Fix:
On your old iPhone, check:
Settings → General → About
Look at the iOS version.
The goal is to get the new iPhone updated to a compatible or newer version before attempting the transfer again.
3. Keep Both iPhones Connected to Power
Quick Start can involve substantial activity.
You’re simultaneously dealing with activation, software updates, wireless communication, and potentially hundreds of gigabytes of data.
Fix:
Plug both phones into reliable chargers.
Don’t start a major transfer with either device nearly dead.
Keep them charging until setup and the important parts of the transfer are complete.
4. Make Sure Wi-Fi Is Stable
Even though the phones communicate with each other during Quick Start, internet access can still be required for activation, software updates, Apple services, and other setup tasks.
Fix:
Use a reliable Wi-Fi connection.
Stay reasonably close to your router.
Avoid public, hotel, school, or heavily restricted networks when possible.
If your Wi-Fi itself is unstable, resolve that before restarting a large transfer.
5. Keep Bluetooth Enabled and the Phones Close Together
Quick Start uses proximity and wireless communication to connect the old and new iPhones.
Moving the phones apart or disrupting connectivity can create additional problems.
Fix:
Keep Bluetooth enabled.
Place the two iPhones near each other.
Avoid using the old phone heavily while the transfer is underway.
6. Restart the Transfer if It’s Truly Frozen
If the update has shown absolutely no progress for an extended period, the process may have stalled.
Fix:
Restart the new iPhone if appropriate.
Then begin setup again.
If Quick Start repeatedly gets stuck at the same software-update stage, don’t keep repeating the identical process.
Instead, update the new iPhone separately first.
7. Update the New iPhone Before Transferring
This is one of the best workarounds when the transfer keeps getting stuck.
Fix:
Set up the new iPhone far enough to reach the normal iOS interface, when possible.
Then go to:
Settings → General → Software Update
Install the latest compatible iOS version.
Once the update is complete, you can erase the new iPhone and restart Quick Start if necessary.
Before erasing anything, make absolutely sure you’re working with the new phone, not your old phone containing the original data.
8. Erase the New iPhone and Retry Quick Start
Once the new phone is properly updated, you may need to return it to the setup screen to perform the transfer again.
Fix:
After confirming the new phone has the necessary software version, erase only the new iPhone if needed and restart setup.
Then place it near the old iPhone and begin Quick Start again.
⚠️ Do not erase your old iPhone yet.
Keep the original phone untouched until you’ve verified that your important data successfully transferred.
9. Try a Backup Restore Instead
Phone-to-phone transfer isn’t your only option.
If Quick Start repeatedly fails, you may be able to restore the new iPhone from an iCloud backup or a computer backup.
Fix:
Make sure you have a recent backup of the old iPhone.
During setup on the new device, choose an appropriate backup restore method instead of repeatedly attempting a transfer that keeps failing.
Keep the old iPhone until you’ve confirmed the new device contains everything important.
10. Don’t Trade In or Erase the Old iPhone Too Soon
This deserves its own step because it’s one of the easiest mistakes to avoid.
Your old iPhone is your safety net until the migration is complete.
Fix:
Before erasing, selling, or trading in the old phone, verify important information on the new phone, including:
- Photos and videos
- Contacts
- Messages
- Notes
- Important apps
- Authentication apps
- Files
- Health data where applicable
- Account access
Some apps may require you to sign in again even after the transfer finishes.
Only erase the old iPhone once you’re satisfied that the new one is properly set up.
❓ FAQ
Why does my new iPhone need an update before transferring?
The new iPhone may have shipped with an older version of iOS than the software used by your old iPhone or its backup.
Why is Quick Start stuck on Software Update?
The update may still be downloading or preparing, or Wi-Fi, server availability, software-version differences, or a temporary setup problem may be interfering.
Can I update my new iPhone before transferring everything?
Yes. If the transfer repeatedly gets stuck because of an update, updating the new iPhone first and then restarting the migration can be useful.
Will restarting Quick Start erase my old iPhone?
Restarting setup on the new iPhone doesn’t automatically erase the old phone. Be careful when choosing erase/reset options and verify which device you’re working on.
Should I erase my old iPhone after the transfer says complete?
Not immediately. Check that your important data and account access are available on the new iPhone first.
Can I use iCloud instead of transferring directly?
Yes. A recent iCloud backup can provide another migration option if direct phone-to-phone transfer repeatedly fails.
🛒 Helpful Products
Having two reliable charging cables and chargers is useful when transferring between iPhones because both devices may need to remain powered for a long period.
For large transfers, keeping both phones charged and undisturbed is much more useful than buying third-party “transfer repair” software.
💡 Final Thoughts
When a new iPhone gets stuck updating during a transfer from an old iPhone, don’t immediately assume the transfer failed or the new phone is defective.
The important clue is often the software version.
Try this order:
Keep both phones charging → verify Wi-Fi → give the update time → check iOS versions → update the new phone separately if necessary → retry the transfer.
Most importantly, keep the old iPhone intact until everything important is safely on the new one.
Your old phone is the backup plan until the migration is truly finished.
📱 Related iPhone Setup & Software Update Fixes