3 Ways to Transfer Messages from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud

User Concern

“I bought an iPhone 15 two months ago and there are 300+ text messages currently on my old iPhone X. I'm looking for a way to move messages from my iPhone X to the iPhone 15. Anyone know if these tools are legit and/or do they work as advertised?”

The new iPhone 15 series have been released, and so has the upsurge of changing new devices. After getting the new iPhone, another problem will arise, how to transfer all data to the new iPhone?

If you visit Apple forum regularly, you could know what is the most frequently mentioned there is how to transfer text messages from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud. Generally speaking, moving all data from the old iPhone to the new iPhone is quite simple with the help of iTunes and iCloud.

What if there is no any iCloud backups at all? Keep reading to find how to transfer messages from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud.

Part 1. Transfer Messages from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud (No Data Loss)

If you want to transfer messages from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud, you have to choose the most appropriate tool introduces online for the concern of your data security.

To make the selection easier for you, we recommend you to use FoneGeek Backup & Restore (iOS) program. This switch tool is equipped with numerous features. For example, it allows you to backup and restore iPhone data without any data loss. The existed data will not be effaced at all.

Core Feature of FoneGeek iOS Backup & Restore (iOS 17 Supported):

• Restore the backup to iPhone fully or selectively without factory reset your iPhone.
• Preview the data for free and extract data from iPhone, iTunes and iCloud to computer.
• It is completely free to make a full backup of your iPhone data or selectively back up what you want.

Now you can download the free trial version of this iCloud backup viewer on your computer to view the voice memos from iCloud backup for free.

Step 1. Click the download button above to install the program on the computer. Once the installation process is finished, double click the program icon then click "Backup & Restore" option.

Step 2. Connect the old iPhone to computer and select the file types you want to backup, in this case, choose "Messages & Attachments". Then click "Backup" to begin the process.

Step 3. The program will automatically backup the messages for your old iPhone. After the backup process, you will see 2 options: View Backup Data and View Backup List. Since you want to restore the messages to new iPhone, you need to select "View Backup Data".

Step 4. The details of every message will be listed. After checking that the messages are what you want, connect the new iPhone to computer then tap on "Restore to Device". After a few moment, the messages will be transferred to your new iPhone.

Part 2. Transfer Messages from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud via iTunes

Just as I said at the beginning, you can simply move all data, including messages, contacts, voicemails, etc. to your new iPhone with iTunes with the premise that the old iPhone is backed up with iTunes.

However, it is not that convenient to transfer data via iTunes as there is no choice to transfer only messages to the new device. Now you can follow the steps below to start the transferring process with iTunes.

Back Up Old iPhone with iTunes:

Step 1. Install the latest version of iTunes on your computer. Launch it and connect your old iPhone to PC. Click "Trust this computer" on the home screen and the device will be connected with iTunes.

Step 2. Tap the device icon and click Summary, select automatically back up to This Computer. Then tick "Back Up Now" button, then the phone data will be synced with iTunes.

Restore the iTunes Backup to New iPhone

Step 3. Since the old iPhone has been backed up with iTunes, you can disconnect it and connect the new iPhone with computer.

Step 4. Click Summary and select "Restore Backup", choose the iTunes backup file that you created just now and the restore process will get start.

Limitations of this method:

• All the data on the old iPhone will be restored to new iPhone.
• The data on the new iPhone will be overwritten/erased during the process.
• Compatibility issue always occurs during the process.

Part 3. Directly Transfer Messages between iPhones Using Quick Start

Quick Start provides one straighforward way to transfer data from one iPhone to another, including messages providing that the 2 devices use iOS 12.4 or later. Please keep the 2 devices close and do as follow:

1. Turn on the new iPhone and enable the bluetooth on the old iPhone.
2. The Quick Start will appear on the new device requiring you to sign into the iCloud. You need to sign in with the iCloud account you used on the old iPhone.
3. Then click on ‘Continue’ and an animation will appear on new iPhone.
4. Hold the old iPhone over the new iPhone to center the animation in the camera.
5. After that, enter the passcode of the old device on your new iPhone and set up Face ID.
6. Finally, click on ‘Transfer from iPhone’.

Part 4. How to Transfer Messages from iPhone to iPhone with iCloud

The same as iTunes, iCloud is a backup and restore tool. What is different between iTunes and iCloud is that iCloud is built into every Apple device. When the iCloud backup feature is enabled, the photos, files, notes and other data will be saved on iCloud.

However, only 5 GB of free iCloud storage is available for Apple users. The data saved on iCloud can be synced and transferred between different iOS devices. Learn how to transfer messages from iPhone to iPhone as below:

1. Go to Setting > iCloud > Backup to ensure that iCloud backup of the old iPhone is turned on.
2. Take out your new iPhone device, if it is not activated, it shall be on the Hello screen. If it has been activated already, you shall go to Settings > General > Reset and select Reset all content and settings to restore the new iPhone to factory reset.
3. On the screen of "Set up your iPhone", select "Restore from iCloud Backup" and enter the iCloud account of the old iPhone. Then choose the iCloud backup to restore (It's always the latest backup).
4. Finally, when the restore process is over, you could check the messages on the new iPhone.

Limitations of this method:

• The same as restoring an iTunes backup, the existing data on the new iPhone will be erased.
• The entire backup will be restored instead of selectively restoring messages.

Part 5. What If Messages Didn’t Transfer to New iPhone

You may have the problem of messages didn't transfer to new iPhone. Here are some tips and tricks if you have this problem:

• The 2 iPhones should be logged in with the same Apple ID account.
• Enable iMessage sync from iPhone settings. (Go to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud to enable Messages.)
• Turn on WiFi on both iPhones.

Conclusion

The 3 methods offered above have is pros and cons. To make a comprehensive comparison, the 1st method is the most appropriate approach to transfer messages from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud or iTunes. The FoneGeek Backup & Restore (iOS) gives you the chance to restore the selected data you want to the new iPhone or Android device with no data loss.