Points to check when Quick Start isn't working on a used iPhone

公開日: 2024年10月23日更新日: 2025年07月24日

▼We will buy your old device at a high price after data migration!

When considering changing your smartphone model, data migration can be a hassle.

However, with iPhones, you can easily transfer data to a new device using a convenient feature called "Quick Start."

Still, some people seem to be struggling with "Quick Start not working on my purchased used iPhone."

Therefore, for those who are struggling, we will explain the possible causes and countermeasures.

By reading this article, you will be able to identify where the problem lies, so please check it out.

What is iPhone Quick Start?

Quick Start is a feature that allows you to transfer data by simply bringing your old iPhone (from which you want to migrate data) and your new iPhone close to each other.

You generally don't need to connect them with cables, as data transfer can be done wirelessly.

No PC is required either.

Previously, you had to back up data on your old device and then restore or copy it to your new device.

This hassle has been eliminated, making data migration extremely easy. This will also be convenient for those who are busy and don't have much time for data migration.

Check preparations and specific steps for data migration to a used iPhone

October 23, 2024

Reasons why iPhone Quick Start might not work

Although it is a very convenient feature, some people struggle when trying to use it in practice because it doesn't work for some reason.

We will introduce 8 possible reasons for this.

Please check if any of these apply to your situation.

Cause ①: Apple ID is not set up on the source iPhone

The old iPhone, which is the source of migration, needs to have an Apple ID set up.

An Apple ID is an account required to use Apple services.

First, make sure an Apple ID is set up.

Open "Settings" (the gear icon) and tap the username displayed at the top.

If an email address is displayed below the username on the next page, that is your Apple ID.

If no email address is displayed, you either don't have an Apple ID or you are signed out.

If you're completely unfamiliar with "What is an Apple ID?", it's highly likely you've been using your device without setting one up.

To use Quick Start, you must have an Apple ID set up.

Tap "Sign in to your iPhone" to create a new Apple ID.

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Cause ②: The target iPhone is not in factory reset state

Next, you'll want to check the new iPhone you've prepared for data migration.

Quick Start is displayed when the device is in factory reset state.

If you bought it used, it might not be in factory reset state, so the Quick Start guide might not appear.

If the normal home screen appears after fully charging and powering it on, you can assume it's not in factory reset state.

First, perform a factory reset to return it to its factory state.

Also, if you've already performed the initial setup on your newly purchased used iPhone, you'll need to factory reset it and start over.

The factory reset procedure is as follows:

[Factory Reset Procedure]

Tap "Settings" on your new iPhone.
Tap "General," then "Transfer or Reset iPhone."
Tap "Erase All Content and Settings."

The factory reset should be performed on the newly acquired iPhone that will be the destination, not the old device you used previously.

Be careful not to make a mistake.

If you accidentally reset your old iPhone, all your data may be erased.

If you haven't created a backup, you won't be able to recover it.

When resetting a new iPhone, an option like "Upload to iCloud then Erase" may appear, but if you haven't used it yet, there's no backup data to save, so it's generally recommended to choose "Erase Now."

Cause ③: iOS version is old

iOS is an operating system developed and provided by Apple.

It's also an important component that manages your smartphone and connected peripherals.

If your iOS hasn't been updated and is still old, you may not be able to use Quick Start, so make sure to update it.

Both the old iPhone (source of migration) and the new iPhone (target for data transfer) must have iOS version 12.4 or later.

Make sure your iOS is up to date.

Follow these steps:

[Steps to update iOS]

Tap "Settings"
Tap "General" then "Software Update"
Tap "Download and Install"

If "Download and Install" is not displayed and "iOS is up to date" is shown instead, then your iOS is already updated.

Check both the old and new devices and proceed accordingly.

Cause ④: Unstable Wi-Fi environment

If your Wi-Fi connection is unstable, it may take a long time to start or complete the migration.

If you are using home Wi-Fi, the connection may become unstable if you are far from the router, so be careful.

If you don't have Wi-Fi, using a free Wi-Fi hotspot is one option.

However, the connection can be unstable, or the Wi-Fi may disconnect after a certain period of time.

If you cannot prepare a stable Wi-Fi environment, it is advisable to use a separately sold "Lightning-to-USB cable" and "Lightning-to-USB 3 Camera Adapter."

Connect the "Lightning-to-USB cable" and "Lightning-to-USB 3 Camera Adapter" and plug the ends into your old and new iPhones.

While it requires the extra effort and cost of preparing a cable, you can start data migration without any problems using a wired connection.

Used smartphones can be used with Wi-Fi only without a SIM!

February 14, 2025

Cause ⑤: Bluetooth is off

Bluetooth is a wireless communication technology.

Quick Start uses this feature to connect two iPhones and transfer data.

Therefore, if it's off, you can't use the Quick Start feature.

Turn it on from "Bluetooth" in "Settings."

You can also turn it on by swiping down from the top of the iPhone screen to open the Control Center and tapping the butterfly-like icon.

If the icon is blue instead of gray, Bluetooth is on.

Cause ⑥: The camera on the source iPhone is broken.

With Quick Start, you need to use the camera on your old iPhone to scan the image displayed on your new iPhone.

However, an option to "authenticate manually" also appears, so a broken camera is not necessarily a problem.

Even if the camera itself is not broken, it may not be able to read correctly due to reasons such as a dark shooting environment.

In this case, try reading in a brighter location.

Cause ⑦: Insufficient storage on the target iPhone

For example, if the old iPhone (source of migration) has a larger capacity, and the new iPhone has less storage, insufficient storage on the destination can prevent data transfer.

To use Quick Start, you need to adjust the data size of the source iPhone so that it fits within the capacity of the target iPhone.

If you have a lot of images or videos, one option is to save them to iCloud and delete them from your iPhone.

You can also free up space by using the "Offload Unused Apps" feature.

Offload Unused Apps is a feature introduced in iOS 11 that automatically removes apps you don't use often to free up space.

The apps themselves are removed, but the data remains, so if you reinstall the app when needed, your data will be restored.

Turn on "Offload Unused Apps" in "App Store" within "Settings."

You can also set this in the "iPhone Storage" page within "General" in "Settings."

Cause ⑧: Devices are too far apart

Quick Start requires the two devices to be close to each other.

If they are too far apart, it won't work, so it's recommended to operate them side-by-side.

Steps to perform data migration using Quick Start

We will explain how to perform data migration specifically.

Let's follow these four steps.

Note that the basic procedure remains the same even when connecting with a cable.

Step ①: Power on the target iPhone, turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and place it next to the source iPhone.

First, power on your new iPhone, which will be the target device.

It's advisable to fully charge it beforehand, but if you're worried, you can do it while it's charging.

Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and place it next to your old iPhone.

Then, the Quick Start screen will appear on your old iPhone, so tap "Continue."

If the screen doesn't appear when you place the phones side-by-side, check if Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are on, and if the Wi-Fi connection is stable.

Step ②: Follow the on-screen instructions to begin setup.

After a moment, an animation will appear on your new iPhone.

Follow the on-screen instructions and use your old iPhone's camera to scan the animation.

If you cannot scan it due to a broken camera or other reasons, select "Authenticate Manually" and proceed with the operation.

Step ③: Set up Face ID or Touch ID.

On your new iPhone screen, a prompt will appear asking you to enter your old iPhone's passcode; enter it.

At this point, you also need to set up Face ID or Touch ID.

Step ④: Select "Transfer from iPhone" for data transfer method.

When you select "Transfer from iPhone" as the data transfer method, the transfer will begin.

No special operations are required, so wait until all data has been transferred.

At this time, be careful not to turn off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth mid-transfer.

This completes the process.

Although you might feel anxious the first time you use the Quick Start feature, it generally completes without issues if you follow the on-screen instructions.

Precautions when using Quick Start

To successfully complete Quick Start, there are a few precautions to keep in mind.

The three most important things to note are:

If the battery dies mid-transfer, you'll need to restart the migration process.

Make sure both your old and new iPhones are fully charged before you begin.

If the battery dies during data migration, you'll have to restart the migration process from the beginning.

The time it takes for data migration varies depending on the amount of data to be transferred, but it can take a long time, so it is recommended to fully charge both the old and new iPhones.

If you didn't have time to fully charge, try doing it while charging.

Also, if an alarm goes off during data transfer, you'll also need to restart the process.

Data transfer can take several hours, so turn off any alarms for a few hours.

You cannot operate your iPhone during data migration.

You cannot operate your iPhone while data migration is in progress.

Therefore, choose a time when it's okay not to be able to use it.

For example, you won't be able to make calls or check messages.

It can take anywhere from a few tens of minutes to several hours to complete.

While this varies depending on the amount of data and the communication environment, confirm beforehand that you won't be able to use it during that time.

Some data cannot be migrated.

Quick Start cannot migrate all data.

Information such as linked transportation IC cards and Apple Watch pairing settings cannot be transferred, so you'll need to set them up separately.

For example, for the "LINE" app, which many people use, you need to back up your chat history to iCloud.

Also, some apps require you to issue a transfer code on your old iPhone, so it's important to check this beforehand.

Photos, videos, messages, call history, various apps, and system settings saved on your old iPhone can generally be transferred.

However, there's always a chance that something might not transfer correctly for some reason, so it's recommended to create various backups as a precaution.

What are the alternatives if Quick Start doesn't work?

It's possible that Quick Start may not work for some reason.

In this case, you might consider migrating data via iCloud or iTunes.

We will explain each in detail.

Migrating data via iCloud

iCloud is an online storage service provided by Apple.

It's a service that allows you to store data like photos in an online storage space on the internet.

You can save up to 5GB for free, so if the data you want to migrate is within 5GB, you can copy the information to iCloud and then migrate the data to your new iPhone from there.

While 5GB is available for free, if you need more storage, paid plans are available, so it's worth considering them.

Relatively small capacity plans can be used for a few hundred yen.

Note that this method does not require a PC.

Using iCloud, you'll back up your old iPhone's data to iCloud, and then restore it to your new iPhone.

Follow these steps:

[iCloud Backup and Restore Steps]

Connect your old iPhone to Wi-Fi.
Tap "Settings."
Tap your "username."
Tap "iCloud."
Tap "iCloud Backup."
Tap "Back Up Now."
Power on your new iPhone.
Follow the on-screen instructions to set your country and language.
When Quick Start appears, select "Set Up Manually."
After "Apps & Data" appears, select "Restore from iCloud Backup."
Enter the Apple ID used for backup and sign in.
Select the backup you want to migrate data from.

After backing up your old iPhone, the time of the last backup will be displayed at the bottom of the backup screen, so make sure this time is current.

Check this time when verifying if the process was successful.

Migrating data via iTunes

You can also migrate data using iTunes.

iTunes is a music player software provided free of charge by Apple, the company that develops and sells iPhones.

We introduced the method using iCloud, but if you have a lot of data saved, the free 5GB may not be enough.

On the other hand, if you choose to use iTunes, you will be using a PC. If your PC has enough space, you can migrate data without any problems, so this is a suitable method even if iCloud's capacity is insufficient.

If you choose this method, you will back up your old iPhone using iTunes and then restore it to your new iPhone.

As a precaution, after installing iTunes, you need to turn off automatic synchronization settings.

If you don't turn it off, data may be automatically overwritten.

Once iTunes is launched, go to "Edit," "Preferences," "Devices," and check "Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from syncing automatically" before clicking OK.

Data migration is performed using the following steps:

[Data migration steps]