You’ve got your hand on the new iPhone 15 Pro and you’re ready to
explore the new upgrades it offers like the improved computer power and
graphics processing as well as its power efficiency. First, you decide to
transfer data from your old iPhone to the new iPhone 15 Pro.
However, when you select the “Transfer Directly from iPhone” option,
the data transfer doesn’t happen. Does this sound familiar? Well, many iPhone
users have been in this situation when they upgrade to a new iPhone and want to
move their data to it. The data transfer simply fails to work and you’re left
scratching your head not knowing what to do.
So, is there a way to fix this issue of iPhone unable to complete data
transfer? Yes, there’s always a way and this detailed post provides all the
help you need. Here, you’ll learn several effective ways to troubleshoot this
error and get all your data transferred successfully without any hassle. Read on
to find out more.
Why Am I Unable to Complete Data Transfer on iPhone?
Your old iPhone is unable to complete data transfer to your new iPhone
due to various reasons:
- Unstable network connection: There’s probably an issue with the wireless
connectivity between the two devices which is interrupting the transfer process
or causing errors - the Wi-Fi signal could be weak or unstable.
- Insufficient storage space: The transfer process may stop midway or not
complete successfully if the source or the target iPhone doesn’t have enough
storage space.
- Old iOS version: If the iPhone you’re transferring data from
has an outdated iOS version, the error “Unable to Complete Data Transfer” will
surely show up. It’s also possible that the data transfer is not working
because of incompatible file formats.
If any of these issues is the reason your iPhone is unable to complete
data transfer, then you need to sort it out. Both iPhones must be running the latest
version of iOS and the files you want to transfer must be supported by the
target iPhone. Once you address these issues, the data transfer process will
run successfully. Here’s what you need to do.
Troubleshooting iPhone Unable to Complete Data Transfer
You’ve seen some of the things that can make an iPhone unable to
complete data transfer. Now use the following tips and tricks to fix the issue.
1.
Put the Two
Phones Closer
One simple solution to this problem of iPhone unable to complete data
transfer is moving the two iPhones closer to each other. This might solve the
issue if you’re doing the data transfer wirelessly through Bluetooth and WiFi. If
you’re not aware, Bluetooth has a pretty short range, which means if the two
devices are apart, even slightly apart (like just a few feet apart), the error
Unable to Complete Data Transfer will appear. Therefore, put the phones side by
side so that they can connect successfully and check whether the data transfer
works.
2.
Ensure
the SIM Card is Inserted Properly
When you have a new iPhone that’s not activated yet, you have to
insert a SIM card into it in order to activate it. Without a SIM card, you
can’t activate it and it may also fail to complete the data transfer. If you
have not put a SIM card into your new iPhone, put it and ensure you insert it
properly and then try again to transfer data to it.
3.
Ensure
Bluetooth is Enabled
If you’re using the iPhone Migration or the Quick Start to transfer data
from iPhone to iPhone, then both devices must have their Bluetooth on to
establish a connection between them, otherwise, the transfer won’t work. Therefore,
check both devices to see if Bluetooth is on, if it isn’t, you can follow these
steps to enable it on either device.
- Open the Control Center on your iPhone
- Swipe down on your phone screen starting from the top if you have an
iPhone X or a newer model. For iPhone 8 and earlier models, swipe up on the
screen right from the bottom edge.
- Turn on Bluetooth
- Go to the Bluetooth icon and tap it to enable it.
4.
Put
Both Phones on Charge During Data Transfer
Low battery life on one or both devices can interrupt the data
transfer process causing it not to conclude. This is probably what has happened
in your case. If it’s so, you should put the two phones on the charge and
perform the data transfer. This will ensure that the phones have sufficient
juice in their tanks to successfully complete the transfer process.
5.
Reset
the New iPhone 15 Pro and Restart the Old iPhone
Unexpected bugs and system glitches often occur in new iPhone releases
which are usually fixed with software updates later on. Old iPhones can also
develop system glitches, especially when running an outdated iOS version.
If no prompt is displayed on your old iPhone when it’s unable to
complete data transfer, then a system glitch is probably stopping the phone
from responding to the data migration. Resetting your new iPhone and restarting
your old iPhone can help fix these glitches. Doing so refreshes both phones and
can potentially get rid of the data transfer error.
To reset your new iPhone 15 Pro
- Access Settings on your
iPhone.
- Open the General tab and tap on the “Transfer or Reset iPhone” option.
- Select the “Erase All Content
and Settings” option. When the pop-up appears, tap “Continue”.
- Follow the provided instructions to confirm the operation.
To reboot your old iPhone
- Long-press the Volume Up/Down button together with the Side/Power button at the same time to bring up the Power Off slider.
- Switch off the iPhone by dragging the slider to the right.
- Let it remain off for about 30 seconds and
then turn it on by long-pressing the Side
button.
6.
Install
the Latest iOS Version on Both iPhones
For iPhone Migration to work, your iPhones must fulfill the system
requirements, which means they have to be running iOS 12.4 or a higher version.
If not, you’ll get the iPhone unable to complete data transfer error. Therefore, make sure you update the system of
the two iPhones to iOS 12.4 or above and then try performing the data transfer
again. Follow these steps to do the updates.
- Go to Settings on either
iPhone.
- Open the General tab.
- Find the Software Update
option and tap it.
- Install the newer iOS version if it’s available by tapping on Download and Install.
Alternative
Methods for Transferring Data Between iPhones
1.
Try
Wired Data Transfer
A wired data transfer is a more reliable alternative option to
wireless transfer, especially when you’re unable to complete data transfer
between your iPhones over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection. It’s actually much
more stable as it’s not affected by the many glitches that often encounter
wireless transfer. Use these steps to perform the wired data transfer.
- Use a lightning cable together with a USB 3 Camera Adapter or a
lightning to USB cable to connect the two iPhones.
- Go to the old iPhone and tap “Trust” on the prompt that appears to
continue.
- Go to the new iPhone and tap “Continue” on the prompt that appears to
begin the transfer process.
- The iPhone migration should now work properly using this simple wired
data transfer method.
2.
Transfer
Data Using iTunes
When both wireless and wired data transfer fail, you can try to use
iTunes to move data from your old iPhone to your new iPhone 15 Pro. This method
is quite reliable although it involves a few more steps. You have to first
backup your old iPhone to a computer through iTunes and then restore the iTunes
backup to your new iPhone. Here are all the steps you should follow.
- Use a USB cable to connect the old iPhone to a computer.
- Run iTunes (the latest version) on the computer.
- Click the iPhone icon
(check the top part of the iTunes window).
- Go to the Summary section,
select Backups, and then check “This Computer”.
- Next, select “Back Up Now”
and allow iTunes to back up your old iPhone on the computer.
- Once the backup process finishes, disconnect the old iPhone from your
computer.
- Connect your new iPhone 15 Pro to the computer and click the iPhone icon on the iTunes window again.
- Go to Summary and click on
“Restore Backup”. Select the backup
data you wish to restore.
- Click the Restore button
and let iTunes transfer your old iPhone’s data to the new iPhone.
FAQs About iPhone Data Transfer
1.
Will
it take long to transfer data to my new iPhone?
It can take a long or short time to transfer data to your new iPhone
depending on several factors like the transfer method you use, the size of data
you have, and the speed of your wireless connection. If you choose to transfer
the data using any of the official methods, the process can take between 45
minutes and 1 hour to complete. However, transferring data via iCloud may take
longer, like several hours but if you use wired data transfer and a computer,
the process may be faster.
2.
Will
I incur any costs when performing data transfer?
Yes, you’ll incur some costs when doing data transfer but it will
depend on the method you use, the size of data you’re transferring, and any
other applicable service fees. Any excess data usage may attract additional
charges from your internet service provider. If you’re using cloud storage
services, you’ll get different pricing tiers depending on the data transfer
amounts or storage. Overall, you should check the pricing plans as well as any
additional associated costs before you proceed to do the data transfer.
3.
Is it
possible to move data from the phone to my computer or vice versa?
Of course, it’s possible. You can transfer data between computers and
mobile devices. There are various methods you can use like Wi-Fi Direct,
Bluetooth, cloud storage services, USB cables, or specialized software.
Conclusion
This post has highlighted some of the things that can make an iPhone
unable to complete data transfer and also shared various solutions you can use
to resolve this issue. You shouldn’t be frustrated that you’re unable to
complete data transfer. You now have an idea what the problem might be and with
that, it should be easier to pick any of the solutions provided above and
follow the instructions to successfully complete the data transfer. If one
method doesn’t work, try the next one until you sort out the issue.