How can I recover data on my new iPhone if my old one was destroyed?

My previous iPhone was destroyed in a car accident. I bought a new phone, but I don’t know how to retrieve my data. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: How to get data to transfer to my new iphone?

iPhone 16 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Jul 20, 2025 4:58 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 20, 2025 5:04 AM

See the general process described here:


Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support


Once you initially sign-in with your Apple Account, you’ll be presented with the available options specific for your account.


14 replies

Jul 20, 2025 8:30 AM in response to AnabellaGJ

If you were synchronizing data on the old phone to iCloud, you would synchronize the new phone to iCloud to get that data. You would get most other things by restoring a backup.


In the case of music purchased somewhere other than the iTunes Store, and manually synchronized to the old phone, you would need to manually synchronize it to the new phone from your computer.

Jul 20, 2025 2:11 PM in response to AnabellaGJ

iCloud backups do happen automatically if you have that option turned on, there is enough free iCloud space, and the phone is given chances to do them. (I.e. left connected to power and Wi-Fi Internet service, with the screen locked, as would be common when charging a phone overnight.)


iCloud synchronization would also be happening automatically (and in this case, incrementally) under appropriate conditions.

Jul 20, 2025 9:02 AM in response to Bob Timmons

FWIW, I simply assume that Automatic iCloud Backups and Sync’d iCloud data exists and point folks in that direction.


Anyone who IS consciously backing-up and Syncing knows that they’re doing it.


Anyone who doesn’t know probably IS thanks to Apple’s defaults.


The small remainder can come back and ask why no backups are listed and/or there is no iCloud data.



Jul 20, 2025 2:09 PM in response to Chattanoogan

FWIW, I simply assume that Automatic iCloud Backups and Sync’d iCloud data exists and point folks in that direction.


I don't. I'm amazed at the number of users who post who do not have a backup at all.


My guess is that most of them balk the first time that they try to set up iCloud backups because they have to buy extra storage space and they decide to do this "later" and then forget about it.

Jul 20, 2025 9:31 AM in response to Pimmeza4455

Re: “ฉันอยากทำลายฉันอยากทำลายข้อมูลของเจ้าของคนเดิมโดยที่ไม่ให้เหลือข้อมูลเลยซักอย่างต้องทำยังไง”


(Automated translation (from Thai): “I want to destroy. I want to destroy the data of the original owner without leaving any information. What should I do?”


Please start your own thread instead of hijacking this one.

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How can I recover data on my new iPhone if my old one was destroyed?

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