By Jennifer | Last Updated
Switching to a new iPhone can be exciting, but transferring your cherished photos can sometimes be tricky, especially if you prefer not to use iCloud. While iCloud is a convenient option for many users, it’s not the only way to move photos from one iPhone to another. Whether you’re low on iCloud storage or want more control over the transfer process, there are several alternative methods to ensure your photos safely arrive on your new device.
In this article, we’ll explore different ways to transfer your photos to a new iPhone without using iCloud. These methods include using AirDrop, a computer with iTunes or Finder, third-party apps, and other wireless solutions.
AirDrop is a simple and effective way to transfer photos directly between two iPhones without the need for cloud storage. The best part? It’s wireless and fast for small to medium transfers. To proceed, you should enable the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the old iPhone and new iPhone.
This method is secure and fast for smaller photo batches with no require for a computer or third-party apps. But if you want to transfer large photo libraries at once, it is not the best solution.
Step 1: Swipe down from the upper-right corner of your screen. Press and hold the Wi-Fi icon until a menu appears, then tap AirDrop and set it to either Contacts Only or Everyone.
Step 2: Open Photos and select the photos you want to transfer. If you want to transfer a series of photos, tap the Select icon in the top right corner.
Step 3: After the selection, tap the Share icon at the bottom-left corner.
Step 4: Tap AirDrop option and your new iPhone should appear in the list. Choose its name to continue.
Step 5: A notification will appear on the new iPhone asking if you want to accept the photos. Tap Accept to start the transfer.
Without iCloud, iTunes can be your best helper to transfer photos from one iPhone to another. For different operating system, you can choose iTunes for the computer in Windows or older macOS versions, while use Finder for the computer in macOS Catalina and later to get the photos transferred.
Step 1: Connect you source iPhones to your computer via a reliable USB cable.
Step 2: Go to This PC, and then tap your Apple' s iphone, find your pictures step by step.
Step 3: Copy the picture you want from your iPhone to your computer. Remenber where you save it.
Step 4: Pull out the source iPhone and reconnect your target iPhone to the computer. Continue to allow your computer to access information on your new iPhone.
Step 5: Click the target iPhone device button, then choose Photos on the left panel and tick the box next to Sync Photos on the right panel.
Step 6: After that, click Pictures and select Choose folder...to transfer your pictures from computer to your target iPhone. Next, click on the Apply button, the photos will be transferred from iTunes to iPhone.
Step 7: At last, click on Done to complete the process.
That is how to transfer pictures from iPhone to iPhone using iTunes. However, it is obviously that the process is a little cumbersome. Follow the way bellow to enable transfer photos between two iPhones without iCloud and iTunes.
Several third-party apps allow you to transfer photos without relying on iCloud, such as iSyncGenius. iSunshare iSyncGenius is another excellent choice for iPhone users to transfer photos from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud. It also allows users to transfer photos from iPhone to Windows 10 PC. With this software, you can sync some data such as pictures, music, calendars, and contacts as quickly as possible.
Step 1: Connect you two iPhones to your computer with two reliable USB cables.
Step 2: Launch the iSunshare iSyncGenius, then click Transfer in the upper right corner and wait for the computer to recognize your iPhones. When you select the source iPhone at Device Model on the left, the right part will automatically match your target iPhone as your target phone.
Step 3: Click on the Transfer button to start transferring data from iPhone to iPhone.
Step 4: You can see many files which you can transfer from one iPhone to another. Tick the checkbox next to Picture and click the Transfer Now button to transfer all photos from the old iPhone to the new iPhone.
Step 5: Wait for transferring patiently. And you should keep both iPhones connected during this process.
Step 6: When the data migration is successful, click on the Finished button. Now you can get back to your target iPhone to check if there are photos that come from the old one.
Note: If you do not have iTunes installed on your computer, please install the latest version of iTunes on your PC first. You can download iTunes from the Microsoft Store (Windows 10), you can also download the latest version of iTunes from Apple's website.
If you want to avoid iCloud but are still open to cloud services, Google Photos offers an excellent alternative. With unlimited storage for high-quality photos (or limited storage for original quality), Google Photos makes it easy to sync and transfer your photo library.
This method relies on an internet connection, and you’ll need enough Google Storage if you prefer keeping original photo quality. And you need to know, the photos are transferred to the new iPhone cloud service.
Step 1: Download Google Photos app on the App Store of the old iPhone.
Step 2: Open the app and sign in with your Google account. After that, allow it to back up your iPhone photos.
Step 3: Get Google Photos on your new iPhone and login to the same Google account.
Step 4: Once synced, you will be able to access all your backed-up photos from the cloud.
1. Which method is the fastest for transferring photos between iPhones?
For a small to medium photo transfer, AirDrop is the fastest wireless method. However, for larger photo libraries, use iTunes/Finder or iSyncGenius might be more efficient.
2. Can I transfer photos without a computer?
Yes, you can transfer photos without a computer by using Airdrop, Google Photos, or other wireless methods.
3. How to transfer photos to new iPhone with iCloud?
First of all, you should enable iCloud Photos on your old iPhone and make sure both two iPhones are connected with stable network. Then set up the new iPhone and choose to Restore from iCloud Backup. Later, sign into the same Apple ID account and select the most recent backup. Finally, just wait for the restore process to end.
4. How to transfer photos from old iPhone to new iPhone after setup?
You can utilize the Quick Start function to transfer data from old iPhone to new iPhone after setup. Check details here.
Transferring photos to a new iPhone without iCloud is entirely feasible and can even offer more control, speed, and security, depending on the method you choose. Whether you opt for the wireless convenience of AirDrop, the comprehensive backup of iTunes/Finder, the flexibility of iSyncGenius, or the power of Google Photos, each method has its advantages.
