iPhone stuck on Waiting for Other iPhone? 8 fixes for Quick Start

You turned on your new iPhone, held it next to the old one, and Quick Start began. Then the screen changed to Waiting for Other iPhone and nothing else happened. Minutes pass, the old phone shows nothing useful, and the new one will not move on. This is a common place for a transfer to stall, and it is usually fixable without losing anything, because your old iPhone still has all your data. Here is what the screen means, how long to wait, and eight fixes in the order that clears most cases.

What does Waiting for Other iPhone mean?

Apple does not publish a help article for this exact screen, so this is our reading of how Quick Start works. In Quick Start the two phones talk to each other over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. When the new iPhone says Waiting for Other iPhone, it has started the handshake and is waiting for the old phone to confirm and begin sending your data. If the old phone is locked, asleep, too far away or on a poor connection, the answer never arrives and the new phone keeps waiting.

Apple's Quick Start page lists what is needed: both devices updated, the current device on Wi-Fi with Bluetooth turned on, and both kept near each other and plugged in until the transfer finishes. It also notes that Quick Start occupies both devices, so pick a time when you do not need the old phone. Every fix below comes back to those basics.

How long should you wait on this screen?

Give it about 10 to 15 minutes. Apple says transfer time depends on network conditions and the amount of data, and the early part of Quick Start can be slow on a busy network. Watch for any sign of life, such as a changing animation, a progress bar or an estimated time. If the screen has not changed at all after 15 minutes, it is stuck and a restart is the right next step. If you are not sure whether it is stuck or just slow, our guide on how long a transfer takes explains what normal looks like.

Fix 1: Unlock the old iPhone and keep both phones close

Unlock the old iPhone and leave it on the Home Screen. A locked screen can stop the handshake. Place the two phones next to each other, ideally touching, and keep them there. Plug both into power. A phone that goes to sleep or dips low on battery mid transfer is a frequent cause. Do not use either phone for anything else while Quick Start runs.

Fix 2: Force restart both iPhones

This is the fix Apple Support moderators suggest most often for this screen, and Apple's own Quick Start page says to restart both devices if the setup prompt disappears. A normal restart helps, and a force restart clears more.

Do this on both phones, not just one. Restarting the old phone alone often leaves the new one on the same screen.

Fix 3: Check Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on the old iPhone

Apple lists Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on the current device as a requirement. Open Settings on the old iPhone and confirm that both are on and that it is connected to a working Wi-Fi network. Then check the usual troublemakers that people report: a VPN that is switched on, Personal Hotspot in use, or a Wi-Fi network that needs a sign-in page. Turn the VPN off, stop the hotspot and, if the Wi-Fi is flaky, move closer to the router or try another network. If the Wi-Fi itself keeps failing, see our guide on an iPhone that will not connect to Wi-Fi.

Fix 4: Update both iPhones

Apple recommends both devices run the latest version of iOS. A large gap between the two versions can cause Quick Start to hang. If the new iPhone came out of the box with an older version, it may offer an update during setup, and it is worth taking it. On the old iPhone, open Settings, tap General, tap Software Update, and install what is offered. You may need to do this before you start Quick Start again, because you cannot use the old phone for much while it transfers.

Fix 5: Choose iCloud instead of a direct transfer

If the direct transfer keeps stalling, change the method. Apple says Quick Start lets you either transfer directly from the previous device or download from iCloud. The iCloud route runs in the background, so you can start using the new phone right away while apps and photos download. It needs a recent iCloud backup of the old iPhone. To make one, connect the old phone to Wi-Fi and power, open Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, tap iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now. If iCloud says it is full, our guide on what to do when iCloud storage is full shows how to make room.

Fix 6: Use a cable for the transfer

Apple offers a wired way to transfer data, and a cable avoids the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi handshake that is failing. Apple's wired transfer guide lists the cables you need for your models, which usually means a USB-C or Lightning cable and an adapter between the two phones. A wired transfer is often faster too. Start it from the same setup screens by choosing the transfer option and following the prompts.

Fix 7: Set up as new, then restore from a backup

If you can get past the Hello screens without Quick Start, set up the new iPhone without transferring, then restore from an iCloud or computer backup. Choose the option to set up manually, which may be worded a little differently in your version. Sign in with your Apple Account, and when it asks how to transfer your apps and data, choose iCloud backup or, later, a computer backup. Our step by step guide on how to restore an iPhone from a backup covers each route.

Fix 8: Erase the new iPhone and start again

As a last resort, erase the new iPhone and restart setup. This is safe because the new phone has nothing of yours on it yet. Do not erase the old one. On the new iPhone, open Settings, tap General, tap Transfer or Reset iPhone and tap Erase All Content and Settings. If setup has not finished, you may need to use the force restart and a computer instead. Our guide on how to factory reset an iPhone has every route. After the erase, try Quick Start once more or use iCloud.

Why does this screen get stuck?

• The old iPhone locked or slept. The handshake needs the old phone awake and on the Home Screen.
• Weak or blocked Wi-Fi. A captive network, a VPN or a busy network can break the connection.
• Bluetooth is off or interrupted. Quick Start uses it to find the other phone.
• Mismatched iOS versions. A big gap sometimes causes a hang.
• A managed phone. Apple says a new device enrolled in Apple School Manager or Apple Business cannot use Quick Start to transfer from another device.
• A random glitch. Sometimes a restart is all that is needed.

What should you not do?

Do not erase or reset the old iPhone until the new iPhone has your data and you have checked photos, messages and apps. Do not trade in or sell the old phone yet. Do not turn off the new phone halfway through a transfer unless you are certain it is stuck, because an interrupted transfer can leave a half set up phone. And avoid downloading transfer software from random websites. Apple's own methods are free, and our research found that the pages that rank for this problem are mostly from vendors who sell transfer tools.

Still stuck on Waiting for Other iPhone?

Try a different Wi-Fi network, such as a phone hotspot from a third device, and a different cable. If the new iPhone is a work or school device, ask your administrator, since managed devices cannot use Quick Start. Otherwise contact Apple Support, who can check the new phone and offer a replacement if it is faulty. Also read about the other common failures in this part of setup: the Unable to Complete Data Transfer message and a stall on Reconnecting. If it keeps happening, the full guide to moving to a new iPhone lists every method.