How to

How to set up a refurbished iPhone and move your data

Nov 14, 2026 Refurb Xpress

Your refurbished iPhone arrives reset, data-wiped and unlocked, ready for you to set up as your own. Moving everything across from your old phone usually takes under an hour, most of which is waiting for things to copy.

Here is how to do it, whether you are coming from another iPhone or from Android.

Before you start

Charge both phones, or keep them plugged in during the transfer.
Connect to Wi-Fi. Transfers are much faster and do not use your data allowance.
Know your Apple ID password (now called your Apple Account) and have your old phone's passcode to hand.
Update your old phone to the latest software it supports, if you can. It makes the transfer smoother.

Moving from an old iPhone: Quick Start

Quick Start is the easiest way. It copies your apps, settings, photos, messages and more straight from one iPhone to the other.

Turn on your new iPhone and place it next to your old one, with Bluetooth on.
Your old iPhone shows a Set Up New iPhone message. Tap Continue.
Hold your old iPhone over the animation that appears on the new one to pair them.
Enter your old iPhone's passcode on the new one, then set up Face ID or Touch ID.
Choose Transfer from iPhone. Keep the phones close together until it finishes.

If you prefer, you can choose to restore from an iCloud backup instead. Make a fresh backup on your old iPhone first in Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.

Moving from Android: Move to iOS

On your Android phone, install Apple's Move to iOS app from the Google Play Store.
On your new iPhone, follow setup until you reach Apps & Data (or Transfer Your Apps & Data), then choose From Android. A code appears.
Open Move to iOS on Android and enter the code.
Choose what to move: contacts, messages, photos, videos, calendars, email accounts and more, including WhatsApp chats on supported versions.
Leave both phones alone until the transfer completes.

Paid apps do not move between Android and iPhone, but many free apps will be suggested for download.

Your SIM or eSIM

Every phone we sell is unlocked for all UK networks, so your current SIM will work.

Physical SIM: move it into the new iPhone using the SIM tool.
eSIM: during setup, many UK networks let you transfer your eSIM from your old iPhone. If that option does not appear, contact your network to move it. Read our eSIM guide.

iPhone to iPhone: on your old phone, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and back up to iCloud. On the new phone, install WhatsApp, sign in with the same number and Apple Account, and restore.
Android to iPhone: use Move to iOS during setup and include WhatsApp, following the prompts in the app.

After setup: five quick checks

Battery health: go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health (on some models, Battery Health & Charging). Ours are at least 80%, and at least 90% on Premium.
Software update: check Settings > General > Software Update.
Find My: make sure it is on in Settings > [your name] > Find My, so you can locate the phone if it goes missing.
Face ID or Touch ID, camera and speakers: give them a quick try.
Protection: fit a case and screen protector before you take it out and about.

Wipe your old phone properly

If you are selling, recycling or passing on your old phone, remove your data and accounts first.

iPhone: sign out of your Apple Account in Settings > [your name] > Sign Out, which also turns off Find My and Activation Lock. Then go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
Android: remove your Google account in Settings, then do a factory reset.