So you upgraded just a new iPad, and you want to move all your programs, pictures, settings and data from an old iPad to the new iPad, right? Doing this is easy, you can go after the PC route with icloud (recommended), or the old fashioned way with iTunes, we’ll show you both.
Transferring data from old to new iPad with icloud
With icloud’s the easiest way, but of course you must have icloud set up and configured for this to work. This is the post-PC method, you do not use a computer at all.
From Old iPad
- Start the “Settings” and tap on icloud and then click on “Storage & Backup”
- Press the “Back Up Now” to initiate a manual backup icloud
- Let the backup finish and then leave the old iPad exclusive
Your work on the old iPad is ready, now pick up the brand new iPad and turn it on.
From New iPad
- At the “Set Up iPad” screen, select “Restore from Backup icloud” and click “Next”
- Login to your icloud account and select the latest backup from the old iPad you just did
- Press the “Restore” to transfer data from your old iPad backup to the new iPad
How long the transfer takes depends on how much stuff you’re doing iPad and how fast your internet connection. Let the process complete and not cancel it or lose WiFi connection.
Moving an old iPad, a new iPad with iTunes
You can also migrate an old iPad to a new iPad using iTunes. This is the old fashioned way because it requires to connect iPads to a computer, but it works just fine if you do not have icloud or if you’re not on a fast internet connection. These instructions are for Mac OS X or Windows.
With the old iPad
- Launch iTunes and connect your old iPad to the computer
- Right-click iPad in iTunes sidebar and choose “Back Up”
3. Let the iPad backup area in iTunes, iTunes will open but disconnect the old iPad from your computer
With the new iPad
- Rotate the new iPad on and on “Set Up iPad” screen, select “Restore from iTunes Backup” then “Next”
- Connect iPad to your computer and in iTunes, choose the latest backup from the recovery menu
- Click “Continue” and allow the restore through iTunes takes place, do not disconnect iPad until the transfer is complete and the iPad has been launched
Restore from iTunes can actually be faster than restoring from icloud, depending on the size of your backups and speed of Internet connection. Nevertheless, migrating with icloud is the simplest and therefore what is most recommended.
Note: If you have already set up the new iPad, you can easily go back to the original set and the configuration screen for the transfer by pressing the Settings> General> Reset> Erase All Content and Settings, this will reset any iOS device to factory default settings. This will erase everything on the iPad so only do this if you are sure.
