How to Transfer Data to a New Phone When Face ID or Fingerprint Is Broken
Yes. Data can still be transferred to a new iPhone when Face ID or Touch ID is broken, as long as the old iPhone passcode and Apple ID access still work. Biometric authentication is usually not required for Quick Start, iCloud restore, or an encrypted computer backup. When the iPhone is not letting you transfer to a new iPhone, the cause is often account verification, outdated iOS, or a failed backup.
Steps
- Unlock the old iPhone with the passcode. Face ID or fingerprint failure does not block data access if the passcode still works.
- Try Quick Start during new iPhone setup. Keep both iPhones near each other, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the setup prompts. Use the passcode when Apple asks for device confirmation.
- Create an encrypted computer backup if Quick Start fails. Connect the old iPhone to a Mac or PC, make an encrypted backup, then restore the backup to the new iPhone. Encrypted backup keeps passwords, Health data, and Wi-Fi details.
- Use iCloud backup and restore as a fallback. Turn on iCloud Backup on the old iPhone, finish the backup, then sign in on the new iPhone and restore from iCloud during setup.
Common Issues and Fixes
- Transfer stops at verification — Likely cause: Apple ID sign-in or trusted-device confirmation failed. Fix: Use the Apple ID password and verify the trusted phone number.
- Quick Start does not detect the new iPhone — Likely cause: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or iOS version mismatch. Fix: Turn on Bluetooth, join stable Wi-Fi, and update both iPhones first.
- Restore option is missing — Likely cause: No recent backup exists. Fix: Create an iCloud backup or computer backup before starting the new iPhone setup.
- Transfer pauses on Face ID prompt — Likely cause: Setup is requesting biometric confirmation for a later app or payment step. Fix: Skip the step for now and set Face ID later in Settings.
- Data transfers, but some apps stay empty — Likely cause: App data is cloud-based or app login is still pending. Fix: Sign in again inside the app and allow background sync.
Quick Tips
- An encrypted computer backup is the safest fallback when biometric authentication fails.
- Passcode access is often enough for transfer phone data when biometric authentication fails.
- iCloud sync covers photos, contacts, notes, and messages only when sync is enabled.
- A damaged Face ID module does not remove the need for Apple ID credentials during restore.
Related Questions
Can data be transferred to a new iPhone without Face ID or fingerprint?
Yes. Passcode-based setup, iCloud restore, and encrypted computer backup can move data without biometric authentication. The main requirement is access to the old device and Apple ID.
Why is my iPhone not letting me transfer to a new iPhone?
Common causes include outdated iOS, unstable Wi-Fi, failed Apple ID verification, or an incomplete backup. In most cases, updating both phones and using the passcode instead of Face ID solves the problem.
💡Protip:
If Quick Start and iCloud restore both fail, a computer backup or device transfer workflow such as MobileTrans can help move phone data without depending on biometric approval.
