How To Transfer Game Progress From Old Iphone To New Without Losing Data

Moving to a new iPhone is exciting—faster performance, better camera quality, and the latest features. But one major concern lingers for many users: preserving hard-earned game progress. Whether you’ve spent weeks leveling up in a role-playing game or finally reached the top of the leaderboard in a mobile shooter, losing that progress can be frustrating, even demotivating.

The good news is that Apple has built robust tools into iOS to help users seamlessly transition their data—including game saves—from one device to another. With the right approach, your game achievements, unlocked levels, in-game currency, and settings can all carry over intact. The key lies in understanding how game data is stored, which transfer method works best for your situation, and what steps to take before, during, and after the migration.

This guide walks you through every reliable method to transfer game progress between iPhones, highlights common pitfalls, and provides actionable advice to ensure no save file gets left behind.

Understanding How Game Progress Is Stored on iPhone

Before initiating any transfer, it’s crucial to understand where and how your game data is saved. Unlike documents or photos, game progress isn’t always stored locally on your device. Instead, it depends on the app developer’s design and integration with Apple’s ecosystem.

There are three primary ways game data is handled:

• Local Storage: Some games save progress only on the device itself. If not backed up properly, this data disappears when switching phones.
• iCloud Sync: Many modern games use iCloud to store player data. When enabled, your progress automatically syncs across devices logged into the same Apple ID.
• Developer-Specific Cloud Accounts: Games like Candy Crush, Clash of Clans, or Genshin Impact use proprietary cloud systems tied to your in-game account (e.g., Game Center, Facebook, Google, or a custom login).

“Game developers increasingly rely on cloud-based solutions to prevent data loss during device transitions. Always link your game to an external account as a safety net.” — Daniel Reyes, Mobile App Architect

If your game uses iCloud or a third-party account, transferring progress becomes significantly easier. However, if it relies solely on local storage, you must back up the entire device to preserve that data.

Tip: Check a game’s settings menu for options like “Sync with iCloud” or “Link Account.” Enable these before switching devices.

Step-by-Step: Transfer Game Progress Using iCloud Backup

iCloud Backup is one of the most straightforward methods to migrate all your data—including game saves—to a new iPhone. This method works best when the games you play support iCloud storage or store data within the app’s container.

Follow this sequence to ensure full coverage:

1. On your old iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
2. Ensure iCloud Backup is toggled on.
3. Connect your device to Wi-Fi and a power source.
4. Tap “Back Up Now” and wait for the process to complete. You can monitor progress under the backup section.
5. Once finished, power off your old device and set up your new iPhone.
6. During setup, choose “Restore from iCloud Backup” and sign in with the same Apple ID.
7. Select the most recent backup and wait for restoration to finish.

After setup, open your games one by one. Most should automatically load your previous progress. Note that some apps may require you to manually log in or re-enable cloud sync.

Important Considerations

• Ensure you have enough iCloud storage. Free accounts offer 5GB, which may not suffice. Upgrade if needed via Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Change Storage Plan.
• Not all games respect iCloud backups. Some developers disable automatic syncing due to size limits or technical constraints.
• A slow internet connection can prolong the restore process—sometimes several hours for large backups.

Alternative Method: Use Quick Start for Direct Transfer

Apple introduced Quick Start in iOS 12.4+, allowing direct data transfer from an old iPhone to a new one using proximity-based setup. This method often preserves game data more reliably than iCloud because it copies the entire app state, including local-only saves.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Turn on your new iPhone and place it near your old one.
2. On the old device, tap “Set Up New iPhone” when prompted.
3. Use your fingerprint, Face ID, or passcode to authenticate.
4. Choose “Transfer Directly from iPhone” instead of restoring from a backup.
5. Keep both devices close and connected to power until the transfer completes.
6. Finish setting up your new iPhone—your apps, settings, and game progress will appear as they were.

This method bypasses the need for intermediate cloud storage and ensures a byte-for-byte copy of your apps, making it ideal for games that don’t support cloud syncing.

Tip: Quick Start requires both devices to run iOS 12.4 or later and be within close range. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi must be enabled.

When Game Data Lives Outside the Device: Account Linking

Some of the most popular mobile games do not rely on iCloud at all. Instead, they use internal servers to store your profile. To retain progress, you must link your game to a persistent account.

Examples include:

• Clash of Clans: Link to Game Center or Supercell ID.
• Candy Crush Saga: Connect to Facebook or King account.
• Pokémon GO: Tied to Google or Apple Sign-In.
• Genshin Impact: Requires HoYoverse (formerly miHoYo) account.

Before retiring your old iPhone, verify that your game is linked to such an account. Then, on your new device, install the game and log in with the same credentials. Your progress will download from the developer’s server, independent of Apple’s backup system.

Game	Account Type	Action Required
Clash Royale	Supercell ID	Create and confirm email-linked ID
Fortnite	Epic Games Account	Log in before switching devices
Among Us	InnerSloth Account (optional)	Enable in settings for cross-device sync
Stumble Guys	Kongregate or Apple Sign-In	Link account in profile settings

Never assume your game progress is safe just because it appears on your current phone. Without an external account, a factory reset or device replacement could erase everything.

Mini Case Study: Preserving Progress in Clash of Clans

Mark had spent over two years building his village in Clash of Clans. When he upgraded from an iPhone 11 to an iPhone 15, he assumed the data would transfer automatically. He skipped linking a Supercell ID, trusting iCloud alone.

After setting up his new phone via iCloud restore, the game launched but showed a brand-new village. His progress was gone.

He contacted Supercell Support, who explained that iCloud backups are unreliable for their game. Only players with a linked Supercell ID can recover progress across devices. Fortunately, Mark remembered the email he used months earlier during a casual login attempt. After verifying ownership, support restored his account.

Lesson learned: Always link to a developer-managed account—even if you think you’re covered by iCloud.

Checklist: Ensure No Game Progress Is Lost During iPhone Transfer

Use this checklist before migrating to your new iPhone:

• ✅ Confirm all critical games support cloud saving (iCloud or third-party).
• ✅ Link each game to a permanent account (Facebook, Google, Supercell ID, etc.).
• ✅ On your old iPhone, perform a full iCloud Backup (“Back Up Now”).
• ✅ Ensure your iCloud has sufficient storage space.
• ✅ Alternatively, use Quick Start for a direct device-to-device transfer.
• ✅ After setup, open each game and verify progress is intact.
• ✅ Re-link any accounts that didn’t auto-sync.

Common Mistakes That Cause Data Loss

Even tech-savvy users make errors during device transitions. Avoid these pitfalls:

• Assuming iCloud backs up everything: Some apps exclude large files or opt out of iCloud backups entirely.
• Skipping account linking: Relying solely on device-level backups is risky. If the backup fails, so does your progress.
• Restoring from an outdated backup: Using a backup from weeks ago means losing recent progress.
• Using a different Apple ID: Game Center achievements and iCloud data are tied to your Apple ID. Switching IDs breaks continuity.
• Rushing the setup: Interrupting the restore process can corrupt app data, including game saves.

Tip: Test one or two key games immediately after setup. If progress is missing, stop customization and troubleshoot before proceeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer game progress if I don’t use iCloud?

Yes, but only if the game supports a third-party account (like Facebook or Google). Without any cloud sync, local-only games will lose data unless transferred via Quick Start or iTunes backup.

Does iTunes/Finder backup preserve game data?

Yes. A full encrypted backup in iTunes (on Windows) or Finder (on Mac) includes app data and game saves. Make sure to select “Encrypt backup” to include Health and HomeKit data, as well as passwords and Wi-Fi settings.

Why did my game reset after restoring from backup?

This usually happens when the game relies on an external account that wasn’t linked. Even with a perfect device restore, some games will prompt you to start fresh unless you log into your player account.

Conclusion: Secure Your Digital Achievements

Your game progress represents time, effort, and personal achievement. Losing it during a simple phone upgrade shouldn’t happen—and with the right preparation, it won’t. By combining iCloud backups, direct transfers via Quick Start, and mandatory account linking, you create multiple layers of protection.

Take action today: audit your most important games, link them to persistent accounts, and run a final backup before trading in your old iPhone. These few minutes now can save you hours—or years—of lost progress later.

💬 Have a story about lost or saved game data? Share your experience in the comments and help others avoid the same mistakes.