New iPhone Stuck on Reconnecting? Try These 6 Fixes

by J. Robertson Macaulay D. Young Basic iPhone Tips Ideal for Newbies Published On Jul 25, 2022 Updated On Aug 25, 2022
Table of Content

So, you are trying to transfer content from an old iPhone to a new one, but your iPhone gets stuck on “Reconnecting.”

This issue can be caused by a number of issues that may affect the device’s ability to complete all the processes required for the setup.

In this article, we will discuss this very problem and show you what to do when your new iPhone is stuck on “Reconnecting.”

Reboot or Force Restart iPhone

If this issue occurs when you are trying to set up a new iPhone, then it means that the process has not moved and is not responding.

If the process seems stuck completely and you are unable to restart it, you can try to reboot the device.

If you are attempting to transfer data from an old iPhone to a new one, you should restart both devices.

If a simple restart doesn’t work, or you are unable to restart it normally, you can use these steps to force restart the iPhone:

Force restart an iPhone with Face ID

  • Step 1: Press and release the Volume Up Button.
  • Step 2: Press and release the Volume Down Button.
  • Step 3: Then hold down the Power button until the Apple logo appears on the screen and the device restarts.

Force Restart iPhone 12

Force restart iPhone 8 or iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)

  • Step 1: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
  • Step 2: Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
  • Step 3: Then press and hold down the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

Force Restart iPhone 8

Force restart iPhone 7

  • Step 1: Press and hold down both the Volume Down button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously.
  • Step 2: When the Apple logo appears on the screen, release both buttons.

Force Restart iPhone 7

Force restart iPhone 6s or iPhone SE (1st generation)

  • Step 1: Press and hold down both the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button simultaneously.
  • Step 2: When the Apple logo appears on the screen, release both buttons.

Force Restart iPhone 6S

Connect Both iPhones to the Same Wi-Fi Network

To effectively transfer data from an old iPhone to a new one using the “Quick Start” feature, you need to make sure that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

In addition, you should also ensure that the network is reliable enough to support the transfer process.

To check the network that you are using, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and make sure both devices are using the same network.

Keep the Old iPhone Close to the New iPhone

To complete the wireless transfer, you will need to make sure that you keep the old iPhone close to the new iPhone until the transfer is complete.

The transfer may be slow or get stuck if the devices are not close to each other.

Reset the Network Settings

Resetting the network settings can help if the issue is caused by a network connectivity issue.

And since you need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network to complete the transfer, resetting the network settings may help facilitate a strong and more stable solution.

Use these steps to do it:

  • Step 1: On both iPhones, open the Settings app.
  • Step 2: Select “General > Reset.”
  • Step 3: Tap “Reset Network Settings” and enter your passcode when prompted.

When the process is complete, both devices will restart. Reconnect them to a Wi-Fi network and then try to transfer the data from the old device to the new one again.

Reset the Network Settings

Alternative Way: Restore from iCloud Backup

If you are still having trouble transferring data from the old device to the new one, you can restore a recent iCloud backup to transfer the data.

During the setup process on the new device, tap on the “Restore from iCloud” section and sign in with your Apple ID.

Select the most recent iCloud backup and allow the device to restore data from the backup.

If the backup is older, you should take a few minutes to create a new backup on the old device.

To backup your data to iCloud, open the Settings app, click on “iCloud Backup” and then select “Back Up Now.”

When the backup is complete restore it on the new iPhone and you should have all data from the old device transferred to the new iPhone.

Restore from iCloud Backup

Alternative Way: Restore from iTunes Backup 

You can also transfer data from an old iPhone to a new one by connecting the device to your computer and restoring iTunes.

This still remains one of the best ways to transfer data to a new device as it will transfer everything including all your apps, settings, and preferences so you don’t need to sign in to all your apps again.

Before you can use this process, you will first need to create an encrypted backup of the data on the old device to iTunes.

The process is not complicated at all: just connect the iPhone to the PC or Mac and open iTunes or Finder, and make sure that the “Encrypt Backup” box is selected before you create the backup. You may be required to enter a password to encrypt the backup.

Once the backup process is complete, disconnect the old iPhone and connect the new device to the computer. Finder or iTunes will recognize the connected device.

When it does, select “Restore Backup” and choose the encrypted backup that you just created. Enter the password and allow iTunes or Finder t restore all data in the backup to the device.

When the process is complete, you will have all the data that was on the old iPhone on the new device, including all preferences.

restore from itunes backup

Conclusion

The process of switching from an old iPhone to the new one can be complicated by transferring data from the old device to the new one.

If you are unable to use “Quick Start” to move data to the new iPhone, you can restore an iCloud or iTunes backup to the new device.

J. Robertson Macaulay D. Young

Mako is a technical freelance writer with a passion for all things tech. Whether you're wondering about how to fix your iPhone or trying to get something to work in your settings, Mako is your go-to for professional help. He loves writing, testing solutions, and most of all, making sure his research is factually accurate.

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