You set up your new phone, pick “Transfer from iPhone,” and then nothing moves. The screen just says “Preparing to Transfer.” It can sit there for a long time. If your iPhone 18 Pro is stuck on “Preparing to Transfer” and has stopped your setup, you are not alone.
There are a few reasons the transfer can remain on this screen, from connection issues to problems during the setup process. Here, we’ll look at five ways to get the transfer moving again, along with another option that lets you finish setting up your iPhone first and move your data later using a computer.
Why Is Your iPhone 18 Pro Stuck on Preparing to Transfer?
Quick Start uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to link your two phones. If either connection drops, the transfer can stall. A small software glitch on one device can do the same thing. Sometimes nothing is broken at all. Your old iPhone is simply counting a very large photo and message library, so the wait is long.
That is the key difference. If the screen shows an iPhone stuck on preparing to transfer messages, but the progress bar later moves, it was just slow. If it freezes, fails, and restarts again and again, it is stuck on preparing to transfer for a real reason, and you need to fix the cause.
Which Method Should You Choose When iPhone 18 Pro Is Stuck on Preparing to Transfer?
The fix depends on what is causing the stall. Start by checking two things. Can you still open Settings on both phones? And do you want to retry Quick Start, or skip it and move your data another way? Use the table below to pick fast.
| Method | Best for | Settings needed? | Effort |
| iCareFone transfer | Skipping Quick Start and moving data after setup | No (works after setup) | Medium |
| Restart both iPhones | A one-time freeze or glitch | No | Low |
| Check connections | A stalled Quick Start session | No | Low |
| Update iOS | Repeated failures on older software | Yes | Medium |
| Reset network settings | Wi-Fi or Bluetooth problems that keep coming back | Yes | Medium |
How to Fix iPhone Stuck on Preparing to Transfer
You have two paths here. You can troubleshoot the migration you already started, or you can finish setup and choose a different transfer route. Methods 2 and 3 work before setup is done. Methods 4 and 5 require access to Settings, so use them after setting up the phone.
Method 1. Transfer Supported Data to iPhone 18 Pro with iCareFone
Some people do not want to keep retrying a stalled screen. If that sounds like you, skip the Quick Start. Set your iPhone 18 Pro up as a new phone, then bring your files over from a computer. Tenorshare iCareFone handles exactly this job.
Why it helps:
- It saves your old iPhone to a PC or Mac without iTunes or iCloud, and you decide what goes in the backup.
- You can look inside any backup and check the files before you restore a single one.
- Restoring does not overwrite the data already on your device.
- It supports iOS 27, the version that ships on the iPhone 18 Pro.
That last point matters when your iPhone 18 Pro is stuck on “Preparing to transfer” and has already cost you an hour.
Steps:
- Install iCareFone on your computer. Connect your old iPhone with a USB cable.
- Open Backup & Restore. Tick the data types you want and click Backup.
- Unplug the old phone. Connect your iPhone 18 Pro and open Backup Records.
- Select your backup, preview the files, choose what you need, then select Restore to Device.
Limitation: You need a computer and a USB cable. iCareFone restores messages, bookmarks, contacts, photos, videos, and music straight to the device; other data types export to your computer instead. The free trial has file limits.
Method 2. Restart Both iPhones and Retry the Transfer
A stuck screen is often just a frozen process. Restarting clears it and lets Quick Start start clean. Apple suggests this when the setup prompt disappears too.
Steps:
- Force restart the old iPhone. Press volume up and down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
- Do the same on your iPhone 18 Pro.
- Place the two phones side by side and wait for the Quick Start prompt.
- Follow the steps again and pick “Transfer from iPhone.”
Limitation: A force restart during an active transfer ends the session, so you have to start the migration over.
Method 3. Check Connections and Keep Both iPhones Nearby
Quick Start needs a steady link between the two phones the whole time. Break that link and the transfer stops. Most cases of an iPhone 18 Pro stuck on preparing to transfer come down to this.
Steps:
- Turn Bluetooth on for both phones and connect the old one to Wi-Fi.
- Put the phones next to each other.
- Plug both into power and leave them alone until it finishes.
- Move away from crowded Wi-Fi networks if the stall repeats.
Limitation: Quick Start uses both phones for the whole transfer, so you cannot use either device while it runs.
Method 4. Update iOS before Trying Quick Start Again
If the migration fails repeatedly, outdated software may be the cause. Apple asks you to update both devices before you use Quick Start. If the transfer still will not move forward, the steps below explain how to fix an iPhone stuck on Preparing to Transfer and get Quick Start working again.
Steps:
- On the old iPhone, open Settings > General > Software Update.
- Install anything listed there and let the phone restart.
- Check the same screen on your iPhone 18 Pro.
- Start Quick Start again once both are current.
Limitation: You need Settings access, Wi-Fi, and battery or a charger. Large updates take time to download.
Method 5. Reset Network Settings If Connection Problems Persist
Still dropping mid-transfer? Reset the network settings on the phone that keeps losing the link. This clears broken Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings without touching your photos or messages.
Steps:
- Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings
- Enter your passcode.
- Restart the phone
- Rejoin the Wi-Fi network.
- Try the transfer once more.
Limitation: This removes saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN setups, and paired Bluetooth devices, so you’ll have to set those up again.
FAQs
1. How long should Preparing to Transfer take on iPhone 18 Pro?
There is no fixed time. Apple says transfer speed depends on your network and how much data you have. A small library may take a few minutes. A large one can run much longer. Watch for progress, not the clock. Movement means it is working.
2. Can I cancel Preparing to Transfer and start again?
Yes. Restart both phones to end the session, then start Quick Start from the beginning. Nothing is half-copied in a way that harms either device. Just remember you will repeat the whole migration, so leave enough time before you cancel.
3. Will restarting the transfer erase data on my old iPhone?
No. Quick Start only copies data. Your old iPhone keeps everything until you erase it yourself. That is also why an iPhone stuck on “Preparing to transfer” is annoying rather than dangerous. Your original files stay safe throughout.
4. Can I finish setting up iPhone 18 Pro and transfer data later?
Yes. Set the phone up as new and move your files using iCloud, a computer backup, or a tool like iCareFone. You don’t have to complete Quick Start. Your new iPhone works fine without it.
5. Is Preparing to Transfer the same as Estimating Time Remaining?
No. “Preparing to Transfer” means your phones are still sorting and packing the data. “Estimating Time Remaining” appears later, when the copy is running.
Conclusion
An iPhone 18 Pro stuck on Preparing to Transfer can often be fixed by checking your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, storage, and iOS version before trying Quick Start again. If Quick Start still fails, a selective-transfer tool can help move specific data after setup. If Quick Start still fails, you can use iCareFone to transfer selected data after completing the iPhone 18 Pro setup. It gives you more control over what you move instead of transferring everything at once.
Download Tenorshare iCareFone and move your data to iPhone 18 Pro today.