Introduction
Quick Start (Fix Quick Start Not Working on iOS 17)is an incredibly useful feature introduced in iOS 11 that allows you to easily set up a new iPhone using your current iPhone. By placing the two iPhones next to each other, Quick Start wirelessly transfers your data, settings and preferences to the new iPhone in just a few minutes.
However, sometimes Quick Start doesn’t work properly and you may encounter an error message saying “Quick Start Failed” or find that your new iPhone isn’t transferring any data. If you’ve just upgraded to the latest iOS 17 on your iPhone 15 and are having issues using Quick Start, don’t worry – here are the top solutions to try to get Quick Start working again.
Recent Released:When is iOS 17.3 Coming Out?
Prerequisites – Check iOS Versions
In order for Quick Start to work, both your current iPhone and new iPhone need to be running iOS 11 or later. Quick Start will not work if either device is on an older version of iOS.
To check what iOS version you are running, go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhones. This will display the current iOS version installed.
If your current iPhone is running anything older than iOS 11, you’ll need to update to the latest iOS version before using Quick Start.
For brand new iPhones like the iPhone 15 series, you can be assured they are running the latest iOS version out of the box.
Restart Both iPhones
If Quick Start Not Working on iOS 17, the first troubleshooting step is to restart both your current iPhone and new iPhone. Restarting clears out any software bugs or glitches that may be preventing Quick Start from functioning correctly.
To restart an iPhone 8 or later:
- Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button until the power off slider appears.
- Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone.
- Once the iPhone is powered off, press and hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo to turn it back on.
For earlier iPhone models, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button instead until the power off slider appears.
Restarting both iPhones will clear any improper settings or cache that could be causing issues with Quick Start.
Check Bluetooth Settings
Quick Start relies on Bluetooth to communicate and transfer data between the two iPhones. If Bluetooth is disabled on either device, Quick Start will fail.
To make sure Bluetooth is enabled:
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth on each iPhone.
- Toggle the Bluetooth switch ON if it is currently off. Both iPhones will scan and you should see each other’s device show up when they are next to each other.
- Make sure both iPhones have Bluetooth turned on before attempting to use Quick Start again.
Bluetooth is required for the automatic wireless transfer process. If it’s disabled on either iPhone, make sure to turn it on first.
Try a Different Lightning Cable
On the initial Quick Start setup screen, you’ll get two options: using your iPhone’s camera to automatically scan the new iPhone or connecting the two with a cable.
If you choose the cable method, try using a different Lightning cable than what you first tried. Sometimes the Quick Start connection fails if the cable is damaged or low quality.
Swap out the cable for another certified Apple Lightning cable and check if Quick Start works. Use an original cable that came with an iPhone for best results.
Turn Off Find My iPhone Temporarily
Find My iPhone is enabled by default and can sometimes interfere with Quick Start making a proper connection. As a workaround, you can try temporarily turning off Find My iPhone on your current iPhone.
To disable Find My iPhone:
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My iPhone
- Toggle off Find My iPhone
With Find My disabled, attempt Quick Start again. Remember to re-enable Find My iPhone after successfully setting up your new device.
Turning off Find My temporarily can allow Quick Start to transfer data without any restrictions in place.
Reset Network Settings
If you’ve tried everything but Quick Start still isn’t working, resetting the network settings on your iPhones may resolve any software issues preventing Quick Start from completing properly.
Resetting network settings will clear out any problematic network configs or caches related to Quick Start. It will not delete any of your data.
On either iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will reboot your iPhone and reset it back to out-of-the-box network configurations.
Once your iPhone comes back on, try Quick Start again from the beginning.
Use Alternative Transfer Methods
If you still can’t get Quick Start to work properly, don’t worry. There are alternative ways to transfer your data and settings to your new iPhone:
- iCloud– You can use iCloud to wirelessly transfer over app data, photos, contacts, calendars and more from your old iPhone. Enable iCloud Backup on your old iPhone first if you haven’t already.
- iTunes– Connect both iPhones to a computer and use iTunes to transfer data and content from your old iPhone to the new iPhone. Everything syncs, including your camera roll, messages, and documents.
- Third-party apps– Apps like AnyTrans, iMyFone iTransor, and iMazing can all transfer your iPhone data directly phone-to-phone without needing a computer. These apps may help if nothing else is working.
While Quick Start is the fastest way to set up a new iPhone, alternative transfer methods will also get your new phone up and running if Quick Start fails.
Contact Apple Support
If you still cannot get Quick Start to function after trying all troubleshooting steps, you can contact Apple Support for further assistance.
Apple’s technicians can help diagnose why Quick Start is not working properly between your iPhones and assist with alternative solutions.
You can contact Apple Support via:
- Phone – Call 1-800-APL-CARE (800-275-2273)
- Online Chat
- Twitter – @AppleSupport
- Make a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store
Apple Support will be able to walk through Quick Start troubleshooting or suggest other options to transfer your data.
Summary
Quick Start is generally a very convenient way to set up a new iPhone when upgrading from an older model. But if you run into the annoying issue where Quick Start fails or doesn’t work at all, there are quite a few fixes you can try:
- Update both iPhones to latest iOS version
- Restart the iPhones
- Ensure Bluetooth is enabled
- Try a different Lightning cable
- Temporarily turn off Find My iPhone
- Reset network settings
- Use iCloud, iTunes, or 3rd party apps to transfer data
- Contact Apple Support for assistance
Following these troubleshooting steps should help get Quick Start working again so you can swiftly transfer your data and settings to your new iPhone.
