How to transfer data from your old iPad to your new iPad

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One of the biggest hassles of getting a new device can be transferring data over from your old one. For its iPhones and iPads, Apple's done its best to make this process as painless as possible with tools like Automatic Setup. Here's how you go about moving your data from an old iPad to a new one.

How to use Automatic Setup with your iPad

In iOS 11 and later, you can use any current device to set up a new iPad by transferring the settings from your current device to your new device when in close physical proximity.

Select your language on your new iPad with your new and current devices in close proximity.
Tap Continue on your iPad on the popup that appears asking you to set up your new iPad with your Apple ID.
Use your current iPad to scan the image that appears on your new iPad.
Enter your current iPad's passcode on your new iPad.
Set up Touch ID or Face ID on your new iPad.
Choose whether or not to restore your new iPad from your most recent compatible backup, if that option presents itself.
Choose to restore your new device from an iCloud or iTunes backup, set up as a new iPad, or transfer data from an Android device.
Agree to the terms and conditions.
Tap Continue under Express Settings to use the settings for Siri, Find My iPhone, Location, and usage analytics that were transferred over from your current iPad.
Complete the setup process for your new iPad as you normally would.

How to transfer your data to your new iPad on your Mac

With macOS Catalina, iTunes, as we knew it as gone, split into three apps: Music, TV, and Podcasts. None of those apps handle backing up, updating, or restoring iPhones and iPads anymore on the Mac. For those tasks, you need to turn to the Finder.

Connect your old iPad to your Mac.
Click Finder in the Dock to open a new Finder window.
Click on your iPad in the sidebar.
Click the checkbox next to Encrypt local backup if you want to encrypt this backup.
Enter a password if you chose to encrypt your backups.
Click Back Up Now and wait for the backup to complete, then disconnect your old iPad.
Connect your new iPad to the same Mac that you used to back up the old one.
Click your new iPad in the sidebar.
Click the button next to Restore from this backup.
Click on a backup from the drop-down.
Click Continue.

Follow the instructions on your new iPad to finish setting it up.

How to transfer your data to your new iPad using iCloud

If you use iCloud to back up your iPad, you can transfer everything to your new iPad wirelessly. Before you do that, however, you'll want to trigger one last manual backup on your old iPad to make sure you get everything as up-to-date as possible on your new device.

Open Settings on your old iPad.
Tap the Apple ID banner.
Tap iCloud.
Tap iCloud Backup.
Tap Back Up Now.

After you back up your iPad, you'll want to get started with your new iPad and restore the older device's back up to it.

Press the Home button on your new iPad to start the setup process.
Follow the instructions for initial setup. If you're looking to transfer everything from your old iPad to your new iPad, try using the Automatic Setup process in iOS 11.
Tap Restore from [date of most recent backup] Backup to restore from your latest iCloud backup when you're using Automatic Setup.
Tap Agree.
Finish setting up your new iPad with settings for Siri, location, app analytics, and Apple Pay.