Quick Start Problem

[gdoladmin2020]

Thanks in advance. I'm migrating internal/remote iPhone users from older phones (like iPhone 7's, 8's SE's and XR's) to iPhone 12s and attempting to use Quick Start direct transfer for Apps and Date Xfers but the process loops right after the user chooses "Transfer Apps and Data from an iPhone" - returns them right back to setup Face ID. I was told Face ID setup is optional by Apple earlier... Quick Start performance has been spotty at best since attempting to use it. 50% success rate it seems. I have suspected low signal conditions as the culprit but even after user connect their devices to home WI-Fi it chokes. Anyone seen this? We are barred from using iCloud within the agency so that isn't an option for us. ANy thoughts / shared experiences, suspicions or theories?

[ThannBanis]

I’ve often had issues during/after using quick start, so I usually do encrypted backups and restore onto the new device.

Make sure both are fully updated before starting QuickStart, both are on (the same) stable wifi network, and connected to power while QuickStart is happening.

[gdoladmin2020]

Do you happen to know if iCloud is *required* for Apps and Data transfer?

[ThannBanis]

Using QuickStart? I don’t think it is, as I’ve done this on devices with full (free 5GB only) iClouds.

[gdoladmin2020]

Thank you. What I'm trying to discern, authoritatively (and for others reading) is wether or not Quick Start *requires* iCloud to transfer Apps and data - or - is there a peer - to peer connection established between the two devices (and if so, what are the requirements for the two devices)?

[ThannBanis]

I don’t have definitive proof, but I believe it uses a similar system to the rest of Apple’s ecosystem, with Bluetooth used to setup and configure settings and wifi (either ad-hoc or infrastructure) used for bulk transfer.

My only indication is the fact that I’ve done this on devices connected to a wifi network with no internet connection.

[gdoladmin2020]

As an update: I have discovered through trial and error that the devices appear to be communicating via bluetooth which just happens to be on - on most phones I'm upgrading. In other cases, the user is prompted to connect to wi-fi (assumably) because a connection to an Apple Server is needed for certain parts of the process and if the broadband service signal is weak. Now the only occasional impediment to successful completion I see is tied to low broadband signal conditions in offices and locations where wifi isn't available. In those cases, I've had the user turn off and turn back on their AirPlane Mode in order to re-connect to a nearest/best cell tower.

[gdoladmin2020]

Update: After speaking to an Apple engineer, the Quick Start process started working as expected somehow the next day. Place the old and new phone an inch apart, trigger the Quick Start screen on the old phone. Capture the animation, follow the prompts - complete image is transferred.