Why iOS Update Required to Transfer Phone Number - Answered

Transferring a phone number is one of the common tasks you have to perform after changing your mobile device. Some iPhone users have said that they encountered the message "iOS update required to transfer phone number" when trying to switch devices.

Don't worry, this article will guide you through the reason behind this requirement and tell you how to update your iPhone and transfer your phone number seamlessly.

Why Is An iOS Update Required to Transfer Phone Number?

For iPhone users, transferring data between devices usually has certain requirements, one of which is to make sure your iPhone's iOS is up-to-date.

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Apple regularly rolls out updates to its iOS software, including system performance improvements, security patches, and most importantly, compatibility with carrier services.

 If you see a notification that the iOS update required to transfer phone number, it usually means that your current iOS version may not support the latest carrier settings or eSIM features required to port your number.

So, to avoid unable to transfer phone number to iPhone, you can update your iOS to the latest version. If you don't want to update your system, do you have other ways to transfer contacts to new iPhone? Please check the following content.

Quickly: Transfer Phone Number to iPhone without Update

Many users are used to the old version of iOS, and there are some uncertainties in the new version of iOS. If you don't plan to update iOS for the time being before transferring contacts, but iPhone update required to transfer phone number, we recommend you to use FoneTool.

FoneTool is a powerful iPhone data transfer tool that allows you to easily and quickly transfer data between old and new devices without updating the phone system. It has wide compatibility and supports iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and all iOS and iPadOS versions.

★ FoneTool has more features:

Easy and Fast. With a user-friendly interface, you can quickly transfer contacts to new iPhone. For example, send 200+ contacts can be finished within seconds.

Preview and Selective. You can preview and select the contacts you want to transfer, or move all contacts with 1-cick.

No Data Loss. This tool doesn’t need to reset your new iPhone and no data will be erased from both iPhones during the process.

Now, you can click the button below to free download FoneTool. Then follow the below guide to transfer phone number from iPhone to iPhone easily.

Step 1. Connect your old iPhone via USB > Run FoneTool on the computer > Choose Phone Transfer from the left page > Tap iPhone to PC.

Step 2. Check the Contacts option, and you can tap the icon to select the specific or all phone numbers to transfer > Then click OK button.

Step 3. Tap Start Transfer > Set a destination to save your contacts > Click Transfer.

Step 4. Then unplug the old iPhone and connect the new iPhone to the computer > Go to Phone Transfer > This time choose PC to iPhone.

Step 5. Hit Contacts icon > Locate and choose the contacts exported before > Tap Start Transfer.

By following the steps, you can transfer your phone data without updating iOS. In addition to contacts, you can also selectively transfer any pictures, music, ringtones, videos, etc. you want. If you want to transfer all data from iPhone to iPhone, you can go to Phone Transfer > Choose iPhone to iPhone, then you can transfer old iPhone to new iPhone with 1-click.

How to Update iOS on iPhone: Step-by-Step Guide

Updating your iPhone's iOS is a simple process, and there are a few key steps you can follow to ensure the update goes smoothly.

Update iOS on iPhone Directly

First, make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi and has a sufficient battery or is plugged into a power source.

Step 1. Backup your iPhone: You can use FoneTool (All-round iPhone backup software), iCloud or iTunes to back up your device to avoid data loss.

Step 2. Check for available updates: Go to Settings > General > Software Update and check if any updates are available.

Step 3. Install the update: Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install the latest iOS version.

Upgrade/Downgrade iOS with FoneTool

If unable to check for update on iPhone/iPad, FoneTool can help you solve this issue. As a comprehensive iPhone management tool, it not only provides data transfer and backup services, but also supports you to repair iOS system and update/downgrade your device.

Step 1. Connect the target iPhone to the computer > Launch FoneTool > Go to the Toolbox > Select iOS System Repair from there.

Step 2. Move to the iOS Upgrade/Downgrade option > Choose the Upgrade and tap Start > Click Download section to download a new version of the firmware file.

Step 3. Wait for the downloads to finish, and tap Start Upgrade to begin the task.

Common FAQs About Transferring Phone Numbers

After you learn why you need to update iPhone before transferring data and how to switch contacts effectively, we list other questions you may want to figure out.

>> Why do I need to update iOS before transferring a phone number?

An iOS update ensures that your iPhone is compatible with the latest carrier settings, eSIM support, and security features, making the transfer process smooth and secure.

>> What if my carrier doesn’t support eSIM?

If your carrier doesn’t support eSIM, you can transfer your phone number using a physical SIM card by following the traditional SIM swap method.

>> Will transferring my phone number affect my iMessage and FaceTime?

No, your iMessage and FaceTime will continue to work after your phone number is transferred, provided your Apple ID is logged in and activated on the new device.

Conclusion

That’s all about why an iOS update required to transfer phone number and how to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone. Updating to the latest iOS ensures your iPhone's compatibility with your carrier's system. If you're not ready to update iOS yet, you can transfer your number with the help of a professional iOS data management tool, such as FoneTool. Follow these guidelines and hopefully the whole process will be hassle-free!