To transfer birthday reminders to a new iPhone, first identify where the dates are stored. Birthday Reminder: Tracker keeps its records locally and does not provide an account to sign back into. Its birthdays and notes therefore need to travel through Apple’s device-migration or backup process.
Use Quick Start or restore a backup during setup. Afterward, open Birthday Reminder and check its contents before deleting the app or erasing the old iPhone.
First identify where your birthdays live
This guide covers records entered or imported into Birthday Reminder: Tracker.
If your birthdays appear in Apple Calendar because they are saved in Contacts, check whether your contacts transferred or synced to the new iPhone. Those dates follow the account that stores the contact, such as iCloud or another contacts account, rather than Birthday Reminder’s local database. Follow the guide to adding birthdays to iPhone Calendar and getting reminders for that setup.
If the records are visible inside Birthday Reminder, use the migration steps below. Simply downloading a fresh copy of the app does not retrieve locally stored records from a Daily Life Apps account or server.
Protect the old copy before starting
Treat the old iPhone as the working copy until the new one passes inspection.
- Open Birthday Reminder on the old iPhone and check several important birthdays and notes.
- Make a current iCloud backup, or create a computer backup with Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes.
- Wait for the backup to finish and confirm its latest date and time.
- If you have previously excluded apps from iCloud Backup, confirm that Birthday Reminder’s data is still included.
- Leave the app installed and keep the old iPhone unchanged.
Apple states that iCloud Backup includes data for downloaded apps that do not otherwise sync through iCloud. Apple also allows individual app backups to be turned off, so an enabled device backup alone is not proof that every app remains included.
A computer backup captures almost all device data and settings. Encryption is optional for computer backups, although Apple requires an encrypted backup for certain protected categories such as Health and Keychain data.
Do not erase, trade in, or reset the old phone merely because setup on the new one has completed. Wait until you have checked the actual birthday records.
Choose the right transfer method
Apple supports three suitable paths:
| Method | Use it when | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Start with direct transfer | Both iPhones are available | Keep them nearby and connected to power until migration finishes |
| Quick Start with iCloud download | Both phones are available and a current iCloud backup exists | Apps and data continue downloading in the background |
| Restore an iCloud or computer backup | The old phone is unavailable or a backup is your preferred copy | Select the most relevant backup by its date and size |
For Quick Start:
- Connect the old iPhone to Wi-Fi and turn on Bluetooth.
- Turn on the new iPhone and place it near the old one.
- Follow the setup prompts and authenticate when asked.
- Choose either the iCloud download or direct-transfer option.
- Keep both devices powered and nearby for as long as the setup screen requires.
Apple also supports a wired device-to-device transfer. It follows the same migration purpose but requires the appropriate cable or adapter for the two iPhone models.
The important choice is to transfer apps and data. Continuing through setup without transferring or restoring data creates a fresh installation that has no Birthday Reminder records.
Restore a backup without the old iPhone
If the previous iPhone is unavailable but you have a backup:
- Start the new iPhone and continue to the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen.
- Choose the iCloud backup option and sign in with the Apple Account used for that backup.
- Compare the available backups by date and size, then select the relevant one.
- Stay connected to Wi-Fi and power while restoration continues.
For a computer backup, connect the new iPhone to the computer, open Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes, select the phone, choose Restore Backup, and select the appropriate backup by date.
If the new iPhone has already been configured, Apple requires it to be erased before a full backup can be restored. Protect anything created on the new phone since setup, then use Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings and repeat setup with the restore option.
Verify the transfer before erasing anything
Apps and other content can continue downloading after the setup screens finish. Wait for Birthday Reminder to become available, then open it once.
Check a useful sample rather than only the first name shown:
- An upcoming birthday.
- A birthday later in the year.
- A record with a personal note or gift idea.
- A person imported from Contacts.
- An occasion with a customized reminder.
Confirm that the names, dates, notes, and reminder choices match the old iPhone. If the app appears empty or incomplete, avoid adding replacement records immediately. First determine whether the restore is still running or whether the wrong backup was selected.
Keep the old phone intact until this comparison is complete.
Check notifications and widgets separately
Transferred data and notification delivery are separate checks.
Apple advises opening apps after moving to a new device and tapping Allow Notifications if prompted. For Birthday Reminder:
- Open the app once.
- Review an important occasion’s reminder setting.
- If prompted, allow notifications.
- Otherwise, open Settings > Notifications > Birthday Reminder and confirm Allow Notifications is on.
If records are present but alerts still fail, use the focused guide to fixing iPhone birthday reminders that are not working.
Check the Home or Lock Screen widget as well. If it is missing, add it again. If it displays old information, open Birthday Reminder once; if necessary, remove the widget and add it back.
If the birthdays did not transfer
Work through these possibilities in order:
- The restore is incomplete. Apps and data may continue downloading for hours, depending on the backup size and connection.
- The phone was set up without transferring data. Back up anything new on it, erase it, and repeat setup using Quick Start or a backup.
- The wrong backup was restored. Compare its date with the last time you updated Birthday Reminder.
- Birthday Reminder was excluded from iCloud Backup. An iCloud restore cannot supply app data that was not in the selected backup.
- The app was deleted before the backup. Birthday Reminder’s local data is removed when the app is deleted, so a later backup may not contain those records.
- The backup predates recent edits. It can restore only the state captured when that backup was created.
If the old iPhone still contains the complete list, preserve it and repeat the transfer from that device or a new backup.
If neither the old phone nor any suitable backup contains the records, Daily Life Apps cannot retrieve them because the app does not upload them to an account. You can rebuild selected records from Contacts with the guide to importing birthdays without creating clutter.
Frequently asked questions
Does Birthday Reminder sync to a new iPhone when I reinstall it?
Not by signing in to the app. Birthday Reminder does not require an account and keeps birthday information on the device. Reinstalling without transferring or restoring its data produces an empty local copy.
Does Quick Start transfer Birthday Reminder data?
Quick Start is designed to transfer apps and data to the new device. Choose direct transfer or the iCloud download option and allow the migration to finish before judging the result.
Can an iCloud backup restore locally stored app data?
Yes, Apple says iCloud Backup includes data for downloaded apps that do not already sync through iCloud. However, users can exclude individual apps from backup, and a restore cannot recover changes made after the selected backup.
What if I already set up the new iPhone as fresh?
To perform a full backup restoration, protect anything newly created on the phone, erase it, and return to the setup flow. Then choose an iCloud backup, a computer backup, or direct migration from the old phone.
Why are my birthdays present but notifications missing?
Notification permission may need attention after a device move. Open Birthday Reminder, review its reminder settings, and confirm Settings > Notifications > Birthday Reminder > Allow Notifications.
Should I erase the old iPhone after the transfer finishes?
Only after you have opened Birthday Reminder on the new phone and checked representative birthdays, notes, reminders, and widgets. The old device is your safest fallback while it still holds the complete local copy.
Once the transfer is confirmed, review whether each alert still gives you enough preparation time. The birthday reminder timing guide provides practical lead times for messages, gifts, bookings, and travel.
Visit the Birthday Reminder app page for its current features, browse the other Birthday Reminder guides, or read the editorial policy for details about how platform and product claims are checked.
