How to Sync an iPad and iPhone

To sync an iPad and iPhone, sign in to both devices with the same Apple Account, then go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud and turn on the same apps on each one. Photos, contacts, calendars, notes, messages and other iCloud data then stay matched on both devices over the internet, with no cable needed.

These steps use the Settings layout in iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 (and the newer iOS 27 / iPadOS 27), where app settings such as Messages and Phone live under Settings > Apps. On iOS 17 and earlier, those app settings appear directly in the main Settings list instead. Any iPhone and iPad that can run a recent version works the same way.

What Syncing Does and Doesn’t Do

Syncing keeps one copy of your data in iCloud and shows it on every device signed in to that account. If you delete a note or photo on the iPhone, it disappears from the iPad too.

It also only covers data stored in iCloud. Notes saved in the On My iPhone folder, contacts in a Google account, and app data in apps without iCloud support won’t appear on the iPad just because you turned on iCloud. The table later in this guide shows what moves and what doesn’t.

If you’re setting up a brand-new iPad and want it to start as a copy of an old one, that’s a transfer, not ongoing sync. Our guide on how to transfer data from an old iPad to a new iPad covers that.

Sync Your iPad and iPhone With iCloud

Do steps 1 through 5 on the iPhone, then repeat them on the iPad.

1. Open Settings and look at the top of the list. If you see your name, you’re signed in. If you see Apple Account (or Sign in to your iPhone/iPad), tap it and sign in.
2. Check that the email address under your name matches on both devices. Tap your name to see it. If the iPad uses a different account, tap Sign Out at the bottom of that screen on the iPad and sign in with the iPhone’s account.
3. Tap your name, then tap iCloud. You’ll see your storage bar and a Saved to iCloud section.
4. Tap See All next to Saved to iCloud. A list of apps that can sync appears.
5. Open each app you want to share, such as Photos, Contacts, Calendars, Notes, Reminders, Messages, Safari and iCloud Drive, and turn on its switch (some are labeled Sync this [iPhone/iPad]). The switch turns green.

6. Connect both devices to Wi-Fi and leave them for a few minutes, plugged in if you’re syncing a large photo library. Open the same app on each device to confirm the items match.

Apple’s guide to what you can do with iCloud on iPhone lists every app that can sync this way.

Sync Messages

Messages needs one extra check so texts land on both devices.

1. On both devices, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > See All > Messages in iCloud and turn on Sync this [device]. This syncs your full conversation history, including iMessage, SMS, MMS and RCS. It requires two-factor authentication on your Apple Account.

2. On both devices, go to Settings > Apps > Messages, make sure iMessage is on, then tap Send & Receive and check that the same Apple Account and phone number are selected.

Messages in iCloud already includes text message forwarding, so green-bubble texts reach the iPad automatically. If you don’t use Messages in iCloud, turn forwarding on from the iPhone instead: Settings > Apps > Messages > Text Message Forwarding, then turn on your iPad. Your iPhone has to be on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular for forwarded texts to arrive. Apple explains both options in its text message forwarding guide, and our guide covers how to turn on iMessage if it’s off.

Get iPhone Calls on Your iPad

1. On the iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Calls on Other Devices.
2. Turn on Allow Calls on Other Devices, then turn on your iPad in the list below it.
3. On the iPad, go to Settings > Apps > FaceTime, make sure FaceTime is on, and turn on Calls from iPhone.

The iPad then rings for incoming calls and can place calls through the iPhone. Both devices must use the same Apple Account for FaceTime and be on the same Wi-Fi network, with the iPhone nearby.

Optional: Handoff and Automatic App Downloads

These don’t sync data, but they make the two devices work together.

• Handoff lets you start an email, web page or note on one device and pick it up on the other. Turn it on with Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity > Handoff on both devices. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth need to be on. Apple’s Handoff guide lists the apps that support it. Handoff doesn’t mirror your screen.
• Automatic app downloads install an app on the iPad when you download it on the iPhone, if an iPad version exists. Go to Settings > Apps > App Store and turn on App Downloads on both devices. The app installs, but its saved data only follows if the app uses iCloud.

What Syncs and What Doesn’t

Data	Syncs automatically?	What to know
Photos and videos	Yes, with iCloud Photos on	New photos can take a few minutes, longer on cellular or low battery.
Contacts, Calendars, Reminders	Yes, for iCloud items	Google or Exchange items need that account added on both devices.
Notes	Yes, for iCloud folders	Notes in On My iPhone stay local until you move them to an iCloud folder.
Messages	Yes, with Messages in iCloud	Deleting a conversation deletes it everywhere.
Passwords and passkeys	Yes, with Passwords on in iCloud	Third-party password managers use their own sync.
Safari tabs and bookmarks	Yes, with Safari on in iCloud	Open tabs show under the other device’s name in the tab view.
Mail	iCloud Mail only	Add Gmail, Outlook and other accounts on each device.
Apps	Only with App Downloads on	App data syncs only if the app supports iCloud.
Device settings, wallpaper, Wi-Fi	Mostly no	Saved Wi-Fi passwords do sync through iCloud Keychain.

For a closer look at photos, see our guide to syncing pictures between an iPhone and iPad with iCloud.

If Your iPad Isn’t Syncing With Your iPhone

• Different Apple Accounts. This is the most common cause. Compare the email address under your name in Settings on both devices.
• The app’s switch is off on one device. Check Settings > [your name] > iCloud > See All on the device that’s missing data.
• iCloud storage is full. The storage bar at the top of the iCloud screen shows this. When it’s full, new photos, backups and files stop uploading. Delete old backups or large files, or upgrade your storage plan.
• The item is stored locally or in another account. In Notes, tap Folders and look for an On My iPhone section. In Contacts, tap Lists to see which account a contact belongs to.
• Software is out of date. Go to Settings > General > Software Update on both devices. Some features, such as Messages in iCloud, need recent versions on both.
• The devices haven’t had time. Put both on Wi-Fi, plug them in, and give a large library an hour or more. iCloud Photos pauses on low battery and Low Power Mode.

If one specific app still won’t match, turn its iCloud switch off on the device that’s behind, wait a minute, then turn it back on. When asked whether to keep a copy on the device, choose to keep it so nothing is removed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sync an iPad and iPhone without iCloud?

Partly. A Google or Microsoft account added on both devices keeps that service’s mail, contacts and calendars matched. You can also sync each device with a computer through Finder on a Mac or the Apple Devices app on Windows, but that copies content from the computer and doesn’t keep the two devices matched with each other.

Can I sync an iPad and iPhone that use different Apple Accounts?

Not with iCloud. Different accounts keep separate data. For shared purchases between family members, use Family Sharing, and for specific items, share them with AirDrop or a shared album.

Will deleting a photo on my iPhone delete it from my iPad?

Yes, when iCloud Photos is on for both. The photo moves to Recently Deleted on both devices, where you can recover it for up to 30 days.

How do I stop my iPad and iPhone from syncing?

On the iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > See All and turn off the apps you want kept separate. Turn off the iPad under Calls on Other Devices and Text Message Forwarding on the iPhone to stop calls and texts. Don’t delete items to stop syncing, because deletions on a synced app spread to the other device.