You can simply back up her old phone to your PC through iTunes and then load the new phone from that backup and it will transfer over all of the settings/contacts, etc. That way, nothing goes out into the cloud.

AT&T offers the Mobile Transfer app. It transfers all contacts, etc to a new phone via bluetooth between the phones. No PC/itunes/etc required.

If you knew iTunes was the main way but you didn't want to do that, why didn't you say that right up front? You've been offered three ways of doing this very simply and with no hassle. ...and your response is simply "That's not an option" and "i already knew that"?? If someone asked you to fix their problem and you offered three simple solutions and they just said "Nope"... What would you do?

You'd say "Good luck with your problem *somewhere else*".

Care to explain why or would you just like to everyone to keep throwing out ideas until you find someone what meets your unexplained mystery criteria? I can only assume you want to do it "off grid" with a serial cable? Not happening unless you want to do a lot of typing...

Quit throwing out ideas guys....believe me, I understand what y'all are saying. I "know" why the suggestions offered are not an option for me....even though you guys don't ;). I knew I was asking for the impossible before even starting this thread...but did anyways....sometimes a rabbit comes out of the hat. Thread's over...but carry on....:)

I thought I made that clear in the OP...sorry! The other two are simply not an option...

Sorry for wasting yer time ;)

If its simply Apple Cloud you object to, then use Google to save and transfer contacts.

The only other thing I can think of is that maybe you might be able to do it "offline" via a temporary sim card swap.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202340

Thank you for continuing to offer assistance....I seriously mean that! I won't go into details, but I made a deal with my dad, to keep my mom isolated from "big brother"...he still ain't happy one bit with her having the Iphone and Facetime, etc., but that's the jist of it. I don't even have a PC, nor Bluetooth....I left the tech stuff behind me ten years ago and have never looked back, and am happier than I've ever been in decades :). I'll look into the Sim aspect....I don't even know if her 5s has one, but that's the "rabbit in the hat" I was grasping for with this thread. I will probaby just do it "the stubborn ol' mule" way....manually ;). Her phone list isn't huge. Didn't mean to waste anyone's time attempting to assist....thank you all....sincerely!

Unless it's Verizon they all have SIM cards.

If it's Verizon it can have the SIM slot but not necc the card.

I'll look into the SIM aspect for sure....thanks all! Now I have another question (lazee I are :)). I just assumed the 5s battery wasn't replacable, based upon stuff I read (probably here) over the years....had to have been true...read it on the Internet....did I mss that boat too? The new phone was ordered Sun. when mom described the symptoms....I thought it was virtually dead. It wasn't until later that she told me she'd been yakking with her older sis for 1.5 hrs the day before and didn't recharge it....wimmins ;)

5S is replaceable.

Bit of a fiddly one to work on.

Buy the battery kit from iFixit.

Spend the couple of extra bucks for the full kit with tools and not just the bare battery.

It's worth it, trust me.

https://www.ifixit.com/Store/iPhone/iPhone-5s-Replacement-Battery/IF124-002-4

Dayum...I should've asked the braintrust before now ;). I already have a new one for mom on the way...at least it was cheap (175).... live and learn...thanks mucho!

Does the new battery program at Apple replace the 5's battery for $28?

If you want to stay away from Big Brother, you can't have an Iphone. Now you are just putting lipstick on a pig by not using Itunes to transfer.

G

If you have a pc, install itunes. Backup the old phone with iTunes. Restore to the new phone with iTunes. Delete iTunes. No Big Brothers.

The iMove app for PC would do the same thing copying phone to phone without creating any kind of big brother account.

Not completely, but I have pretty much shielded my mom from exposure...as I promised dad I would. It's just the hand I'm playing...

She uses just the phone and facebook....and both of those are associated to me. I sold my soul to the devil (Google) before most of you guys had even heard of it....purely by chance.
Knew one of the very first emoloyees casually, and then his girl friend (now wife) roped a bunch of us in when gmail was still in beta...if I only knew then....alas, she was cute...what could it hurt ;). Cool couple though...

[QUOTE=RKDinOKC;9951747]If you have a pc.../QUOTE]

No pc anymore, no bluetooth, no nada...but I'm good ;). I'll investigate the SIM aspect when I get the new phone (and have hers) or just enter them manually...like I did all her others. I've spent more time on this thread than it will take to do that...really no biggy. I do thank you all for your suggestions!

I had my I-phone 5s battery replaced 3 weeks ago. It took a month to get an appointment at an Apple Store. They tested the battery and advised to replace. It cost me around $120.
If you are close to an Apple store they can transfer your contacts from your old phone to the new one.
They did it for me when they transferred contacts from a blackberry to my 5s.

Thanks....got her a newer phone ($175) already on the way before starting this thread....your post made me feel brilliant....120....sheesh!

The Luddite way sounds pretty heavenly actually. I haven’t started the 12step program but as a 28 year IT veteran I get it. :)

It doesn't suck ;). I started my career in communications r&d at IBM, then a communications systems programmer, systems/network guy...designer, tuner, trouble shooter....I wore many hats during my career while always working with the latest and greatest, leading edge tech. IBM, Cisco, etc. ...with huge corporations....my only regret :(.

I planned to exit at 50....decided to retire at 48 rather than continue on with HP when my dept was outsourced back in '08.

No regrets whatsoever....other than that dang Iphone...bad juju ;)