How to restore iPhone from backup

If you've just purchased a new iPhone® or recently wiped your current iPhone with a factory reset, you're likely wondering how to get your valuable information—like your contacts and messages—back onto your device.

This is a question Asurion Experts hear often as they help millions of customers get the most out of their tech, so they know just what to do. Here's their guide on how to restore an iPhone from a backup plus tips on why and how to back up your device.

Why do I need to back up my iPhone?

First, let's talk about the importance of backing up your device regularly. It will not only protect your information if your phone is lost or damaged but also save it if you're having issues and need to reset your iPhone to factory settings. A backup will store your contacts, settings, app data, messages, photos, videos, and more.

Another reason to back up your phone is to easily send your data from an old device to a new one. Backing up your iPhone will make it simple to transfer your information to a new Apple® device.

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How do I back up my iPhone?

You can back up your iPhone with iCloud® or on a Mac® or PC. Here are steps for both methods.

To back up your iPhone to iCloud:

1. Connect your device to Wi-Fi.
2. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
3. Under the Device Backups section, tap iCloud Backup, then tap Back Up Now.
4. Stay connected to Wi-Fi until the backup is finished. If your device says it doesn't have enough iCloud storage space to complete the backup, follow the prompts to buy more storage.

To back up your iPhone on a Windows PC:

Modern Windows systems no longer use iTunes for device management. Instead, download the official Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store.

1. Open the Apple Devices app on your PC.
2. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable and unlock your phone to select "Trust This Computer."
3. Click on your iPhone in the sidebar.
4. Under the General tab, click Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this computer, then click Back Up Now.

To back up your iPhone on a Mac (running macOS Catalina or later):

1. Open Finder.
2. Connect your device to your computer with a cable. Enter your passcode if prompted.
3. Click on your device under Locations in the left column.
4. Click General, then click Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.
5. Click Back Up Now.

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How to restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup

If you're setting up a new iPhone and still have your old one nearby, Quick Start may appear automatically. From there, you can transfer your data directly from your old device or choose to restore from an iCloud backup.

Keep in mind that you can only restore an iCloud backup while setting up a new or erased iPhone. If you've already finished setting up your device, you'll need to erase it before restoring a backup.

To restore your iPhone from iCloud:

1. Follow the prompts to set up your device until you reach the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen.
2. Tap From iCloud Backup, and sign in using your Apple Account credentials.
3. Go to Choose backup, and select from the list of iCloud backups. Each one should have a date and size.
4. You may be asked to update your software. When prompted, sign in with your Apple Account to restore your apps and purchases.

To restore your iPhone from a Windows PC:

1. Open the Apple Devices app.
2. Connect your device to your computer with a cable. Enter your passcode if prompted.
3. Click on your iPhone icon in the left sidebar.
4. Under the General tab, click Restore Backup.
5. Select the backup you want, then click Restore. After your iPhone restarts, keep it connected to your computer and wait for it to sync before disconnecting.

To restore your iPhone from the Finder (Mac):

1. Open Finder.
2. Connect your device to your computer with a cable. Enter your passcode if prompted.
3. Click on your device under Locations in the left column.
4. Click on the General tab, then click on Restore Backup.
5. Select the backup you want, then click Restore.

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FAQ

Why is my backup taking forever?

Slow Wi-Fi or too many photos. Your phone downloads core settings first so you can use it, then quietly downloads your heavy photos and apps in the background over the next day or two.

Can I put a newer backup onto an older iOS version?

No. You can’t move a newer backup onto an older software version. You must set up the phone as "new" first, install the latest software updates, factory reset it again, and then restore your backup.

Will my passwords transfer over?

Yes, as long as you had iCloud Keychain turned on before backing up. If it was active, your saved website logins, credit cards, and Wi-Fi passwords will copy over automatically.