How To Restore iPhone From A Backup

Written byHeloise Montini
Heloise Montini

Heloise Montini is a content writer whose background in journalism make her an asset when researching and writing tech content. Also, her personal aspirations in creative writing and PC gaming make her articles on data storage and data recovery accessible for a wide audience.

Edited byLaura Pompeu
Laura Pompeu

With 10 years of experience in journalism, SEO & digital marketing, Laura Pompeu uses her skills and experience to manage (and sometimes write) content focused on technology and business strategies.

Co-written byBogdan Glushko
Bogdan Glushko

CEO at SalvageData Recovery, Bogdan Glushko has over 18 years of experience in high-security data recovery. Over the years, he's been able to help restore data after logical errors, physical failures, or even ransomware attacks, for individuals, businesses, and government agencies alike.

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Whether you accidentally deleted precious photos, need to move to a new device, or have been plagued by glitchy apps, there are 4 recovery techniques that have you covered to restore your iPhone from a backup. The best method to do so will depend on the specific reason and where your iPhone backup is stored.By regularly backing up your iPhone, you can seamlessly recover lost or deleted files, transfer information when upgrading, and troubleshoot many software problems. In this article, we will explore the key situations where restoring from a backup can rescue your iPhone and get you back up and running.

When you may need to restore your iPhone from a backup:

You may have had to factory reset your iPhone, or you’re missing some files, or it can be a new iPhone but you want your music, contacts, apps, and photos from the old iPhone you had. There are many reasons you might need to restore your iPhone from a backup, including:

Lost or deleted data

If you accidentally delete important data from your iPhone, restoring from a backup can help you recover the lost document, photo, or contact.

Damaged or lost iPhone

If your iPhone is damaged, lost, or stolen, restoring from a backup can help you transfer your data and settings to a new iPhone.

Upgrading to a new iPhone

If you upgrade to a new iPhone, restoring from a backup can help you transfer your files, apps, and settings from your old iPhone to your new iPhone.

Factory reset

If you have to restore your iPhone to its original settings, restoring from a backup can help you recover your data and settings after the reset.

Software issues

If your iPhone is experiencing software issues, restoring from a backup can help you restore your iPhone to a previous state when it was working properly. Check 4 ways you can back up your iPhone with our in-depth article.

Method 1: Restoring from iCloud backup

You can restore your iPhone without resetting from an iCloud backup straight from your iPhone, without using a computer.Restoring your iPhone from an iCloud backup requires a stable and fast internet connection and a recent backup in iCloud.Step 1. Turn on your iPhone and go to the "Hello" screen.Step 2. Follow the on-screen setup steps until you reach the "Apps & Data" screen.[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="368"]

Restoring from iCloud backup

Source: Apple support[/caption]Step 3. Tap the "Restore from iCloud Backup" optionStep 4. After that, sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID.Step 5. It will give you a list of your backups, showing the date and size. Choose the backup you want to restore from. After that, wait for the restore process to complete.

Method 2: Restoring from a computer with iTunes

If you have your iPhone backup on iTunes, you can connect it to a computer with a recent iTunes version and restore your iPhone from the iTunes backup.Make sure you’re using a working and Apple-authorized cable to connect your iPhone to the computer to prevent errors or data corruption during the process.Warning: Restoring your iPhone from a computer with iTunes backup will erase all data on your iPhone and replace it with the data from the backup. Therefore, it is important to make sure you have a recent backup before restoring your iPhone.Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable and then open iTunes on your computer.Step 2. Click on the iPhone icon in the top left corner of the iTunes window.Step 3. Click on "Restore Backup" in the Summary tab.Step 4. Choose the backup you want to restore from.Step 5. Click "Restore" and wait for the restore process to complete.[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="732"]

Restoring from a computer with iTunes

Source: Apple support[/caption]

Method 3: Restoring iPhone backup using Finder

Like with iTunes, restoring your iPhone from a backup using Finder will erase all data on your iPhone and replace it with the data from the backup. Therefore, it is important to make sure you have a recent backup before restoring your iPhone.Restoring an iPhone backup using Finder is a simple process. Here are the steps:Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac or MacBook using a USB cable. It may require you to write your passcode to continue.Pro tip: Check our guide on How to unlock your iPhone if you forgot your passcode.Step 2. Open Finder on your Mac.Step 3. Select your iPhone from the left sidebar.[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="754"]

Restoring iPhone backup using Finder

Source: Apple support[/caption]Step 4. Click on "Restore Backup" in the General tab and choose the backup you want to restore from.Step 5. Click "Restore" and wait for the restore process to complete.

Method 4: Getting help from SalvageData professionals for iPhone data recovery

If you cannot restore your iPhone from a backup using the methods mentioned, you can seek 24/7 help from SalvageData professionals for iPhone data recovery. We specialize in data recovery services for various devices, including iPhones. We can help you recover lost data from your iPhone even if you don't have a backup.

Quick Summary

Can you manually restore the iPhone from a backup?Yes, you can manually restore your iPhone from a backup using a computer or iCloud.Can you restore an iPhone from a backup without a computer?Yes, you can restore an iPhone from an iCloud backup without a computer using your iCloud account straight from your iPhone.How do I restore my iPhone without iCloud backup?You can restore your iPhone without an iCloud backup using third-party software like SalvageData free data recovery software or by contacting our data recovery service.Can I restore my iPhone backup after setting up a new iPhone?Yes, you can restore your iPhone backup after setting up a new iPhone using the Quick Start feature or by signing in to iCloud during the setup process.

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