How to use a backup from icloud

Q: How do I restore from backup?

Restoring data varies by phone and Android version. You cant restore a backup from a higher Android version onto a phone running a lower Android version..

1 minute read
Dec 20th, 2021 11:47 AM EST | Quick Tip

Table of Contents Show

Enabling iCloud Backup
What Is Included in My Backup?
Why do I need to back up my iPhone?
How do I back up my iPhone?
To back up your iPhone to iCloud:
To back up your iPhone on your computer:
How do I restore my iPhone from a backup?
To restore your iPhone from iCloud:
To restore your iPhone from your computer:
Protect your phone
How do I retrieve files from iCloud backup?
How do I restore from backup?
How do I transfer iCloud backup to new iPhone?
Can I restore my iPhone from backup after setting it up as a new phone?

When your iPhone is behaving itself, you probably don’t think about the possibility of losing your data. Unfortunately, accidents happen. If you somehow damage your iPhone, you could lose all of the personal information you’ve kept stored on the device. Also, when you upgrade to a new iPhone, you might want to restore from a backup. So, here’s how to use iCloud Backup on your iPhone or iPad.

Enabling iCloud Backup

This service may already be turned on. If not, here are the steps you need to take to enable iCloud Backup.

These steps will help you turn on iCloud backup

Go to Settings on your iPhone.
Tap your Apple ID at the top of the screen.
Find your device in the list, and tap it.
Tap iCloud Backup.
If the switch for iCloud Backup isn’t turned on, switch it on and tap OK.
Every 24 hours, as long as your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in to charge, iCloud will try backing up your device.
If you’ve never backed up before, or you want a fresh backup, tap Back Up Now to get that done.

That’s all there is to it. Your first backup may take longer than you’d expect, so just be patient. Even your health data will be backed up, so there might be a good chunk of data being transferred.

What Is Included in My Backup?

The iCloud Backup service stores almost all of your personal data, including which apps you have installed and any data they have stored. This includes the following:

App data
Apple Watch backups
Device settings
Home screen and app organization
iMessage, text (SMS), and MMS messages
Photos and videos on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
Purchase history from Apple services, like your music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books
Ringtones
Visual Voicemail password (requires the SIM card that was in use during backup)

Anything stored in iCloud likely won’t be backed up. This is information like contacts, calendars, bookmarks, notes, reminders, voice memos, iCloud Photos, and shared photos.

To restore your data, you’ll need to reset your iPhone. Just go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Contents and Settings, and follow the on-screen instructions. Once this process is complete, your personal data is restored to the device and your installed apps will download.

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.

Don’t let a broken phone ruin your day

When your phone stops working, your life shouldn’t have to. Head to your nearest store or schedule an appointment to get it fixed fast.

Schedule a repair

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:

Connect your device to Wi-Fi.
Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
Tap iCloud Backup > Back Up Now.
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 your computer:

On a Mac running macOS® Mojave 10.14 or earlier or a PC, you'll use iTunes® to back up your iPhone. Here's how:

Open iTunes.
Connect your device to your computer with a cable. Enter your passcode if prompted.
Click on the iPhone icon in the upper-left corner.
Click Summary, then click Back Up Now.

On a Mac running macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, you'll use the Finder® to back up your iPhone. Follow these steps:

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

How do I restore my iPhone from a backup?

Restoring the information on your iPhone from a recent backup is simple. Here are the steps on how to restore a backup from iCloud or how to do it from iTunes or Finder on your computer.

To restore your iPhone from iCloud:

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

To restore your iPhone from your computer:

If you're using a Mac running macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier or a PC, you'll use iTunes to restore your iPhone. On a Mac running macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, you'll use the Finder . We'll cover instructions for both.

How to restore your iPhone from iTunes:

Open iTunes.
Connect your device to your computer with a cable. Enter your passcode if prompted.
Click on the iPhone icon in the upper-left corner.
Click Restore Backup.
Select the backup you want, then click Restore.
After your iPhone restarts, keep it connected to your computer and wait for it to sync, then disconnect it.

How to restore your iPhone from the Finder:

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

Protect your phone

For more than 25 years, Asurion has helped 300 million customers protect, connect, and enjoy the tech they love most. And smartphones are no exception. Your life is on your device, make sure it’s protected. Learn more about Asurion phone insurance plans today.

*The Asurion® trademarks and logos are the property of Asurion, LLC. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Asurion is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of the respective owners of the other trademarks appearing herein.*

How do I retrieve files from iCloud backup?

In Settings on iCloud.com, click Restore Files (in the Advanced section). Select each file you want to restore, or select Select All. Click Restore.

How do I restore from backup?

Restoring data varies by phone and Android version. You can't restore a backup from a higher Android version onto a phone running a lower Android version..

Open your phone's Settings app..

Tap System. Backup. ... .

Tap Backup account..

Tap the account that you want to use for backups..

How do I transfer iCloud backup to new iPhone?

How to transfer your iCloud backup to your new device.

Turn on your new device. ... .

Follow the steps until you see the Wi-Fi screen..

Tap a Wi-Fi network to join. ... .

When asked, choose a backup..

Can I restore my iPhone from backup after setting it up as a new phone?

You can restore content, settings, and apps from a backup to a new or newly erased iPhone. Important: You must first create a backup of your iPhone. See Back up iPhone.