Learn how to restore the content on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch using iCloud or iTunes.
iCloud and iTunes can back up most data on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Backed-up information includes purchased music, TV shows, apps, and books*; photos and video in the Camera Roll; device settings (for example, Phone Favorites, Wallpaper, and Mail, Contacts, Calendar accounts); app data; Home screen and app organization; Messages (iMessage, SMS, and MMS), ringtones, and more. Media files synced from your computer aren’t backed up, but can be restored by syncing with iTunes.
* Backup of purchased music is not available in all countries. Backup of purchased TV shows occurs only in the United States. Previous purchases may not be restored if they are no longer in the iTunes Store, App Store, or iBooks Store.
iCloud
How to restore from a backup
To learn more about what is backed up, see the iCloud: Backup and Restore Overview article.
When you go through Setup Assistant on a new device using iOS 5 or later, choose “Restore from iCloud Backup” and enter your iCloud account and password. You will see the three most recent backups for each of the devices on which you enabled Backup. Choose from which backup to restore.
If the home screen icons appear on your device and you wish to restore from an iCloud backup, erase your device (by going to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings). When prompted to set up as new or to restore from previous backup, select Restore from iCloud Backup. Enter your AppleID and password when prompted.
After your device restarts, your settings and accounts are restored and Backup starts downloading your purchased music, TV shows, apps, books, Camera Roll, and other content*. For best battery performance, leave your device connected to a power source until the restore is complete. You may be prompted to enter the passwords for all accounts enabled on your device.
A progress bar will appear underneath the apps that are being downloaded. To prioritize the restore of a specific app, tap its icon. Restore will attempt to download the same version of the app that you had installed previously. If that version is no longer available, the latest version of the app will be restored.
To check if the restore is complete, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup.
iTunes
How to restore from a backup
To restore information from a backup, use one of the following methods after connecting your iOS device to the computer with which you normally sync:
- Click the File menu and select Devices > Restore from Back up.
Or
- Open the iOS device’s Summary tab. There are two ways to access this:
- Click the device button in the upper right corner. (If viewing the iTunes Store, click the Library button in the upper right corner. The device button will then be visible.)
- From any view in iTunes, click the View menu and select Show Sidebar. Select your iOS device in iTunes under Devices.
- Click the Restore Backup button.
If using iTunes 10.7 or earlier
Additional Information
Find information on optimizing your iOS backup experience.
iOS device backups preserve your settings, the Camera Roll (or Saved Pictures), and other important data. Learn more about what is stored in a backup.
iTunes and iOS do not support installing backups of newer versions of iOS onto devices using earlier versions of iOS.
iTunes will not back up automatically if you are using iCloud.
Have a new iOS device and need to move your previous backup onto it? Follow the steps in How to transfer your backup from one iOS device to a new device.
Find information on using iTunes to restore.
