Losing years of photos, work messages, and custom settings is a nightmare. Whether you’ve just unboxed a new iPhone 17 or need to recover from a old phone, knowing how to restore your iPhone from a backup is an essential skill for every Apple user.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to recover your data and help you avoid common mistakes during restoration.
Quick Jump to...
Essential Tips Before You Begin
Restore iPhone from iCloud Backup [Official]
Restore iPhone from iCloud Backup [without Reset]
Restore iPhone from Computer Backup [Windows PC]
Restore iPhone from MacOS Finder Backup [Mac]
Part 1. Why You Might Need to Restore Your iPhone from a Backup
Whether you consider it a time machine or a security copy, a backup is your guarantee against total data loss.
Restoring from a backup allows you to skip the grueling process of manually downloading apps, re-entering passwords, and reorganizing your home screen. Most importantly, certain data types are only recoverable through a backup:
Encrypted Chats: Apps like WhatsApp and Signal store chat history in backups, not their servers.
Deleted Photos & Messages: iCloud sync keeps all your devices in sync—it’s not an archive. Once you delete something, it’s hard to get it back without a backup.
System Settings: Your Wi-Fi passwords, alarm clock settings, and focus modes.
Other Data that can't be restored by simply logging into Apple ID
Part 2. Essential Tips Before You Begin
Restoring your iPhone from a backup sounds simple, but these three checks can save you hours of frustration.
1. Verify Your Backup Exists (and Check the Date)
Timing is everything. If you are moving to a new phone, you want a backup five minutes ago. If you are trying to recover a deleted text from last Tuesday, you need a backup from last Monday.
To check iCloud backups: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. Look at the "Last successful backup" timestamp.
To confirm a local backup (on Mac or PC):
On macOS Catalina or later: Open Finder, connect your iPhone, and look under Locations.
On Windows or older macOS: Open iTunes/Apple Devices, click your device icon, and find the "Backups" section.
Pro Tips
- Buying a new iPhone?Your backup should be as recent as possible—ideally created the night before you switch devices. If you don't have any backup, create one first.
- Trying to recover lost photos or messages?Make sure your backup was created after the content was saved but before it disappeared. Otherwise, it won’t be included.
2. Ensure Your iPhone Has Enough Storage Space
Even if you have a valid backup, the restore will fail—or stall—if your iPhone doesn’t have enough room.
iCloud backups don’t compress everything. A 64GB backup won’t fit on a 64GB iPhone because iOS itself takes up ~10–15GB of space.
You’ll see errors like “Not enough storage to restore” or the restore may freeze indefinitely during app/data download.
Part 3. Restore iPhone from iCloud Backup [Official]
iCloud is the easiest method since it’s wireless and can be done anywhere with Wi-Fi.
🔄 You cannot restore from iCloud on an iPhone that’s already been set up and in use. So before restoring from iCloud backup, reset your iPhone and make sure your iPhone is on the “Hello” screen.
How to Factory Reset for a Restore:
Step 1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Step 2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
Step 3. Enter your device passcode, then your Apple ID password.
Step 4. Tap Erase This iPhone and wait. Your iPhone will reboot to the Hello screen.
⚠️ Important:
Erasing your iPhone does not delete data stored in iCloud—as long as you sign out of iCloud during the erase (which iOS prompts you to do). But if you delete photos or messages before logging out, those may be removed from iCloud too if syncing is enabled.
How to Restore from iCloud Backup after Reset:
Step 1. Start Setup: Power on your erased or new iPhone. Follow on-screen prompts (Language, Region, Wi-Fi).
Step 2. Select Restore from iCloud Backup: When you reach the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen, select From iCloud Backup.
Step 3. Sign In: Enter your Apple ID and password. If you have Two-Factor Authentication enabled, you will need another Apple device to receive the code.
Step 4. Choose the Backup: Look at the dates and sizes. Select the most relevant one from the list.
Step 5. Stay Connected: This is the most important part. Keep your phone connected to power and Wi-Fi.
Your core settings and "placeholders" for apps will appear quickly. However, high-resolution photos and large apps will continue to download in the background for several hours. Do not leave Wi-Fi range during this time.
Part 4. Restore iPhone from iCloud Backup without Resetting
Standard Apple protocols require a total wipe of your phone to restore an iCloud backup. But what if you only need a specific photo or a few messages and don't want to delete your current data?
This is where Gbyte Recovery come in. It allows you to "peek" into your iCloud backup files, select only the items you need, and recover them to your computer or phone without a factory reset.
What can Gbyte Recovery do:
🔍 Browse every iCloud backup snapshot – not just the latest one. See exactly what existed on your iPhone weeks or months ago.
🗑️ Recover data deleted before your last backup – including messages, photos, contacts, and more. Deleted items are clearly marked in red for easy identification.
📱 No factory reset required – works on iPhones that are already set up and in daily use.
✂️ Selective recovery – choose only the photos, messages, notes, or app data you need. No need to overwrite your entire device.
👁️ Free preview before recovery – scan your iCloud backup and view recoverable files at no cost.
This method is ideal if you’re troubleshooting data loss but don’t want to lose your current app layout, settings, or unsynced files.
Step 1. Open Gbyte Recovery on your Windows PC, Mac, or mobile browser. To recover all data from iCloud Backup, choose Select All.
Step 2. Sign in using your Apple ID and start scanning.
Step 3. Preview your iCloud backup data for free.
Step 4. Select the data you want, then click "Recover".
You can check our step-by-step walkthrough with real in-app previews
✅ Best for: Targeted recovery, avoiding data loss from reset, restoring deleted items not in latest backup
Part 5. Restore iPhone from Computer Backup [Windows PC]
If you prefer a faster wired connection or don’t want to pay for extra iCloud storage, restoring from a PC backup is your best option. On Windows, this is done through the Apple Devices app (the recommended method for newer versions) or iTunes (the older backup solution).
Step 1. Open Apple Devices or iTunes: On Windows, open the Apple Devices app or iTunes.
Step 2. Connect Your Device: Plug your iPhone into the computer using a USB cable. If prompted, enter your device passcode or tap "Trust This Computer" and follow the on-screen instructions.
Step 3. Open the Device Section: In the Apple Devices app or iTunes, click the small device icon in the window.
Step 4. Go to the Backups Section: In the "Backups" section, click Restore Backup.
Step 5. Choose Your Backup: Pick the backup you want to restore from the dropdown list.
Step 6. Enter Your Password: If you encrypted your local backup, you’ll need to enter the password you set when creating it.
Part 6. Restore iPhone from MacOS Finder Backup [Mac]
Which Tool Do You Use?
On modern Macs, Finder replaces iTunes for iPhone management.
Finder: macOS Catalina (10.15) or later
iTunes: Windows or macOS Mojave (10.14) and earlier
How to Restore from Finder Backup
Step 1. Open Finder and connect your iPhone via USB.
Step 2. In the Locations sidebar, click your iPhone.
Step 3. Go to the General tab.
Step 4. Click Restore Backup…
Step 5. Choose your desired backup and click Restore.
Step 6. Wait for the process to complete—do not disconnect your iPhone during sync.
Part 7. iCloud Backup vs. Computer Backup
When choosing between iCloud and a computer backup, consider your needs.
Feature | iCloud Backup | Computer (iTunes/Finder) |
Convenience | Automatic, wireless, daily. | Requires manual cable connection. |
Storage | Limited by iCloud plan ($). | Limited only by your computer storage. |
Data Loss Risk | Risk of lost data, especially if iCloud backup is turned off. | Safer, as long as manual backups are regularly made. |
Security | Encrypted in the cloud. | Only encrypted if you choose to enable encryption. |
Speed | Depends on Internet speed. | Generally faster (Direct Cable). |
Completenes | Focuses on key account data; some data not included in iCloud backup needs syncing through iCloud. | A nearly "mirror image" of the phone. |
Best for | Setting up a new phone to the latest version. | Acting as a “time machine” to restore everything to its exact previous state. |
Part 8. FAQs
Q1. Can I choose which iCloud backup version to restore?
Yes. Apple typically keeps the last few successful backups. When you reach the "Choose Backup" screen, you will see a list of available dates.
Q2. Can I restore an iPhone backup to an iPad (or vice versa)?
Mostly, yes. You can restore an iPhone backup to an iPad, and most data (photos, contacts, messages) will transfer. However, some iPhone-only apps or specific settings may not carry over.
Q3. What data is included in an iCloud backup?
It includes app data, device settings, home screen organization, iMessages, and photos (if iCloud Photos is not already turned on). It does not include data already stored in the cloud like Gmail, Contacts, or your iCloud Photo Library.
Q4. What if my iPhone restore is stuck?
If the progress bar hasn't moved for over an hour, you may have a network timeout. Check out this guide on fixing a stuck iCloud restore for troubleshooting steps.
Q5. Can I restore from a backup after I've already set up the phone?
Not directly. To use the official Apple restore path, you must go to Settings and "Erase All Content and Settings" to return to the Hello screen. Alternatively, use a third-party tool to extract data without resetting.
Q6. Does restoring from a backup delete my current data?
Yes. When you restore a backup using official methods, it overwrites everything currently on the device with the data from the backup.
Part 9. Final Recommendation
For most users: Start with iCloud restore on a new or erased iPhone—it’s seamless and wireless.
For precision recovery: Use Gbyte Recovery to extract specific files without wiping your device.
For security-conscious users: Prefer encrypted Finder/iTunes backups to retain passwords and health data.
🔁 Remember: Always verify your backup date before restoring. A backup is only useful if it was created after your important data existed—and before it was lost.
