How to Restore iPhone from Backup

If your iPhone is facing issues, or you accidentally deleted important data, you can restore it to an older state using a backup. You can restore your iPhone from a Backup using iCloud backup if you have a backup on iCloud. You can also use Finder or iTunes if you want to restore your iPhone using Mac or PC. Let’s look at these methods.

Make sure you have a backup

Before restoring your iPhone, make sure you have a backup of it made first. You can do that by following these steps:

1. Tap Settings.

   

2. Tap your name at the top to access your Apple ID settings.

   

3. Tap iCloud.

   

4. Tap iCloud Backup.
   

   

5. Underneath the “Back Up Now” button, you’ll be able to see when the last backup was created.

   

6. If you don’t see any backup, tap Back Up Now to create a new one.

   

Restoring Your iPhone from an iCloud backup

1. Before restoring your iPhone from a backup, the first step is to factory reset your device. Remember that factory resetting will delete all data, so proceed with caution and make sure you have a backup. First, tap Settings.

   

2. Tap General.

   

3. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.

   

4. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.

   

5. Tap Continue to factory reset your device.

   

6. After your device has finished resetting it will restart. When it opens, you will see the “hello” screen.

   

7. Set up your iPhone by following the on-screen instructions.
8. When you reach the Apps & Data screen, select Restore from iCloud Backup.
   

   

9. Select the backup you want to restore.

   

   Make sure you stay connected to WiFi while your data is being restored.

   

   When the backup restoration is completed, you can finish setting up your iPhone like you usually would.
   Note: Some data might need more time to restore, and the restoration process will continue in the background.

Restoring Your iPhone from a Mac or PC

If your iPhone isn’t functioning or you can’t remember the password, you can restore it using the Finder app on Mac (with macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes on PC (or Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier). Follow the steps below to restore your iPhone using either app, as they both have the same steps. I will be restoring my iPhone using a Mac for this guide.

Note: Finder comes pre-built on your Mac. You can download iTunes from here.

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using your charging cable (Lightning to USB) and open Finder on your Mac.

   

2. Click on your device in the Finders window under the “Locations” heading.

   

3. Click Restore Backup.

   

4. Select the backup you want to restore.

   

5. Click Restore.

   

6. Your iPhone will restart after the restoration process is finished and start syncing data with your Mac or PC. You can unplug your device once it’s finished syncing.

   

   You should now be able to use your iPhone with the restored settings.