Transfer iPhone to New Computer - What Will and Won't Get Lost?

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Transfer iPhone to New Computer - What Will and Won't Get Lost?

Hello, I've been searching for a few days and have yet to discover a real answer to my question. I am planning on syncing my iPhone to my MacBook Pro, but it is currently synced to our iMac. I have my iTunes library on my MBP with the account authorized, and I have MobileMe to keep track of my contacts, mail, bookmarks, et cetera. However, I want to know what will happen to things like my other mail accounts (I have 3 Gmail accounts that I check with the phone), my text messages and my phone call logs. I have not found a single mention of these things online; everyone is concerned with music and contacts, which, like I mentioned, I've already taken care of.

So, what will get lost in the process of syncing to a new computer, if anything? I'm afraid to make the switch until I know for sure what I will lose, what I won't lose and what I can potentially prevent myself from losing.

Thank you!

Message was edited by: Amanda Huff

MacBook Pro 15", Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Mar 8, 2009 10:17 AM

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Answer 1

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roaminggnome

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Mar 8, 2009 10:21 AM in response to Amanda Huff

Why don't you use migration assistant to move all info and setting from your iMac to your Powerbook, then nothing will change? You just plug it in and go.

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Answer 2

Amanda Huff Author

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Mar 8, 2009 11:46 AM in response to roaminggnome

I would, but I don't entirely know what files I should be looking for. Like I said, a lot of my stuff is already backed up and on my MBP, so I have no need to go through iTunes, iCal, Mail or Address Book and transfer those files over. As far as the data stuff for my iPhone, I don't know where the backups are, what the file types are and what to do with them once I've found them.

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Answer 3

Mar 8, 2009 12:08 PM in response to Amanda Huff

If you've moved your data over, the only thing you'll lose is the data in the 3rd party apps, since those will be installed fresh (along with all the other iTunes media content) when you sync to the MBP.

FYI, the backup of your iPhone is stored in <yourhomefolder>/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup as a folder with a UID for a name (a long hexadecimal string). If you copy the Backup folder to the same location on the MB, you might be able to restore from that backup, which would restore the 3rd party app data. To see if you can, after you move it to the MBP, first confirm that the backup is visible in iTunes > iTunes menu > Preferences > Devices.

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Answer 4

Mar 8, 2009 12:15 PM in response to Amanda Huff

However, I want to know what will happen to things like my other mail accounts (I have 3 Gmail accounts that I check with the phone), my text messages and my phone call logs. I have not found a single mention of these things online; everyone is concerned with music and contacts, which, like I mentioned, I've already taken care of.

Nothing will happen to your other email accounts, your SMS messages, or your phone call logs on your iPhone when syncing your iPhone with iTunes on another computer.

In regards to iTunes content, an iPhone can be synced with an iTunes library on a single computer only. When syncing iTunes content with another computer, all iTunes content on your iPhone that was transferred to your iPhone from a different computer will be erased first, and the same applies to photos transferred to your iPhone via the iTunes sync process. All other data on your iPhone is not touched or erased when syncing your iPhone with iTunes on another computer.

The transfer of email account settings from your computer to your iPhone via the iTunes sync process transfers email account setting only, not any account mailboxes or messages. Unless you need to change email account settings on your iPhone, there is no need to keep email accounts selected under the Info tab for your iPhone sync preferences with iTunes on the same computer, or with a different computer.

You need to transfer your iTunes library from your iMac to your MBP, and the same for any photos that you transferred from your iMac to your iPhone.

Email account mailboxes/messages, SMS messages, and recent calls will not be touched on your iPhone when syncing your iPhone with iTunes on another computer.

In regards to your MM account, your MM contact info, calendars and calendar events, and Safari bookmarks on your MBP should already be synced with your MM online contact info, calendars and calendar events, and Safari bookmarks. If you are syncing this data over the air with your MM account on your iPhone, this is not affected when syncing your iPhone with iTunes on another Mac since this data is already being synced over the air with your MM account on your iPhone. You can't sync this data direct with the supported applications on your computer via the iTunes sync process when syncing this data over the air with your MM account on your iPhone. You can do one or the other with your iPhone, not both at the same time.

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