IPhone xs max ios 12.3.1 wont restore off an iphone 8 plus ios 12.3.2 file

This was the post Apple decided to remove because it would contain ‘some questionable advice’? But the only thing it contains, is a solution that Apple does not provide for a huge problem for many of their customers buying a very expensive new product (the Xs Max) that can’t be used without loss of very valuable personal data from their previous iPhone!! This is really unbelievable but also really true!!

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What you need to do, is make a backup from your iPhone 8 plus on iTunes, so not the probably most used way in iCloud. Just to be sure make another backup also in iTunes say 5 minutes after the first one and work with the last one. The first backup may then be used in case something goes totally wrong which I don't expect, but you never know of course.

Now use the File Explorer and go to: 

C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\<60ea0d293332c1db596d8955c9d6a262954ea86e>

At least at my computer the last folder name was <60ea0d293332c1db596d8955c9d6a262954ea86e>, but it may or probably is a different folder name with you. 

(Please note that I have a Windows PC, it may be in a different location on e.g. an Apple computer? I don't know, because I don't have one, so can't check. On an Apple you then need to find the location on your own I guess?)

In that folder look for a file named Info.plist. 

Open that file with the Notepad app, which is a file editor that will not change the format of the file. 

Look into the file and then search for Product Version (Tip: use Ctrl F), and you'll find a section that looks like this:

Product Type
iPhoner10,5
Product Version
12.3.2
Serial Number
XXX

Then change 12.3.2 to 12.3.1 (make sure that you only change the 2 in a 1) and then save the file.

Now you can set up your new iPhone Xs Max the usual way without losing any data that was on your old iPhone 8 plus by setting it up not as a new phone but at a certain point in the process restoring it from a backup in iTunes. This done by selecting Restore from iTunes, then connecting the new iPhone Xs to your computer and let it connect to iTunes, next select the most recent (just slightly modified) backup files and then it will work. Your Xs will start restoring from the iPhone 8 plus backup!!!

The only thing I still had to do was to login again in various e-mail accounts and Whatsapp with my respective passwords to make contact again and have e-mails, Whatsapp messages etcetera copied to or make accesible again at the new Iphone Xs.

For me it did work perfectly. I hope other people may benefit from it too.

You have to wait for a newer iOS updates to be able to restore from your iOS 12.3.2 backup.

FYI: You can only restore from a iOS backup if your iOS device version is equal or has a higher then the backup iOS version.

This was the post Apple decided to remove twice now because it would contain ‘some questionable advice’? But the only thing it contains, is a solution that Apple does not provide for a huge problem for many of their customers buying a very expensive new product (the Xs Max) that can’t be used without loss of very valuable personal data from their previous iPhone!! This is really unbelievable but also really true!!

——————————————————-

What you need to do, is make a backup from your iPhone 8 plus on iTunes, so not the probably most used way in iCloud. Just to be sure make another backup also in iTunes say 5 minutes after the first one and work with the last one. The first backup may then be used in case something goes totally wrong which I don't expect, but you never know of course.

Now use the File Explorer and go to: 

C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\<60ea0d293332c1db596d8955c9d6a262954ea86e>

At least at my computer the last folder name was <60ea0d293332c1db596d8955c9d6a262954ea86e>, but it may or probably is a different folder name with you. 

(Please note that I have a Windows PC, it may be in a different location on e.g. an Apple computer? I don't know, because I don't have one, so can't check. On an Apple you then need to find the location on your own I guess?)

In that folder look for a file named Info.plist. 

Open that file with the Notepad app, which is a file editor that will not change the format of the file. 

Look into the file and then search for Product Version (Tip: use Ctrl F), and you'll find a section that looks like this:

Product Type
iPhoner10,5
Product Version
12.3.2
Serial Number
XXX

Then change 12.3.2 to 12.3.1 (make sure that you only change the 2 in a 1) and then save the file.

Now you can set up your new iPhone Xs Max the usual way without losing any data that was on your old iPhone 8 plus by setting it up not as a new phone but at a certain point in the process restoring it from a backup in iTunes. This done by selecting Restore from iTunes, then connecting the new iPhone Xs to your computer and let it connect to iTunes, next select the most recent (just slightly modified) backup files and then it will work. Your Xs will start restoring from the iPhone 8 plus backup!!!

The only thing I still had to do was to login again in various e-mail accounts and Whatsapp with my respective passwords to make contact again and have e-mails, Whatsapp messages etcetera copied to or make accesible again at the new Iphone Xs.

Well, this may have been a bad idea but it seemed easier than the work around. I downloaded the beta testing of the newest ios on my new Xs max and then erased content and settings and then voila! It let me download my latest update from the cloud from my iphone 8 without all of the rigamarole. Still a pain and can't even begin to explain how annoyed I am by the whole thing. But if this did not work I was going to return the phone tomorrow and just wait it out with my glitchy iphone 8. Especially since I tried to back up my old phone to itunes on my macbook pro (per the work around) only to be told by my computer there isn't enough memory available to complete that task.....Because owning a macbook means you are dependent on an external hard drive with only 8 gig of working memory and apparently dependent on company that is struggling to meet their promises. At least thats what I have had to deal with. Come on Apple! Please get it together. For the price of $1200 for a phone it should be able to read my mind and reboot from my memory. ;)

I encountered the same problem, and it was very frustrating what I couldn't restore from a backup because my Iphone 8 plus was running IOS 12.3.2

What worked for me is, I restored an older backup from the time machine prior to 12.3.2 and run restore from the older backup version. Itunes showed me a message that there is a newer version of a back up, just ignore it.

It worked for me though it took some time to figure it out. Hope it helps.

Apple support said there is nothing that can be done....

Take an iTunes backup on computer, find the backup folder, and open info.plist file in a text editor. Locate the Product Version key which should have a value of “12.3.2” and simply modify it to “12.3.1” and save the file (with its original name.) This hack tricks iTunes in thinking the 12.3.2 backup is the older 12.31.1 version. It is really simple and it worked to me. Nevertheless, it is an incredible mistake from Apple.

Ok. So as far as I can tell the 12.4 was just released. I see it is available for update on both my 8plus and Xs. Does that not solve the problem?

Hey guys.

One solution if you wanna try it is to sign-up for beta testing iOS 13.

Here is the link: https://beta.apple.com/sp/fr/betaprogram/guide?locale=fr

Once your Xs is running iOS 13 you will be able to restore off an iPhone 8 plus 12.3.2 file

Worked for me.

Hope that'll help.

The upgrade to ios13 worked a treat! Thank you.

stop arguing!!!

I was in the same boat, I signed up for the beta iOS 12 program, and was able to get it loaded and backed up perfectly!!

iOS 12.3.2 is only for the iPhone 8 Plus and not for any other iPhone models.

There are not many who upgrade from an iPhone 8 Plus to an iPhone XS Max. You got caught in-between.

You have to wait till iOS 12.4 or even iOS 13 in the Fall.

if you use the same Apple ID as your iPhone 8 Plus and you have in Settings > [your name ] > iCloud > Contacts, Calendars, and all the rest ....

You should have all the stuff auto sync to your new iPhone.

You can also re-download all your apps from your purchased list.

Yes, Apple screwed up on this one. If you want to rant, go ahead. Or see this post for a workaround-->https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250430811?answerId=250831253022#250831253022

I simply downloaded all the apps again and solved the problem. Gave me a chance to not download some unneeded apps. Keychain and face recognition made it so easy. Figure about 1 hr to do it all.

I'm sorry that I don't have the link but the iOS 13 (beta) was what worked for me. Going back to Verizon store today (I believe I had to purchase it there because of our business account) to ask them to PLEASE tell others who buy these high-end phones that they cannot transfer data without jumping through these hoops. I doubt they will listen, but at least they will be able to tell customers there's a fix.

Follow the instructions in the 5th post above yours from Elitegate