Restore all content from iTunes backup to iPhone, but exclude contacts

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Restore all content from iTunes backup to iPhone, but exclude contacts

Good day All

My previous iPhone was damaged with no recovery of the data. I luckily made a backup to my Mac not to long before it was damaged. I am expecting to get my new iPhone over the weekend, but want to find out is there a way I can restore from Finder on Mac but exclude contacts. The reason is I updated my contacts on one of my other IOS devices and want that copy of the contacts on my new Phone. I did also backup to iCloud but my main concern is the amount of bandwidth data and time it takes to restore from iCloud opposed to iPhone.

Please advise

Posted on Oct 29, 2019 9:53 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

chris_g1

Community Specialist

Nov 4, 2019 6:46 AM in response to JL.5

Hello JL.5,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. I understand that your previous iPhone was damaged and you’re going to get another iPhone. in the meantime, you have updated your contacts on another iOS device. You want to restore an iTunes backup without the contacts being restored. I’m happy to help.

There is not a way to extract certain parts of a backup that you don't want to restore to your iPhone. You do have the option to restore an iTunes or iCloud backup using the steps here: Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

You can locate your recent backups using the steps here: Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

If you’re using iCloud contacts, you will see the changes to Contacts on your other devices using the same Apple ID with iCloud Contacts enabled. Please see the section titled “Use your iCloud contacts” here: Use other contact accounts on iPhone - Apple Support

Take care.

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