User profile for user: Ranger_Z
Ranger_Z Author
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Restore Backup to an older iPhone model

I trashed my iPhone 6 64GB on IOS 12.??. I have a recent backup, which I estimate with media is about 30-35GB.


I have an iPhone 5S currently on 10.2.1 which appears to be a 16GB device. The phone was a family members so device name etc. are all different. Nothing needs to be saved. At the moment I do not have the family members iTunes credentials, but can probably get them if needed.


Can I restore my iPhone 6 backup to this device? If yes, in what order do I want to perform the basic tasks.

Wipe Device

Upgrade OS

Restore Backup

Activate with Carrier


Am I missing anything?


I primarily care about contacts and text messages, apps and photos would be nice, do not need any music. I assume all the phone calls will come back from the provider. Unclear if I get any options regarding what to restore. I know, big into small.....


I don't know what I don't know.


Restore will be done from an iTunes backup on a Windoze PC.


Thank you for your help!

iPhone 5s

Posted on Apr 13, 2020 5:42 PM

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User profile for user: Lawrence Finch
Lawrence Finch
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Posted on Apr 13, 2020 5:46 PM

There are 2 reasons you probably can’t restore to the old phone. First, it won’t fit. Second, You can’t restore a backup made with a newer version to one with a version older than the version the backup was made with. You can update the 5S (if that is what it really is) to 12.4.5; that will address the second issue. But unless you have less that 13GB used on the iPhone 6 the backup of it won’t fit. It’s also possible the older phone is a 5 and not a 5S if it still has iOS 10 on it.

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User profile for user: Lawrence Finch
Lawrence Finch
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Apr 13, 2020 5:46 PM in response to Ranger_Z

There are 2 reasons you probably can’t restore to the old phone. First, it won’t fit. Second, You can’t restore a backup made with a newer version to one with a version older than the version the backup was made with. You can update the 5S (if that is what it really is) to 12.4.5; that will address the second issue. But unless you have less that 13GB used on the iPhone 6 the backup of it won’t fit. It’s also possible the older phone is a 5 and not a 5S if it still has iOS 10 on it.

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User profile for user: Ranger_Z
Ranger_Z Author
User level: Level 1
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Apr 13, 2020 6:59 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

It's definitely a 5S (A1533 CDMA).


Are there any "tools" to strip out content from the backup or otherwise extract the Contacts?


In any event should I upgrade the IOS before wiping or wipe then upgrade? Not sure what's easier. I'm guessing I want to do all that before I activate the phone on my carrier.


I need a working phone for calls and texts ASAP. I can shop for a replacement after that that is big enough to reload my backup (I'll be looking for a fine preowned model).

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User profile for user: MrHoffman
MrHoffman
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Apr 13, 2020 7:09 PM in response to Ranger_Z

If you were using iCloud for your contacts, check there for your contacts via an iCloud.com login.

But you cannot restore to an older version, nor restore to a too-small iPhone.

iPhone 5s tops out at iOS 12, so set that up as a new device, update it to iOS 12, then restore your backup.

There are forensics tools that can probably scrounge the backup contents, but those won’t be cheap.

And a caveat around purchasing used: The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying a used iPad/iPhone - Apple Community

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Restore Backup to an older iPhone model

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