Transfer iOS app user data from old to new iPad

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Transfer iOS app user data from old to new iPad

Browsing this community and other internet sources I could still not find a definite answer to the following problem: I have several apps with user data (example: field guides with my notes, observations, etc.) While some app developers often provide means to export those user data it is some times not possible to re-import them after switching to a new iPad. Is there a method to copy an app "bit by bit" from the old IOS device directly to a new one (similar to "Carbon Copy Cloner on Macs") and if yes which app can do this reliably or is there another way to transfer not only the app but all the user generated data within this app to a new device?

I have the following systems available: desktop Mac Pro: newest Catalina macOS (10.15.7, but I could upgrade to Big Sur if that would help with the problem), old and new iPad both with newest iOS (14.4)

Thanks a lot for any hint!

Posted on Feb 24, 2021 2:46 AM

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Answer 1

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LotusPilot

Level 10

308,203 points

Feb 24, 2021 3:26 AM in response to Stephan_A

I am unaware of a commercial available or public domain application, that can access the iOS/iPadOS encrypted filesystem, capable of performing piecemeal recovery of app-specific data from iPad.

Perhaps the easiest way to completely clone from old to new iPad, preserving all locally stored data, is to backup the old iPad using iCloud or iTunes - and then restore the backup to the device.

How to back up your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch – Apple Support

Restore your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch from a backup – Apple Support

A possible alternative if to consider a third-party PC/Mac application such a iMazing - although I can offer no guarantee that all third-party data will be accessible:

https://imazing.com/

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Answer 2

Stephan_A Author

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18 points

Feb 24, 2021 4:04 AM in response to LotusPilot

Unfortunately this did not work with Non-Apple iOS apps. I did the restore via iTunes and I already read those Apple Support articles, but it seams that for Apple "all Data" does not include all iOS apps. It is also mentioned that one needs to re-download purchased apps and the freshly downloaded apps obviously do not contain any user generated data.

But thanks for the hint [iMazing], did you use it and is it stable? I know that there is no guarantee that all data is available, because developers have a certain freedom to where in the app package they save user data, I hope it would be in a .plist File in most cases.

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Transfer iOS app user data from old to new iPad

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