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Transferring data when screen doesn't work.

How can I transfer data to a new iphone when the old iphone's screen is not accessible?


iPhone 11, iOS 15

Posted on Nov 12, 2022 11:42 AM

Reply
1 reply

Nov 14, 2022 10:22 AM in response to jrcup

Hello jrcup,


Welcome to Apple Support Communities. 


Since the display is no longer working, you won’t be able to access the display. You will be able to restore a recent backup using the steps here: Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

Restore your device from an iCloud backup

  1. Turn on your device. You should see a Hello screen. If you already set up your device, you need to erase all of its content before you can use these steps to restore from your backup.
  2. Follow the onscreen setup steps until you reach the Apps & Data screen, then tap Restore from iCloud Backup. 
  3. Sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID.
  4. Choose a backup. Look at the date and size of each and pick the most relevant. After you choose a backup, the transfer starts. If a message says that a newer version of software is required, follow the onscreen steps to update. If you don't see onscreen steps to help you update, learn what to do.
  5. When asked, sign in with your Apple ID to restore your apps and purchases. If you've purchased iTunes or App Store content using multiple Apple IDs, you'll be asked to sign in to each. If you can't remember your password, you can tap Skip this Step and sign in later. You won't be able to use the apps until you sign in with your Apple ID.
  6. Stay connected to Wi-Fi and wait for a progress bar to appear and complete. Depending on the size of the backup and the network speed, the progress bar might need a few minutes to an hour to complete. If you disconnect from Wi-Fi too soon, the progress will pause until you reconnect.
  7. Now you can finish setup and enjoy your device. Content like your apps, photos, music, and other information will continue to restore in the background for the next several hours or days, depending on the amount of information there is. Try to connect often to Wi-Fi and power to let the process complete.

Restore your device from a backup on your computer

  1. On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, open the Finder. On a Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier, or on a PC, open iTunes.
  2. Connect your device to your computer with a USB cable. If a message asks for your device passcode or to Trust This Computer, follow the onscreen steps. Get help if you forgot your passcode.
  3. Select your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch when it appears in the Finder window or iTunes. Learn what to do if your device doesn't appear.
  4. Select Restore Backup. Learn what to do if a message says that your device's software is too old
  5. Look at the date of each backup and pick the most relevant.
  6. Click Restore and wait for the restore to finish. If asked, enter the password for your encrypted backup.
  7. Keep your device connected after it restarts and wait for it to sync with your computer. You can disconnect after the sync finishes.


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

Find backups stored on your Mac or PC

To avoid ruining any of your backup files, here's what you should know:

  • The Finder and iTunes save backups to a Backup folder. The location of the Backup folder varies by operating system. Though you can copy the Backup folder, you should never move it to a different folder, external drive, or network drive.
  • Don't edit, relocate, rename, or extract content from your backup files. For example, to restore from a relocated backup file, you need to move the backup file back to where it was in the Backup folder or the file won't work. Backups serve as a safe copy of almost all of your device's data and settings. So while you might be able to view or access a backup file's contents, the contents usually aren't stored in a format that you can read.

Search for the backup folder on your Mac

To find a list of your backups:

  1. Click the magnifier  in the menu bar.
  2. Type or copy and paste this: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
  3. Select the Backup folder under Folders.

Search for the backup folder on Windows 8 or 10

  1. Find the Search bar:
    • In Windows 8, click the magnifying glass in the upper-right corner.
    • In Windows 10, click the Search bar next to the Start button.
  1. In the Search bar, enter %appdata%. If you don’t see your backups, enter %USERPROFILE%.
  2. Press Return.
  3. Double-click these folders: "Apple" or "Apple Computer" > MobileSync > Backup. 


These steps will help you locate and restore a previous backup if you have one.


Let us know if you have further questions.


Take care.

Transferring data when screen doesn't work.

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