Restore iPhone 4 from 3GS backup with different carrier?

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Level 1

10 points

Restore iPhone 4 from 3GS backup with different carrier?

I have just acquired an iPhone 4, but it is not with the same carrier as my current 3GS. Is it safe to restore the iPhone 4 from a 3GS backup?

If not, I guess the only thing I can do is transfer purchases, and lose all my settings, right?

Windows 7

Posted on Nov 18, 2010 2:14 PM

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Answer 1

sn4p2k

Level 4

1,228 points

Nov 18, 2010 2:18 PM in response to AlfBaxter

I dont think a backup contains any carrier information..

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Answer 2

AlfBaxter Author

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Nov 18, 2010 2:26 PM in response to sn4p2k

Many thanks for the quick reply. I only ask because the relevant entry on Apple's support page says "This article explains how to replace your current iPhone with a newly purchased iPhone using the same carrier." It doesn't say anything about phones on different carriers. Any more view on this?

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Answer 3

AlfBaxter Author

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Nov 18, 2010 4:42 PM in response to AlfBaxter

Bump - really want to set up my new phone! Anyone know if it's ok to restore from a phone on a different network?

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Answer 4

AlfBaxter Author

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10 points

Dec 1, 2010 6:04 AM in response to AlfBaxter

In case anyone else wants to know, it is fine to restore a new phone from a backup with a different carrier, had no problems.

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Answer 5

giuliom

Level 1

0 points

Feb 17, 2011 4:26 AM in response to AlfBaxter

Thank you Alf for sharing your experience!
I have the same problem and seeing your answer is very helpful.

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Answer 6

May 8, 2011 12:01 PM in response to AlfBaxter

Some more material relating to this topic - recently purchased my Verizon iPhone 4.

Old AT&T iPhone 3GS with 4.3.2

New Verizon iPhone 4 with 4.2.8

Apparently restoring the backup of the 3GS in this situation isn't supported because of 1) the 4.3 on the 3GS and the 4.2 on the 4, with the carrier change.

I'm most concerned with my historical SMS msgs - I never toss any of them and as well sometimes don't save off the MMS images or such that I'd prefer to keep.

Have an open case with tier 2 support and they're running this issue up to engineering to see if there's a fix or work around.

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Answer 7

diesel vdub

Level 7

22,178 points

May 8, 2011 5:56 PM in response to chrisinsf82

chrisinsf82 wrote:

Some more material relating to this topic - recently purchased my Verizon iPhone 4.

Old AT&T iPhone 3GS with 4.3.2

New Verizon iPhone 4 with 4.2.8

Apparently restoring the backup of the 3GS in this situation isn't supported because of 1) the 4.3 on the 3GS and the 4.2 on the 4, with the carrier change.

In your instance, the issue is that you can not restore an iPhone running version x with the backup from another iPhone running a newer version of iOS.

Model and carrier have no bearing on the situation.

If both iPhones had been on the same version or the new iPhone was on a newer version of iOS, you would not have had a problem.

There are options (not from Apple) for extracting SMS and MMS messages from your backup if you absolutely need them.

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