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Can I sync/backup my iPhone 3GS and restore to my iPhone 4?

So I have have both devices set up one for work and one for play. But there are times I would like to swap the sims over (this I have sorted) and also swap the whole configuration. Emails calendars apps etc. So is it possible to sync my 3GS then restore the settings to my 4 and also vice-versa

Thanks in advance

iPhone, iOS 4, 3GS iPhone 4

Posted on Mar 7, 2011 1:41 AM

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7 replies

Mar 7, 2011 1:52 AM in response to nebdy

So is it possible to sync my 3GS then restore the settings to my 4 and also vice-versa


It's possible, but you'd first have to wipe each phone before you would be presented with the option of restoring from backup of the other phone: Settings>General>Reset>Erase All Content & Settings. That returns the phone to a state just like it was when first taken out of the box. After doing that, you would be able to restore from backup of the other phone, however you "may" have to first delete any existing backups of the phone in question. So, as you can see, this is not a very practical way to do things. Exactly, what are you trying to accomplish? There may be a better way.

Mar 7, 2011 3:13 AM in response to wjosten

Thanks for the info so far

My iPhone 4 (unlocked vodafone) is work based contact list calendar and email are a work exchange account

My 3GS (unlocked O2 microsim) is home based gmail contact calendar email

I go camping and would like to make my 3GS my work phone for the weekend. I it gets bashed etc I don't worry as much as my work iPhone 4.

So on a Friday evening I would like to swap sims, and take the 3GS away and be at work. Then on Sunday evening reverse the process.

Hope that helps

Mar 7, 2011 6:47 AM in response to wjosten

Hi

Thanks for your continued responses.

I have done and its never enough I still carry both. On my work iPhone 4 I have apps like dropbox, logmein, office stuff. So email is a start

I believe cloning the iphone 4 via sync & then restore to 3GS would be best.

Not sure what you ment by

"however you "may" have to first delete any existing
backups of the phone in question"

All thoughts and opinions gratefully received

Ta

Mar 7, 2011 7:16 AM in response to nebdy

On my work iPhone 4 I have apps like dropbox, logmein, office stuff


You can have the same content on each device.

The reason why you "may" have to first delete the existing backup, is that iTunes keeps separate backups, by device. Even if you "wipe" one of the phones first(you'll have to do that to restore from the backup from the other phone), unless you delete that phone's backup in iTunes, iTunes may not give you the option to restore from the other phone's backup, you "may" only be presented with the option of restoring from that phone's existing backup. I say may, because I've never run across a situation like this and experimented with it. Quite frankly, it seems like a lot of work for very little gain & the real risk of actually losing data. I think you'd be better served by putting the same apps on each phone. You could do that even if you used different iTunes accounts at both work & home-easier if they're the same account.

Mar 8, 2011 12:54 AM in response to wjosten

Hi wjosten

I am really grateful for your help. In my head the clone idea is the best, but the idea of a backup being deleted scares me too much 🙂

So I am going to go with install all the apps on both devices and then when away I will swap sims and add the missing mail/calendar/contacts account for the duration.

All the best and thanks again

Can I sync/backup my iPhone 3GS and restore to my iPhone 4?

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