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will itunes erase my iphone if I set it up as new?

I've had my iphone for a while and am just now connecting it to itunes to load music. I've got SMS, apps and photos on it already. When I connect to iTunes, it asks if I want to set up as new or restore from backuo (no backups).



If I set it up as new will iTunes erase the apps, SMS, and photos?

iPhone 4, Windows Vista

Posted on Jul 9, 2012 8:06 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 6, 2016 10:10 AM

Set up as a new device won't change any data on the iPhone, it is simply the alternate choice to restoring from a backup, which you won't want to do on a new computer. If your phone has never been synced with another library then set up as a new iPhone is all you need to do. If it has been synced with another library in the past then either copy that library to the current computer or see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.


tt2

55 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 6, 2016 10:10 AM in response to guyff

Set up as a new device won't change any data on the iPhone, it is simply the alternate choice to restoring from a backup, which you won't want to do on a new computer. If your phone has never been synced with another library then set up as a new iPhone is all you need to do. If it has been synced with another library in the past then either copy that library to the current computer or see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.


tt2

Jul 10, 2012 2:21 PM in response to diesel vdub

diesel vdub


I'm sorry you think it's a silly question. I did read the guide and it doesn't say how to set it up as a new device without deleting everything. Next time you find a "silly" question maybe you can just move on so it doesn't offend you instead of judging without helping.




To everyone else

Thanks for your advice and links, unfortunately nothing seems to answer my question.


Here's my situation:

1) Bought a new iPhone from Verizon last month

2) The iphone activated without me having to connect to iTunes

3) In the interim, I took photos, downloaded apps, texted friends, etc

4) I wanted to load music, so I plugged it into iTunes

5) iTunes wants me to set up as a new phone or restore from backup, but the only backup file is from an iPod I have

6) iTunes doesn't give me the choice of backing up my iPhone (when I right-click on the device all I get is "eject" and "restore from backup")


I also tried checking "Prevent iPads, iPhones, and iPods from syncing automatically" in iTunes


I just want to put music on my phone but can't seem to get past iTunes wanting to set it up and I'm afraid it'll delete everything if I do.


iPhone 4

iOS 5.1

iTunes 10.6.3.25


Any suggestions???



Thanks!

Jul 10, 2012 8:25 PM in response to ElenaRaq

Apparently, after hours of research, it seems that my problem may be a bug in iTunes that asks users to set up their iPhone even if it's already been set up before. Supposedly, clicking on "Set up as new phone" will only ask me to change the phone's name and not actually delete the content.


http://www.fettesps.com/how-to-fix-itunes-set-up-your-iphone-error/


Going to try this tomorrow after copying all of my photos and contact info from the phone.


Thanks for the help.

Jan 27, 2017 3:42 PM in response to Donitello

Yes, that part will work fine. Here is what your relative should have done before giving you the phone: What to do before selling or giving away your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support. It may still be connected to Find My iPhone with their Apple ID, which could trip you up in future, and obviously you won't want to mix up each others personal information so make sure you have signed out of any services connected to their Apple ID and other services like Facebook. You should wipe their personal data as explained in the article. Ideally wipe the whole phone, but that might not be so easy if you've already started using it. As I've suggested earlier the set up as new device option in iTunes configures iTunes, not the device.


tt2

Mar 13, 2013 10:57 PM in response to ElenaRaq

I had exactly the same issue.


Bought an iPhone 5 for my wife. She used it for a few weeks. Took pictures, sent and received texts, downloaded apps, etc.


Only after I bought a new laptop and transferred my iTunes music library from my old one to my new one, I tried connecting my wife's iPhone to iTunes, just so that I could sync the music library to it.


It gave me the option to either 'Setup as New iPhone' or 'Restore from backup'.


I had the same fear as the original poster. Would 'Setup as New iPhone' wipe the phone? ***?


Anyway, I'm super happy to have found this thread and appreciate that others have tried it and it worked without wiping the phone.


Thanks

Mar 14, 2013 2:06 AM in response to RajaRani

After reading this discusion i have connected my wifes iPhone to iTunes (PC - Windows 8) and accepted to SETUP AS NEW. Nothing deleted, or mixed.


PS1: I am not syncing ang contacts - calendar data with my PC. So even i am using only 1 account on PC, nothing got mixed.

PS2: I have set up to sync seperate music playlists for each iPhone, so music are not getting mixed.


I am using that setup happly ever after.. 🙂

Oct 5, 2016 7:40 AM in response to whkrems

You can restore an iPhone from any compatible backup. If you have a restore that you want to put on the iPhone then go ahead and restore it. If you choose to set up as a new device you can still use your existing backups at any time. The current name of the device doesn't matter. Restoring a backup should not cause the phone to become locked to the carrier. See How to unlock your iPhone - Apple Support. After restoring the backup it should become archived and a new rolling backup for device will be created. The device name will be restored but you can change it later if you wish.


tt2

Jul 29, 2012 11:12 PM in response to ElenaRaq

Thank you ElenaRaq. I also have the same problem now with my wifes iPhone. She has been using it for 3 weeks and just yesterday i tried to connect it to iTunes. But i Tunes was asking me to set up as a new phone or restore from last backup (which is my iPhone backup)


How was your process, have you been successful without deleting all your content when you choose "Set up as a new iPhone" ?

will itunes erase my iphone if I set it up as new?

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