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

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

Thanks guy for your help. you dont understand how many times i keeped just backing up over the last few weeks. stupid stupid apple why cant you make things simple....

Just to confirm, your advice worked perfectly. We did it, Set up as New Phone, and it didn't wipe anything.

So, in this particular situation, "Set Up As New Phone" doesn't mean turn your phone into a new phone (wipe it), but it means add your phone as a new phone to this iTunes account.

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

You connect it to iTunes and sync.

Simply connecting to iTunes will not restore the device as new, this is something that must be initiated by the user.

Try reading the User's Guide so that you understand how the device works and is designed to work, it will save you from asking silly questions.

Thank you ElenaRaq! I was also delaying the "set up as new" option, for a couple months now, which made the process just that much more stressfull. I did it and the next screen asks you to name your phone, THAT'S IT. Then I was able to sync successfully without losing any accumulated data.

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

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.. 🙂

ElenaRaq wrote:

No, I used it for about a month and just getting around to connecting it to iTunes. So it will delete everything? How can I set it up in iTunes without deleting it all?

Backup and Set Up as New Device

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4137

Thank you for your hours of research. This may also answer my question. I restored from backup, but the phone asks me if I want to set up as new or restore from backup. I guess I'm going to try Set Up As New.

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

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" ?

Such a misleading message has those of us who (rightly) worry about these things can cause such consternation. Come on Apple, more thought needed...! Thanks for posting a really helpful thread for anyone with a new iphone.