Restore iPhone from backup not listed in iTunes

Can you not find the file, or does it not exist? if it does not exist, you should know that both the folders and the files can sometimes be hidden, so try searing for it.

If you cannot open it properly, check to see what program you are using to open it. You might need to manually select the correct program. You should be opening the file in textedit.

I was helping out my friend to restore his iPhone from his iPhone backup on his PC. Unfortunately, his iPhone backup was somehow corrupted and couldn't be restored.

Luckily, when we set up his computer, we made a copy of iPhone backup and store it in an external drive.

We were able to restore his iPhone from an old backup that has all his contacts!

I would recommend you make a backup of your iPhone backup occasionally for double protection!

<Link Edited by Host>

I do have a time machine, but I haven't connected it since I moved, so that data is older, much older.

I normally do backups. I did a backup before upgrading to ios7. Previous backups from older devices also showed up. I can see them in my Mobile Backups folder, but they are (old backups) missing the manifest files.

I am not sure if it was updating iTunes or upgrading to Maverick that made them go away. Either that or my backup before upgrading to iOS 7 and newer iTunes was corrupt.

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Thank you so much! Same problem exactly for me, and I was able to use this code copy/paste to restore my old backup properly. I hit a minor snag because both were named the same thing and reflected the same date... but playing around with the display name allowed me to distinguish. So happy to have my older photos... and very motivated to have these backed up elsewhere now.

There was a time when you could pick the back up that you wanted. Are you serious? Apple, just fix this already, it is getting old. Learning how to manipulate new itunes software is making me think I am using the wrong device.

HEllo i tried your instructions as u mentioned but its not working i sold my iphone 4s but before selling it i made a backup on itunes it was on ios 8 Now i purchased an iphone 5 which has ios 7.1.2 itunes is not showing backup but i tried the process u mentioned but its not working i opened info.plist of new backup ande pasted to desired backup it is now visible on itunes but when i clicked on restore an error is there (the backup is crupted or either its not compatible with the iphone which you are restoring....please please please help me my backup is of 7.97GB containing lots of important data

RBenachour please help me my backup is showing an error when i followed your instructions and i found my backup but it says that the backup ia crupted or is not compatible with iphone you are restoring the backup was of iphone 4s ios 8 and my new phone which i purchase from market is iphone 5 ios 7.1.2 tell me what do to please reply 😟 😟 😟 😢

Youne1979 wrote:

The iPhone data recovery software will scan and list all the iTunes backup files automatically in the “Recover from iTunes Backup File” mode and restore your iPhone data.

I tried it, it didn't work for me, what about you?

Yours happened on Sunday, mine happened on the 22nd of May 2015.

Thanks Rbenaehour this was extremely helpful.

One comment update the steps such that the folder that was just created is to be deleted to avoid the confusion during the restore process. As if you don't do that during the restore process you will see two backups with the same time.

I did all the steps in order to restore the backup - worked great up until the iPhone was restored. Once I restored the iPhone, none of the contacts or photos were synced for whatever reason? Now there are 3 backups with the same name under the restore list, one with the original date (the date of the restore that was deleted by iTunes). I hit restore for that file, and contacts and photos still weren't there. Is there a way to get that information from the original backup file?

I have the original file saved onto the desktop in a folder. Did I need to copy over more information than I did from the info.plist file? Please assist! Thanks!

Hey

I was just wondering if you could clarify what you meant by the "<key> IC-info.sidv</key>" bit. You said copy and paste all the information from the info file and then added that bit I mentioned. Is that just an example or is that what we should be copying?

Thanks

Thanks for the tip Rbenachour! Can you clarify what-

Copy all the text from the begining all the way up through

"<key>IC-Info.sidv</key>" means?

Does this mean to start at the bottom and copy "up through" the "<key>IC-Info.sidv</key>"or start at the top and copy "down through" "<key>IC-Info.sidv</key>"???

I just want to make sure that I copy the correct data and not corrupt any files. Thanks very much!!!

I am having this same problem. I am using a MAC. How do I get to ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup??? I just backed up my old phone and it shows that I did. I am wanting to put that backup on a new phone but it won't show up in itunes. I have been trying to solve this for 3 days. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

My phone and itunes are both up to date and have the latest software. My phone is still not showing up when I go to restore back up. I just did a forced back up to icloud.... again. My phone shows the time it was backed up. I went to icloud.com and it also shows the time it was backed up but when I go to itunes to do the restored backup, it is not listed. What do I need to do?