Restore iPhone from backup not listed in iTunes

No, that is not what either Lawrence or I told you. To set up or restore a device with an iCloud backup, you do not use iTunes, you must use Wifi.

If you want to restore from iTunes, then you need to hook up the iPhone Gold to iTunes and back it up there - not on iCloud.

This article explains how to do either an iCloud or iTunes backup, and how to set up a new phone from either of those types of backups:

Transfer content from your previous iOS device to your new iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

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that is the issue. there isn't a file named info.plist in the older back up

amberrowton wrote:

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.

You don't have to.

• Install iTunes version 12.4 (note: You need Mac OS 10.8.5 or later)
• Plug the Lightning cable into your Mac and into the iPhone
• Open iTunes if it isn't already, and click on the iPhone icon in the top bar to open the Summary screen
• Check the version of iOS on your phone. If it is not 9.3.2 update it using iTunes
• Click Restore Backup

Move the file to your Desktop and then hold Option and click restore inside of iTunes. The User Library is normally hidden so you won't see it in the finder window without showing hidden files. Moving it is the easiest fix.

The OP is asking about the backup of the iPhone, NOT the operating system file. Your approach will not work for a backup, and now that the OP has followed your directions he or she has all but eliminated the possibility of restoring the backup.

If the backup is where it belongs (in the MobileSync folder) there should be a button "Restore from Backup" on the Summary page when you click on the iPhone's name in iTunes. You need the latest version of iTunes (11.x) installed.

If iOS needs to be restored also restore it with the Restore iPhone button; when the restore is done it will restore any valid backups that are in the MobileSync folder.

This worked, but unfortunately I made the mistake of backing up my phone again after apparently doing it twice, so it just restored the backup that had originally happened the first time when I messed up the Back Up... is there any way to go farther back?

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.