iTunes only gives iPhone 5 the option to restore from backup or eject

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Level 1

4 points

iTunes only gives iPhone 5 the option to restore from backup or eject

I know this question has been asked in the past, and I have read many threads and articles on this question, but I still have not been able to find a way to backup my iPhone 5 (running iOS 6.1.2) to my computer without losing all the data on it.

Brief explanation of my problem.

I purchased an iPhone 5 new back in December 2012 Removed it from the box, powered it on and started entering my contacts from my old (non-smart) phone by hand. After done entering my contacts, I then proceeded to setup Messages, iTunes, the App store etc with the Apple ID of my wife's phone since we really don't have a need for separate Apple ID's.

All works fine with all our Apple iOS devices.

My problem lies with me not being able to plug my iPhone 5 into my computer and being able to make a backup to the computer. No matter what computer I plug the iPhone 5 into, I get the Welcome to Your New iPhone screen. If I right-click on the phone in the left hand column, my only options are Eject (or Restore from backup... if I plug the iPhone 5 into the same computer that my wife's iPhone has been backed up to) as seen in this image.

How do I get the phone to be recognized by my computer so I can do a backup to the computer like my wife's iPhone. I currently do NOT have a backup anywhere of my iPhone 5?

Is the only time you can associate an iOS device to a computer is when it is brand new before being used?

By comparison, I can plug my iPad 2 (running iOS 6.1.3) into any computer (be it the one it is synced and backed up to, or a completely different machine) and iTunes will show the device, ask to update the firmware if an update is needed, and allow me to see what is currently installed, drag and drop items to certain apps that allow it, see the breakdown at the bottom of the screen as to what percent of music, apps, pictures, etc are installed on it and such.

So, why can't I see my iPhone 5 in the same manner when I connect it to a computer?

Any and all advice greatly appreciated.

If any further info is needed, I will be glad to supply it.

Thanks in advance to all that respond.

- Dan

iPhone 5, iOS 6.1.2

Posted on Nov 5, 2014 7:56 AM

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Answer 1

Mymacisback Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 18, 2014 6:25 AM in response to Mymacisback

Its been about 2 weeks since I posted this question and have gotten no responses. Has no one come across this before? If you have, how did you manage to get your computer to allow you to do a backup to the computer?

Currently, my only options are to restore from my wifes backup or set the phone up as new, neither of which is what I want to do.

If I attempt to backup to the cloud, will this then allow me to use the computer to do a backup or am I stuck in this situation until I set the phone up as new and lose all that is on the phone?

Any suggestions from anyone who has gone through this is greatly appreciated.

- Dan

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Answer 2

Mymacisback Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 8, 2014 10:55 AM in response to Mymacisback

So no one has come across this issue and found a solution?

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Answer 3

maknzak

Level 1

0 points

Dec 9, 2014 5:55 PM in response to Mymacisback

i am having the exact same problem trying to back up my 4s! i only get the set up new or restore, but not back up option. its been driving me crazy for the past 2 days! have you worked it out yet?

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Answer 4

Mymacisback Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 25, 2014 5:32 PM in response to maknzak

Just wanted to update all that I have found a solution to my problem.

Apparently you can create another iTunes library by holding down the Shift Key on a PC when starting iTunes but I found this to not give me the option to backup my phone. It still just gives me the same options to set up as new or restore from backup.

The option that does work is to create a new user on your PC and then fire up iTunes and it will allow you to sync and backup your phone as we have been trying to.

I guess creating another library is still allowing iTunes to see the first library and not completely treating it as a separate library, but by creating a new user and logging into that user account, it completely separates the databases when running iTunes.

Hope this helps others.

- Dan

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Answer 5

Mymacisback Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 11, 2015 4:01 PM in response to Mymacisback

I would like to preface that I have NOT tried what I am about to post.

I came across this forum post that seems to answer the question I originally posted above.

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

Based on this post, it seems that if I create a new library using the hold Shift Key while starting ITunes and then selecting Create library, and then starting iTunes in this new library, when connecting my iphone I should be able to select the Setup as new and then based on the postings in the above link, give the phone a name and it should backup the phone without deleting anything from it.

Again, I have not tried this myself as I finally broke down and created a new user on my PC to do the backup. I came across this link after I had finished my backup.

Just thought someone might find this useful.

Dan

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Answer 6

Fels

Level 1

0 points

Feb 6, 2015 12:53 AM in response to Mymacisback

Thanks for the heads up Dan, I ran into this problem as well before and I used the iCloud backup but it took too long to upload then redownload everything.

I think the solution might be as simple as authorising the computer with the iCloud ID that's used on the particular phone (Store > Authorize This Computer). I just tried that and it worked.

I also tried plugging it into a computer which its iTunes library is clear of any backup, worked as well.

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Answer 7

Feb 25, 2015 11:19 AM in response to Mymacisback

I had this problem with my iPhone 6 and bravely pressed "set up as new iphone" and was happily surprised that my phone was not wiped clean. It simply connected to iTunes, and I am now able to sync. Hope this helps!

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Answer 8

jmette66

Level 1

8 points

Jan 30, 2016 6:58 AM in response to Mymacisback

I had this problem with an iPhone 4s and decided to risk "blondebetch"s approach as pressed "set up as new iphone" - it worked for me too - didn't erase the phone - just took me to the regular screen that I get with my other devices.

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Answer 9

Aug 9, 2016 6:56 AM in response to jmette66

Yes, it's VERY counterintuitive, but after you click "set up as new device" you will then be presented with all of the backup and restore controls that you are used to in iTunes and you can back up your device and control it's settings as you would have in previous versions of iTunes. This is a UI FAIL! Apple has really messed up here.

Looking forward to Sierra and iOS 10 (hopefully) fixing these major UI issues.

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Answer 10

Sep 10, 2016 9:55 AM in response to blondebetch

Thank you. This helped me!

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Answer 11

Oct 6, 2016 1:53 AM in response to Fels

It worked when I authorised my computer by selecting menu "Account" -> Authorise this computer

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