I am upgrading from an iPhone 5 on ios8 to an iPhone 6s on ios9. I have backed up the iPhone 5 so I can restore everything to the iPhone 6s. Will this work, even though the iPhone 5 is still on ios8? Or do I need to upgrade the iPhone 5 to ios9 first?

I always get this mixed up, but I believe you will need to update your iphone 5 to IOS 9 in order to use the back up.

When you get your new phone try using the iphone 5 backup, if that doesn't work you'll still be able to update and backup the iphone 5 and use it on your new phone.

In most cases the IOS is located on a different layer than your App's and Data. Therefore, as long as the backup application is compatible with the IOS installed you should be fine performing the backup without up-grading. Since I have neither device or IOS, it is going to be trial and error on your part. The good news is, if a back up was performed you data is safe in either case.

No, it is the other way around. You can restore a phone with a newer iOS to a backup with a lower iOS, however you cannot restore a phone with an older iOS to one with a backup of a newer iOS. So, in the OP's case, they can restore the iPhone 6s on iOS 9 to the backup of the iPhone 5 with iOS 8. It just wouldn't work the other way around. 🙂

ChrisJ4203 wrote:

No, it is the other way around. You can restore a phone with a newer iOS to a backup with a lower iOS, however you cannot restore a phone with an older iOS to one with a backup of a newer iOS. So, in the OP's case, they can restore the iPhone 6s on iOS 9 to the backup of the iPhone 5 with iOS 8. It just wouldn't work the other way around. 🙂

Bam!!! I knew someone who come to my aid. Like I said I always get it confused.

Thanks Chris.

You're welcome. You've had my back before too! 😉