How to clone one ipad mini to another ipad mini

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Level 1

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How to clone one ipad mini to another ipad mini

My wife has an iPad Mini 2 that has never been connected/synced to iTunes. We purchased an iPad Mini 4. I will inherit the Mini 2 and she will use the Mini 4. I will then later setup/sync the Mini 2 as I do with my other devices.

If, before doing the above, I sync her Mini 2 attached to her machine and select backup to iCloud can I then attach her Mini 4 and 'restore' from iCloud and end up with a *complete and total clone of all the information/apps/settings, etc. found on her Mini 2?

Will not iTunes be bothered that it is restoring to a different device than it had backed up from?

Mark

iPad Mini, Windows 7

Posted on Dec 22, 2015 6:45 AM

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Answer 1

drsailer

Level 4

1,537 points

Dec 22, 2015 6:53 AM in response to Markg2

You only have to do one or the other - backup to iTunes or backup to iCloud. You can do both, though, to make sure the data is safe.

The purpose of the backups is to do just this when needed, restore to a new device and be back where you were. When doing the iTunes backup make sure you encrypt it to save all of your email/network/etc. passwords.

You may have to update the new iPad prior to a restore if the iOS version is earlier that what is on the current iPad. You can restore from an earlier iOS backup but not from a later one.

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Answer 2

Markg2 Author

Level 1

30 points

Dec 22, 2015 7:02 AM in response to drsailer

I'm a bit confused.

Within iTunes there are two backup buttons, one to your local hard drive and the other to iCloud. So I don't get a separate, different type of backup that bypasses iTunes as the 'go between' and backs up directly to iCloud?

I have another question but I don't want to confuse this one with the other until clear.

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Answer 3

drsailer

Level 4

1,537 points

Dec 22, 2015 7:06 AM in response to Markg2

If you have setup the backup in Settings -> iCloud on the iPad the backup to iCloud option will be checked. If not, the backup to iTunes option will be checked. You can't force an iCloud backup from the computer; that needs to be done from the iPad itself under Settings -> iCloud -> Backup. It just needs to be plugged into the wall, not the computer to do this.

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Answer 4

Markg2 Author

Level 1

30 points

Dec 22, 2015 7:31 AM in response to drsailer

Sorry to be so thick on this thing, but after checking iTunes I'm again at a loss.

1. (Note: it appears iTunes pages are different depending upon the device selected--I currently have my iPhone attached) If I were to backup to iCloud connected to commercial power, over the air per the iPad settings...you are saying that that backup to the iCloud is different in some way than connected to the computer, iTunes, Summary page, Backups, Automatically backup and select the radio button for iCloud?

2. Although I had previously assumed you could restore from iCloud in iTunes, after checking the above iTunes page, there is no 'restore from iCloud'?

3. Again, after reading the information on the same iTunes page, and this will likely make the iCloud conversation moot, it says that the only *complete backup is one performed to your local machine--selecting the This Computer radio button vs. the iCloud radio button?

4. And the Only 'restore' button is located below the Manual Backup and Restore which is to the computer not apple's servers??????

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Answer 5

drsailer

Level 4

1,537 points

Dec 22, 2015 7:48 AM in response to Markg2

1. The backups copy the same user data and app data. The difference, depending on what version of iOS and iTunes you are using no is whether or not the apps get backed up. With older versions of iOS the apps are backed up to the computer and restored. With newer versions it functions like an iCloud backup, in that apps are downloaded to the device following the restore of the user data to the device.

2. You cannot force a backup to iCloud from iTunes, only choose it as the way to backup. And yes, you cannot restore from iCloud in iTunes. That needs to be done on the device.

3. This is no longer the case with ios 9 and forward. Due to app thinning the backups to iCloud and the computer are now the same.

4. Yes. iTunes can only backup and restore a local version, not iCloud.

Your best bet - do a manual backup to iTunes with the iPad connected and then go to Settings -> iCloud -> backup on the iPad and force an iCloud backup. That way you can restore either way, in case 1 is corrupted, and both will give you the same result in the end. The only benefit to the computer backup is if you are on a metered data plan at home the local backup will save the bandwidth associated with an iCloud restore.

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