Mark Williams3
Level 1 (139 points)
iPhone

Q: Restoring from earlier iOS versions in iCloud Backups?

I currently have an iPhone 6s on iOS 9.0.3

 

I have several older backups on iCloud from iPhone 5 and 5s. With obviously earlier versions of iOS. I have very delicate and sensitive information on there and important pictures. I STILL HAVE an iPhone 5s but I'm hoping to get rid of it soon. Im wondering. If I use my iPhone 6s, can I restore the old 5/5s backups from either iCloud or iTunes to get the pictures or information off then reverting to the current version? Or do I have to keep the 5s to do it safely?

Thanks

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Apr 15, 2016 10:23 PM

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Mark Williams3

Q: Restoring from earlier iOS versions in iCloud Backups?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by ManSinha,

    ManSinha ManSinha Apr 15, 2016 10:28 PM in response to Mark Williams3
    Level 6 (10,262 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 15, 2016 10:28 PM in response to Mark Williams3

    You do not need the phone to restore the backup per se

    For example if the backup was made with iOS 8.3 and we are now on 9.3.1 - iTunes will adjust for that when you want to restore - (what one cannot do is make a backup of a phone running 9.3 and then try to restore to one running 8.3)

    Remember though that keeping information in a backup is not the best way of retaining it if you need it

    Not only is there is no access to discrete information - IOW - you cannot fish out just notes or pictures BUT you have to restore it to access it - which means your current device loses everything between the restore date and now -

    There is software called iPhone Backup Extractor that claims to be able to find specific files in a backup but it is not free

     

     

    Also if you plan to get rid of the 5S

     

    What to do before selling or giving away your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

  • by Mark Williams3,

    Mark Williams3 Mark Williams3 Apr 15, 2016 10:42 PM in response to ManSinha
    Level 1 (139 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 15, 2016 10:42 PM in response to ManSinha

    Right I have no problem getting everything extracted once the backup is restoted. I just don't want to lose the information by not doing it correctly or it not being compatible on an iPhone 6s from earlier versions. I have about 10 backups I need to restore and go through. I dont even mind if they get deleted after that but I can't lose some of the pictures on them. Thanks

  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen Apr 16, 2016 6:28 AM in response to Mark Williams3
    Level 5 (5,588 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 16, 2016 6:28 AM in response to Mark Williams3

    If you have multiple backups with different "stuff" in each, you are not going to be able to pick and choose between them "easily".

     

    It's one backup at a time that gets restored, and that backup's data will overwrite whatever is on your phone at that moment in time. Backups are designed to get you back to a certain point in time.

     

    If you need data from each of those backups, you'll have to restore from each of them, analyze what you want to keep, and move that data from your phone somewhere else before using the next backup.

     

    It sounds like you may realize this.