'Setting up as a new iPhone' after months of use

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Level 1

10 points

'Setting up as a new iPhone' after months of use

I've just plugged my mum's iPhone into iTunes for the first time since she's had it and it came up with the 'Welcome to your new iPhone' screen. She has been using the phone for several months. I have 2 options - setting it up as a new iPhone or restoring it from her iPad backup. Will setting the phone up as a new device erase everything that's already on the phone and turn it back to factory settings? I don't want to go ahead and ruin her phone.

Thanks!

iPhone 5c, null

Posted on Jun 28, 2016 12:25 PM

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Answer 1

theratter

Level 4

3,961 points

Jun 28, 2016 12:55 PM in response to Lydia96

Setting it up as a new device will not restore anything leaving the device as if new from the box. Of course this also requires that you Restore the phone using iTunes in order to erase it and reinstall iOS. When that has completed you will have an option to restore a backup or restore as New. You cannot restore an iPad backup to an iPhone.

Furthermore, if you are using your computer and iTunes, then you also risk losing your data. If your mother has her own computer, then be sure you use that one.

Why do you want to restore it if it is properly working?

Have you tried any troubleshooting?

Restart: Press On/Off button until the Slide to Power Off slider appears, select Slide to Power Off and, after It shuts down, press the On/Off button until the Apple logo appears.
Reset: Press the Home and On/Off buttons at the same time and hold them until the Apple logo appears (about 10-15 seconds).
Restore: Connect your iPhone to iTunes on your computer, backup, and then select Restore to Factory.

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Answer 2

Lydia96 Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 28, 2016 12:59 PM in response to theratter

We are trying to back up the phone to the computer but since she has used it for months without us plugging it into iTunes it is coming up with the 'Welcome to Your New iPhone' screen on iTunes. I was just wondering if I do click 'set up as new iphone' - which is the only option I have, will this erase everything she has on the phone or will it stay there and back up to the computer?

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Answer 3

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Jun 28, 2016 1:17 PM in response to Lydia96

I realize that you don't want to restore the iPad backup, but you can restore an iPad backup to an iPhone as long as the backup does not have a newer iOS tied to it than the phone has on it. If the phone has an older iOS, it would have to be updated to the newre iOS first.

Having said that, you can back up the phone to her computer. Without connecting the phone, Launch iTunes and go to Edit>Preferences>Devices (Windows) or ITunes>Preferences>Devices (Mac). Select the option at the bottom where it says Prevent iPods, iPad and iPhones from Syncing automatically. Click OK. Quit iTunes. That prevents auto syncing of all iOS devices.

Now connect the phone to the computer again, launch iTunes, select the phone from the devices icon at the top and click on Backup Now. After the backup completes go to File>Devices>Transfer purchases>iPhone Name. This will transfer all purchase except apps, into her iTunes library. Apps can be downloaded again if needed and you can restore the backup after apps are downloaded which will restore all app data.

Take a look at these before you go further.

Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "crashed" Hard Drive

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Redownload or transfer your iTunes Store purchases from an iPhone, iPad, or iPod to a computer - Apple Support

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