NickNotorious

Q: Restore photos from earlier backup only

I had an appointment with Apple to have my camera repaired. I backed up my phone to my computer before going. After my phone was repaired, I attempted to restore my backup. When I plugged my phone to my computer, it started syncing (which I don't have set to automatically do). The first backup of today (approx 8am) didn't show. Only the backup from after my repair showed.

 

I'd like to keep the most recent backup, BUT I'd like to restore my photos from the earlier backup.

 

Q: Is there a simple way to do it?

 

Alternatively:

Q: Or is there a way that I could restore to the earlier version but, restore my text messages to today?

iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 9.3.4

Posted on Aug 14, 2016 6:19 PM

Close

Q: Restore photos from earlier backup only

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by jameson.h,

    jameson.h jameson.h Aug 15, 2016 2:31 PM in response to NickNotorious
    Community Specialists
    Aug 15, 2016 2:31 PM in response to NickNotorious

    Hi NickNotorious,

     

    Thanks for posting your question in the Apple Support Communities! I understand that you have some questions about restoring content to your iPhone after having a repair done. I definitely wouldn't want to lose any information, including my photos so I can understand wanting to make sure you get everything back on to your iPhone. I'm happy to provide some direction here. 

     

    To answer your first question, iTunes can keep multiple backups. You can use this link to help you locate your backups. 

    Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

    If you're looking to restore your photos from an earlier backup, you'd need to restore that backup to the iPhone, then import the pictures to your computer. An exception to this would be if you're using iCloud Photo Library which will automatically sync your photos from your iPhone to iCloud which can then be synced to your computer. You can find info for restoring a backup, importing photos, and iCloud Photo Library in the resources below. 

    Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup

    Import photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

    iCloud Photo Library

     

    To answer your second question, in order to restore your text messages, you'd need to restore the entire backup. You aren't able to pick only certain items to restore. Based on what you've stated, your best bet would be to restore the backup with the photos, import them to the computer so they are saved, then restore the most recent backup so that you have the most up to date messages. 

     

    To address the issue with the automatic sync, you can take a look at the information here to disable that. I've included the information for both Mac and Windows. You'll want to check step 5 for how to make sure that the automatic sync is disabled. 

    iTunes 12 for Mac: Sync iPod, iPhone, or iPad

    iTunes 12 for Windows: Sync iPod, iPhone, or iPad

     

    Take care! 

  • by NickNotorious,

    NickNotorious NickNotorious Aug 16, 2016 12:28 PM in response to jameson.h
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 16, 2016 12:28 PM in response to jameson.h

    I'm well aware of how the backups are handled. The problem was that it apparently didn't make previous backup, so I had to restore from an earlier one. I wanted to know if there was a way to recover the photos back in the camera roll, while keeping the newest backup.

     

    Importing the photos, and then restoring to the newer backup wasn't ideal, because the photos are not re-loaded back onto the Camera Roll.

     

    With respect to the automatic sync, my settings are set to off. It started the sync on its on.

     

    I ended up having to restore to the backup before the latest.