Are there any way for real full backup of iOS devices from Apple?

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Level 1

18 points

Are there any way for real full backup of iOS devices from Apple?

Atm I know two standard ways: backup to iCloud and encrypted backup with iTunes to get a possibility to recover data from lost or broken iOS devices. But none of them makes a full backup.

I have iPad Mini 4 128Gb with latest stable/release iOS, latest/stable MacOS with iTunes.

I had about 80Gb of in-app data on my iPad and I decide to reload my device with official backup and restore services from Apple.

I made backup to iCloud and made encrypted backup with iTunes, got size of backup in iCloud is 2Gb and encrypted backup in iTunes is 23Gb.

Hmm. Ok, iCloud backup store only base settings, but iTunes... probably it is good compression I thought.

After restore encrypted iTunes backup on same iPad I got 85Gb free. The data from most non-Apple apps was lost (checked with media files in VLC player and maps in third-party navigator for example).

So I've got a conclusion that both public ways to backup iOS devices don't allow to save all data used by iOS device users.

And hence we find the question: how to protect our data on iOS devices from loss with standard tools? Or only way is to use third-party utilities? Because experience show no trust to public ways that described on Apple support website.

Or it was my personal failure with backup and restore and other people recover all own data with iTunes?

It can be important problem if someone use iOS apps for important work data that don't sync automatically with any external storage.

Before today I prefer Apple device including for possibility to change old devices to new with saving own data. But now, when last iOS versions restrict to transfer all program data with iTunes without modding and don't allow to backup and restore them...

PS: I read iOS "File System Basics" about "Documents" and "Library" locations and agreed to selective by app developers about iCloud backup with "NSURLIsExcludedFromBackupKey" key for big or unneeded files but opposite about absent possibility to make a full backup with all data with cable and iTunes.

iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi, Cellular, iOS 10.3.2

Posted on May 25, 2017 8:10 AM

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Answer 1

JcVai Author

Level 1

18 points

May 26, 2017 6:45 AM in response to JcVai

Today I made some test backups and recoveries and got a result that the problem is in iTunes - it marks backup as completed successfully either this backup don't save all data.

The test show that VLC data one time was lost and one time saves, CityGuide data lost both times.

Then it is an iTunes full encrypted backup bug and not an iOS or iPad problem.

And as a result are only solutions: to use third-party backup tools for iOS or sync data from apps with clouds and don't trust internal backup services.

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Answer 2

May 25, 2017 8:21 AM in response to JcVai

Sorry, not sure what your experience was, but backups do back up all data and settings with the exception of data that is already sync'd with iCloud like Contacts, Calendars, Notes, etc.

Not sure why you are referring to the developer coding instruction "NSURLIsExcludedFromBackupKey" as it has nothing to do with backups, but does allow the programmer to:

Discussion

You can use this property to exclude cache and other app support files which are not needed in a backup. Some operations commonly made to user documents cause this property to be reset to

false

; consequently, do not use this property on user documents.

You would have to be specific as to what did not back up in your iCloud backup (which is automatically encrypted, so backs up pretty much everything) or your encrypted iTunes backup (which, because it is encrypted will back up passwords, Wifi settings, Health data, and Website history - which an unencrypted iTunes backup will not).

There is no other way to back up your device, and other users have not reported losing any data when using a backup to restore their device. So, again, you would need to provide specific information as to what did not restore.

GB

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Answer 3

May 25, 2017 8:45 AM in response to JcVai

All app data is saved in a backup. The apps themselves are not saved, but are re-downloaded as a part of the restore process, but the app data is saved.

If you have had issues with that data being saved, then you might want to double-check your backup settings to make sure you have that app selected for backup. If the issues continue, then you might want to contact the developer to see if they have put any restrictions on their app to prevent the data from backing up.

The whole purpose of backups is so that you can restore an existing device or set up a new device to look exactly like the device that was backed up at the time of that backup. Personally, I have erased and restored my iPhones for testing purposes, and set up all of my new iPhones this way, and have had no issues - the restored device looks exactly like it did before the reset.

So, not sure what the specific issue is for you. But, the intent is to back up all data and settings so that a restore fully restores the device to the state it was in at the time of the backup.

Best of luck,

GB

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Answer 4

JcVai Author

Level 1

18 points

May 25, 2017 2:15 PM in response to gail from maine

It's clear. But I got an example with full backup and VLC app when before backup was much video files uploaded with iTunes inside app documents folder and network m3u playlists entered with app interface. And stay only small m3u files with disappearing big video files after this backup restoring on same device. And full backup size looks like more then two size smaller then must be with all data.

Then I think that either iTunes don't backup everything from iOS or it was my personal bug. And that is a reason of my topic here. I want to understand to trust or not standard backup ways. And as other side of solution can be the way to check backup without resetting device with restoring checked backup.

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Answer 5

JcVai Author

Level 1

18 points

May 25, 2017 8:25 AM in response to gail from maine

I've make an example: media files inside VLC player app.

So the question is about way to save and restore in-app users data on iOS devices.

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