Confused about backup/sim card/SD card

wishuwerenicer wrote:

Bought iphone X in late December 2017. All appeared to work as it should. Photos accessible, apps working even automatic data back ups when connected to home wifi and charging overnight.

A week ago, toward the end of road-trip vacation, my phone shut it's self off. It happened while removing the phone from it's case (I originally thought I shut it down accidentally) and phone indicated I must connect to itunes store for restore. Asked multiple sources, including Apple store, how to do this and keep photos, but was told not possible without using 3rd party data recovery. After 3 days of trying all reasonable options, gave in and used itunes to restore. As expected last 2 weeks of photos are gone.

My question(s) is(are) why are some pictures saved and others lost? What goes on sim card and what on SD card? Are they the same?

My phone says it has not been backed up in 33 weeks (about the time of purchase), yet I frequently got messages that phone was successfully backed up.

The kicker is, all photos except last 2 weeks, are still on my phone, as if no problem, but messages/voicemails/podcasts are reset to, first day welcome to iphone settings (all gone).

What data is deemed save worthy and what is not? Photos from 1-8 months ago saved, but messages and voice mail from same time is not...? Contacts are saved (even recently input contacts), yet phone "not backed up for 33 weeks" How does that work?

There is nothing stored on the sim card, there is no SD card for iphones.

If you get a message stating your phone hasn't been backed up in 33 weeks, then its not backing up to icloud.

Not sure where you're seeing that it has been backed up. Maybe post a screenshot of it.

Your contacts were saved probably because you've sync to icloud and when you sign back in after the restore it came back.

As far as photos goes, maybe you were using this iCloud Photo Library - Apple Support

After you restore your phone it gives you and option to do this Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

And if you choose any of the above assuming you have either one, then all of your data that was backed up would restore back to your phone.

Hi

No phones are stored on your simcard.

If you have iCloud backup turned on before problems when you charge iPhone it should be automatically backed up to iCloud Over your wifi.

You need to restore iPhone back to factory settings over your wifi

When it asks if you want to use iCloud backup Say yes to get your apps and data back

Choose a backup from when you had your photos this will only work if you had iCloud backup turned on before problems.

Cheers

Brian 🇬-1F1E7;

The Sim card only holds your phone number and cellular carrier settings.

iPhones do not use SD cards.

iCloud and iTunes are 2 independent backup options. Backing up to 1 does not mean you backup to the other.

If you were getting a message that the iPhone had not been backed up for 33 weeks it means it had not been backing up to icloud for that long.

If you had a backup in iTunes you restored from, then it would have put everything as it was when that backup was taken. i.e before the 2 week trip.

Where were you getting these messages of a successful backup? An Email? A system popup? an App?

iCloud Backups can be set to be done automatically when the iPhone is plugged in to power, connected to Wifi, and the screen is off for long enough.

See here for what is and isn't included in Backups: About backups for iOS devices - Apple Support