How to Restore iPhone 7 from Backup without Erasing

by Sophie Green   Updated on 2021-03-03 / Update for  iPhone Backup

Most people who want to restore iPhone 7 from backup are not actually looking to get their data erased. However, no matter what you do, your iPhone’s data is going to get wiped off when you restore a backup on it. This is how things work with the official Apple backup methods.

However, if you choose a non-Apple method, then you can actually restore from backup iPhone 7 without having to erase your device. This guide tells you why you should not be using iTunes or iCloud to restore your backups. It then offers a nice third-party tool to help you selectively restore data without erasing your phone.

Part 1. Why Not Use iTunes or iCloud to Restore iPhone 7 from Backup?

This section of the guide shows the limitations that come with restoring a backup using iTunes or iCloud.

Data Deletion

Only the data contained in your backup will be restored and your existing phone data will be deleted. If your backup is old, so will be your data.

iTunes App Errors

Often your iPhone 7 won't restore from iTunes backup as iTunes has several errors that can come up from time to time.

iCloud Errors

iCloud is not without issues and you might sometimes see errors like “Cannot restore backup” while trying to restore an iCloud backup. Backup Incompatibility

If you made the backup on a higher iOS version, you cannot install that backup on a lower iOS version. Apple does not let you do that.

Takes Too Long

Restoring your backups, especially with iCloud, is a tiring and time-consuming task. Sometimes it can even take hours just to install a backup on your phone.

Part 2. How to Restore iPhone 7/7 Plus from Backup without Erasing

Now that you know why you should not be using iTunes and iCloud for restoring your device, you may want to find out how to restore iPhone 7 from backup without any issues and without erasing the phone.

Luckily, there is a software called Tenorshare UltData for iOS that allows you to selectively restore data from your iTunes backup to your iPhone 7. This does not cause any issues. Also, this method will not erase any data on your phone. All your data will remain intact.

The following shows how to restore from backup iPhone 7 Plus without losing data with a third-party tool.

  • Connect your iPhone 7 to your computer using a USB cable.
  • Grab the aforementioned software from its site and install it on your computer. Launch the software, click on Recover from iTunes Backup File.

    cannot restore backup iphone 7
  • Select a backup, and click on Start Scan at the lower-right corner.

    restore iphone 7 from backup
  • Choose the file types that you want to recover and then click Scan at the bottom.

    how to restore iphone 7 from itunes backup
  • You will see the files of your iTunes backup. Select the files you want to restore to your iPhone 7 and hit the Recover button at the bottom-right corner.

    restore from backup iphone 7

That is how to restore from backup iPhone 7 without losing any of your files.

Part 3. iPhone 7 Won't restore from iTunes/iCloud Backup, What to Do?

If your iPhone 7 cannot restore backup for some reason, there are a few things you can do to resolve the issue.

If your iPhone 7 won’t restore from iTunes Backup:

  • Latest iTunes Version

    Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer. This is important to iPhone 7 restore from iTunes backup successfully.

  • Disable Your Antivirus Software

    If you are running an antivirus or any other security program on your computer, turn it off when you use iTunes to restore your iPhone 7. Those programs can interfere with the workings of iTunes.

  • Check the USB Port and Cable

    Ensure the USB port and cable you use to connect your device to your computer is clean and is free of any issues. Also, the cable must be proper and not have any damages on it.

    iphone 7 restore from itunes backup
  • Reboot Your Devices

    Lastly, reboot both your iPhone and your computer and then start the restore process from scratch.

    iphone 7 won't restore from itunes backup

If your iPhone 7 won’t restore from iCloud backup:

  • Force Reboot Your Phone

    You can force reboot your iPhone 7 to fix the minor iCloud backup issues. Press and hold down the Volume Down and Sleep buttons at the same time to do this.

    fix iphone 7 won't restore from itunes backup
  • Connect to a Working WiFi Network

    Make sure your iPhone 7 is connected to a working and stable WiFi network. This is a must when you are downloading your backups from iCloud.

  • Reset Network Settings

    You can try resetting your network settings to see if that fixes your issue. Head into Settings > General > Reset and tap on Reset Network Settings to do that.

    iphone 7 cannot restore backup
  • iPhone Storage

    Ensure your iPhone has enough storage to restore your backup. Insufficient storage space can break the iCloud backup restoration process.

    fix iphone 7 cannot restore backup

Summary

That was how you iPhone 7 restore from backup using various methods. There are methods that erase your phone and then there are other methods that preserve your data while still helping you to restore your content. If you want to restore iPhone from backup without erasing, Tenorshare UltData for iOS will be your best choice.