How to Restore iPhone from Backup Without Losing Data

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By Jenefey Aaron

2025-04-22 / iPhone Recovery

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Restoring your iPhone from a backup can save you a lot of time and effort, especially if you've upgraded your device or if your iPhone has encountered issues. However, many users worry that the restore process might result in losing important data or that the backup won't work properly.

In this guide, we will walk you through different methods of restoring your iPhone from a backup and provide tips for backing up your iPhone more efficiently. Whether you're using iCloud, iTunes, or a third-party tool, you’ll learn how to restore your iPhone without losing any of your precious data.

Part 1: Difference between “Restore iPhone” vs “Reset” or “Restore to Factory”

Before diving into the specifics of how to restore your iPhone from a backup, it’s important to understand the difference between and restoring, versus resetting or restoring to factory settings.

Key Differences

swiper icon Please swipe to view
Action
Purpose
Data Erased?
Settings Erased?
Restores to Backup?
Restore (from Backup)
Recover data/settings from a backup
Overwrites
Overwrites
Yes
Reset (e.g., Settings)
Fix issues by resetting specific settings
No (usually)
Yes (specific ones)
No
Restore to Factory
Wipe device to original state
Yes (all)
Yes (all)
No (unless restored after)

Part 2: How to Restore from iCloud Backup

In this chapter, we will show you two quick and effective methods to restore iCloud backup.

1. How to Restore iPhone from iCloud Backup on iPhone During Setup

Restoring from an iCloud backup is one of the easiest ways to get your data back on your device, especially if you're setting up a new iPhone or have erased your device.

  • Open the Settings app on your iOS device, then go to General and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  • Tap on “Erase All Content and Settings”, and enter your passcode to confirm the action.
  • erase all content and settings
  • During the setup process, when you reach the Apps & Data screen, choose Restore from iCloud Backup. Sign in with your iCloud account and password, then select the most recent backup to restore your data to the new iOS device.
  • restore from icloud backup

The restore process may take some time depending on the size of the backup and your internet connection speed.

2. How to Restore iPhone from iCloud Backup on Computer

To restore your iPhone from a computer backup, follow these steps based on your device:

If you're using a Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, open Finder. For a PC or a Mac running macOS Mojave 10.14, open iTunes instead. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a cable. You may be asked to enter your device passcode or confirm "Trust This Computer" to proceed. Once connected, your iPhone will appear in Finder on Mac or iTunes on Windows.

Next, follow these steps:

  • Select Restore Backup. Choose the backup you want to restore from, typically selecting the most recent one based on the date.
  • restore from icloud on computer
  • Click Restore and wait for the process to finish.
  • If prompted, enter the password for an encrypted backup. After your iPhone restarts, keep it connected to the computer and wait for it to sync.
  • Once the sync is complete, you can safely disconnect your device.

Part 3: How to Restore iPhone from Backup Using iTunes or Finder (Mac/PC)

Restoring data via iTunes or Finder is another reliable method, especially if you have a backup saved on your computer.

  • Connect Your iPhone to the Computer

    Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your computer.

  • Open iTunes (Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier) or Finder (macOS Catalina and later)

    If you're using a Windows PC or an older version of macOS, open iTunes. For macOS Catalina and newer, open Finder.

  • Select Your Device

    Click on “iPhone” button in iTunes or Finder to access your iPhone settings.

  • Restore Backup

    In the "Summary" tab, click on "Restore Backup." Choose the most recent backup and click "Restore."

  • recover itunes backup
  • Wait for the Process to Complete

    The restore process will take some time. Once completed, your iPhone will reboot, and your data will be restored.

Part 4: Alternative: Selectively Restore Data Without Full Reset

To selectively restore data from your iCloud backup without performing a full reset of your iPhone, you can use UltData iPhone Data Recovery iCloud’s feature. This method allows you to restore specific items like contacts, photos, messages, or app data, rather than resetting your entire device.

UltData iPhone Data Recovery Features:

  • Selective Data Recovery: Allows you to restore specific types of data, such as photos, messages, contacts, and more, without affecting the rest of your device.
  • Easy-to-Use Interface: With just a few steps, you can easily recover your data.
  • No Data Loss: This method ensures no data will be overwritten or lost during the recovery process.

How to Selectively Recover Data from iCloud:

  • Download and install UltData iPhone Data Recovery on your PC or Mac. Choose“Recover Data from iCloud”.
  • launch icloud recovery
  • Before we start, please sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID.
  • sign in icloud
  • Select data type and click “ Scan.” After scanning, select the data you want to restore.
  • select icloud file types
  • After the scan is complete, select the data you want to recover and click “Recover”.
  • preview icloud data

Tips to Backup and Restore iPhone More Efficiently

To back up and restore your iPhone efficiently using Tenorshare UltData iPhone Data Recovery, you can follow these tips and best practices. Tenorshare UltData is a powerful tool that allows you to easily back up and restore iPhone data, recover lost files, and perform more advanced tasks like selectively restoring data without a full reset.

  • Launch Tenorshare UltData and connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable. Open the iPhone Data feature within the software.
  • choose ultdata data backup
    connect devices to computer
  • Click on Back Up Your iPhone to initiate the backup process. Select the file types (such as photos, contacts, messages, etc.) you want to back up.
  • Once the scan is complete, ultdata will prompt you. You can preview the backup and click “Save to PC”.
  • save data to pc

UltData allows for both full and selective backups, so you can back up only the data you need rather than the entire device.

Wrapping Up

Restoring your iPhone from a backup is an essential skill that every iPhone user should master. Whether you’re using iCloud, iTunes, or third-party tools like UltData, you now have all the necessary steps to restore your iPhone without losing any important data. Always remember to back up regularly and use tools that allow selective restoration to save time and effort.

By following these methods, you can be confident that your iPhone will always be restored the way you want it, and without losing any important data along the way.

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