Apps data - where is it saved?

[HoldFastHope]

Say you have an app (Facebook, for arguments sake) which has messages, cached pictures etc. Is that info stored in the actual app file (iTunes Media > Mobile Applications) or do you have to trigger an iTunes backup?

For context, I don't have access to a backup to restore my phone from however I do have a file system backup of my applications folder. If I install these apps to my new phone will they be fresh installs or will they retain my old data?

 

[Octane19]

Subscribed as I would like to know the answer to this as well. I know if you set up your phone with a fresh install, you lose all of your app data even after re-installing previous apps. Not sure where or if the app data is stored anywhere besides the phone itself.

 

[HoldFastHope]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one

Well I just tried syncing one app to the new phone and it didn't keep any data, so I'm guessing the app has to be installed first and then restored from a backup.

 

[patent10021]

Hi.

You might find my thread handy as I was technically after the same thing via restore. Other people have chimed in regarding restoring and backups.

 

[pflau]

The iPhone has a built-in database that apps can use to store data. The database is backed up when you do a back up. It is not attached to the programs themselves.

 

[Octane19]

The iPhone has a built-in database that apps can use to store data. The database is backed up when you do a back up. It is not attached to the programs themselves.

So there would be no way to grab that data out of the backup file to use after a fresh install?

 

[MaskingTape]

The new version of iPhone explorer allows you to see all your 3rd party apps and their saved data folders. You can back up/restore data as easy as just dragging and dropping.

http://www.macroplant.com/iphoneexplorer/

 

[huskerchad]

So there would be no way to grab that data out of the backup file to use after a fresh install?

Doing a restore from a saved backup will (typically) restore your app settings, but that data is NOT stored in the ".app" file.

 

[maturola]

Say you have an app (Facebook, for arguments sake) which has messages, cached pictures etc. Is that info stored in the actual app file (iTunes Media > Mobile Applications) or do you have to trigger an iTunes backup?

For context, I don't have access to a backup to restore my phone from however I do have a file system backup of my applications folder. If I install these apps to my new phone will they be fresh installs or will they retain my old data?

App store all is info on a database, the only way to get this back is to restore form a iTunes backup, you can manually repopulate the database on a jailbroken phone but it is not a totally straightforward process.

 

[patent10021]

Is it not odd that iTunes cannot present your content from a backup and ask you from what of the items in the backup do you wish to restore to?

e.g. the same way iPhoto lets you select photos from the camera you want to import. Too bad iTunes can't do that with backup and restore.

Guarantee you that's a future option.