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Can't restore from backup without buying another cable

mchlwise

mchlwise

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 8, 2015
59
17
Utah
Getting my wife a new 11" pro tonight.

Watching some unboxing videos, I saw that it comes with a USB c to USB c cable.

I realized: how does my wife restore from backup of her old ipad if the windows pc she backed up to doesn't have a USBc port?

Ran over to the Apple Store, asked the question, and was told that indeed I would need another cable. O.k. Do you have one here? "No. You'd have to go with a third party option."

REALLY?!

Word of warning. Restore from icloud backup, or stop by Best Buy or something for a C to A cable if you don't already have one.
 
I just realized this as well and ordered some cables off Amazon. It sucks but that's the way things are. I think Apple should've had USB C to USB A cables ready from day one but thankfully Amazon's prices are way more reasonable anyway
 
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Depends on what you are backing up and how fast your Internet connection is. The advantage with iCloud restore is that it downloads the essential configuration data first, then silently downloads all the larger files (pictures, apps, etc) in the background so you can basically still use the device while everything is restored.
 
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TFW people complain about apple devices not having USB-c and when they finally do implement it they throw a fit for not having a USB-c computer. People will always complain. Appl computers have had USB-c for what, 3 or 4 years now? I think that’s ample time for it to begin trickling down to other products
 
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maxgts said:
Doesn’t restoring a backup from iCloud take much, much longer compared to a local backup?
Click to expand...
No, all apps are downloaded in either method and that’s what takes the most time other than any music or photos. As long as your internet connection is fast enough. Years ago I had one negative experience with the iCloud method and so didn’t trust that method for quite a while and then tried once more and it was so smooth and easy that I haven’t used iTunes for this in a long time. Although I still do a weekly backup to iTunes to supplement the nightly iCloud backups so I realized I had to order one of the additional cables as well.
 
macdaddy1991 said:
TFW people complain about apple devices not having USB-c and when they finally do implement it they throw a fit for not having a USB-c computer. People will always complain. Appl computers have had USB-c for what, 3 or 4 years now? I think that’s ample time for it to begin trickling down to other products
Click to expand...
No harm in having all models with USB-C but if Apple change (which they have) they need to provide the correct cables for purchase as an accessory (USB-C to USB-A/B) and not leave it to third-party sellers where would be owners end up spending endless time and uncertainty purchasing from Amazon/eBay/etc.
 
maxgts said:
Doesn’t restoring a backup from iCloud take much, much longer compared to a local backup?
Click to expand...


No, it's actually quicker . And you are able to backup EVERYTHING, including all health data and passwords. I stopped backing up to iCloud years ago. When I restore from an iTunes backup I'm up and running within a hour
 
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iCloud for backups. Been doing it for years. You're back up and running on a new iPad in 15 mins with the basic settings and then your app downloads start. Usually not more than 1h and everything is back in order. Have to log into a few apps but that's it.
 
ITunes encrypted backups are better because they preserve your passwords on all apps - I find it much nicer not to have to re-log in to all my accounts after an encrypted restore
 
macdaddy1991 said:
TFW people complain about apple devices not having USB-c and when they finally do implement it they throw a fit for not having a USB-c computer. People will always complain. Appl computers have had USB-c for what, 3 or 4 years now? I think that’s ample time for it to begin trickling down to other products
Click to expand...

Pretty sure those are two different sets of people.
 
$6.00 at Fry's for me. If they didn't have it, Best Buy did for like $15-20. Not that big of a deal, minor inconvenience. I restored from iTunes (I loathe hosted solutions for my files and critical data, seen celebrity nudie picture hacks anyone?) then checked the box to wirelessly do backups from here on out. Now my phone or pad, when iTunes is launched from my Mac will do backups automatically.
 
iCloud backup is really quite impressive in terms of how data efficient it is. My local backup for my iPad was 60GB on the disc. My iCloud backup is about 3.5GB...
 
Many posts like this, and I feel the pain lol. Apple clearly has put little thought into the ‘connector’ strategy across their currently supported devices. It makes for a worse experience with their products - donglegate!. That said, trying to make their curremt products compatible with Windows computers (lord knows what connectors they’d have) is probably not going to happen. Not knocking Windows hardware (I’d like a NUC on Win 7 to run legacy games and print from Photoshop).
 
Beards said:
No harm in having all models with USB-C but if Apple change (which they have) they need to provide the correct cables for purchase as an accessory (USB-C to USB-A/B) and not leave it to third-party sellers where would be owners end up spending endless time and uncertainty purchasing from Amazon/eBay/etc.
Click to expand...
Apple does sell a USB-C to USB-A adapter.
 
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Well, shame on you for having an older laptop. This is a high end device and it has to ship with a cable: I was on your team until I got a USB-C MBP. If I’m buying the latest devices, Apple should favor me, right?

What’s really unacceptable is that they wouldn’t lend you a cable at the store. They should have done that.

What i think you could do to get back at them is getting a brand new cable from them, using it just for that and return it within the window.
 
AppleHaterLover said:
What i think you could do to get back at them is getting a brand new cable from them, using it just for that and return it within the window.
Click to expand...

You realize that this doesn’t get back at Apple at all. It gets back at you and me and all the other Apple customers. It costs Apple money to check and repackage or reuse the cable, but they pass that extra cost on by raising the prices of everything to cover it.

I’m not against using the return policy legitimately, but if you are buying something exclusively to use once and return then that’s just not right.
 
This USB-C to USB type A cord works perfectly for those that need iTunes restore for the new iPad Pro, and don't have the necessary port on their computer/laptop:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/belkin...and-sync-cable-silver/6091904.p?skuId=6091904

Note: it will also be incredibly useful for Air travel, plugging into USB ports provided in many Business/First class airline seats/airport lounges. Same applies for car charging, where most cars definitely have only USB connections.
 
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