iPhone 14 Pro iCloud back up vs clean install

[Iron Curtains]

Hey all.

So I basically want to make sure I get all the most important stuff back on my phone (contacts, passwords , photos, etc) which I figure should all be handled and synced with iCloud even without a full iCloud backup.

I honestly just want to start fresh with all my apps, and reinstall the ones I really actually use a lot of the time. I don’t mind relogging into things.

My main question is, what would be the big things I would miss out on by not restoring from an iCloud backup?

Or worded this way, what exactly does an iCloud backup do these days considering that everything kind of syncs to the cloud live.

Thanks in advance.

 

[clueless88]

Why not just sync from iCloud, then remove the apps and associated data? I think it would be much faster than downloading each individual app from your app store and then log on to each account.

 

[Iron Curtains]

Why not just sync from iCloud, then remove the apps and associated data? I think it would be much faster than downloading each individual app from your app store and then log on to each account.

Well, I honestly have a ton of apps on my phone, the vast majority of them I don’t use.

That’s why I like the idea of just starting fresh.

All I’m really concerned with is whether or not I would be missing anything really important by not doing a backup.

 

[fwmireault]

Or worded this way, what exactly does an iCloud backup do these days considering that everything kind of syncs to the cloud live.

iCloud backups remember your settings. not a big deal, but with focus mode, notifications and lock screen, it can take quite some time to set that up again. It’s not that bad though, I started fresh when I moved from Intel to M1 Mac and it took about two hours to set everything up. I guess it would be more around 3 on iPhone

Only thing I can think of is your health and fitness data if you have an apple watch, but i believe this information is all stocked on the cloud

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Why not just sync from iCloud, then remove the apps and associated data? I think it would be much faster than downloading each individual app from your app store and then log on to each account.

If you already have most your app logins in keychain, then it's not that bad of a process.

I did a setup as new. Didn't take long to reinstall my apps and cause the majority of the logins were in keychain, it wasn't a headache. And my TV Provider login went right through cause it's connected to iCloud.

I usually setup as new, when there's a huge enough iOS change and noticeable hardware changes. Just to be on the safe side.

 

[Nav45]

Good question Iron Curtains.

I have an older iPhone and don't want to transfer everything over besides the contacts and similar items. Since these are stored on the iCloud, I assume they'll be automatically pulled over. So starting from new seems good.

I assume the convenience factor is one reason for the iCloud backup. Saves time installing all the stuff.

 

[chris4565]

iCloud backups remember your settings. not a big deal, but with focus mode, notifications and lock screen, it can take quite some time to set that up again.

The focus modes are not only part of the backup but part of iCloud, so they get restored even without loading a backup, right? E.g. I have them on my MacBook Pro but only set them up on my iPhone.

 

[chabig]

I think the third option is the easiest–direct transfer from old phone to new. Just delete the apps you don't want, either before or after.

 

[Fatus_Asticus]

I do a clean install. It’s not worth the ******** and after a year my device has a ton of **** built up in it, extra messages, apps and 5 or 6 updates all over writing each other. My 13pm was starting to feel just a bit slower why do I want to start off on that foot with a new device.

 

[slplss]

If you have four 2FA authenticators like I do, it may be a headache to transfer them to new phone. Also, you'd have to re-login in every app, add 3rd party email accounts. So it depends, will starting anew make you feel better? Is it worth the time?

 

[James Godfrey]

I have always set up as new, I do use quick start but then select the don’t transfer apps and data option during set up.

As I have plenty of iCloud storage all of the important stuff is immediately available on my new device, the only time consuming part is installing and re-logging into apps etc, plus adjusting your settings.

Overall though my phone took me about 3 hours to fully set up as new with 70+ apps installed.

I have found that when restoring from back up I generally got more bugs etc… whereas not restoring from back up has made my experience of each new phone more seamless without any major issues.

 

[Jackbequickly]

I don’t have the time or patients to start from new, it would take me forever to get my iPhone back to being productive and I depend on it for my business.

I have used the direct transfer and it moves everything including images and music to you new device. All I had to do was reinsert my 3 digit codes for my credit and debit cards and I was up and running in no time. All three of my Home Screens were exactly in the same order, it is a no brainer to me.

 

[StaceyMJ86]

Well, I honestly have a ton of apps on my phone, the vast majority of them I don’t use.

That’s why I like the idea of just starting fresh.

All I’m really concerned with is whether or not I would be missing anything really important by not doing a backup.

I did the exact same thing coming from a 12 Pro Max to the 14 Pro Max. I have over 300 apps downloaded on the 12PM, and knew I didn’t want all of those apps back on the new phone. I did an iCloud backup on the old phone, and for apps that specifically allow me to upload to iCloud like my work hour tracker and checkbook register, for example, and setup my 14PM as new, and just downloaded, contacts, messages, calls, photos, keychain passwords, iCloud Drive, Calendars, Reminders, Apple Music, and Health. I just re-logged into the apps that I downloaded whenever I launch them, so that I wouldn’t spend an entire day logging into apps. So far it’s been working for me. Plus my 12 PM is jailbroken, and there’s no way I was bringing any of that data over to the 14PM due to it may cause some issues.