If I do a clean install (no restore), what is the best way to restore APP data?

[striders]

Assuming I want to upgrade to iOS 9 (when it's released) and do it as a clean install to prevent upgrade issue. I.e. upgrade to iOS 9 then wiped the phone and start from scratch.

I don't care about Messaging and I can configure the iPhone from scratch (WiFi settings, notifications, etc.).

However, I have some app data that I want to restore (games or what not). These are backed up to iCloud (Settings --> iCloud --> Documents & Data), but I see no option to restore individual app data UNLESS I do an upgrade and restore.

Any suggestions?

 

[striders]

Been searching for answers but looks like there's no way to restore individual apps other than a full restore?

 

[TITNTUFF]

I'm wondering the same thing.

 

[EdisEdward]

i see threads like this all the time, whats so bad about updating ota?

 

[striders]

i see threads like this all the time, whats so bad about updating ota?

It's not about OTA, it's about restoring app data on an individual basis. Upgrade, OTA or iTunes, can sometimes go awry and the best way is to reset everything and start from scratch.

 

[kevroc]

It's not about OTA, it's about restoring app data on an individual basis. Upgrade, OTA or iTunes, can sometimes go awry and the best way is to reset everything and start from scratch.

The only way is if the app supports cloud sync individually. I have several apps that sync to their own cloud service or maybe use icloud for data backup. These apps I can reinstall without a problem, however, they are in the minority.

Most apps that store local data only you are out of luck on. It's unfortunate.

I will say that it's been literally years since I've done a clean set up though, I have no problem carrying my backups over from phone to phone.

 

[striders]

The only way is if the app supports cloud sync individually. I have several apps that sync to their own cloud service or maybe use icloud for data backup. These apps I can reinstall without a problem, however, they are in the minority.

Most apps that store local data only you are out of luck on. It's unfortunate.

I will say that it's been literally years since I've done a clean set up though, I have no problem carrying my backups over from phone to phone.

Correct. Some apps support direct backup to the iCloud so it allows data sync throughout all devices (Settings --> General --> Usage --> Manage Data --> Documents and Data. I can actually download the same app in another devices and when I opened it, it will ask if I want to use iCloud to backup/restore the data. Ditto when I do a full reset on the devices.

For everything else, iTunes will take over the backup function (Settings --> General --> Usage --> Backups --> Backup Options). The apps that are backed up in this way are the one I wish I could restore the data individually. There was a way to do this using an app called CopyTrans, but 8.3 broke this functionality.

In term of clean install, it just an option I want. I had a case where the upgrade (7.xx...forget the exact version) and my iPhone 5S was having issues (frozen, lag of keyboard, reboots, etc.). Did a reset and restore but it won't fixed the problem. Brought it to Apple Genius and long story short, 2 of the Geniuses recommended reset and NOT restoring the data. Basically, setup up a new iPhone fresh. It worked... but I lost all the app data.

 

[dojoman]

Apple removed the ability to see Documents data in Apps, where the game saves and app data are stored. With third party explorer app like iExplorer or iFunbox you can save them to desktop and copy it over to new device. I was going to do the same by starting from fresh then transfer gamesaves with iExplorer, turns out Apple remove this in iOS 8.3. It looks like there's no way around it unless you jailbreak it.

http://iexplorer-support.macroplant.com/customer/portal/articles/1942869