iPhone 7 - Are you restoring from backup?

[HEK]

Encrypted backups from iTunes saves all your passwords and other sensitive data i.e. data from my Apple Watch so I don't have to set it up all over again. It is also much quick to set up the phone in general. I would recommend doing it that way.

More info on encrypted backups if you have never done them:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205220

According to the Apple support article listed above the iCloud backups are also automatically alway encrypted backups and maintain the password and sensitive data information.

"You can also make a backup in iCloud, which automatically encrypts your information every time."

 

[AppleFan360]

I've been restoring on every iPhone since the iPhone 1. No issues. Apple creates the OS so you can do it. Why not use it?

 

[lsh]

I usually set up new but hate loosing messages and now watch and health data. I have used 3rd party software to extract messages to pdf.

So I'll try restoring from encrypted iTunes backup. I can always set new if I have problems.

I do wish there was an option on restore to select categories of items to restore. 3rd party apps do that but I not sure how native the result will be.

My kids have had trouble with phones working correctly after restore and resetting to new fixed it. So restores can be a problem.

 

[AbSoluTc]

The data on my current 6 Plus originally came from my iPhone 3G. So yes, I'll be restoring! Continuity is the key

Same here. I have restored from backup since my 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S, 5, 5S, 6 and 6S Plus. The 7 Plus will continue the tradition. Never had an issue.

 

[codyst]

You could always just erase the settings (Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings), Back Up the phone, then restore on the new phone so all your apps, text messages, and pictures carry over but the iOS itself is fresh.

 

[DMVillain]

You lose so much when you do a clean install (health data, iMessages, settings...) that it's not worth it at all to me. Unless there's a problem I always restore. The "clean feeling" is irrelevant to me as I don't keep junk anyway.

 

[Irock619]

Clean fresh installs does not apply to iOS and are pointless. Most people when having issues with the OS they cannot delete iOS and reinstall like you can OSX. Unfortunately most bugs in iOS are not solved until a new revision of iOS is released, unlike some bugs can be solved by doing a fresh install of OSX on the Mac. Although for younger generations I can see them starting fresh with a new phone because all they have to transfer over are pics and contacts. For myself I will be restoring from a physical iTunes backup on my computer. This method seems to work better for the initial restore and is much faster than iCloud restore. Subsequent backups and restores I do via iCloud.

 

[kingalien]

During the week of waiting, i.e. this week, I go through my phone and get rid of any junk, etc. then back it up and ready to restore onto new phone. Keeps me occupied during the wait week

 

[Rockbird86]

Definitely back up. I like my message history etc

 

[dominiongamma]

I want to do a fresh install but how do I get my photos back from iCloud?

 

[12vElectronics]

Restoring from backup. Need my contacts and iMessages/text messages moved over.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Only because of health/apple watch data. If Apple would separate that data from backups, I would definitely do a fresh install.

 

[adammull]

Starting fresh avoids the dreaded "other." I just did this the other day on my 6 and recovered 3 GBs in storage space even after I had deleted texts and other things.

 

[CodeSpyder]

I'm going to install iOS 10 on my existing iPhone and WatchOS 3 on my existing Apple Watch and then backup. When iPhone 7 Plus and Apple Watch 2 arrive, I'll restore from backup.

 

[Domino8282]

Starting fresh avoids the dreaded "other." I just did this the other day on my 6 and recovered 3 GBs in storage space even after I had deleted texts and other things.

Can you elaborate on this? Is there any other way to get rid of "Other" storage items?

 

[unglued]

I do a clean install every three months or so or when a new iOS update is released. I have a cheat sheet I step through it's actually quick but still don't know an easy way to transfer text messages.

Yes a bit OCD but I can't risk embedded hacking code buried in old stuff and I travel outside of U.S. and use my phone in China with their SIM cards. Can't complain having a smooth lean running phone all the time.

 

[pish6969]

Yes

 

[medenblik]

Install as new phone. Never backup with new iphone

 

[Gathomblipoob]

Install as new phone. Never backup with new iphone

Agreed. I always install as new when I get a new iPhone.

 

[adammull]

Can you elaborate on this? Is there any other way to get rid of "Other" storage items?

I've been using iOS devices since the iPhone 1 and no I have never found another way. It's the reason I never restore from backup. And since the invention of iCloud Photos and Apple Music, I really have no reason to backup at all. All passwords are stored in Keychain. Contacts, calendars, mail are in iCloud. Photos are in iCloud. Music is tied to my Apple Music account.

The only thing I can think of you need in an iCloud backup is game data. At least for me. That's it. And most games are now cloud based assuming you sign in with an account. Really the idea of a phone backup is obsolete.

 

[CKtoph]

To each their own, but I also restore from backup. My phone is typically set up and organized exactly how I want it, so I don't really want to start over.

Although, with a new phone, I do go through and delete the apps that I haven't used in the last month or two.

 

[noteple]

Restore from encrypted backup
Just like I did when getting a replacement phone from Genius Bar

 

[3587]

I always setup as new... You'll have this sucker for a year... So start fresh.

 

[iapplelove]

The only time I would ever do s fresh install is if I ran into an issue of some kind. Other than that I would always use my last back up. I don't see a point otherwise of even backin up if one was going to go fresh with every phone.
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To me, backups are there for when something goes wrong.

Definitely a fresh install. Just to clear out cached files and stuff like that.

It can be a pain re-downloading every app, but hey, it's once a year.

I feel the exact opposite. You start fresh only IF something goes wrong.
[doublepost=1473544652][/doublepost]

Restore from encrypted backup
Just like I did when getting a replacement phone from Genius Bar

Exactly. I use my encrypted iTunes back up off my Mac, even though I use iCloud too.

 

[mtcowdog]

Nope. There is something so clean about a fresh install. Most of what matters to me is in the cloud. I lose some things without a restore, but the benefits typically are worth the effort. YMMV. Maybe 7 and iOS 10 are different. I'm not going to test that.