It’s been years and I hear different answers all the time.
does new really make the phone run faster?
does new really make the phone run faster?
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Other Set up as new or back up?
- Thread starter michael31986
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iHeartsteve
macrumors 68000
If you set up as new, do u have to install each app one by one? if u use the back up, it automatically installs all your apps for you?
I used to do a new install on the older phones but stopped doing it on the iPhone 11. Haven't really noticed any negative impacts from restoring from backup.
DDustiNN
macrumors 68030
I have been restoring from backups since 2012. Never an issue, and it saves me from having to reconfigure my phone and apps every year.
Shirasaki
macrumors P6
The speed up thing has some water but there will never be a consensus. Why? I am confident to say each processor in an iPhone is different from the other, one way or another, just so that most of them are performant and working well enough that people usually don’t notice a difference. Silicon lottery is a thing in PC world, and same will happen in Apple world.
Also, Apple alters system quite a bit each year or even between small dot updates, meaning some settings existed in iOS 13 for example, will not be present in iOS 15. I am not talking about settings you can adjust in settings app. I am talking about settings controlled using files similar to plist on a Mac or something else.
Because of all these, you will likely never get a solid answer whether restoring is better or starting fresh. The only argument I can see is time saving from restoring from backup vs OCD and wanting to always start fresh. Nothing much more.
Also, Apple alters system quite a bit each year or even between small dot updates, meaning some settings existed in iOS 13 for example, will not be present in iOS 15. I am not talking about settings you can adjust in settings app. I am talking about settings controlled using files similar to plist on a Mac or something else.
Because of all these, you will likely never get a solid answer whether restoring is better or starting fresh. The only argument I can see is time saving from restoring from backup vs OCD and wanting to always start fresh. Nothing much more.
People usually recommend setting up as new, but I’ve been restoring since forever and never an issue. There’s no way in hell that I’m going to setup everything manually again. It’s asinine.
DDustiNN
macrumors 68030
If you restore from a backup, it’ll be like you never even switched phones. Everything will be exactly as you left it on the previous device. Apps, photos, messages, calls, literally everything. The only thing you have to do is set up Face ID, and maybe re-enter a few app passwords. There’s truly no reason not to do this. Anything else is just a waste of time.
PBz
macrumors 68030
Yea I think you have to instal each app. If you toggle off the app I think it doesn’t carry over the app.
psy_duck
macrumors member
i used to set up as new before but starting with the X, i started to restore from back up and i upgrade every year. no difference at all, just saves way more time this way 
Last year I tried to do the phone to phone transfer however my 11 pro max at the time had the new ios version and the 12 pro max had the older version so of course it wouldn't allow the transfer. I had to sit outside the store and update the software on the new phone which took ages 🙁 This year I am not sure what I will do. Chances are the new phones aren't running ios 15 and my 12 is.
DDustiNN
macrumors 68030
I thought the new phones always have the new iOS pre-installed?
So did I. The new phones are made months prior to release so no chance of them having the latest ios version.
I tell myself I’m going to set up as new each year.
I always end up doing the restore because it’s just so much easier.
I always end up doing the restore because it’s just so much easier.
alanderp
macrumors regular
I like to set up as new just to filter out any apps which I no longer use. Also end up redoing any widgets and stuff. Think of it as spring cleaning I guess. The important things are still transferred over via iCloud like messages and photos.
redheeler
macrumors G3
I'm going to start fresh because many apps on my current 6s Plus are out of date, no longer used, or simply incompatible with newer iOS versions, and there is junk that has built up over the years. But most people here aren't taking as big of a leap as I am. Going from another iPhone on the latest iOS to a new one shouldn't require you to start fresh unless you really want to.
baking soda
macrumors regular
This! I will be definitely doing that this Friday. It's just an hour or so of headache anyway.
I'll be starting fresh, I know if I restore from backup I'll find the smallest nagging issue and I'll then convince myself that if I had started fresh it wouldn't be there 😀 this way there's no excuses
my 6s it's on 14.8 .. do I need to update to 15 in order to use the transfer option on the phone?
fatTribble
macrumors 68030
felixroqu3
macrumors 6502a
I use to set up as new because I wanted to go through the "experience." But now that I'm older and have zero patience, Ive been restoring from iCloud back up since the X or 11. Now I'm planning of doing a complete backup and restore from my iMac since its more of a "complete" backup and it will restore all of my app logins/data
I think Csuse last year they came out in November and their was some iOS update right before the release.
If you set it up as new, yes you have to install each app one by one. I always restore from back up but I do the direct transfer. Don't have any issues. At one point my music favorite got messed up on my Mac and don't want to go through all that sorting again so I ended up just restoring from back up each time.
JohnnyChuttz
macrumors regular
I’ve used the side by side transfer since it has been available. Too fast and easy. Never had any problems with it.