Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Set up 'new' or restore from old?

ufgatorvet

ufgatorvet

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 1, 2010
313
380
Savannah, GA
Aside from loading a lot of things (that may not be used frequently) collected on an old iPad and bringing them to a new iPad, are there performance or functional concerns (to the new iPad) by restoring a new iPad from an old one, versus, setting up the new iPad as "new" and manually re-installing the desired apps, pictures, etc? What do people generally do?

Thanks for the collective experience,
 
I did a cloud restore in hopes of getting data back in my apps and I was very happy to see I got a complete restore with all the data associated with the apps. No issues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ShaunAFC3 and ZBoater
I've always restored my iOS devices from an iTunes backup. My current iPad is my first, but I used an iPhone backup to set it up.

Some argue that the device will run smoother if set up as new, but I have never had an issue. I want my new device to have my apps, content, and settings right of the bat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ShaunAFC3 and dolphin2421
joeblow7777 said:
I've always restored my iOS devices from an iTunes backup. My current iPad is my first, but I used an iPhone backup to set it up.

Some argue that the device will run smoother if set up as new, but I have never had an issue. I want my new device to have my apps, content, and settings right of the bat.
Click to expand...
I have set up all my Macs, iPhones, and iPads from backups (Time Machine, iCloud) and never had an issue. Not only when getting a new one, but when having a device replaced under warranty. That is perhaps 20 times, 30 times. I never had an issue. This is one of the reasons I buy Apple. These kind of things just work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ShaunAFC3
Restore from old causes problems lots of old apps cause crashes like and computer yesterday Apple Store ran a diagnostic on my 9.7 Pro they saw a lot of bad old apps causing problems so said the diagnostic they did a complete wipe and set up as new. Much better now a bunch of junk is gone 18 GB free now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ShaunAFC3
TheRealAlex said:
Restore from old causes problems lots of old apps cause crashes like and computer yesterday Apple Store ran a diagnostic on my 9.7 Pro they saw a lot of bad old apps causing problems so said the diagnostic they did a complete wipe and set up as new. Much better now a bunch of junk is gone 18 GB free now.
Click to expand...

As I mentioned above I've never had any problems, but I always make sure that my OS and apps are up to date with the latest version, so it's not like I use an iOS 8 backup to setup a new iOS 9 device. That probably helps.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ShaunAFC3
joeblow7777 said:
As I mentioned above I've never had any problems, but I always make sure that my OS and apps are up to date with the latest version, so it's not like I use an iOS 8 backup to setup a new iOS 9 device. That probably helps.
Click to expand...

Good advice... thanks. Will update, backup and restore to the new iPad.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ShaunAFC3
Really sorry for any basic questions, just really puzzled (have never tried to restore to a new IOS device) ...

Have new IPP (upgraded from IP3)... backed up the IP3 to iTunes, then (attempted) to restore to new IPP. Apps, music, etc seemed to go over, but not the hundreds of home movies that I have taken over the years. These are on the old IP3, but did not come over the the IPP.

How do I backup an old iPad (including all the non-iTunes content) and restore it to the new iPad so they have exactly the same content, setup, etc?

Thanks so much,
 
I have had every iPhone and every iPad from year one and have always used a full iTunes backup and never had the first problem. An encrypted backup from my 27 Mac with all my music installed and up and running in minutes. The cloud is fine but I have found no better than a full hard backup.
 
For the first time in a long time I did a fresh install onto my new 12.9 pro. So happy that I did. I gather a ton of crap that I don't really need on the phone and iPad imho now and will not restore again unless it has only been a short while.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hevelius
If there's no issue, then why not. That's the beauty I like about Apple ecosystem, the ability to just restore things on a new device as if you never left the old device. Restore new only when you want to sell the device, send it for repair, or when you have major issues from the backup.
 
I've been wondering the same thing as the OP, since I've sold my iPad 4 and am getting the new Pro 9.7 in a few days. I like the idea of a fresh start, but I've seen no evidence outside of anacdotal experience (and probably some confirmation bias) that it's advantageous to restoring from backup. What I did do, however, was spend a few days with my iPad 4 cleaning it up and getting it down to just the bare essentials, before doing a full backup to iCloud, and then making certain that all apps and the iOS was up to date. Now when I restore from iCloud onto the new Pro, it will be as optimized as possible.
 
I think for the ones who did a restore, like myself, had data in their applications they wanted restored instead of installing the apps from scratch and loosing that data. Along with documents, pictures, etc.
 
I normally restore from a backup, but I do agree with those who say they end up transferring a bunch of unneeded apps. I do make sure to go through the iPad and delete the unwanted apps.
 
For my new iPhone 6S and iPad Pro 9.7, I set the devices up as new instead of restoring from a backup.

Several years ago, setting up as new was a hassle. But now, iCloud makes this easy. When you log in, all your iCloud syncs come back (mail, calendars, reminders, keychain, notes, photos, playlists, wifi, etc.). In my case, I also use MS Exchange at the office, so logging in to that account also populates my Exchange calendar, email, tasks, notes, etc. You can then selectively re-download the apps you want from your App Store account and get more stuff, especially if you use Dropbox and 1Password.

So Yeah, it takes a an hour or two, but worth it in my view. It forces me to go through my apps, data, etc., reorganize, and get rid of stuff I was not using. I get a clean, fresh start on the new device.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hevelius
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back