Will you set up your new phone "as new" or will you restore from backup

[StuLax18]

As new to go with new computer. I need to figure out how to get my old music on the new phone though. It's not on my new computer either.

 

[iBaloney]

so if you have your contacts and photos synced with icloud, all you need to do is go to the settings on the new iphone and log in to your icloud account?

 

[TOOFY]

I am curious as to how to setup the IP5 as new device without loosing your contacts? I could careless about the apps, but i really do not want to loose my contacts. If I setup as new, the contacts will not get pushed on the device. I would have to decide this on the start up screen of the device for the first time correct?

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so if you have your contacts and photos synced with icloud, all you need to do is go to the settings on the new iphone and log in to your icloud account?

This is what i am understanding, so this may just solve my problem I have!

 

[hkpuipui99]

I am curious as to how to setup the IP5 as new device without loosing your contacts? I could careless about the apps, but i really do not want to loose my contacts. If I setup as new, the contacts will not get pushed on the device. I would have to decide this on the start up screen of the device for the first time correct?

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This is what i am understanding, so this may just solve my problem I have!

I believe this is correct. Just make sure what you want to sync is currently being sync'd on your existing phone, you should be good to go!

 

[iParis]

I believe this is correct. Just make sure what you want to sync is currently being sync'd on your existing phone, you should be good to go!

But won't it be deleted once the existing phone is restored since that's where iCloud is syncing it from? And won't your photos be in a "Photo Stream" folder and not a native "camera roll" folder?

 

[VSMacOne]

I have a bunch of stuff the probably carried over from iOS6 beta to the GM, so I'm starting from scratch when I get the 5. I always like to make sure there are no "bad apples" carried over to new equipment.

 

[TG1]

I had my 4 just the way I like it, so restore for me.

 

[erratikmind]

Some of my ip2g apps are no longer supported. As such, I will be starting from scratch on my ip5.

 

[Dino F]

I'll be restoring from my iPhone 4 backup. I really can't be bothered downloading everything again if I set up as new!!! I've got quite a few apps and they're all put into specific folders so I guess if I restore from backup, the folders are kept the same.

 

[borgqueenx]

From backup.....i dont want to lose app data/ savegames.

 

[petethepanda]

From backup.....i dont want to lose app data/ savegames.

Damn, I forgot about savegames! Hate the way they're tied to the app. Were it not for that I'd just start fresh.

 

[Bo15]

Restore.

Purchase using wife's upgrade eligibility

IP5 restore from my IP4S backup

IP4S restore from my wife's IP4 backup

Wipe IP4, remove sim, sell on ebay

 

[bszelda]

I'm setting up as new because this will be my first iPhone.

 

[nandopr]

I'm going to set up as new to avoid battery problems. Nearly all of my data is in the cloud so those apps will pull it back down anyways.

Good to know. Did not know about possible battery problems. Thank you for the information.

 

[applefanDrew]

Good to know. Did not know about possible battery problems. Thank you for the information.

Well it's not hard core set in stone. But nearly every time someone I know has battery problems, a clean restore, set up as new fixes it. And these forums fill up with people right after a launch with battery problems....many of them do a set up as new and it is fixed.

 

[penajmz]

I set up as new this way corrupted files do not come to the new phone.

 

[dabigone]

Do you lose in-app purchases if you start new?

 

[Manta-X]

I had my 4 just the way I like it, so restore for me.

This.

 

[TannerH]

My last backup is from my 3.5" iPod Touch which I sold August 26th.

So, not only is it going to be an outdated backup, all my apps will have a new layout. Which, for me, defeats the purpose of restoring from a backup.

I'll start fresh.

 

[TheBuffather]

Do you lose in-app purchases if you start new?

You shouldn't. Many apps have a "restore purchases" option. In fact, I believe that's a requirement if a developer is offering in-app purchases.

 

[Caliber26]

Every time i back my contacts up to my iTunes they don't go to the address book on my Mac. Guess ima just save myself the headache and write them all down and put them in my phone. Not too computer savvy haha

Heavens, no! The thought of manually writing down a long list of contacts makes me cringe!
Just make sure you have iCloud turned on and that your contacts are syncing to it. When you sign into iCloud on your new phone, they'll all be there, magically.

so if you have your contacts and photos synced with icloud, all you need to do is go to the settings on the new iphone and log in to your icloud account?

I suggest sync your current iPhone to iCloud. When you get the new iPhone, just sign into your iCloud account and all of the data that's synced will automatically download itself into the new iPhone. This includes: your iCloud email account, Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Safari bookmarks, Notes, Photo Stream, and Documents. Just make sure these items are toggled to ON. It'll work wether you set as new or restore from a backup.

 

[tigerfan41]

I'll set-up as new, which is what I usually do with my new iPhones. Here's what I do:

1. Make sure my contacts are synced with my Google account
2. Take screenshots of my home screen and app folders (so I know what apps I definitely want to re-download)
3. Back-up my photos from my old iPhone (and put them in my Google Photos account)
4. Set the new iPhone up
5. Re-download apps and re-sync music/videos (and maybe photos; otherwise I'll just download the Picasa app for iPhone and access my old photos over the Internet)
6. Enjoy my new iPhone

I've tried restoring from back-up in the past, but was never happy with the results of it.

 

[daneoni]

Set up almost as new. Will restore from backup then immediately Reset ALL Settings on the phone. This way i have all my data but app settings/caches start from scratch.

 

[x-evil-x]

as new, my 4s was jailbroken and has a lot of crap on it. ill just sync my old pictures but it sucks they wont be in my camers roll

cant you just copy all and replace your photo stream with them? then it should be in there.

 

[Jobsian]

I really, really want to set up as new but there are 2 questions I haven't found a definitive answer to:

1) Is there any way of transferring your old text messages to a new installation?

2) Is there any definitive answer to whether or not a restore slows performance?

It would be great to have a controlled experiment where someone compares a restore from backup to a new installation with all the same apps.