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

[Rafterman]

There's really nothing wrong with restoring from backup.A number of people have talked about not wanting to carry over crap from the previous iPhone, but that's not really a problem.

The way iOS works, its "modular" design, means you don't really carry over much unless its installed within the framework of each individual app. Also, the backup process itself does not back up a lot of the device-specific crap. In fact, sometimes the backup is too aggressive and leaves stuff off, like the downloaded maps content from my Navigon app.

I have found though, that if you still have your iPhone 4, and since iOS 6 is coming out Wednesday, it would be good to upgrade the OS to 6 first, even if you plan on selling it. Then back it up under iOS 6 and let that backup restore to your iPhone 5. I think that would be cleaner than restoring an iOS 5 backup to an iPhone running iOS 6.

 

[Jobsian]

There's really nothing wrong with restoring from backup.A number of people have talked about not wanting to carry over crap from the previous iPhone, but that's not really a problem.

The way iOS works, its "modular" design, means you don't really carry over much unless its installed within the framework of each individual app. Also, the backup process itself does not back up a lot of the device-specific crap. In fact, sometimes the backup is too aggressive and leaves stuff off, like the downloaded maps content from my Navigon app.

I have found though, that if you still have your iPhone 4, and since iOS 6 is coming out Wednesday, it would be good to upgrade the OS to 6 first, even if you plan on selling it. Then back it up under iOS 6 and let that backup restore to your iPhone 5. I think that would be cleaner than restoring an iOS 5 backup to an iPhone running iOS 6.

Thanks, this is just the type of informed answer I was looking for.

It would still be nice to see an experiment between a restored-from-backup phone and a new install with all the same apps to see if there's any performance difference.

 

[The Game 161]

Thanks, this is just the type of informed answer I was looking for.

It would still be nice to see an experiment between a restored-from-backup phone and a new install with all the same apps to see if there's any performance difference.

As mentioned with the new iOS I really don't see it making a difference. Less hassle to me backing up as well.

 

[maflynn]

As new, There's stuff on my iPhone that's been carried through from prior iPhones. I'll start this one fresh.

 

[chevvy]

Hi,

I sold my iphone 4 before installing ios6. I backed up my phone before wiping it.

Does this mean I will not be able to restore my new iphone 5 running ios6 from the back up?

Thanks

 

[Rafterman]

Hi,

I sold my iphone 4 before installing ios6. I backed up my phone before wiping it.

Does this mean I will not be able to restore my new iphone 5 running ios6 from the back up?

Thanks

No, you can still do it. I was just saying that it would probably be better though if it were iOS 6 -> iOS 6. But i have no actual proof that it would be better, it just makes sense.

But you should still be able to restore iOS 5 -> iOS 6.

 

[STiNG Operation]

As new, There's stuff on my iPhone that's been carried through from prior iPhones. I'll start this one fresh.

This is what I want to do as well. Do you happen to know if I can transfer my contacts from the previous back up without doing a full restore? This is the only thing I need from it, and don't want to do a full restore from back up.

 

[4rtemidis]

I can't believer that there is no comparison between a iphone that has been restored and one that is set up as a new phone...
I mean there's tutorials and videos for everything, why not for this?

 

[ScottNWDW]

I'll be restoring from a back up after I install iOS 6. I've been using an iPhone since the 3G and updated from the back up when I bought the iPhone 4. I plan to back up the iPhone 4 to iCloud and when I pick up the iPhone 5 restore via iCloud and have the phone ready to right out of the Apple store.

Also had the original iPad and recently got the 3rd Generation iPad and restored from a back up on that and had no problems even with the newer iPad being the 16gb and the old one the 32gb. As it was I was using less than 16gb on the old iPad so this time around I got the 16gb.

With either device I did not see any issues with performance.

 

[gazzrenn]

Not sure, as I have a bunch of radio recordings from Tunein Pro which always get restored with a backup....

I'd like to set it up as new, but I really don't want to lose those recordings

 

[The Game 161]

I can't believer that there is no comparison between a iphone that has been restored and one that is set up as a new phone...
I mean there's tutorials and videos for everything, why not for this?

Yeah surprised nobody has done this.

I don't see why it would make any difference. How would it slow down your phone?

 

[sk1wbw]

Run this program if you want to setup your new iPhone 5 from a backup. This program will clean the hell out of your older phone, then do a backup of and restore from that backup.

Phoneclean

 

[SCOfoshO]

does anyone know what kind of data is in that "other" category?

 

[4rtemidis]

I really can't imagine that a restore should make any difference in performance... not every file is backed up and certainly not cydia files! if some one can prove me wrong, please go ahead

 

[sam67uk]

I always restore from backup. Keeping everything I've built up for the past 4 years.

Excellent strategy Mr Hill, I have done the same myself since the iPhone 3G and have never had a problem

 

[foolycooly]

I plan on setting mine up as new (mostly because I have not upgraded since my 3GS). My main concern is music.

If I set up as new, can I simply sync my music and contacts (only) via itunes? The account locking/music matching thing in itunes still confuses me sometimes.

If I could grab my music and contacts, I would simply re-download select apps.

Thanks.

 

[craigc_]

Setting up as new. Only reason to restore from Backup for me is to have all my old text messages but from what I understand it isn't possible to retrieve only that data unless you do a full backup restore.

 

[bumblehat]

extracting texts

I'm not worried about contacts, but is there a way to save/preserve texts without restoring from backup?

Or more simply, just backing up texts somewhere to my computer (PC) so I can review them later for reference? Thanks.

 

[The Game 161]

I'm not worried about contacts, but is there a way to save/preserve texts without restoring from backup?

Or more simply, just backing up texts somewhere to my computer (PC) so I can review them later for reference? Thanks.

I believe you lose all texts unless you restore from backup.

 

[fsck-y dingo]

New phone, new OS...I'm setting up as new.

 

[iParis]

There's really nothing wrong with restoring from backup.A number of people have talked about not wanting to carry over crap from the previous iPhone, but that's not really a problem.

The way iOS works, its "modular" design, means you don't really carry over much unless its installed within the framework of each individual app. Also, the backup process itself does not back up a lot of the device-specific crap. In fact, sometimes the backup is too aggressive and leaves stuff off, like the downloaded maps content from my Navigon app.

I have found though, that if you still have your iPhone 4, and since iOS 6 is coming out Wednesday, it would be good to upgrade the OS to 6 first, even if you plan on selling it. Then back it up under iOS 6 and let that backup restore to your iPhone 5. I think that would be cleaner than restoring an iOS 5 backup to an iPhone running iOS 6.

There are about 2GB of other on my phone, so yes, a bunch of unnecessary stuff is carried over. When going through the files of older and current backups I saw a bunch of stuff that shouldn't be there. Aside from jailbreak files, there were also ones of SMS attachments from conversations I had deleted, the picture and the preview image.

Run this program if you want to setup your new iPhone 5 from a backup. This program will clean the hell out of your older phone, then do a backup of and restore from that backup.

Phoneclean

Know of an OS X version or something similar?

 

[The Game 161]

If you set up as new would do you have to add? Are apps already there If you log into iCloud?

 

[iParis]

If you set up as new would do you have to add? Are apps already there If you log into iCloud?

Add what? And no, but if you go into the App Store on your iPhone there's a "purchased" section that shows you all of your apps and you won't be charged for downloading them.

 

[JonMPLS]

I have decided to go with restore-from-backup unless I hear of major problems. I have used this with my iPhones and ipads with no problems. Of course, I can always redo it later as-new if I want.

 

[Codepiink]

New because I've read and heard from geniuses that the backups could contain corrupt files that can affect battery life.

I went to the genius bar recently with call dropping and static issues (I know it's not the phone but Verizon refuses to acknowledge their crappy service where I live) and the Apple Rep told me that restoring from an iCloud back-up as opposed to restoring from iTunes avoids any corruptions that may be in old back-ups. Everything syncs over (contacts, text history, etc.) without any software issues that maybe have been encountered on your old device... I hope she was right.