iTunes backups can restore a lot of data from an iOS device, but they do not restore absolutely everything. Here’s a quick look at what iTunes backups do and do not restore:
What iTunes Backups Restore
- Settings – Most settings, like screen brightness, wallpaper, control center settings, etc. are restored.
- App data – Information stored by apps, like messages, notes, game progress, etc. is restored.
- Home screen layout – The layout of apps on the home screen is restored.
- Photos – Photos and videos in the Camera Roll are restored.
- Contacts – All contacts are restored.
- Calendars – All calendar events and reminders are restored.
- Health data – Data like steps, exercise, sleep, etc. is restored.
- Keychains – Passwords and other data stored in Keychain are restored.
- Email accounts – Email accounts and mail data is restored.
- Safari bookmarks – Safari bookmarks are restored.
What iTunes Backups Do Not Restore
- Music, movies, TV shows – Media content synced from iTunes is not restored.
- Books – eBooks and PDFs are not restored.
- Podcasts – Podcast subscriptions and episodes are not restored.
- Text messages – iMessage and SMS text messages are not restored in iTunes backups.
- Call history – Call history is not restored.
- Bluetooth pairings – You’ll need to repair Bluetooth devices.
- Apple Pay – Apple Pay cards need to be re-added.
- Touch ID – Fingerprints need to be re-scanned.
- Face ID – Face ID needs to be reset up.
- Activity awards – Activity awards and streaks are reset.
The key things that iTunes backups do not restore are media content, messages, call history, and biometric data like fingerprints. Most other data like settings, app data, contacts, and photos are restored from an iTunes backup.
Why Doesn’t iTunes Backup Restore Everything?
There are a few reasons why iTunes backups do not restore absolutely everything:
- Security – Data like Apple Pay cards, Touch ID, Face ID are not restored to maintain security.
- Separation of data – Things like media and books are synced separately through iTunes.
- User experience – Resetting things like Activity awards provides a cleaner slate.
- Messages are device-specific – Texts are tied to that device’s phone number.
- Call history has less utility – Call history does not need to be perfectly synced.
- Limitations – There are some technical limitations on what can be synced.
Overall, the main data that users care about on a regular basis like settings, photos, contacts, calendars, and app data are restored. More sensitive or device-specific data is not restored for practical or security regions. iTunes focuses on restoring your personal content and settings, not absolutely everything.
What Other Types of Backups Are There?
In addition to iTunes backups, there are a few other ways to back up and restore data on an iPhone:
iCloud Backup
iCloud backups provide over-the-air backups without needing a computer. They backup similar data as iTunes backups but have some differences:
- Restore text messages and iMessage history.
- Do not backup media synced through iTunes.
- Backup Health data to iCloud by default.
- Can selectively backup items like Photos.
Device-to-device transfer
When setting up a new iPhone you can transfer data directly from your previous iPhone. This transfers:
- Settings
- Contacts
- Calendars
- Photos
- Videos
- Text messages
- Call history
- Safari bookmarks
- Mail accounts
- Some app data
It provides a quick way to transfer key data to a new iPhone.
Mac Time Machine backup
If you backup your iPhone to a Mac using Time Machine, it will backup:
- Contacts
- Photos
- Text messages
- Call history
- Voicemail
- Calendar
- Settings
Time Machine iPhone backups provide an extra level of backup beyond iCloud and iTunes.
Should I Be Concerned About What iTunes Backups Don’t Restore?
For most users, the small amount of data that isn’t restored by an iTunes or iCloud backup is not a major concern. The most important personal data like photos, messages, contacts, app data, etc. is backed up.
You only need to be concerned if you have sensitive or critical data solely on your iPhone that is not backed up anywhere else, like:
- Apple Pay cards
- App-specific data like Bitcoin wallets
- Business or work data
As long as you are aware that not absolutely everything is restored from a backup, it is not a significant downside for most users.
Best Practices For Full iPhone Backups
To make sure you have a comprehensive backup of your iPhone data, follow these best practices:
- Use both iCloud and iTunes backups for redundancy.
- Manually initiate backups regularly.
- Check backup status and confirm important data was backed up.
- Encrypt iTunes backups for added security.
- Use a Mac Time Machine backup as a secondary backup option.
- Store critical app data or documents in cloud storage or sync to a computer.
- Write down Apple Pay cards, WiFi passwords, and other sensitive data.
While no single backup method restores everything, using multiple backup options and being diligent about verifying backups will ensure you don’t lose important iPhone data.
What If I Need to Recover Data Not In a Backup?
If you need to recover important iPhone data that was not included in an iTunes or iCloud backup, there are a few options to try:
- Recover deleted photos with software like iMyFone D-Back or iMazing.
- Use data recovery software to retrieve app documents or files.
- Request text message transcripts from your carrier.
- Check cloud storage apps for any backed up files.
- View call history and voicemail through your carrier.
- Contact the developer of an app if they provide data restore options.
While these options may be limited or technical, in some cases it is possible to recover unsaved iPhone data through manual extraction or recovery techniques.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an iTunes backup save everything on my iPhone?
No, an iTunes backup does not save absolutely everything. It restores most settings, photos, messages, contacts, calendar events, and app data – but some things like music, books, biometrics, messages, and call history are not backed up.
What is the difference between an iTunes and iCloud backup?
iTunes backups require connecting to a computer, while iCloud backups work over WiFi. iCloud backs up more data like text messages, but does not backup media synced through iTunes. Both backup the majority of personal data and settings.
Can I recover permanently deleted photos with an iTunes backup?
No, the photos stored in an iTunes backup represent what was on the device storage at the time of the backup. So if you permanently deleted photos, then backed up, those deleted photos would not be in the backup.
How far back do iTunes backups go?
iTunes will store multiple backups, but only keeps a limited number of versions before overwriting the oldest backups. The number varies depending on storage space. So you can only restore as far back as the oldest available backup.
Can I restore my apps from an iTunes backup?
Yes, when restoring from an iTunes backup it will reinstall all the apps that were installed at the time of the backup, along with the data for those apps. It does not restore any app data for apps you’ve installed since the backup.
| Data Type | Restored from iTunes Backup? |
|---|---|
| Photos | Yes |
| Contacts | Yes |
| Text messages | No |
| Call history | No |
| Settings | Yes |
Conclusion
In summary, iTunes backups restore most of your personal data and settings, but do not backup everything. Music, books, messages, biometrics, and some app data are not included. For full protection, use multiple backup methods like iCloud, Time Machine, and cloud storage for critical files.
While iTunes backup does not restore literally 100% of all iPhone data, for most users it provides an excellent way to restore the bulk of your settings and information needed to quickly get your iPhone up and running again in the event of loss, damage, or device upgrade.