Stepwise Guide: How to Merge iPhone Backups

If you're an avid iPhone user, you're likely familiar with the importance of regular backups. Backing up your iPhone data ensures that your precious photos, messages, and apps are safe, even if your device gets lost, stolen, or damaged. However, there might come a time when you wish to merge two iPhone backups, whether they're from iTunes or iCloud.

In this guide, we'll explore the concept of merging iPhone backups, how to do it using iTunes and iCloud, and introduce a third-party tool to help you merge iPhone backups in a simpler way.

Question: Can you merge two iPhone backups?

Before we dive into the how-tos, let's address a common question: can you merge two iPhone backups? Unfortunately, the answer is not a straightforward yes. Apple's backup system doesn't provide a native way to merge two backups into one. When you create a new backup, it essentially replaces the previous one.

Optionally, you can still achieve the goal of having all your data from two backups on one device by selectively restoring data from one backup to another. This process might require some manual effort, but it's entirely doable.

1# How to merge iPhone backups via FoneTool

FoneTool is a user-friendly, all-in-one solution for managing your iPhone data. It allows you to perform selective backups, restores, and data transfers with ease. Without data loss, you can finish the selective backup the source iPhone and restore the backup to the target iPhone in two steps.

The tool support all iPhone models from iPhone 4 to the latest iPhone 15 and works well with the latest iOS. Download the freeware to your computer and follow the steps below to know how to merge two iPhone backups selectively via FoneTool.

Step 1. Connect your source iPhone to computer > Click Phone Backup > Go to Selective Backup and click Get Started.

Step 2. Check each icon to select the files you want to backup. Make sure you have chosen all you want, and click OK to confirm.

Step 3. You can click the Backup Storage Path to choose a location to save the data. Click Start Backup to begin.

Step 4. Disconnect the source iPhone and connect the target iPhone to computer > Go to Backup History > Locate the latest backup version, and tap the Restore icon to merge the backup to the target iPhone.

FoneTool also offers you powerful transfer functions, and its iPhone to iPhone transfer enables you to transfer everything to new iPhone in one-click. If your target iPhone is a brand-new one, it’s nice choice to get everything from old iPhone without backup and Apple ID limitation.

2# How to merge iPhone backups via iCloud

As what has been mentioned above, you are not allowed to merge two iPhone backups into one. But there is something you can do. To minimize data loss when merging iPhone backups via iCloud, it is suggested to sync iPhone data as many as possible firstly, then backup one iPhone and restore to the other.

Step 1. Enable iCloud sync on two iPhone: Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Toggle on the switch next to the data categories.

Step 2. Backup two iPhones to iCloud: Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Turn on iCloud Backup. Click Back Up Now to get the newest backup.

Step 3. Factory reset one iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Choose Erase All Content and Settings to erase the iPhone.

Step 4. Set up and restore iCloud backup: Set up the iPhone until you see the App & Data screen > Choose Restore from iCloud Backup > Choose the latest backup > Finally, complete the setup process.

Finally, don’t forget to enable iCloud sync to get rest data to the target iPhone.

3# How to merge iPhone backups via iTunes

Merging iPhone backups via iTunes follows a similar principle - you’ll need to manually copy data. Since restoring iTunes backup will overwrite the previous iPhone files, you can follow three steps to merge iTunes backups and minimize data loss: Export target iPhone data → Restore iTunes backup to target iPhone → Import exported data to target iPhone.

To export & import iPhone data, you can utilize FoneTool mentioned in the 1# Part. It helps you selectively transfer iPhone to iPhone, iPhone to PC, and vice versa.

Step 1. Export target iPhone data to PC
Launch FoneTool, connect target iPhone to PC > Choose iPhone to PC to choose files to transfer to PC.

Step 2. Backup source iPhone via iTunes
Connect source iPhone to PC > Launch the latest version of iTunes > Click the phone-shape icon > Click Summary > Click Back Up Now to let iTunes backup your iPhone.

Step 3. Restore iTunes backup to target iPhone
Keep target iPhone plug into PC > Choose Summary in iTunes > Click Restore Backup and select the backup to restore.

Step 4. Import exported data back to target iPhone
Back to FoneTool > Choose PC to iPhone to transfer your target iPhone files back to the iPhone.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Apple's backup system doesn't offer a direct way to merge iPhone backups, there are still workable methods to merge files on two of your iPhones. With FoneTool, you can merge iPhone backups and move iTunes backup to external drive. For more queries and feedback, feel free to contact us at anytime.