[Stepwise Tutorial] How to Restore iPhone from iTunes Backup

How do I restore my iPhone from iTunes backup?

When it comes to how to backup iPhone, maybe you think it is no longer a tricky task. Because Apple has developed two useful backup and restore iPhone tools, iCloud and iTunes, which can easily help you restore everything on your iPhone. Thus you don't need to worry about the data disaster caused by accidental loss or damage to your iPhone anymore.

If you are used to using iTunes to backup iPhone regularly, but don't know the specific steps to restore iPhone from iTunes backup, this upcoming par can do a big favor for you. Meanwhile, we provide you with a workable solution if there is an “iTunes can’t restore iPhone from backup” error when restoring. Of course, you can also choose a better iTunes backup alternative to restore iPhone from backup. Let's go ahead.

Steps to restore iPhone using iTunes

If you have backed up your iPhone with iTunes on your computer, follow the instructions below to discover how to restore iPhone from iTunes backup step-by-step.

Notes:✎...

When restoring, it will first erase all existing data on your iPhone and then import the backup.

Update iTunes to the latest version to ensure a smooth restore process.

Step 1. Run iTunes and connect your iPhone to your PC via a USB cable. Click the iPhone icon in the top left corner.

Step 2. Go to Summary, and tap the Restore Backup button.

Step 3. Select a backup you want to restore and click Restore in the pop-up window. How long does it take to restore iPhone from iTunes backup? It depends on the size of your backup files, so please be patient for a while.

✿ Tip: If you are a Mac user, you may wonder how to restore iPhone from iTunes backup on Mac. In fact, Apple offers a tool similar to iTunes for Mac users to backup and restore iPhone called Finder, so you can also use Finder to restore iPhone from backup on Mac easily.

Step 1. Launch the latest version of Finder and connect your iPhone to your Mac.

Step 2. Click the iPhone option in the left panel and then click Restore Backup.

Step 3. Choose an iPhone backup you want to restore and click the Restore button.

Why can't I restore my iPhone from iTunes backup?

From time to time, some users complain about the “unable to restore iPhone from iTunes backup” error always occurs when you restore iPhone using iTunes. Here are some common reasons that cause restoring iPhone from iTunes backup on your PC to fail.      

◢ Improper connection between iPhone and computer.

◢ Unstable network.

◢ iTunes software is too old.

◢ The backup file is corrupted.

If you are eager to solve this problem of iPhone cannot restore backup from iTunes, then you have come to the right place. You can try some of the following solutions to restore iPhone from iTunes successfully.

Solution 1. First, try another USB cable on your computer or switch to another port.

Solution 2. If you can’t restore iPhone from iTunes backup as the software is too old, please update your iTunes version in time.

Solution 3. When you try to restore iPhone from iTunes backup but not enough space on iPhone, please remove the unnecessary data on your iPhone first.

Solution 4. If the backup file is corrupted, you can only resort to some other backup methods, please skip to the next section.

Alternative ways to restore iPhone from backup

As mentioned earlier, iTunes problems always happen unpredictably and you may be tired of facing how to restore iPhone from iTunes backup on the computer. Don't be frustrated. Next, we will share two alternative methods to iTunes to guide you on how to restore iPhone from backup better. Keep reading for more useful information.

Option 1. Restore iPhone from iCloud backup

Like iTunes, iCloud is another official iOS backup tool provided by Apple. If you have enough storage space, you may try to restore data from iCloud backup on iPhone. As with restoring iPhone from iTunes backup after setting up as new phone, you need to reset your iPhone to factory settings before restoring iPhone from iCloud backup. 

And please choose the latest iCloud backup, otherwise you are highly likely to lose iPhone data. Check the following steps on how to restore iPhone from backup after setup.

Notes:✎...

iCloud only provides 5GB of free storage. If your iCloud storage is full, you'll need to pay for more space.

iCloud cannot back up all the content and settings on your iPhone. If you need to restore your iPhone from a full backup, just turn to option 2.

Step 1. Go to General > Reset > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Input your passcode to confirm.

Step 2. After setting up your iPhone, click Restore from iCloud Backup on the Apps & Data screen > sign in with your Apple ID to choose a backup to restore.

Option 2. Restore iPhone from backup without erasing

As you can see, if you have set up the target iPhone, both of the above methods will wipe all the current data on the iPhone. At this moment, you can utilize this professional iPhone data backup and restore software, namely FoneTool.

This user-friendly tool will not erase any original iPhone data and help you quickly restore iPhone data with a few clicks. And when you use iTunes, you can't selectively restore iPhone from iTunes backup. However, FoneTool perfectly avoids this drawback and you can selectively or completely restore iPhone from backup. 

It is widely compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, as well as works with Windows 11/10/8/7/XP. Come and download this tool for free.

Steps to Selectively or fully backup iPhone

Step 1. Install and run FoneTool on your PC, and click Phone Backup > Selective Backup > Get Started. (If you need to create a full backup, you can go to Full Backup.)

Step 2. Click an icon to select the data you want to backup, here we take photos backup as an example. Then click OK.

Step 3. Select a storage path to save the backup. Click Start Backup.

Steps to restore iPhone from backup without losing data

Step 1. Go to Backup History. Tap the three dots and select the Restore option.

Step 2. Wait for the restoration process to finish, your needed data would be transferred to the target device.

Bonus tip: How to recover lost/deleted iPhone data

Hope you already know how to restore iPhone from backup without resetting. But if you accidentally lost or deleted iPhone data without backup, how to retrieve the deleted data from iPhone? Here we introduce a professional and trustworthy iPhone data recovery software AOMEI Data Recovery for iOS, which can help you recover lost or deleted iPhone data without backup.

Developed by a team with over a decade of experience in the field of data security, it assists you in locating your deleted iPhone data at a super fast speed through advanced scanning technology. At the same time, it also has a high success rate of recovery.

★Some highlights of AOMEI Data Recovery for iOS:

It allows you to preview and select the files you want to recover before starting the data recovery.

It will not erase any existing data on your iOS devices when recovering the deleted data.  

It can recover 10+ types of data, like photos, videos, contacts, notes, reminders, voice memos, and so on.

It supports various types of iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone and also well works with iOS 10.0 and later.

Step 1. Download and install AOMEI Data Recovery for iOS on your computer, and then connect your iPhone to the PC via a USB cable.

Step 2. Open this tool, and click Trust This Computer on your iPhone.

Step 3. Click the Scan Now button, you can preview all files on your iPhone.

Step 4. Here take photos as an example, you can select the desired photos and click the Recover button. Then you can recover iPhone data without losing data successfully.

Written in the end

After reading this detailed tutorial, you should know the specific steps to restore iPhone from iTunes backup. As we have mentioned, iTunes backup is always accompanied by various problems. To restore iPhone from backup more easily and quickly, you can use iCloud as an iTunes alternative. However, both methods bring the risk of data loss when restoring iPhone from backup on Windows PC.

If you don't want to lose those valuable iPhone data, the best way is to use FoneTool to backup and restore your iPhone without erasing it. In addition, if you don't have the habit of backing up your iPhone regularly, you can also turn to this safe and reliable software- AOMEI Data Recovery for iOS when you encounter iPhone data being deleted.