How to restore your iPhone from a backup (iCloud or computer)

Restoring puts your apps, settings and messages back on an iPhone. You choose it during setup, so an iPhone that is already set up has to be erased first.

Agha Ali Abbas23 September 20261 min read

The fix

Restore from an iCloud backup

1
If the iPhone is already set up, erase it.
Go to Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Erase All Content and Settings. Only do this if the backup has everything you need.
2
Turn on the iPhone and follow the setup steps.
3
Connect to Wi-Fi.
4
On Transfer Your Apps & Data, tap From iCloud Backup.
5
Sign in with your Apple Account.
6
Choose a backup.
Check the date and size, and pick the most recent one that has your data.
7
Stay on Wi-Fi and power until it finishes.
Apps, photos and music keep downloading afterward. Leave the phone plugged in overnight if you can.

The fix

Restore from a Mac or Windows PC

1
Connect the iPhone to the computer with a cable.
2
Open Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app (Windows).
3
Select the iPhone and click Restore Backup.
4
Choose the backup and click Restore.
If the backup is encrypted, enter its password. Without it, the backup cannot be restored.
5
Keep the iPhone connected until it restarts and syncs.

Frequently asked questions

Can I restore from iCloud without erasing my iPhone?

No. Apple only offers the restore during setup. If the iPhone is already set up, erase it in Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone, then choose From iCloud Backup when you set it up again.

How long does restoring from iCloud take?

The first stage usually takes 10 to 30 minutes. After that you can use the phone while apps, photos and music keep downloading in the background, which can take hours on a large backup.

What to try next

No recent backup? Make one first

How-To

Convert photos to PDF on iPhone

Convert one or several photos to a PDF on iPhone for free with the Files app or the Print menu, combine pages in order, and save or share the PDF.

24 September 20261 min read