How to Restore iPhone from Last iCloud/iTunes Backup

Need to restore iPhone from last backup?

Data on your iPhone can be lost from time to time in different scenarios, such as resetting iPhone to factory settings, careless deletion, accidental iPhone pilferage, and so on. Besides, you don't want to lose your important data when you switch to a new iPhone, right?

Until you need to restore backup to your iPhone, you will realize that backing up your iPhone is never a useless and time-consuming task. No matter whether you backed up your iPhone using iCloud or iTunes, you can find detailed instructions to restore iPhone from its last backup.

How to restore iPhone from last iCloud backup

Most iPhone user choose to backup iPhone using iCloud. If you have the latest iCloud backup, you can restore it to your iPhone by following steps below.

While please be noted that you need to reset your iPhone to factory settings first. Besides, the iCloud backup should be the latest one, or you will lose iPhone data more or less.

Step 1. On your iPhone, open Settings > General > Reset (or Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset for iOS 15 and later) > Click Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your password to confirm.

Step 2. Setup your iPhone again like you used to do > Connect your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network.

Step 3. When you’re greeted with the Apps & Data screen > Choose Restore from iCloud Backup > Sign in with your iCloud account and password > Choose the latest backup to restore.

Warm tip: Quick fixes to restore iCloud backup not working
Chances are that the restore process gets stuck at “Remaining xx minutes”, and restore from iCloud backup not working for error messages. Some simple and feasible fixes can help you out.
• Check the Internet connection.
• Check if you have enough space.
• Force restart your iPhone.
• Check for iOS update after finishing setup process.

How to restore iPhone from last iTunes backup

iTunes helps manage media files, and backup your iOS devices on computer. If you have created iTunes backup, the followings will tell you how to restore iPhone from last backup in iTunes.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to computer with USB > Run the latest iTunes on your computer.

Step 2. Click the phone icon > Under Settings bar, choose Summary > Click Restore Backup. 

Step 3. Finally, choose the latest iTunes backup to restore to your iPhone.

Warm tip: Quick fixes to restore iTunes backup not working
If you find restore iTunes backup not working or iTunes restore backup greyed out during the process, you can try the following troubleshoots.

• Make sure the iPhone is recognized by iTunes.

• Restart iPhone and iTunes.

• Update iOS and iTunes version

• Restore iTunes backup with a third-party tool mentioned in the Bonus part.

Video Tutorial: How to Restore iPhone from Last iCloud/iTunes Backup

Bonus: How to backup & restore iPhone without iCloud/iTunes

If you intend to restore iPhone from last backup for the sake of switch to new iPhone, there is a more powerful iOS data backup & transfer tool available, which is named FoneTool.

How to backup iPhone with FoneTool
Step 1. Launch in FoneTool > Connect your iPhone to a computer > You may need to tap Trust on your iPhone.

Step 2. Click Phone Backup > Get to Full Backup and click Get Started.

Note: If you have two Apple Lightning to USB cable, you can also try iPhone to iPhone function in Phone Transfer page to transfer data from old iPhone to new iPhone directly.

Step 3. Enable Backup encryption as you like. If it is enabled, your data such as Fitness records, Health, and Keychain can be private > Select a storage path to save the backup > Click Start Backup and wait until it finishes.

How to restore iPhone from backup in FoneTool
The steps to restore iPhone from FoneTool backup are pretty simple. Keep your iPhone connect to computer, and just go to the Backup History page > Locate the latest backup and click the three-dot icon > Click Restore to start.

How to restore iTunes backup in FoneTool
Step 1. Open FoneTool > Click the Menu icon from the upper-right corner > Click Import Backup Files to choose your iTunes backup.

Generally speaking, your iTunes backup is located in  C:\Users\[PC name]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\ MobileSync.

Step 2. After confirming your iTunes backup version > Click Restore from this page to continue > Finally, click Start Restore to begin the task.

Conclusion

That’s all for how to restore iPhone from last backup created in iCloud or iTunes. After restoring last backup to iPhone, you may lose data that hasn't been backed up more or less. Besides, it is also high suggested you try FoneTool to fully or selectively backup or transfer iPhone files. If this guide is helpful, please share it with others.