This article explains how to restore iPhone without iTunes using iCloud. This information applies to iPhones running iOS 10.3 or later.
How to restore iPhone without iTunes
iPhone users have backed up and restored their devices by connecting their phone to iTunes and saving their data to the computer’s hard drive. This method works fine if you have iTunes, but you need to learn how to backup and restore your iPhone without iTunes.
- Open configuration from your iPhone.
- lean on your name at the top of the screen.
- lean on iCloud.
- To select iCloud backup.
- If the switch next to iCloud backup on the next screen is not enabled, tap it to set it to on/green.
- lean on Copy now.
- Your iPhone will create a backup of your data and store it in your iCloud account.
- There are several reasons why you might want to reset your iPhone, but most of them are due to a software problem that the reset does not fix. To factory reset your phone, return to the main screen settings and press General.
- Scroll down the screen and touch Restart.
- lean on Reset all content and settings. This command will remove everything from your iPhone and restore it to the state it was in when you first bought it.
- A window will appear asking if you want to update your iCloud backup before erasing your smartphone. Since you just made a backup, press delete now.
- Your iPhone will be erased and rebooted, starting the initial setup process.
- Sign in with your Apple ID when prompted.
- iOS will ask you how you want to set up your smartphone. When you get to the Apps & data screen, touch Restore from iCloud Backup.
- If iCloud has multiple backups stored, it will show you a list of available options. Each backup will include the date and time of its creation. Use this information to choose the most recent file (that is, the one you created earlier).
- Your iPhone will copy the data from this backup.
Note: Depending on how many downloads your phone requires, you may not have full access to your apps and information right away. That said, you can still use your phone while the process continues in the background.
Why not use iTunes?
The number of ways to restore an iPhone has increased thanks to the rise of Apple’s cloud storage service, iCloud. This platform allows access to not only backup data, but also features such as photos, calendars, and contacts on any device signed in with the same Apple ID.
The migration to iCloud has made physical storage in the Apple ecosystem less important. And with other features like cloud backups and music libraries, it’s becoming increasingly unnecessary to connect your phone to iTunes.
Another advantage of cloud storage is that it allows you to access the information you keep online wherever you are. If your smartphone has a problem that you can’t fix by restarting and you’re away from your computer, iCloud will help fix the problem right away instead of forcing you to wait until you can reconnect to iTunes.
The more immediate reason, however, is that iTunes won’t be around forever. As of macOS 10.15 (codenamed Catalina), the app no longer exists in Apple’s operating system. Once you upgrade to the new OS, syncing and backing up to iTunes will no longer be an option.
If you have any questions or suggestions, let us know in the comments. Also refer to this guide if you want to learn how to recover deleted contacts on iPhone.