Apple’s iOS operating system is perfect in many ways and has some flaws. One feature is the backup reminder – every so often, you’ll get a notification reminding you to take a backup of your device’s data.
It’s important that you take backups regularly. If you experience data corruption or data loss, a backup allows you to restore lost data.
In certain circumstances, your iOS device or iTunes may urge you to restore data due to an error. This leaves a lot of users wondering, “What does restore iPhone mean?“
You might think it’s a straightforward question, but there can be a lot of misconceptions.
Questions such as: Does restore mean that I’ll lose all my personal data? Does restore mean my iPhone will factory reset? Does restore mean my iPhone is broken?
Given how many questions there are surrounding this, it’s important that you understand exactly what it means to restore the iPhone.
What is an iPhone Restore?
Let’s start by answering the big question: in simple terms, what does restoring iPhone mean? The term restores, in this context, is when we import data that has been backed up.
Using iTunes, you can export personal data from your iPhone so that if there is a problem with the iPhone, you have a copy safely stored on your computer.
For example, a factory reset could be the only solution if you update iOS and there is a problem with the update.
Doing a factory reset would delete the firmware and personal files on your iPhone, and it would then install a new copy of iOS. If you have an iTunes backup, you can restore your personal data afterward.
This isn’t the only situation where an iPhone restore is suitable. A factory reset is also great for deleting junk or unnecessary files, thus enhancing your iPhone’s speed.
You would then restore your iPhone backup, and it’d be like it was never gone. Obviously, if you didn’t make a backup, you can’t restore, which is a difficult situation to rectify.
Restoring iPhone Without Losing Data
Hopefully, your understanding of what restoring an iPhone means helps you realize the importance of restoring an iPhone. Similarly, backing up your data should also be visibly important to you.
Forgetting to back up your iPhone regularly can be excused, and if you need to restore your device because of firmware problems, you must use Tenorshare ReiBoot. Here’s why:
- Repair iOS errors without a factory reset.
- Can repair all iOS versions (including recent releases).
- Fixes common problems like being stuck on the Apple logo, frozen white screen, and restoring failure.
- Easy to use and requires just a few clicks to begin the restore.
- Standard Mode provides an iOS repair without data loss.
There are a few side benefits to using Tenorshare ReiBoot. You can safely downgrade your iOS to an earlier version, and it can also fix iTunes problems too.
As the Standard Mode repair doesn’t cause data loss, it is perfect for restoring an iPhone.
You’ve now had a chance to get familiar with Tenorshare ReiBoot; next, it’s time to try it out. To restore your iPhone without any data loss, follow these steps.
#1 – After downloading and installing Tenorshare ReiBoot, launch it.
#2 – Connect your iPhone to the computer using a lightning cable.
#3 – Click on the “Standard Repair” option from the program’s main menu.
#4 – You will be asked to put your iPhone into DFU mode. If you aren’t sure how to do this, select the appropriate tab for your iOS device and follow the on-screen instructions.
#5 – It will automatically proceed after Tenorshare ReiBoot detects that your iPhone is in DFU/Recovery Mode.
#6 – You’ll be shown information about your device on the following screen. Confirm these details and click the “Download” button.
Note: if either the model or firmware version is wrong, then make sure to change them. Otherwise, you risk bricking the iOS device.
#7 – The program will now download the firmware and automatically install it on your iPhone.
If this doesn’t successfully restore your iPhone and repair any iOS issues you’ve been encountering, you can use Deep Repair.
However, this mode will completely wipe your data, so make sure a backup is made beforehand.
Alternative Solutions to Restore iPhone Data
Method #1 – Restoring a Backup with FoneLab
One alternative software you can try, which also yields successful results, is FoneLab – iPhone Data Recovery.
#1 – Download and install FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery.
#2 – From the menu on the left, click “Recover from iTunes Backup File.”
#3 – Connect your iPhone using the appropriate USB cable.
#4 – Select one of the iTunes backups shown on your screen and press “Start Scan” to proceed.
#5 – Once the scan is complete, you can select all the data you want to restore to your iOS device.
#6 – Finally, after you select the data, click “Recover,” and the program will restore the chosen files to your device.
FoneLab’s selective restore offers more flexibility, which can deem it preferable. It’s a great solution for restoring iPhone data with ease.
Method #2 – Factory Reset Your iPhone
If all else fails and you don’t know any other way to proceed, you can factory reset your iPhone with iTunes.
#1 – Open iTunes on your computer, and with a lightning cable, connect your iPhone.
#2 – Select your iPhone from the menu after your iPhone finishes syncing.
Note: if your iPhone shows you the trust notification, make sure that you tap on “Trust.”
#3 – From the “Summary” menu, select the “Restore iPhone” option. Click “Restore” on the confirmation box that appears.
Note: you must also disable Find My iPhone to restore the iPhone. Users will find this setting in “Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone.”
#4 – iTunes will now factory reset your iPhone.
#5 – After the factory reset is complete, click on “Restore Backup” on iTunes.
#6 – Choose one of the available backups that you’ve taken with iTunes and click “Restore.”
This is a quick and easy solution to restore your iPhone, and if you take frequent backups, it also secures your personal data.
Also read: What does the arrow mean on iPhone?
FAQs
- Does restoring an iPhone delete everything? Yes, it deletes all data and settings from your device, making it essential to back up before initiating the restoration process.
- How long does it take to restore an iPhone? The duration can vary from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of data and your internet connection speed.
- Will I lose my photos if I restore my iPhone? If you’ve backed up your photos to iCloud or a computer, you can restore them after the restoration process. However, if you haven’t backed up, the photos will be lost.
- Can I restore my iPhone without a computer? Yes, you can restore your iPhone directly from the device via the Settings app.
- Does a factory restore fix software issues? In most cases, yes. A factory restore can fix software-related issues by wiping the device and reinstalling the operating system.
To Conclude
Regularly backing up your iPhone data is important, but so is understanding the various ways to restore the backup.
After reading through this article, you’ll know the answer to what restoring an iPhone means and how to restore an iPhone.
Although we recommend using Tenorshare ReiBoot to get the best results, you may consider the other solutions too. If you have an iPhone error that causes issues with your device, you’ll now be prepared!
