iOS: How to back up your data and set up as a new device

Summary

You may want to erase all data on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and set it up as a new device (for example, after purchasing a new device, you may choose to give the previous device to a family member, friend, or another person for their use). Follow these steps to erase your device and set it up as if it were new. This article also explains how to preserve your data before erasing it. You can also use these steps to troubleshoot an issue.

Products Affected

iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, iTunes

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1. Transfer content

Before you erase your device, take few minutes to transfer your content from your device to your computer to ensure that all your critical data is safe.

2. Back up

Back up your device before you erase it. Review the steps below, depending on your backup method, to ensure that you have a recent backup in case you decide to restore your device from a backup.

iCloud

iCloud backs up your device automatically once a day. Review when your device was last backed up by tapping Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup. You can see the last time the device was backed up on the bottom of the page. If you need to back up, tap Backup now. Ensure that your device is connected to Wi-Fi and connected to a power source before backing up.

iTunes

iTunes backs up your device automatically when you sync. If you have previous backups of your device in iTunes when you select Set Up As New, a sync occurs. This sync creates a new backup indicating the time the device was backed up.

To back up your device:

In iTunes, check Preferences > Devices to check the date and time of your latest backup.
If you do not have a recent backup, create one by right-clicking the device in the source list and choosing Back Up.

For more information on backing up your device, see iOS: How to back up. If you wish to copy your backup to another folder, disk, or location for safekeeping, see this article in the section titled "Where iTunes backups are stored on your computer." For more information about what iTunes backs up, see this article.

3. Suspend service to the device

If you plan to give your device to someone else, remove the SIM card. For CDMA devices, contact your carrier for assistance with transferring or deactivating the wireless account.

4. Erase your device

Erasing all content and settings will delete all the data from your device, including songs, videos, contacts, photos, calendar information, and any other data. All device settings are restored to their factory condition.

To remove all settings and information from your device, tap Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. For more information about this feature, see iOS: Understanding 'Erase All Content and Settings'.

If you are unable to erase your device, restore the device using iTunes.

After your device is erased or restored, you should be able to see the following on your device screen.

Additional Information

If you erased your device for troubleshooting purposes

Set up as new

To set your device up as a new device in factory configuration, complete the setup assistant. When prompted to set up your device, select "Set up as new" and then tap Next to continue. If your device does not have iOS 5 installed, or if you want to use iTunes to set up your device as new, see the "Setup in iTunes" section below.

Note: After setting up as new, you will need to reenter the Visual Voicemail password for iPhone (on carriers that support Visual Voicemail). If you've forgotten the password, contact your carrier to help you reset it.

Set up your device as new in iTunes

To set up your device as a new device in factory configuration, tap "Restore from iTunes Backup" on the device when prompted. You may see only the second "Connect to iTunes" image if you are not using iOS 5.
Connect your device to iTunes and choose "Set up as new." Click Continue.
Name the device. Deselect "Automatically sync contacts, calendars, bookmarks, notes, and email accounts" and "Automatically sync applications." Click Done.

Note: After setting up as new, you will need to reenter the Visual Voicemail password for iPhone (on carriers that support Visual Voicemail). If you've forgotten the password, contact your carrier to help you reset it.

After erasing and setting up as a new device, your device is now in a factory configuration.

Check for software updates and install them if available.

Test now to determine if erasing and setting up as a new device resolved the issue. It may be that content on the device caused unexpected behavior.

If the issue is now resolved, sync one type of content at a time back to the device. After each sync, test to see if the issue has returned.

To restore your device using a previous backup

iCloud

Erase all content and settings by tapping Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
When your device turns back on, complete the setup assistant. When prompted to set up your device, choose "Setup from iCloud" and then enter your user name and password.
iCloud will prompt you to choose a backup. Select the backup you wish to use and then tap Restore to continue.

iTunes

To restore your device using a previous backup, connect your device to iTunes. When your device appears in the source list, right-click your device and click "Restore from backup…". iTunes will ask you to choose the desired backup from the list provided.

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