Back up and restore iPhone and iPad devices in Apple Configurator 2
You can manually set up one device the way you want it, back it up in Apple Configurator 2, and then restore that backup to your other devices. If you want to back up a single user’s data and restore it for only that user, use iCloud Backup instead.
When you back up a device, all the configuration profiles are in the backup. When you restore to the same device, the configuration profiles are restored and remain installed. When you restore to a different device, the configuration profiles are initially restored and then intentionally uninstalled.
Backing up a device enrolled in Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager
When a device is backed up, the Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager configuration is also contained in the backup. There are two scenarios and the configuration of the device depends on whether the device is erased and activated versus restored from backup.
If the configuration is updated on the mobile device management (MDM) server and the device is erased and activated, the device uses the updated configuration.
If the device is restored from backup, the configuration in the backup overwrites the configuration downloaded during activation.
Important: Backups can contain private information—such as app data, account and password information, and browser history. Before backing up a device, review the device’s content for any information you don’t want restored to other devices.
Create a backup
Connect one or more devices to a USB port on the Mac that has Apple Configurator 2
installed, then select them in the device window.Do one of the following:
Click Back Up
in the toolbar.Choose Actions > Back Up.
Control-click the selected devices, and choose Back Up.
To encrypt backups, see Use encrypted backups.
Restore from a backup
Connect one or more devices to a USB port on the Mac that has Apple Configurator 2
installed, then select them in the device window.Do one of the following:
Choose Actions > Restore from Back Up.
Control-click the selected devices, and choose Restore from Back Up.
Select the backup you want to restore, then click Restore.
All contents on the devices will be erased. If the devices are supervised, they will be unsupervised after the restore.
Restore to factory defaults
Connect one or more devices to a USB port on the Mac that has Apple Configurator 2
installed, then select them in the device window.Do one of the following:
Choose Actions > Restore.
Control-click the selected devices, and choose Restore.
All contents on the devices will be erased. If the devices are supervised, it will be unsupervised after the restore.
Click Restore.
Delete a backup
In Apple Configurator 2
, choose Apple Configurator 2 > Preferences > Backups.Select a backup, click Delete Backup, then confirm the intent to delete the backup.