Stepwise Guide to Restore iPhone from Backup in 2025

Want to hit the Undo button on iPhone or set up a new device? Either way, you need to restore from backup. When you restore an iPhone from backup, it brings back everything, including media files, settings, and even Apps. By restoring your old data, you can set up your new iPhone easily.

We will guide you on how to restore iPhone from backup using proven methods: iCloud, iTunes/Finder, and PhoneRescue. We will discuss them in detail and review the step-by-step process.

Part 1. Can You Restore Your iPhone to an Earlier Date?

Yes, you can return your iPhone to a previous date, but you will need a backup file saved on that date.

You cannot select any random date and restore your iPhone to that date. You have to already have a backup on that day. Without the backup, you can’t restore that far. People mostly restore their iPhone with iCloud and iTunes/Finder. These devices enable you to restore your old settings, apps, and information.

Therefore, if you need to go back to an earlier state, ensure you have a backup stored. And if you’re reading this blog just for information, here is a tip: “Backup Regularly.” It will save you time and effort.
Now let’s move on and learn how to restore iPhone from backup.

Part 2. How to Restore iPhone from Backup

People usually back up their iPhones in iCloud or on a computer. You can restore the backup from where you saved it in the first place. iCloud cannot restore from iTunes, and iTunes can not restore a backup from iCloud. After reviewing both of these methods, we will tell you a complete iOS data recovery solution that can be used to restore iPhone from both iCloud and iTunes.

We will explore how to restore iPhone from backup using iCloud first.

Method 1. Restore iPhone From iCloud Backup

To restore from iCloud backup, you just need a Wifi internet connection, your Apple account credentials, and an earlier iCloud backup. You must have a good battery charge or connect your phone to a charger to avoid any mishap. Follow the steps below to

Step 1. Open your mobile “Settings” and go to “General.” Scroll down and select “Transfer or Reset iPhone.”

Step 2. After resetting your iPhone to factory settings, start the normal mobile setup, and at the “Transfer your Apps and Data” screen, select “from iCloud Backup.”

Step 3. Input your Apple ID and credentials, and confirm with two-factor authentication.

Step 4. Agree with the terms and conditions. Then, select your desired iCloud backup (preferably the latest one). Now, wait for the restore to finish.

Method 2. Restore iPhone From Computer Backup (Finder/iTunes)

To restore your device using iTunes, you don’t need to erase your iPhone first. You just need to connect your device to a computer or Mac using a USB-Lightning cable.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to a Mac/PC.

Step 2. Open Finder (macOS) or iTunes (Windows) and select your iPhone on the left-hand side bar. Click “General” and then “Restore Backup.”

Step 3. Choose your backup and enter the backup password if prompted. Click the “Erase and Restore” button. Wait for the iPhone restore to complete, then click “Continue” when finished.

You can also restore your iPhone using Apple Configurator for Mac. But wait! What if things don’t go according to plan?

At times, the standard methods, such as iCloud or iTunes, simply do not work. Perhaps the backup is corrupted. Perhaps your iPhone is hung up. iMobie’s PhoneRescue can serve as the solution in these situations. Let’s find out more about how to restore iPhone from backup using PhoneRescue.

Method 3. Restore iPhone Using PhoneRescue for iPhone Restore from Backup

PhoneRescue is more than a backup utility. It’s a clever and efficient solution when iCloud or iTunes fails. It can also be used to restore your iPhone from a backup, even if the backup itself is missing, corrupted or encrypted.

PhoneRescue can also repair system problems. No matter if you accidentally lost data or are stuck on any device page, like a black screen, Apple logo flashing, etc., you can fix it with PhoneRescue for iOS. For data recovery, it can recover contacts, call history, messages & attachments, photos, playlists, app data, etc.

Notably, you don’t have to restore everything. It allows you to preview the backup and recover only the data you want.

Key Features of PhoneRescue – iOS Data Recovery

• Retrieve lost photos, messages, contacts, and more
• Choose and recover only what you want
• Restore iCloud data without erasing your phone
• Completely supports iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe
• Employs smart technology for secure and quick recovery

To use this ultimate iOS data recovery solution, you need to download PhoneRescue. Install it beforehand and follow the steps given below to restore your iPhone from backup.

Steps to Recover from Backup:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable. Launch PhoneRescue and check if the device is connected. Now select “Recover from Backup” and click the forward arrow button.

Step 2. PhoneRescue will automatically detect the backups on the computer and list them. You can now select or browse your desired backup.

Step 3. You can now either scan the selected backup or compare it with your existing mobile data.

Step 4. Select and recover your desired data.

Step 5. Once the data recovery is finished, you will see a recovery success screen.

If you want to recover from iCloud, follow the steps given below.

Steps to Recover from iCloud Backup:

Step 1. After connecting your iPhone with PhoneRescue, select the “Recover from iCloud” option.

Step 2. Sign In with your Apple ID and Password.

Step 3. PhoneRescue will detect all the data types that you have ever synced with iCloud. Select your desired ones.

Step 4. Download your specific backup created on the date you want to restore your phone to.

Step 5. “Compare” or “Only scan” the backup. Select all your desired data, and now you can click the “Restore to Computer” or “Restore to Device” button.

That’s how you can restore the iCloud data to your computer or your iPhone.

Apart from restoring your device with these two options (iCloud backup and Computer backup), you can also recover lost data directly from your device using PhoneRescue. If you want to recover lost data, follow the below steps.

Without iCloud backup or iTunes backup:

Step 1. Then connect your target iPhone to the computer with a USB cable. Then choose Recover from iOS Device.

Step 2. To choose the data you want to restore, click the OK button to scan your iPhone.

Step 3. After the scanning, you will see all the data your iPhone has on PhoneRescue for iOS. Then, you can click on the button to restore them to the iPhone or to a computer.

Part 3. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How much time does it take to restore from an iCloud backup?

It can take from 15 minutes to an hour to restore from iCloud. The time is based on the speed of your Wi-Fi and the size of the data being restored. Larger backups take longer.

Q2. Does restoring from an iCloud backup delete my data?

Yes, before restoring, you need to erase everything from your device and start again with it. To protect your data, you can use something like PhoneRescue. It restores without deleting anything.

Part 4. Conclusion

Yes, you can roll back your iPhone to a previous date, but only if you have it backed up at the time. We posted three simple steps to help you get it. If your backup is secure and all is well, you can use iCloud or iTunes/Finder to restore your data.

PhoneRescue is another option. It’s strong, reliable, and functions even when the standard ways do not work . Pick the approach that suits you best and love your iPhone as good as new again!