Does iPhone iTunes backup save all app settings and files?

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RickD

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Ultimate Geek
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#144259 13-May-2014 08:29

Hi,

Does does the iTunes iPhone backup include app settings (mostly concerned about Google Authenticator and my notes app) and files stored inside apps (e.g. docs inside Scanner Pro etc)? If I backup my iPhone to iTunes, then do a factory reset, and then restore the backup, will the phone be set up exactly the same as before I reset it?

I want to try the factory reset to see if it helps with a battery better issue on my phone.

Cheers

JimmyC

726 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#1042801 13-May-2014 09:36

I believe it depends on the app. In my experience apps that contain their own data usually have their own methods to back up that content, stuff iTunes won't see. For eg: a couple of years ago I had a wine cellar app with more than a hundred wines I'd recorded information about, pics of labels etc. I presumed the contents of the app would be backed up but alas, no. All gone when I restored.

As I say, that was a couple of years ago, and more apps have options to back up to iCloud or Dropbox directly so you'll just need to check how each app handles its content before you reset.

MadEngineer

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#1047439 18-May-2014 14:20

Best way to test is to borrow a spare and restore it from your account.
It's a bit hit and miss what gets backed up. Pro tip: see if the data you care about can be synced online. Many games allow facebook logins so will be backed up there. You might be surprised that your notes when the default action is to save them to your phone may not be backed up. Be sure to enable notes for your gmail/imap or email enabled iTunes account AND choose to have them saved there (default account in notes settings).

It becomes obvious what data is stored online when you have two idevices (eg iphone and iPad) when you create an item on one and you know it will automatically be on the other.

It is getting better as the more recent apps will provide cloud syncing.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

RickD

280 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 8

#1048538 20-May-2014 08:35

What I found out, is that if you encrypt your iTunes backup of your device with a password, everything including the keychain is backed up. I factory reset my phone and then restored the iTunes backup and didn't lose any app settings. Google Authenticator, 1Password and my notes app data was restored.

tdgeek

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#1048554 20-May-2014 09:08

Long list further down the webpage

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4946