How to Restore Your iPhone or iPad from an iCloud Backup

Support Article | University PC Care

Restoring from an iCloud backup is the easiest way to recover your apps, photos, contacts, and settings after a reset, replacement, or upgrade. Whether you're setting up a new device or restoring after a factory reset, this guide walks you through the steps.

Before You Begin

To restore from iCloud, you’ll need:

A Wi-Fi connection
Your Apple ID and password
An existing iCloud backup (created before the reset)

Not sure if you have a backup? Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup on your old device (or previous backup device) to check the date of your last successful backup.

How to Restore During Setup

You can only restore an iCloud backup during the initial setup of your device. If you’ve already set up your device, you’ll need to reset it again to access this option.

Steps to Restore:

Turn on your device and follow the on-screen setup steps.
When you reach the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup.
Sign in with your Apple ID.
Choose the most recent backup (or the one you want to restore).
Wait for the restore process to complete.

Your device will restart, and the home screen will appear once the initial restore is done. Apps, photos, and other content will continue downloading in the background — this may take some time depending on your Wi-Fi connection and the size of the backup.

What Gets Restored

When restoring from iCloud, you’ll get back:

App data and settings
Messages and call history
Photos and videos (if iCloud Photos is turned on)
Home screen layout and preferences
Safari bookmarks and notes
Health data, Wallet, and passwords (if using iCloud Keychain)

What Doesn’t Get Restored

Some items may need to be reconfigured manually:

Face ID / Touch ID setup
Apple Pay cards
Mail passwords (you’ll be prompted to re-enter them)
Any content not included in the backup or stored outside iCloud (e.g., synced from a computer)

Troubleshooting Tips

If restore seems stuck, ensure you're connected to a strong Wi-Fi signal.
If you can’t find your backup, double-check you're signed into the correct Apple ID.
If your backup is too large, you may need to free up iCloud space or purchase additional storage.

Need Help?

If you're unsure which backup to use, having trouble restoring, or need help resetting your device, we’re here to assist.

📍 Visit us at University PC Care
📞 Call: (252) 558-1280
📧 Email: support@universitypccare.com