[Guide] How To Restore iTunes Backup? Finding The Right Direction

Losing important data on your iPhone can feel like a nightmare, but fortunately, iTunes is here to save the day. Whether you are recovering from a crash, restoring essential files, or simply upgrading to a new device, knowing “how do I restore from iTunes backup” is necessary. However, the process is not as simple as it seems, as one wrong step can overwrite the valuable data or lead to frustrating issues.

Hence, to save you from this situation, this guide will walk you through restoring iTunes backup procedure. From exploring details about iTunes to restoring its data with the finest tool, it will help you easily navigate every step.

Part 1. Details You Should Know About iTunes

Released on January 9, 2001, by Apple, iTunes is a place where users purchase movies, music, books, TV shows, etc. In terms of compatibility, users can access this program easily on older versions of macOS and PC. However, iTunes for Mac is available in versions prior to Catalina since it replaced Finder in models after that. Additionally, on a PC, you have to manually install it to sync, backup, and restore valuable data.

At first, it was designed as a music player, but later, it was used to sync content between Apple devices. Regarding working, iTunes organizes the media library while allowing you to transfer files between computer and Apple devices. Upon connecting the devices, iTunes lets you back up the data, update software, and restore files when needed. Thus, before you know how to restore a backup with iTunes, review some of its features, which are mentioned below.

1. Media Library Management: iTunes allows users to manage their digital media collection, including music, podcasts, audiobooks, and TV shows. In addition, it enables one to categorize content and edit it for seamless access.
2. iTunes Store Access: With a robust Internet connection and an Apple account, this solution also allows one to access the iTunes store. Upon renting, purchasing, or downloading, the item is then added to the iTunes library and can be accessed on all computer devices.
3. Access Purchases Across All Your Devices: Once you sign in with the Apple ID, you can easily redownload any apps, music, movies, or TV shows you've purchased before. Through this facility, one can restore content anytime without buying it repeatedly.

Part 2. [Detailed Guide] How To Restore iTunes Backup With Ease?

Now that you know what iTunes is, you might be wondering, “how to restore a backup on iTunes?" To answer that, this section covers steps for Windows to help you navigate the process with ease.

Step 1. To begin with, connect the device with a USB connection and grant permission on your phone if you are linking for the first time. Once done, locate the “Phone” icon from the top left corner of the main interface to head to the device’s summary tab.

Step 2. As you are there, from the “Backups” section, press the “Restore Backup” button to start the process. A popup will appear asking you for confirmation to start the restoration task.

Alternative. Recover iTunes Backup from External Devices with Wondershare Recoverit

While restoring the backup, if it was saved across an external device and got lost, try using Wondershare Recoverit to retrieve your important data. Users can recover all files and formats from NSA drivers, memory cards, USBs, and hard drives using this tool. Regarding NSA, Recoverit ensures no data and no charge commitment, allowing you to preview if the data is found.

Moreover, it can also restore over 1000 file types stored on memory cards in just 3 simple steps. For data restoration through USBs, the tool supports various brand models like Kingston, Toshiba, Sandisk, Sony, etc. Whether it's accidental deletion, physical damage, or formatting error, you can pick multiple files for quick scanning. Leveraging patent technology, this solution ensures you advance scanning algorithms to restore the lost data from external devices.

Key Features To Know About Recoverit

1. Partition Recovery: Supporting exFAT, FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, ReFS, HFS+, etc., the tool allows you to retrieve partitions without technical expertise.
2. Hard Drive Recovery: Using an intuitive and simple interface, Recoverit can also recover hard drive data while offering support for various storage devices and file types.
3. Linux Data Recovery: Once accessed on Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista, this tool restores data with all popular Linux distros.
4. Preview Limit: After the quick scan, users can preview 10 seconds of video or the first page of a document using its free version.

Detailed Guide to Recover Data From External Devices Using Wondershare Recoverit

To proceed with the “how to retrieve iPhone backup from iTunes” discussion, let’s learn how you can recover the data from external devices hassle-free.

Step 1. Access the Tool and Connect the External Device

Start by accessing the tool on your device and connecting the external device through a USB cable to start the recovery process. Once done, locate the device from the “Hard Drives and Location” section and press the “Start” button to continue.

Step 2. Start the Quick Scanning For File Recovery

After that, on the new screen, the system will start the quick scan from where you can choose the files for recovery.

Step 3. Recover iTunes Backup Files Successfully

As it is completed, press the “Recover” button, preview the backup files, and save them to your device.

Part 3. What If iTunes Cannot Restore the Backup to the iPhone?

During iTunes data recovery, you encounter many issues that make backup data recovery difficult for the iPhone. Therefore, in this section, we have mentioned possible reasons and solutions to help you overcome this situation:

Reason 1. Outdated Software Versions

Sometimes, having an outdated iTunes software version can lead to compatibility issues, which affects the backup storing process. For that, Apple regularly updates its software to fix bugs and improve security, but if you have an older version, it might not support backup formats.

Solution. To overcome this situation while restoring the backup with iTunes, ensure that both your iOS and iTunes feature the latest software version to restore the backup easily. To do this, head to iTunes, tap the "Edit" tab from the top left corner and pick the "Preferences" option. From the popup window that appears, select the "Advanced" tab and check the "Check for New Software Updates Automatically" option.

For iPhone, go to the “General” settings and hit the “Software Update” option on the new interface. On the next screen, tap on the “Update Now” button if the option is available.

Reason 2. Insufficient iPhone Storage

Besides the software, storage can also affect the backup restoring process and cause unexpected data backup corruption. Hence, for smooth data restoration, you must have more extensive storage than the backup that you seek to restore.

Solution. To ensure you have space on your iOS, head to the “General” settings and pick the “iPhone Storage” option. On the new interface, you’ll see how much storage is used and subtract the used storage from the total to find out how much free space you have.

Reason 3. Existing Data Conflicts Preventing Backup Restoration

When learning “how to get backup from iTunes,” know that existing data on your iPhone can also affect the data restoration to the iPhone. Besides, mismatched system files or previous settings can prevent a smooth recovery.

Solution. To cater to this situation, enter the "Transfer or Reset iPhone" option from the “General” settings and pick the "Erase All Content and Settings" option on the new screen. After that, a bottom popup interface will appear, and you will have to press the "Continue" button to start the process.

Once done, restart your device, and from the "Apps & Data" screen, select the "Restore from iTunes Backup" option to begin the restoration process again.

Reason 4. Corrupt Backup Preventing Restoration

Lastly, a corrupt backup can also limit users from restoring the data properly. Moreover, if the backup file is damaged, the process might fail and get stuck, too.

Solution. To do this, try using another backup by erasing your iPhone using the steps explained above. As it's done, on the “Apps & Data” screen, tap the “Restore from iCloud Backup” option and sign in with your Apple ID and password. Once signed in, choose the preferred backup, and if it's not listed there, pick the “Show All Backups” or “Other Backups” option to fetch older ones from iCloud.

Conclusion

In short, while switching to a new device or recovering from a crash, if you are wondering how to restore from iTunes backup, this guide has given some answers. Here, we have mentioned ways like using Wondershare Recoverit, which you can try to restore backups from external devices.

In addition, if the data fails to restore on your iOS device using iTunes, we have uncovered various reasons along with their solutions for your clarity. So, review the guide and see how you can cater to these conditions to restore your iTunes backup.