Users report that their iPhone8/X cannot restore the backup copy from the latest one backup copy for different reasons. In this article, we have listed the reasons and corresponding solutions when you were unable to restore your iTunes or iCloud backup.
Part 1: Fix iTunes couldn't restore iPhone
When you have problems with iPhone not restoring from iTunes backup, below you can find useful tips.
iTunes backup is corrupted or incompatible
When you are in this situation, deleting corrupted backup files is good way to fix the error - iPhone cannot restore the backup.
1. Firstly, you should find backups of your iPhone8.
On PC with Windows 7,8 and 10:
To find a list of backups, select \Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
You can also do the following:
Find the search string:
In Windows 7, click the Start button.
In Windows 8, click the magnifying glass icon on the right top corner screen.
On Windows 10, go to the search bar next to the Start button.
Type %appdata% in the search bar and press Enter, then click these folders: Apple Computer > MobileSync > Backup.
On Mac:
Step 1: Click on search in the menu bar.
Step 2: Type or copy and paste the following text: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
Step 3: Press Enter.
To find a specific backup, follow these steps:
Open iTunes. From the menu bar, click iTunes and select Preferences.
Select "Devices".
Control-click the backup you want and choose Show in Finder.
2. Copy your iOS backups to another location, such as your desktop or external drive.
3. Open iTunes on your computer and select "Devices".
4. Select all backup files and click "Delete Backup".
5. Copy all previous backup files back to the Backup folder.
6. Try restoring iTunes again.
If this doesn't help, you may want to consider deleting all backups and creating a new backup if the new iPhone doesn't see the iTunes backup.
Error when restoring a backup
If the message says unknown error, you cannot restore iPhone 8 from iTunes backup, you can turn to free Tenorshare TunesCare. Instead of trying every time to use possible solutions, offers the ultimate solution to fix various iTunes sync/backup/restore errors.
iPhone is disabled or not recognized by iTunes
Make sure that a new version iTunes has been updated.
Check the USB cable and connections.
Restart your computer and iPhone 8.
Put your iPhone into recovery mode with free Tenorshare ReiBoot to be detected.
Backup password is incorrect
If you enabled encrypted backup and accidentally forgot the backup password, there is no way to restore iTunes backup to your iPhone 8 unless you remove the password using a third party software such as Tenorshare iBackupUnlocker. Learn more about how to remove iPhone backup password.
Part 2: New iPhone 8/8 Plus cannot restore data from iCloud backup
In another situation, if you are using iCloud backup and cannot restore iPhone from iCloud iOS 11, everything is different. Most iCloud backup errors are caused by:
Not enough space on iPhone 8
If the previous backup file is large enough, you may be prompted to indicate that there is not enough space to restore from your iCloud backup. In this case, it is suggested to clear some space on your iOS device. Tenorshare iCareFone - good tool recovery limited space for storage.
iCloud recovery takes too long to complete
The problem of iPhone not finishing restoring from iCloud backup is mainly caused by slow network connection and also big size file. Make sure your device is connected to a reliable and stable Wi-Fi networks, and then wait patiently.
Or you can try the iTunes backup alternative - UltData. Supporting both iTunes and iCloud backups, UltData processes recover with incredible speed. You just need to sign in to your Apple ID account and select the file to back up.
Some items cannot be recovered or iCloud recovery is incomplete
When your backups contain purchases made from more than one Apple ID, you will be prompted to send a message requiring you to sign your Apple ID, otherwise the iPhone cannot be restored from the backup. Click "Skip this step" and sign in later.
Hope these suggestions work for you. Share it if this article helps in resolving your iPhone 8/8 Plus/X will not be restored from iTunes/iCloud backup.
Users store a huge amount of information on their iPhones, the loss of which is highly undesirable. Therefore, backup is an operation that should become a habit. Knowing how to restore an iPhone from a backup can help you quickly get your lost data back, no matter what caused it to be deleted. Let's look at two methods of returning data so that you understand which method will be more convenient for you to use.
Recovery methods
When returning information from a backup, the firmware is not affected, the system version is not updated, and the settings are not rolled back or changed. You can return lost data back to your phone memory in two ways:
- Via iTunes.
- Via iCloud storage.
The choice of method depends on how the information was backed up. If you saved a copy via iCloud, then you need to return the data to the iPhone from cloud storage; made a copy on your computer - you will have to connect your smartphone to your PC and synchronize the devices.
Restore to iTunes
If you connect your iPhone to your computer, then you probably have iTunes installed, which provides, among other functions, the ability to save backup copies and return information from a backup file. Copies in iTunes are created automatically, but you can save the data manually if the need arises.
Connect your iPhone to your PC and go to iTunes. Go to the main page of the device and check the "Backups" section. Look for the “Automatically create copies” option - if “This PC” is selected, you can restore information from hard drive via iTunes. If the “iCloud” value is selected, then the data will have to be returned from cloud storage - this is discussed in detail below.
Let's consider the procedure for restoring information from a copy that was stored on the hard drive. The phone is already connected to the PC. What to do next:
Wait until the information is copied to the iPhone’s memory. After the recovery is complete, you need to reconfigure geolocation, iCloud and other Apple services. The information was returned to the phone without loss, you can continue to use it.
The main thing is not to forget to make backup copies, then no difficulties such as loss of important messages and contacts will arise.
Recovery via iCloud
If you did not connect your iPhone to your PC via a USB interface, but saved a copy on the device itself, sending personal data directly to iCloud, then you can return the lost information through the setup assistant, which appears after resetting your mobile device. Resetting settings and content erases all information from the phone, so before performing it, make sure that a backup has been created and stored in iCloud.
The main advantage of iCloud backup is the ability to customize its content. In order not to take up extra storage space, you can refuse to save some information. For example, do not send messages to the “cloud” that do not contain anything informative.
If the creation of backups was enabled in the iCloud settings, the device should have automatically copied information to cloud storage. However, sending data to iCloud requires that several conditions be met:
If you did not comply with these conditions, then the very fact of enabling backup in iCloud settings will not lead to the creation of an automatic backup. However, usually users do not have problems with this, so if you are satisfied with the date of the last backup, you can safely erase the content and settings, and then restore the information from the saved copy.
When activating (language, region, establishing a connection to a wireless network), select the “Recover from iCloud” mode. To authorize in iCloud, write your Apple ID password. 
Then you need to accept the license agreement, create a lock password, and reconfigure the Touch ID scanner. You will only be prompted to create a lock password if this feature was active on your device before resetting and deleting content. 
When you set up a new iOS device or to restore information on one you already have, your iCloud backup makes it easy.
Restore from an iCloud backup
On iOS 11 or later: Go to Settings > [ your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups.
On iOS 10.3: Go to Settings > [ your name] > iCloud. Tap the graph that shows your iCloud usage, then tap Manage Storage.
On iOS 10.2 or earlier: Go to Settings > iCloud > Storage > Manage Storage.
On your iOS device, go to Settings > General > Software Update. If a newer version of iOS is available, follow the onscreen instructions to download and install it.
Make sure you have a recent backup to restore from.
Then tap a device listed under Backups to see the date and size of its latest backup.
Go to Settings > General > Reset, then tap “Erase All Content and Settings.”
On the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup, then sign in to iCloud.
For help deciding which backup to restore from, including information about restoring from another device’s backup, see the Apple Support article.
Set up a new device from an iCloud backup
Turn on your iOS device.
From the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup, then sign in to iCloud.
Proceed to “Choose backup,” then choose from a list of available backups in iCloud.
After using an iCloud backup to restore or set up a device:
Your settings and accounts are restored from the iCloud backup you chose. Your device restarts and begins downloading your purchased music, movies, TV shows, apps, books, photos, and other content. If your device can’t download the version of an app that was backed up, it downloads the latest version.
Your purchased content is automatically downloaded from the iTunes Store, the App Store, and Apple Books. Some types of content aren’t downloaded automatically in all countries or regions, and previous purchases may be unavailable if they have been refunded or are no longer available in the store. See the Apple Support article.
You may be asked to enter passwords for iTunes Store, App Store, and Apple Books accounts to restore purchased items.
Progress bars appear below Home screen icons for apps being downloaded.
To make an app a priority for downloading, tap its icon.
To check if the information on your device is fully restored, go to Settings > [ your name] > iCloud > Storage (or Settings > iCloud > Storage).
If you subscribe to iCloud Music Library, you can download your songs, albums, and playlists from iCloud after other information on your device is fully restored.
For information about messages that may appear while restoring information from an iCloud backup, see the Apple Support article.
Note: You can restore information on your iOS device from an iTunes backup instead of an iCloud backup. See the iTunes User Guide topic.
Often, due to a breakdown or loss of your iPhone, you lose valuable data, such as photos, phone numbers, messages (SMS, iMessage, WhatsApp, Viber). Apple has taken these annoying moments into account and added a data backup feature to iOS for easy recovery and backup of iPhone data.
There are two ways to store backups:
1. Storing backups locally on your computer
These copies are created using iTunes and stored directly on your computer.
Minuses: You should periodically connect your device to your computer and launch iTunes to perform a backup.
2. Storing backups in the iCloud cloud service
These copies are created automatically when your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network and a power source, that is, it is charging. By default, Apple provides 5 GB of free iCloud storage.
If you use iCloud, make sure you have data backup enabled. 
Minuses: Over time, these 5 GB become insufficient, and you have to switch to a paid plan.
If you have one of the iPhone backups suggested above, but do not have access to the device itself, and you need your data, use the following instructions.
How to Recover Lost Data from iPhone from iTunes or iCloud Copy
There are many ways to get a backup without having an iPhone. Below we will tell you how easy it is to recover data using Tenorshare UltData. It allows you to recover data from both a local iTunes copy and an iCloud backup.
The program has three recovery modes:
- Recover data directly from iPhone without backups
- Recovering data from a copy of iTunes
- Recovering data from an iCloud copy
The program may be useful if:
- You deleted your data by mistake
- Updated iOS on your iPhone and forgot to make a copy
- Performed a factory reset
- Lost iPhone data after jailbreak
- Broken iPhone
- iPhone stuck on Apple logo, black/white “death” screen
- iPhone is infected with a virus
- You forgot your iPhone password and it's locked
- iTunes can't recognize your iPhone and you can't restore from an iTunes backup
If you haven't lost your iPhone and have access to it
- Download the program. The program has a free trial version:
2. Once installed and running, connect your device to your computer using a USB cable
3. Press the button Start Scan. The scanning of deleted data on your device will begin. It will take some time.
4. After scanning is completed, you will receive a message:
5. All your iPhone data will be displayed on the left side of the window, including those that were previously deleted. These can be photos, messages, phone numbers, calendar entries, notes and much more.
6. Select the data you want to recover and click Recover. For example, a recently deleted call.
7. The directory with the recovered data will open. If we're talking about about photos, you need to rename the photos by adding the extension .jpg or .png.
If you have lost your iPhone and do not have physical access to it
We hope the instructions will be useful if you have lost your iPhone or your data!
Often, as a result of making some mistakes, it becomes necessary to restore the phone. Perhaps your basic settings have gone wrong or your smartphone has started to freeze. Data recovery is not a difficult procedure, but how to do it correctly? iPhone recovery via iTunes and not make mistakes? This article will provide you detailed instructions restoring an iPhone using the iTunes program and will consider the most common failures during the recovery procedure.
How to restore iPhone via iTunes?
The first thing you need to remember when restoring data is that unsaved data, as well as data for which a backup copy was not created, will be irrevocably erased and the phone will be clean, as if it had just come from the store. Therefore, to avoid losing all data, you can create a backup copy on the cloud. Also, do not forget about two important factors that arise when resetting data:
1 The firmware version must be current. Otherwise, there is a possibility that iTunes will display an unknown error and the data will not be able to be restored. 2 When your iPhone is locked, increasing the firmware level automatically increases the modem version. At the same time, there is practically no possibility of returning it back.The recovery process and how to restore an iPhone via iTunes?
First, you need to make sure that your computer has an Internet connection, and that all updates are available inside iTunes. After checking, you can proceed directly to the recovery process.
- The first step is to connect the smartphone to the computer, with the help of which the restoration will be carried out. You need to connect using a special cable from the kit that came with the purchase.
- Once you have connected your phone to your PC, you need to select your device in iTunes when it appears.
- The next step is to go to the “Browse” tab and select “Restore” there.
- Confirm the action in the pop-up dialog box.
The time it takes for the phone to recover takes on average from 5 to 20 minutes. After the restoration process on the iPhone is completed, all information will be erased and the smartphone will be ready for use again.
Recovery using DFU mode
This mode is used when there is a software error in the smartphone and it involves restoring iPhone 4s, iPhone 5s, 6 via iTunes. In order to put your phone into DFU mode, you need to do the following:
After the smartphone is in this mode, iTunes will notify you that it has recognized the new device and then you can carry out the standard data recovery procedure.
How to restore iPhone without iTunes?
To restore a phone without a special program there is one additional method solutions. This process is performed using the “Settings” item in the phone menu.
- Turn on the device and go to “Settings”
- Select the reset item and configure the appropriate mode.
With such a reset, your personal information and files will remain intact, but it is always better to be on the safe side and create a backup copy in iCloud. Don't forget that you need to specify all the settings correctly.
How to restore iPhone from backup?
To restore information from a saved copy, you need to turn on iTunes and connect your smartphone to it, go into recovery mode. Then go to the file window or call up the menu using the hot keys Ctrl+B. Inside the “devices section” window, select the restore using iTunes backup option. After the action is confirmed, file copying will begin.
If you have a question: “Why can’t I restore from reserve?” and if iTunes was unable to create a backup copy of iPhone, this may mean that the problem arose because the phone is locked, and iTunes does not have the ability to create copies.
