Find solution
What files are included in the file backup?

Can I restore an iTunes backup file?

  • Did iTunes delete my backup file? If so, can I restore it or other wise get it back? I recently upgraded from IOS 3 to IOS 4 on my iPhone 3G. Soon after the upgrade I noticed that my wifi had stopped working - the radio would only work sporadically, it would only join networks if I typed in the network name manually, and it would only stay joined for a minute or two before dying out - but that's not really the problem here. I wanted to restore the iPhone to original factory settings to see if that repaired the wifi issue. Instead of restoring from a backup (Backup A, let's call it), I restored to original factory settings. Restore worked fine. iTunes asked if I wanted to backup the iPhone. I said 'yes' (Backup B). I discovered that despite the clean restore the wifi still doesn't work. So, I planned to restore the phone from Backup A. HOWEVER, when I went to restore from Backup A, it was not included in the list. *Only* Backup B is listed. I fear I did something really stupid, that Backup B has permanently overwritten Backup A. Not a problem except that the Notes and the Photos from Backup A appear to be unrecoverable. Music, apps, and contacts are on my laptop. Am I screwed here or a) is Backup A hiding somewhere on my computer out of sight; or, b) can I restore Backup A?

  • Answer:

    Sorry, that's a bunch of junk -- you'll want to look at the dates there. Then try something like http://supercrazyawesome.com/ to get the data out. If you encrypt your backup, I imagine you're boned, though, sorry.

eirelander at Ask.Metafilter.Com Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

I'd look in ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup and see if it exists. If it's not there, it's not there -- do you have a time machine backup you can roll back to find it?

CharlesV42

Yes. It deleted it. Same thing happened to me. Apple suggests recovering form a Time Machine backup. That would be well and good if TM was enabled by default on a new install. Grr.

Cat Pie Hurts

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.