Restoring a Backup from iCloud for iPad or iPhone

Jamf Now Documentation
Solution
Application
Content Type
Technical Documentation
Utilities & Services
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en-US

Perform these steps to move device data from one device to a different device. For example, when you are refreshing old devices with new devices, or you are replacing broken devices.
Warning:

When restoring a backup, it is important to restore it to a different device. Restoring to the same device will bypass Auto-enrollment during setup. To trigger Auto-enrollment when using an iCloud or iTunes backup, you must restore the backup to a different device.

If you restore a backup from the same device, the backup will restore both the management configuration and the MDM enrollment profile. A backup from a managed device will cause it to remain managed after restoration, while a backup from a non-managed device will leave it unmanaged. The only way to re-initiate Auto-enrollment into Jamf Now is by restoring the backup to a new device. For more information on backing up and restoring managed devices, see Back up and restore managed devices in Apple Platform Deployment.

Requirements

  • An Apple Account signed in to iCloud

  • iCloud Backup is enabled

  1. Configure Jamf Now to allow devices to restore backups:
    1. Log in to Jamf Now.
    2. Navigate to Auto-Enrollment > View Devices, and verify the new device is listed.
    3. Navigate to Auto-Enrollment > Setup Steps, and verify the checkbox for Apps & Data is selected.
      Important:

      The Apps & Data setup step must be enabled to ensure the option to restore a backup will be displayed.

  2. Back up the original device and restore the backup on the new device:
    1. Manually back up the original device to iCloud and wait for it to completely sync.

      For more information, see How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch from the Apple Support website.

    2. Turn on the new device. If it is already at the Home screen, erase all content and settings from the device by doing one of the following:

      • For a managed device, send an Erase Device command.

      • Navigate to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad/iPhone, and then tap Erase All Content and Settings.

      For more information, see the following Apple documentation:
    3. On the device, complete the onscreen Setup Assistant steps until you reach the Apps & Data screen.
    4. Tap Restore from iCloud Backup.
    5. Sign in to iCloud with the Apple Account that was used to perform the iCloud backup on the original device.
    6. Proceed to Choose Backup, and then choose the most relevant backup.