Does an iOS Backup contain email messages?

[jmitch720]

Hey All,

I work in the IT Department, and an employee has a unique scenario. They have email on their iPhone from their old employer. The Exchange account is no longer active, but all the messages are still stored locally on the phone. If they perform an iTunes backup, will the messages restore to a new phone?

I've seen conflicting information when Googling. Some say only settings are restored, some say messages are restored. Any insight is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jmitch

 

[Mlrollin91]

Messages are not restored. They will be re-downloaded once you open up the Mail app and reconnect to the server. But as the exchange account no longer exists, the messages cannot be re-downloaded.

 

[bushido]

iCloud backups include nearly all data and settings stored on your device. iCloud backups don't include:

• Data stored in other cloud services, like Gmail and Exchange mail

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204136

 

[dennysanders]

why not just try it and find out? can't hurt anything

 

[C DM]

why not just try it and find out? can't hurt anything

Well, it seems like it can hurt in the sense that the mail would be lost if it doesn't end up saving it.

 

[dennysanders]

Well, it seems like it can hurt in the sense that the mail would be lost if it doesn't end up saving it.

backing up the device doesn't remove the content from it

 

[C DM]

backing up the device doesn't remove the content from it

I guess I interpreted that in the sense that to try would be to back it up and then restore from that backup on the same phone, which could end up without the emails, but re-reading the OP it seems like the restore would be on a new phone, leaving the old one as it is, in which case, seems like what you mentioned would apply.

 

[NoBoMac]

I'm not a lawyer, and have not stayed at a Holiday Express, but, this seems as if you DON'T want to retain the e-mails from the old employer. Depending on what's in them, might be exposing yourself to theft of trade secrets. Even if nothing too sensitive, might still be considered property of the previous employer.

 

[dennysanders]

I'm not a lawyer, and have not stayed at a Holiday Express, but, this seems as if you DON'T want to retain the e-mails from the old employer. Depending on what's in them, might be exposing yourself to theft of trade secrets. Even if nothing too sensitive, might still be considered property of the previous employer.

oh brother

 

[electronicsguy]

I'm not a lawyer, and have not stayed at a Holiday Express, but, this seems as if you DON'T want to retain the e-mails from the old employer. Depending on what's in them, might be exposing yourself to theft of trade secrets. Even if nothing too sensitive, might still be considered property of the previous employer.

That's the employer's problem isn't it? If they allowed someone to setup a company email account on their personal phone, its not the employees job to ensure that that data is erased. If so, give the employee a company phone and take it back when he leaves.

 

[Max(IT)]

Actually I'm not sure if an iTunes backup would be different than an iCloud backup in this matter.
In the iCloud backup data are not present (unless the app itself don't use its iCloud backup to restore that, but this isn't the case), but I'm not sure about iTunes