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Health Data to new iPhone (from Backup)?
- Thread starter bsmr
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When using iTunes to backup your iPhone, you have to select "encrypted backup". Only this way, account passwords, Health and HomeKit data will be backed up and theoretically restored to a new device.
Haven't tested this myself though.
As far as I know, backing up the data via iCloud does not backup your Health data. That I can confirm, sadly.
Haven't tested this myself though.
As far as I know, backing up the data via iCloud does not backup your Health data. That I can confirm, sadly.
I don't know where this misinformation originally spread from. From the beginning iCloud Backup has restored health data. iCloud backup is the same exact thing as an iTunes encrypted backup.
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Using the Activity Decipher Tool is a great way to get your health onto your new device without restoring the backup, but there is a huge BUT. Once you do it once, it corrupts the health database file and will prevent you from backing up the health database file again in the future, even if you use iTunes encrypted or iCloud. I am a victim of that. I lost all my data after trying to restore the health database file after originally using the activity decipher tool.
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OP. There is no way to import the health files without restoring from a backup, either iTunes encrypted or iCloud. It is the only way. I have repeatedly suggested to Apple to remove the health from the backup process and make it an iCloud toggle like Contacts, Notes and so on. Its ridiculous that its required to be in a backup. iCloud is iCloud, shouldn't matter if its in the backup or not.
I'm in the same boat. I'm not sure why Apple limits iCloud backups to either all or none. In other words, it's either you restore your phone from an iCloud backup when you do the initial activation, or don't restore any data at all. Once you set up as a new phone you cannot go back and select what you want to restore.
And health data is missing from the iCloud settings.
And health data is missing from the iCloud settings.
Hm, would seem logical to me.
However, as I stated in my post, I can confirm that it didn't work about a year ago. I restored to a new phone from backup via iCloud and all my health data was missing. Since there is no real way to check or uncheck that data for backup (or did I miss this??), it didn't work. It was quite a bummer since I had entered my workouts all manually and all the data was gone.
Good if it works today, but I'll certainly make an encrypted backup next time as well, just in case.
Considering the sensitive nature of the information you can put to health (REALLY personal information), it makes sense not to sync this via iCloud. If I understood the Apple keynotes correctly, that information is stored especially encrypted on a special chip inside the device. Syncing it as part of iCloud services would not do it justice in my humble opinion.
Thing is, you need to know before you backup and restore your device. I won't make my mistake again.
Hm, would seem logical to me.
However, as I stated in my post, I can confirm that it didn't work about a year ago. I restored to a new phone from backup via iCloud and all my health data was missing. Since there is no real way to check or uncheck that data for backup (or did I miss this??), it didn't work. It was quite a bummer since I had entered my workouts all manually and all the data was gone.
Good if it works today, but I'll certainly make an encrypted backup next time as well, just in case.
Considering the sensitive nature of the information you can put to health (REALLY personal information), it makes sense not to sync this via iCloud. If I understood the Apple keynotes correctly, that information is stored especially encrypted on a special chip inside the device. Syncing it as part of iCloud services would not do it justice in my humble opinion.
Thing is, you need to know before you backup and restore your device. I won't make my mistake again.
The only thing stored on the encrypted chip inside the device is your TouchID information. Health data is 100% backed up via iCloud. But if any of the data is corrupt it will not restore. I went through this last week with a damaged health database file. Therefore I did the. I backed up correctly but the data did not transfer over.
An iCloud backup is just as secure as an iTunes encrypted because at a minimum it requires your iCloud password to restore. If you have two step or two factor on, then it requires even more than an ITunes encrypted.
Security and HIPPA compliance. Apple can't afford to have sensitive health data breached (especially by simple phishing) at such a critical time since Apple is moving into the more lucrative medical market. That is why it is all or nothing.
If someone phished and got your iCloud password and then acquired your personal health data. Especially data being used in studies or for health care. Having pictures phished from iCloud is a publicity nightmare but having health data compromised could amount to a FDA (and other gov health agencies) roadblock.
There are plenty of established health care companies that would love to see Apple have a data breach fail. Apple is posed to revolutionize the industry and the 'buggy whip' makers are concerned and would love to say 'I told you so' to the FDA.
EDIT: Just to add, Apple did acquire a compony called Glimpse a few months ago that specializes in this.
https://www.fastcompany.com/3062865...cquires-personal-health-data-startup-gliimpse
Hm, would seem logical to me.
However, as I stated in my post, I can confirm that it didn't work about a year ago. I restored to a new phone from backup via iCloud and all my health data was missing. Since there is no real way to check or uncheck that data for backup (or did I miss this??), it didn't work. It was quite a bummer since I had entered my workouts all manually and all the data was gone.
Good if it works today, but I'll certainly make an encrypted backup next time as well, just in case.
Considering the sensitive nature of the information you can put to health (REALLY personal information), it makes sense not to sync this via iCloud. If I understood the Apple keynotes correctly, that information is stored especially encrypted on a special chip inside the device. Syncing it as part of iCloud services would not do it justice in my humble opinion.
Thing is, you need to know before you backup and restore your device. I won't make my mistake again.
As others have said, iCloud backups absolutely do contain health data (and the secure enclave isn't used for health data) - I've backed up and restored via iCloud numerous times on multiple devices and every time the health data has come back intact
It's also documented on Apple's site that iCloud backups include health data (https://support.apple.com/en-gb/ht204136) - if you had a problem, then it was a bug, not by design
Wow. You guys are right. The health data is backed up to iCloud. Since when did this happen?
[doublepost=1477053981][/doublepost]But theirs a way to copy individual data from one backup to another backup. Look into ibackupbot.
You can even create an empty backup with only the health data. Restore backup in iTunes.. and it will only over write that "app" data. Leaving the other data that's already on the phone such as messages in tack
[doublepost=1477053981][/doublepost]But theirs a way to copy individual data from one backup to another backup. Look into ibackupbot.
You can even create an empty backup with only the health data. Restore backup in iTunes.. and it will only over write that "app" data. Leaving the other data that's already on the phone such as messages in tack
It already is part of iCloud as you mentioned, so whats the difference of making it a toggle or not. It still requires your password. Anyone that phished your password could just restore your device backup to their device. If it was a toggle, it could require a secondary password.
[doublepost=1477059863][/doublepost]
Not anymore. iBackupbot does not work with iOS 10 backups, and if you modify the 'health database' file, it prevents it from ever being backed up correctly in the future. The Activity Decipher Tool allowed for only health to be saved from a backup so you could start fresh, but the way the data is extracted damages the file. So it will be transferred to your new device, but if you were to backup the new device and then restore, health would not transfer over. I am a victim of that. Lost over a years worth of data.
Hasn't always backed up to iCloud in the beginning..I went thru a lot of phones and my health data hadn't backed up to iCloud until I got the 7plus.. heck iTunes didn't even back it up unless you had encrypted backup on..
Health was released in iOS 8 and has been a iCloud backup since it's release. Not sure what problem you had but here is a thread from 2014 where someone had a similar problem. However as you can see others had no problem restoring Health data from an iOS 8 iCloud backup.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-health-app-data-is-not-backed-up.1806615/
Let me ask a question about restoring to a new iPhone, from an old iPhone's backup, vs. setting up a new iPhone from scratch. I'm pretty much against restoring whole images from backups, just on general principles, as I wouldn't want any garbage or layers of old data or apps, etc., to be copied over from the old backup. But, from what I'm reading here and other Forums, that's not so much of an issue with iOS.
What I'd REALLY like to do, is be able to restore just my settings, and the health data (the way you have to mess around with this, and especially with an Apple Watch, is much more complicated and time-consuming than it has to be--Apple needs to address that!). I don't care about restoring anything else, as long as the settings are there, and passwords and connection to iCloud.
Is doing JUST that possible, and, if not, what's the best way to request it that has some chance of actually being listened to and complied with?
Thanks!
What I'd REALLY like to do, is be able to restore just my settings, and the health data (the way you have to mess around with this, and especially with an Apple Watch, is much more complicated and time-consuming than it has to be--Apple needs to address that!). I don't care about restoring anything else, as long as the settings are there, and passwords and connection to iCloud.
Is doing JUST that possible, and, if not, what's the best way to request it that has some chance of actually being listened to and complied with?
Thanks!
Unfortunately, it is not possible. It is all or nothing. iTunes Encrypted backups do a really good job at filter out junk. What I recommend is clean up your phone as much as possible. Delete your current iTunes backup in iTunes Preferences and then create a fresh encrypted backup. Then restore that backup to the new phone. All system/app cache will not be carried over. 99% of the time you won't have any bugs/corruption from constantly carrying over backups. But there is that rare occasion that things just go wrong and it requires a fresh restore. You shouldn't really worry though.
I stood in line for the original iPhone and up to this day have never restored as new.