in a fuzzle between backing up with iOS 7 and iOS 8

[vivien.n94]

I am kicking myself for this. I did not backup my iPhone with iOS 7.1.2 on a new computer (old computer broke so cant get 7.1.2 backup from there) before updating to iOS 8. iOS 8 doesn't have a jailbreak and still has problems but I still happened to have it backed up with everything on there. I then downgraded to 7.1.2 thinking i'd still have my things and found out Apple doesn't let you transfer backups to lower versions.

What I don't understand is why my iCloud didn't transfer all my photos/messages/settings back to 7.1.2? It did transfer my app data and contacts because those are switched on.

I haven't backed up to iCloud since the update for fear it would overwrite/delete everything since i have nothing on this phone (in the case that i go back to ios 8 again) but im not sure where my photos and messages are located. so if i did would it do that??? thanks

 

[Rigby]

What I don't understand is why my iCloud didn't transfer all my photos/messages/settings back to 7.1.2? It did transfer my app data and contacts because those are switched on.

It didn't transfer them. Contacts and cloud data stored by applications live in the cloud, so they will be automatically available on any iOS device. Text messages, on the other hand, are only stored locally on the device. The same goes for photos if you haven't turned on photostream.

Currently it is not possible to extract files form an iCloud backup. So your only course of action is to upgrade back to iOS 8, restore your backup, and then export your photos and messages. Photos can be easily transferred to a computer via USB cable, or you can upload them to some cloud service. Messages can be transferred from the phone using tools like iExplorer.

 

[impaler]

If you did an iCloud backup, your camera roll and then photostream should have been restored. If you were jailbroken on 7.1.2 (which I think is always a bad idea), then I don't know what to say - it's too unpredictable and nothing would surprise me.

 

[vivien.n94]

Okay I’m glad you said that iCloud doesn’t store text messages or photos (I think I had photostream off before I updated). That makes me relax knowing that I can at least go back to iOS 8 with the backup of my photos and messages still there especially when the jailbreak comes out. I don’t care about transferring them to iOS 7.1.2 anymore. What I am worried about is if I start backing up to iCloud with what I have on 7.1.2 now (new messages/photos I don't care for), will it push all my old things out of the way or add onto it so that when I go back to iOS 8 all my things in iCloud are still there?



Also how come it says iCloud does backup text messages on the site?
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12519 I'm scared if it does because I can't access the Manage Storage for some reason.

 

[Rigby]

What I am worried about is if I start backing up to iCloud with what I have on 7.1.2 now (new messages/photos I don't care for), will it push all my old things out of the way or add onto it so that when I go back to iOS 8 all my things in iCloud are still there?

If you turn on iCLoud backup now on the downgraded phone, it will overwrite your earlier backup and the data will be gone for good.

Also how come it says iCloud does backup text messages on the site?

Your text messages are backed up. The problem is, as you wrote yourself, that you currently cannot access the backup because you cannot restore it to an older version of iOS than the one used to make the backup.

 

[vivien.n94]

Right now I only care for my old messages and photos but I still want to backup from one app that I’m currently using but I can’t go inside Manage Storage to be able to pick out what I want backed up. The only thing I can do is choose to turn on iCloud backup. Can you assure me that even if I did turn it on, I should be able to get my old messages and photos back solely from the iTunes PC backup I made?

 

[Rigby]

The only thing I can do is choose to turn on iCloud backup. Can you assure me that even if I did turn it on, I should be able to get my old messages and photos back solely from the iTunes PC backup I made?

I won't guarantee anything. You weren't clear before that you had a local backup on the PC. It should not be affected by iCloud Backup. Just to be sure I'd recommend to make a backup of the backup directory to make sure that iTunes doesn't overwrite it by mistake.

Also, there are tools to explore local iTunes backups, like the aforementioned iExplorer or iPhone Backup Viewer. Using such tools you might be able to extract your photos and texts from the local backup.