iPad computer backup not complete backup? Maybe a bit of a whiner post...

[phillyman]

Hi All,

I cracked my iPad Air screen (newest gen), not great on my part but OK AppleCare to the rescue. I backup my old iPad Air to my iMac and restore my new one from said backup.... Well.... It has been a VERY long time since I have done that and I was VERY surprised that it was not more or less a clone backup. Certain older apps (that granted will not run, I can overlook that one) were missing. I had left those on the homescreens to check for newer versions. BUT certain behavior is annoying and difficult to understand. Wifi passwords were missing. Networks that I frequent and had the passwords for, were not recognized. Hey even my own networks. Yes, sometimes I could just share the password but not always. My audible app did not have my audiobooks predownloaded. This was an issue since when I noticed I was no longer under wifi. Certain files that were offline in Dropbox and Microsoft had to be redownloaded. Email accounts with more than 30K emails had to be relogged in and downloaded. This was a major issue since I was working on a project and again expected them through my backup.

Why does Apple not create a clone with all files/settings in place? Again most stuff was there but a fair bit wasn't and I don't understand why. Any thoughts? Am I missing something on how I could have had a one to one copy of all my data? Does Apple leave it to individual app developers?

Now this behavior might have been around for years. I usually try to setup my new devices from scratch but again there I am prepared for the whole process.

Thank you for your thoughts and if someone has a way to get a "clone"backup I'd be interested,

PHilly

 

[0128672]

What‘s not included in a backup using the computer method is:

Backups from your computer​

A computer backup of your device, which is not the same as a sync, includes almost all of your device's data and settings. A backup from a computer doesn't include:

• Content from the iTunes and App Stores, or PDFs downloaded directly to Apple Books
• Content synced from Finder or iTunes, like imported MP3s or CDs, videos, books, and photos
• Data already stored in iCloud, like iCloud Photos, iMessages, and text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages
• Face ID or Touch ID settings
• Apple Pay information and settings
• Apple Mail data
• Activity, Health, and Keychain data (to back up this content, you'll need to use Encrypted Backup in iTunes.)

Backup methods for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

A backup allows you to copy and save the information from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. If you replace your device, you can use a backup to transfer your information to a new device.

support.apple.com

 

[minimo3]

For the passwords to be backed up you have to set your backup file to be encrypted (and protected via a password). But yes everything else has to be re downloaded.

“Apple you keep using that word (Backup), I do not think it means what you think it means.”

 

[JonaM]

On the plus side though it will restore the version of the app you were on providing that app is still available/runs on your device, so if you have held off updating an app it doesn't give you the latest version

 

[phillyman]

Hi All,

Thank you for replying. Good tip about encrypting the backup. I'm stunned and surprised that Apple at least for a computer backup does not make a 1 to 1 copy.

Minimo3 had it right! Apple what you call a backup is NOT a backup. For old school users, I make a backup so I can retrieve ALL my data. Yes, I can redownload some stuff BUT one reason I backup is that I recreate an exact device at that time and moment. I might not be able to redownload HUGE amounts of data. In my case I have FIOS but not 30 miles from here some people can only get dial up. Soo real backups are their only option.

More than anything I don't see WHY Apple made this choice but then again as always with Apple. They decide what is best for the customer. Usually even as a 30+ year user history (for a decade or two probably power user) I prefer that approach (walled system etc.) BUT sometimes it sure is infuriating...

Guess one of those times. Again thanks for confirming my worst thoughts,

Philly

PS: There used to be tons of software to extract music from ipods etc. Does one of them create a REAL backup? Just a thought

EDIT/Followup to my PS: I googled for a couple of minutes. I remember iMazing as being one of the tools I thought of. It sounds like since apple controls everything, they control what can be backed up. I'm sure there are extractors that would allow for more data but then to get it back on the devices... Not worth the hassle for me but certainly NOT a backup. Good to know since I still had a functioning device (no screen but alas...)

 

[Apple_Robert]

If you want a better backup with more granular control, take a look at iMazing.

 

[NoBoMac]

To be fair, some of the blame can fall onto app developers as well, as there are standards they need to follow to have their files included in backups.

Optimizing Your App’s Data for iCloud Backup | Apple Developer Documentation

Minimize the space and time that backups take to create by excluding purgeable and nonpurgeable data from backups.

developer.apple.com

They way I've always read it is that this applies to iTunes/Finder backup as well, since app developer has no idea if user will be iCloud or computer backup. So, developer will err on side of caution to not be pushing lots of data up if iCloud backups (which in this day and age might be the majority of iOS users).

So something like Dropbox, which can be re-created, might not see the need to have included in backups.