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khollyp

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 13, 2011
6
0
I have iCloud d/l on my iphone and was looking fwd to the SMS backup Id read about. However, I dont see that its being backed up?
Anyone??
 

r2shyyou

macrumors 68000
Oct 3, 2010
1,758
13
Paris, France
I have iCloud d/l on my iphone and was looking fwd to the SMS backup Id read about. However, I dont see that its being backed up?
Anyone??

If you've backed up your phone to iCloud and it gets wiped or replaced, restoring from that backup will restore your SMS messages up to the time you last backed up to iCloud.
 

khollyp

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 13, 2011
6
0
So I should plug in my phone to itunes and do a restore?
I should also mention this should be explained to me like Im 5 bc I dont speak computer very well....
 

vanfanel1

macrumors member
Jun 23, 2009
64
0
I don't see it either. It's not listed under iCloud as something you can turn on or off. Even if I go to "Manage Storage" and then "Backup" I don't see the SMS icon in the backup options to turn it on or off. I haven't actually tried to restore my device via icloud to see if it restores the sms but it is odd that there is no setting for it.
 

r2shyyou

macrumors 68000
Oct 3, 2010
1,758
13
Paris, France
So I should plug in my phone to itunes and do a restore?
No.

One of the big features in iOS 5 is that fact that there is no longer a need to plug in your iPhone to a computer.

So, as you mentioned, you now have iCloud on your phone. If you send a text message or an iMessage, that message is not backed up until you back up your phone to iCloud. To do this, go to Settings>iCloud>Storage & Backup, make sure "iCloud Backup" is on, and tap Back Up Now.

Once that's complete, your text messages and iMessages have been backed up.

If your iPhone fails, dies, whatever, and you have to restore it or get a new one, you can restore from the backup you just created and all of your text message and iMessages will be restored.
 

khollyp

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 13, 2011
6
0
Wait, I was under the impression that when I log into icloud.com Id be able to click something to read all of my text messages?

So they are only backed up back to the phone? They are not visible inside icloud.com?
 

r2shyyou

macrumors 68000
Oct 3, 2010
1,758
13
Paris, France
Wait, I was under the impression that when I log into icloud.com Id be able to click something to read all of my text messages?

So they are only backed up back to the phone? They are not visible inside icloud.com?

Correct, they are not visible on iCloud.com.
 

Ronnoco

macrumors 68030
Oct 16, 2007
2,568
522
United States of America
You may have to connect your iPhone to a power source to do a backup...when I tried to wirelessly sync yesterday, the phone told me I have to plug into a power source...Not sure if that is the case with the iCloud backup...I'll check it out...
 

khollyp

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 13, 2011
6
0
IS there anything out there for iphone that allows us to backup sms to email or anything?
I think the Droid has this....
 

vanfanel1

macrumors member
Jun 23, 2009
64
0
IS there anything out there for iphone that allows us to backup sms to email or anything?
I think the Droid has this....

Search for Iphone Backup Extractor.

You can use this program on one of your backups to extract your SMS. It'll save it as a CSV file which you can view in some spreadsheet.
 

khollyp

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 13, 2011
6
0
but nothing to auto archive like some other phones have? I know droid auto archives text to gmail.
 

vanfanel1

macrumors member
Jun 23, 2009
64
0
but nothing to auto archive like some other phones have? I know droid auto archives text to gmail.

If you used some 3rd party text app they might have some kind of archiving but afaik the apple sms app does not have such a thing.
 

franchyse

macrumors newbie
Jan 2, 2012
2
0
When we are talking about backing up text messages to iCloud, does it back up all text messages ever written, of just the ones that haven't been deleted from the 'messages' folder on the iPhone?
 

verwon

macrumors 68030
Jul 26, 2011
2,676
2
Seattle
When we are talking about backing up text messages to iCloud, does it back up all text messages ever written, of just the ones that haven't been deleted from the 'messages' folder on the iPhone?

How would it back up stuff you've deleted? That makes no sense.
 

franchyse

macrumors newbie
Jan 2, 2012
2
0
I agree completely that it doesn't make sense, but I just wanted to see if it 'archived' every text message ever sent, or just the ones that were still in the 'messages' folder.

I hope that makes better sense.
 

Arelunde

macrumors 6502a
Jul 6, 2011
980
28
CA Central Coast
While I haven't restored from an iCloud backup, I don't think SMS nor emails are backed up.

Plus, you still have to sync with iTunes for music and reading material, as far as I understand. iCloud doesn't replace iTunes totally. But, you can wifi sync to iTunes - which makes it unnecessary to use a computer via cable.

Fine points, but important ones.
 

anyjungleinguy

macrumors 6502
Mar 6, 2012
308
217
While I haven't restored from an iCloud backup, I don't think SMS nor emails are backed up.

Plus, you still have to sync with iTunes for music and reading material, as far as I understand. iCloud doesn't replace iTunes totally. But, you can wifi sync to iTunes - which makes it unnecessary to use a computer via cable.

Fine points, but important ones.

All Messages are backed up within iCloud. I've restored plenty of times through iCloud.

I _think_ iCloud saves email account settings, but I'm not sure. Either way, backing up emails themselves is rather pointless as an account can just be re-added.
 

Arelunde

macrumors 6502a
Jul 6, 2011
980
28
CA Central Coast
All Messages are backed up within iCloud. I've restored plenty of times through iCloud.

I _think_ iCloud saves email account settings, but I'm not sure...

In iCloud settings, you can opt to sync (or not sync) mail via iCloud, but the backup process says, "Automatically back up your camera roll, accounts, documents and settings when this iPhone is plugged in, locked and connected to Wi-Fi." I'm guessing you are right, allowing "accounts" refers to the email accounts.
 

ultrasnowunlock

macrumors newbie
Oct 1, 2012
8
0
With the arrival of iCloud backups we are free from needing to attach your iOS device to iTunes to have it backed up.
 
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