New (clean) install of iOS 9 while retaining Health/Activity and Apple Watch data

[inkyoto]

Hi there,

I'm planning on doing a new clean install of iOS 9 on my iPhone because I really like to have a clean slate when changing iPhones and upgrading iOS. However, the fact that Health, Activity, and Apple Watch data isn't synced to the cloud has made this difficult this year.

Is it possible to do a clean install of iOS 9 on my iPhone and also retain Health, Activity, and Apple Watch data? Or is it only possible to upgrade / restore from backup to keep that data?

 

[gsmornot]

I can't think of a way at the moment to retain Health information without restoring it to the device via the standard restore process. iCloud will backup the Health data but I do an encrypted iTunes backup still. The watch has indeed added an element to the process that is not like the past because the watch backup is blended with the regular backup and not stored somewhere separately. No other devices outside of a single phone hold the Health data either so, its really a situation where you decide to start completely new or restore.

 

[arbitrage]

I will be switching my SIM card from my 5s to new 6splus next week when it arrives...5s will be handed down and I will do a clean install of IOS9 on it for my partner to use (upgrade from her current iphon4).

You mention only a single phone holds the Health data, so will my Health data transfer to my new 6splus if I restore it from a backup of my 5s? What if I want to start clean on my 6splus...I assume my Health data will be lost forever then??

 

[zorinlynx]

Just Reset all settings. This will erase all stored configuration on the phone without losing any data.

I did a Reset All Settings on my iPhone 6 on iOS 9 GM and the performance increased noticeably. It also lets you rediscover features you might have disabled in the past but are more willing to use now.

Just keep in mind this resets all Privacy and Notification settings, so you will have to go through and set that all up again for all your apps.

 

[CaptMarvel]

You mention only a single phone holds the Health data, so will my Health data transfer to my new 6splus if I restore it from a backup of my 5s? What if I want to start clean on my 6splus...I assume my Health data will be lost forever then??

Precisely. It will restore with an encrypted backup. Apple put that in small writing when you create a backup by the encrypted option. If you choose the clean route, yes...into the abyss it goes..