restore iPhone backup WITHOUT iTunes

[potejam]

Hi, I recently restored the software on my 3GS and had iTunes fail to prompt me to restore a backup, instead forcing me to set up as a new phone. This has resulted in the loss of every single piece of data I ever collected on my phone, from contacts to app data. I've now restored several other times and yet I cannot get the option to restore a backup, even though I am absolutely positive I have several backups on this computer.

Scouring Apple's help hasn't given me any indication they've created an alternative to preserving vital data other than relying on iTunes to prompt for a restore.

Anyone have any idea how to manually restore a backup, or at least key parts of it without going through iTunes?

 

[miles01110]

Not possible. No iTunes, No way.

 

[eastercat]

Does iTunes show that you have backups? Or do you know where these backups are located?

Hit option+restore to open up the dialog box. There you can choose which ipsw you want to use.

 

[potejam]

So Apple's faulty software cost me my entire backup. All my data gone because Apple thinks their system can never fail.

I'm restoring to the exact same firmware, and I've tries the Shift-Restore option as well.

I'm not sure how to view my backups but I know for a fact that I have backed up at least 5 times before restoring.

 

[JamesMB]

You can also view backups in prefs, under the devices tab, but unless you manually saved a backup or two, you will likely only see one backup, since iTunes overwrites the old backup, instead of creating a new one. If your contacts are still on your computer, you can get those back. You can also re-download your apps.
Ive also read on here about software that you can install on your computer, that will enable you to "open" an iTunes backup and extract certain data, but I am not familiar with nor have I used it.
I realize that it's a little late for this advice, but before I do a restore of any kind, I always backup first and then browse to the folder that iTunes uses to store backups, and drag a copy of that backup to the desktop. That way, no matter what I or iTunes does, I have a "safe" copy of the most recent backup.

 

[jbloggs]

Download trial version of iBackupBot and it will show you what you have in the backup taken by iTunes.

 

[chargit]

You can also view backups in prefs, under the devices tab, but unless you manually saved a backup or two, you will likely only see one backup, since iTunes overwrites the old backup, instead of creating a new one. If your contacts are still on your computer, you can get those back. You can also re-download your apps.
Ive also read on here about software that you can install on your computer, that will enable you to "open" an iTunes backup and extract certain data, but I am not familiar with nor have I used it.
I realize that it's a little late for this advice, but before I do a restore of any kind, I always backup first and then browse to the folder that iTunes uses to store backups, and drag a copy of that backup to the desktop. That way, no matter what I or iTunes does, I have a "safe" copy of the most recent backup.

good idea but I have several copies of my backups in iTunes. it just saves them by the date and time I did them. it doesnt write over them.

 

[JamesMB]

good idea but I have several copies of my backups in iTunes. it just saves them by the date and time I did them. it doesnt write over them.

Are you sure that you aren't looking at the backup files (because they will have different dates) and not the backup itself? Starting with iTunes 8 or 9 (i believe), iTunes doesn't keep multiple backups, it either overwrites or appends. Look at itunes prefs, devices, and see how many backups you have.

 

[chargit]

ya I have three in there right now with different dates all in December. I havent backed it up since Dec 30th. you can see them in the device section in preferences and also by right clicking on the device and hit restore from backup. then it will let me chose which backup I want.

 

[scb222]

restore first

ok guys, im following you and i have indeed one backup under preferences and devices. now how can i restore after recovery mode when phone is not allowing the software to be installed? first i need to restore then i can access my backup. itunes just keeps saying error 1611.

 

[JamesMB]

ya I have three in there right now with different dates all in December. I havent backed it up since Dec 30th. you can see them in the device section in preferences and also by right clicking on the device and hit restore from backup. then it will let me chose which backup I want.

First of all, as I said in the previous post, depending on what you have done and the date on that backup, it might be a backup of an empty phone. just in case it is good, drag a copy of that backup to your desktop.
The second question I have is how did you get from "restoring several times" as you indicated in your first post, and now being in recovery mode, and getting a 1611?

EDIT:
I just did a search on error 1611, you might have a look here.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/826074/

 

[EnideKosa]

When files are "deleted" they are not actually removed from your iPhone, until something else overwrites them. So by saving anything else to them you may have overwritten them. There is a decent chance that you can restore them though. I've successfully used undeleted plus before to restore data that were accidentally deleted on my iPhone.
Give it a shot and good luck.

 

[Chundles]

When files are "deleted" they are not actually removed from your iPhone, until something else overwrites them. So by saving anything else to them you may have overwritten them. There is a decent chance that you can restore them though. I've successfully used undeleted plus before to restore data that were accidentally deleted on my iPhone.
Give it a shot and good luck.

I wonder if they did have any luck four years ago?

 

[Adaberea]

When files are "deleted" they are not actually removed from your iPhone, until something else overwrites them. So by saving anything else to them you may have overwritten them. There is a decent chance that you can restore them though. I've successfully used undeleted plus before to restore data that were accidentally deleted on my iPhone.
Give it a shot and good luck.

Restore iPhone from iCloud backup files now is available as long as you log in iCloud.com

 

[C DM]

Your iPhone automatically creates a backup of your data to the iTunes daily when you are within Wi-Fi range, there is no other way you can restore your iPhone without iTunes, due to Apple will not allow you to do that!

There's iCloud, as mentioned earlier too.