Other Still backing up to Mac, considering iCloud... questions

[McDLT]

So I actually would prefer to continue syncing with my Mac but it's just becoming untenable... it's crazy slow, works only some of the time, photos don't always download onto the phone from the library, duplicates everywhere, on and on.

So I am thinking about giving in and trying iCloud. I live in a rural area with spotty cell coverage so I like to have my music downloaded onto my phone, photos on there, all that. If I use iCloud for photos and music and everything, what will happen when I get a new phone eventually? Currently, I plug it into the Mac and everything is transferred directly (after several attempts when it works). Will it be the same experientially with iCloud?

For instance, I am a music subscriber. Say I download a song to the phone. Time for a new phone, I say set this one up from the iCloud backup... will that song be on there?

Thanks!

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Yes, assuming everything is fully synced/backed up to iCloud the restore will bring everything back. Well, maybe not downloads from Apple Music subscription service (more on that in a bit).

Apps and purchased iTunes music, movies, TV, books, etc. that was present will re-download (assuming the item is still available in iTunes/App Store) and your Home screen layout will be preserved. It's not so clear that Apple Music subscription service downloads will automatically redownload - it's just not mentioned explicitly. For example, this article https://support.apple.com/HT203768 that discusses data that might be missing after an iCloud restore (and how to recover it) is very explicit about iTunes media "purchases," but since Apple Music isn't considered a "purchase..."

I haven't had to do an iCloud restore in quite a while. I have a vague recollection that I did have to redownload Apple Music subscription content. However, I also have Optimize Storage selected in Settings > Music, so that may also have had something to do with it.

 

[CTHarrryH]

Why not both - to Mac occasionally and to iCloud every day. Remember iCloud doesn't back up everything - I think the statement is critical data.

 

[DieselFiend1989]

I use icloud for everything and connect to my mbp to manage music and dump files from icloud drive to an external hdd. Been working pretty much flawlessly for years. A few little hiccups along the way but nothing extraordinary.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I do iCloud, external drive, Mac(iTunes) and iMazing...

 

[now i see it]

it's creepy knowing that iCloud backups are the holy grail when it comes to law enforcement demanding any and all iCloud data from a suspect. Apple provides iCloud backup data to thousands of law enforcement requests each year. With an iCloud backup- they've got your entire phone and everything that was on it.
Yeah- we're all law abiding citizens ... but there's just something intrinsically wrong backing up your entire life essentially to an FBI/CIA/NSA server. Because that's ultimately what happens.

 

[DiCaprioAngel]

it's creepy knowing that iCloud backups are the holy grail when it comes to law enforcement demanding any and all iCloud data from a suspect. Apple provides iCloud backup data to thousands of law enforcement requests each year. With an iCloud backup- they've got your entire phone and everything that was on it.
Yeah- we're all law abiding citizens ... but there's just something intrinsically wrong backing up your entire life essentially to an FBI/CIA/NSA server. Because that's ultimately what happens.

I mean ... if you do a crime like murdering someone or you’re a convicted sex offender and the cops are trying to find the suspect, they should have every right to get access to that to protect the people that the suspect has hurt or killed. I back my stuff up on iCloud and I’m not worried about it. At the end of the day, I know I’m not a criminal and I’m pretty sure the FBI/cops don’t care what I have on my personal phone because I’m just an ordinary person who abides by the law and does not intend to ever commit any crimes. Just my opinion. I don’t think it’s wrong when it concerns those who are actually hurting people.