I restored my phone using an iCloud backup, but I was not backing photos up to the Cloud. Is there any way to restore photos from a backup on my computer after restoring the phone from iCloud?

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Level 1

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I restored my phone using an iCloud backup, but I was not backing photos up to the Cloud. Is there any way to restore photos from a backup on my computer after restoring the phone from iCloud?

My phone is a 2nd generation SE. I got locked out of my phone and the phone disabled for too many password attempts while in the hospital with shaky hands. Once out of the hospital, I managed to get my phone restored using my imac. I restored the iCloud backup because it was more recent than my computer backup. I never backed up photos to the cloud due to space (and privacy), and ended up losing all my photos. I'm wondering if there is any way to restore the photos that are in the backup on my iMac. I'm a bit leery of the apps available for download since they are not coming from Apple.

iPhone SE

Posted on Feb 5, 2022 2:50 PM

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Answer 1

Axel Foley

Level 10

149,370 points

Feb 5, 2022 8:13 PM in response to mdtyler

Since you do not use iCloud for Photos, those photos are in the backup file located on your computer. You cannot pick and choose categories to restore from a backup file when it comes to an iPhone. It is an all or nothing event when you restore your iPhone from a computer backup. At this point, if you want to export those photos on your iPhone, then you will have to restore your iPhone from that older computer backup file.

Axel F.

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Answer 2

Axel Foley

Level 10

149,370 points

Feb 5, 2022 9:10 PM in response to mdtyler

I have never used a third-party app for the purpose in question. I have the same fears as you have related to this. You can create a new post here and try and get some feedback on those third-party apps. May get someone to respond who has the experience with these apps.

Axel F.

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Answer 3

Axel Foley

Level 10

149,370 points

Feb 5, 2022 8:28 PM in response to mdtyler

Yes. Your iPhone will be as current as it was when the backup was created on the computer. What will remain current is the installed iOS version on your iPhone.

Axel F.

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Answer 4

deggie

Level 10

167,303 points

Feb 5, 2022 9:10 PM in response to mdtyler

To access the backup on your computer try Backup Extractor or iMazing.

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Answer 5

mdtyler Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 5, 2022 8:21 PM in response to Axel Foley

Thank you Axel. If I do a restore from the computer backup, is it going to overwrite newer files?

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Answer 6

mdtyler Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 5, 2022 8:48 PM in response to Axel Foley

Do you know if any of the third party apps for restoring just photos from a backup file are any good and not full of malware?

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Answer 7

mdtyler Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 5, 2022 9:17 PM in response to Axel Foley

Thank you so much for your help Axel!

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Answer 8

deggie

Level 10

167,303 points

Feb 5, 2022 9:19 PM in response to mdtyler

Use either of the applications I suggested, remove the photos from the backup, put them in your photos app on your computer and sync the photos to your iPhone.

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