How to restore an iPhone from an iCloud backup

2 min read · 7 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Short answer

A backup can only be restored during setup. On a new or erased iPhone, follow the setup screens until "Transfer Your Apps & Data", tap From iCloud Backup, sign in to your Apple Account and choose a backup. Stay on Wi-Fi until it finishes.

Restoring a backup brings back your apps, settings, messages, photos and home screen layout, on a new iPhone or on the same one after it has been erased.

Step by step

  1. Check that a backup exists

    On the old phone, open Settings, your name, iCloud, iCloud Backup and look at the time of the last backup. Tap Back Up Now for a fresh one.

  2. Start with an iPhone showing Hello

    A new iPhone is ready. One that is already set up has to be erased first: Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings.

  3. Follow setup to "Transfer Your Apps & Data"

    Choose language and region, join Wi-Fi and set a passcode on the way.

  4. Tap From iCloud Backup

    Sign in with your Apple Account.

  5. Choose a backup

    Check the date and size of each and pick the most relevant one. If asked, update iOS first.

  6. Stay connected to Wi-Fi

    A progress bar runs for a few minutes up to an hour. If Wi-Fi drops, it pauses until you reconnect.

  7. Finish setup

    You can use the phone while apps, photos and music keep downloading in the background. That can take hours, or days for a large library. Keep it on Wi-Fi and power when you can.

Good to know

Erasing an iPhone removes what is on it now. Anything created after the backup date is lost unless it is stored in iCloud itself, as iCloud Photos is.

Apps bought with a different Apple Account ask for that account's password. You can skip it, but those apps will not open until you sign in.

Banking and authenticator apps usually need to be activated again.

How to make the backup in the first place: how to back up an iPhone to iCloud.

In short: Erased or new iPhone, setup, From iCloud Backup, sign in, choose the backup, stay on Wi-Fi.

Sources
  • Apple Support: Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup

Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.