How to Restore an iPhone from iTunes on PC or Mac

This wikiHow teaches you how to restore your iPhone from a backup using iTunes for Windows or macOS.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-1.jpg\/aid9860140-v4-728px-Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":348,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":551,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It’s in the All Apps section of the Start menu in Windows, and in the Applications folder in macOS.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/28\/Connect-Android-to-a-Mac-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Connect-Android-to-a-Mac-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/28\/Connect-Android-to-a-Mac-Step-2.jpg\/aid9860140-v4-728px-Connect-Android-to-a-Mac-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Use the USB cable that came with your iPhone or one that is compatible. Once iTunes recognizes that your iPhone is connected, a small iPhone icon will appear at the app’s top-left corner.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0f\/Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0f\/Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-3.jpg\/aid9860140-v4-728px-Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This opens the Summary screen.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fc\/Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fc\/Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-4.jpg\/aid9860140-v4-728px-Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It’s near the top-right corner of the right panel.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5e\/Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5e\/Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-5.jpg\/aid9860140-v4-728px-Restore-an-iPhone-from-iTunes-on-PC-or-Mac-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Your iPhone will now restore from the selected backup.
    • Once the restore is complete, your iPhone will restart and resync with iTunes on the computer.
    • Do not unplug your iPhone from the computer until you see the iPhone icon once again appear in the top-left corner of iTunes.
    6. Advertisement

How Do You Reset Your iPhone?


Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      4 Simple Ways to Log Into an Apple iTunes Account
      Easily Convert DRM Protected M4P Files to MP3
      How to
      Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another
      3 Easy Ways to Transfer Music from iPhone to a Computer
      How to
      Uninstall iTunes
      4 Easy Ways to Check Your Apple ID (iTunes) Balance
      How to
      Add Free Music to iTunes (or Apple Music)
      How to
      Delete Songs From Your iPod: Step-by-Step Instructions
      How to
      Sync Your iPhone to iTunes
      How to
      Download iTunes
      How to
      Add MP3 to iTunes
      How to
      Move Music from Computer to iPhone
      How to
      Connect to iTunes
      How to
      Transfer iTunes Credit to Someone Else
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open iTunes .
      2. Connect the iPhone to the computer.
      3. Click the iPhone icon.
      4. Click Restore iPhone...
      5. Select a backup and click Restore .

      Did this summary help you?
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 45,556 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement