Macworld readers are likely quite used to restoring their iOS devices. Sometimes, you’ll need to bring your iPhone or iPad in or ship it off for repair, and Apple has to reset or replace it. Other times, you might hit a glitch—a rapidly draining battery is a common one—where the “best” remedy is backing up and restoring.
But Macworld reader Jim writes in with what I think is a common scenario for which there’s an extra step that isn’t exactly obvious: when you want effectively to transfer the contents of an older iOS device with a newer replacement, but the newer iOS hardware is already set up and running, just not with your stuff.
Jim tutors seniors on Apple equipment at the retirement community at which he lives, and he says his comrades often have an older iOS device they use, and have been given a newer hand-me-down from their kids or grandkids. They just want to transfer an iCloud backup. Fortunately, it’s straightforward.
