How to Fix Cannot Restore Backup to iPhone or iPad

Penny Warren Published on June 10, 2025Recover Data3-min reading

"I am trying to restore a backup on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, but it keeps estimating time after about one hour; what can I do if my iPhone cannot restore from the backup?"

The iPhone backup is useful. It can help users restore lost data or migrate all data to a new iPhone. Sometimes, it may not work and cannot be restored to an iOS device. This article tells you what to do in such a case.

Part 1: Why Cannot Restore iPhone from Backup

If restoring from iCloud or iTunes backup on your iPhone fails, you cannot recover your lost data or set up your new iOS device. Before starting to fix the issue, let's discuss why we cannot restore an iPhone from the backup:

1.The backup file is corrupted.
2.Your internet connection is poor.
3.The target iOS device doesn't have enough space.
4.Your iOS or software is outdated.

Part 2: Fix Cannot Restore iPhone from Backup

If you receive an error or spend over half an hour restoring from a backup, you can follow the fixes below to resolve the problem. Of course, the prerequisite is that you have a backup.

Fix 1: Use Another Backup File

There are two types of backups for iOS. If your iPhone cannot be restored from an iCloud backup, tap the arrow button on Choose an iCloud Backup screen. Then, select another backup file instead of the latest backup. You can switch to another file from the drop-down option when restoring an iTunes backup.

Fix 2: Check Internet Connection

Restoring an iPhone from an iCloud backup requires a stable internet connection. If a new iPhone cannot restore backup, you should connect to your Wi-Fi on the Choose a Wi-Fi Network screen when setting up your device. While you need to set up cellular, restoring iCloud backup through cellular data is not recommended.

Fix 3: Check iPhone Storage

pppppIf you cannot restore backup to your new iPhone 15 or other model, you'd better check the backup file size and your device storage. Make sure that the backup file is not over your free storage capacity.p

Check iPhone Storage

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone, choose the General tab, and tap iPhone Storage. Here, you can learn how much storage has been used and free storage is left on your device.

Check iCloud Backup File Size

Tap on your profile in the Settings app, choose the iCloud tab, and tap iCloud Backup. Locate the BACKUPS section and check the size of the desired backup file.

Fix 4: Force Restart Your iPhone

Force restart is a simple solution to fix various issues on iOS devices, including iPhone backups that cannot be restored. It can stop the cannot restore error. Then, you can restore the iPhone backup.

For iPhone 8 or newer, quickly press and release the Volume Up button, do the same to the Volume Down button, and keep pressing the Side button until your iPhone turns back on.

For iPhone 7/7 Plus, hold the Volume Down and Side buttons at the same time until you see the Apple logo.

For iPhone 6s or earlier, hold the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons together until the Apple logo appears on your screen.

Next, restore your iPhone from iCloud or iTunes backup again.

Fix 5: Update iTunes

The outdated iTunes may cause the iPhone to be unable to be restored from the backup. The solution is simple, updating your iTunes. If you are using macOS Catalina or later, update your software and Finder.

Part 3: Restore iPhone Without Backup

imyPass iPhone Data Recovery is a simple solution to fix cannot restore backup on iPhone. It can scan lost data on your device and restore specific data. Moreover, it can extract data from iCloud or iTunes backup.

How to Restore Your iPhone Without Backup

Launch the best iPhone restoring software after installing it on your computer. Plug your iPhone into your computer with a Lightning cable. Go to the Recover from iOS Device tab and click the Start Scan button to proceed.

Once scanning finishes, select the data types that you want to get back, such as Camera Roll. If you want to restore lost data, choose Show Deleted Only from the top drop-down option.

Select the deleted files that you want to restore, and click the Recover button. Then, pick an output folder and hit Recover again to restore iPhone data without iTunes or iCloud backup.

Conclusion

Now, you should understand what you can do if your iPhone cannot be restored from an iCloud or iTunes backup. You can follow our solutions one by one to fix the problem and get back your data quickly. imyPass iPhone Data Recovery enables you to restore lost data to your iPhone without backup. If you have other questions about this topic, please feel free to leave a message below this post.