How to backup, upgrade and restore software for an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad?

For best results, make sure you have the latest version of iTunes before attempting an upgrade or backup device.

How to back up your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

iTunes makes a backup of your device each time:

Sync with iTunes (automatically during the first synchronization and each time you connect to your computer)
Update from iTunes (automatically, without prompting)
Binds with iTunes (you are asked to perform a backup before starting the restore process)

Although iTunes makes a backup of most device settings, downloaded applications, music, videos and photos are not included in this copy.
Whether you're restoring from a backup copy of iTunes, the settings of your device, music, videos and photos will be re-synchronize with the device if the "Sync" is marked on the corresponding tabs iTunes . If you choose to restore your device as a new user, downloaded content, music, videos and photos will not sync until you check "Synchronize" on iTunes the corresponding tabs.
You can backup or manually restore your iPhone or iPod touch from backup. To do so, just Control-click or right-click the icon in the shape of iPhone or iPod touch to the left of the iTunes window, select Backup / Restore backup *:

* Restore from a backup is not the same as performing a full restore software. If you do a restore from a backup will recover the settings, the application data and other information stored in a previous backup. If you do a complete restoration software will delete all the contents of the device and return it to its factory defaults. More information on the "Software Restore" below.

Updating your iPhone or iPod touch iPad

iTunes can also update the software on your device. When you begin the process of updating your device, iTunes performs a standard backup * (as discussed above). To update the device software, you must follow these steps:

Make sure you have installed the latest version of iTunes before attempting the upgrade.
Connect the device to your computer.
Select your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch when it appears in iTunes under Devices.
Select the Summary tab.
Select the option for updates.

* Updating the device does not affect the setting or user content.

How to restore your iPhone or iPod touch iPad

Using Restore your device is part of standard procedure for troubleshooting . By resetting the device will erase all data on it, such as songs, videos, contacts, photos, calendar information, and any other information. All settings are restored to their factory settings.
Whenever I go to restore your device, Apple highly recommends that before you do a sync to back up any changes made since the last synchronization. If you have rented movies on the device, see Use Rights rent movies on iTunes Store U.S. before restoring.
Follow these steps to restore your device:

Make sure you have installed the latest version of iTunes before attempting the upgrade.
Connect the device to your computer.
Select your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch when it appears in iTunes under Devices.
Select the Summary tab.
Select the Restore option.
When asked if you want to back up your settings before proceeding, select the Backup option (as shown in the picture below). If you just make a backup device, it is necessary to create another.
Select the Restore option when iTunes will request (if you backed up your device, do not have to worry about restoring it).
Once you have completed the restoration process, the device restarts and displays the Apple logo while turning:
IPhone only: for the iPhone after a restore, the device displays the screen "Connect to iTunes". Keep your device connected to the screen disappears "Connect to iTunes" or see the message "iPhone activated." If iTunes does not have Internet access, you can not complete this step.
The final step is to restore the device from a backup. Once your device is restored (and in the case of the iPhone, the activation process), you should see the following in iTunes:
Select the backup you want to use for your device and press the Continue button to complete the restoration of it.

If you do not want to do the restore from a backup, select "Set as new device ...". To store the backups that iTunes has done on previous occasions, be sure to back up the appropriate directory before selecting the option "Set up as new device."

iTunes saves files in the backup at the following locations:

Mac: ~ / Library / Application Support / MobileSync / Backup /
In Windows XP: \ Documents and Settings \ (username) \ Application Data \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup
In Windows Vista and Windows 7: Users \ (username) \ AppData \ Roaming \ Apple Computer \ MobileSync \ Backup \

Restore your new iPhone, iPad or iPod touch from a previous backup

If you upgrade or replace your device with a new, perhaps you can restore the old backup to the new device. To upgrade from the original iPhone to iPhone 3G, see these instructions. You can update a device with the backup of a different kind of device, most of the settings are transferred to the new.
Note: During the process of restoring the old backup to the new device, maybe the iTunes progress bar stops. If this happens, wait a little longer for the upgrade is complete.

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