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    How to clone an iPhone

    From iPhoneLoyals, we want to explain how to clone an iPhone. What you need for this post is an Apple cell phone, create a Backup (which we explain you how to do it now), have access to your iCloud and have downloaded the iTunes program on your computer. If you want to keep your Apps on your iOS without modifying any of the Hardware, STAY HERE AND FIND OUT HOW!


    Clone iPhone via iTunes

    Create a backup copy

    How to clone an iPhone


    Let's start this guide from the procedure to clone iPhone using iTunes, that is, the one that allows you to copy iPhone data and apps to your computer. All you need to do this is iTunes, Apple's multimedia software that is available for free for macOS and for Windows. If you are using a Mac, you will find it installed "by default" on your computer, and if you are using a Windows PC, you must download and install it "manually".


    If you are using a Windows PC and have not yet downloaded and installed iTunes, connect to the Apple website and click the Download button to download iTunes to your computer. When the download is complete, open the software installation package (e.g. iTunes6464Setup.exe) and complete the setup by clicking the button first forward and then Install, Yes, Yes and end.


    At this point, regardless of whether you are using a Mac or Windows PC, take your iPhone and connect it to your computer using the Lightning/Dock cable provided. iTunes will start automatically; if this is the first time you are linking the two devices, you must authorize the computer to access the iPhone by pressing the Authorize button that appears on the phone screen and the Continue button that appears on the Mac/PC screen.

    Then click on the Iphone icon that appears at the top left of the main iTunes window and select the Summary item from the left sidebar. Now, just to be safe, select the File button located at the top left, click Devices and then choose the Transfer Purchases from iPhone option to transfer all the apps and items you have purchased on your iPhone to your computer.

    Once you have completed this step (you only need to do it once and you are not even prompted later), you can move on to the actual iPhone cloning procedure by clicking the iTunes Copy Now button. To also include data related to health and home automation Home Kit, place the check mark next to the item iPhone Backup Encryption and choose a password to protect the backup.



    If after starting the backup you are notified that some applications on your phone are not yet included in the iTunes library, click Back up your applications to save them to your computer. The procedure will take several minutes, so try to be patient. However, you can track your progress through the completion bar located at the top of the iTunes window.

    Note: Please note that you can clone iPhone via iTunes even without having to "physically" connect your device to your computer. How do you do it? Nothing could be simpler: simply enable the Sync to iPhone over Wi-Fi option. This will activate the wireless communication between your computer and iPhone and then you can start the synchronization and backup of the device without using the classic cable, provided of course that both devices are connected to the same wifi network.

    Restore data and applications

    How to clone an iPhone

    By now, you should be able to create a perfect copy of your iPhone on your computer. If necessary, you can transfer all data and applications to your iPhone by connecting the device to the computer; first, by clicking on the iPhone icon located at the top left of the iTunes window and then on the Restore iPhone button located at the top right. Then accept the terms of use of iOS by pressing first on Reset/Restore and Update, then After and finally on I accept.


    After a few minutes, a message will appear warning you that the iPhone has been restored to its factory state. At this point, iTunes will ask you if you want to set up your phone as a new device or if you want to restore the apps and data from the previous backup. You will, of course, have to select the second option.

    Alternatively, you can copy the data and applications to your own iPhone by clicking on the Restore backup button ... present in the iTunes Summary option. You will then be prompted to select the backup to restore and click the Restore button to start the operation.


    If you have purchased a new iPhone and want to copy all the contents of your previous device to immediately find all the applications and data in place, you must connect the device to the computer, select the option to restore a previous iTunes backup and choose the backup to use from the drop-down menu Restore from this backup.

    Clone iPhone via iCloud

    Create a backup

    How to clone an iPhone

    In addition to as I indicated in the previous lines, there is also another way to clone iPhone and, in this case, you do not have to connect the device to your computer and you do not have to download/use iTunes. You ask me how and is that the answer is simple: use iCloud, Apple's cloud storage service that offers 5 GB of free space to all Apple users. In this case, however, what is needed is that the iPhone is connected to the Internet.

    To clone the iPhone via iCloud, all you have to do is access the device's home screen, go to iOS settings by pressing on the gear shape and select first your name and then the iCloud option from the screen that opens. If you are using a version of iOS earlier than 10.3, you do not need to select your name, you can go directly to iCloud.

    Then, access the iCloud Backup (or backup) section and move the toggle to ON on the iCloud Backup option. The actual procedure to clone iPhone will start and your device will save all data and apps online as soon as it is connected to a Wi-Fi network and connected to a power source.

    If you prefer, you can also start an iCloud backup directly. To do this, go back to the iCloud Backup section and then press the Backup Now option. This can take quite some time, it all depends on the amount of data being stored and the speed of your internet connection.


    Note: If you need to exceed the threshold of 5 GB of free space, you can subscribe to one of the paid plans: the 50 GB costs €0.99/month, the 200 GB costs €2.99/month, the 1 TB costs €9.99/month while the 2 TB has a monthly fee of €19.99. To subscribe to a paid plan, log in to iOS settings, press your name, then click on iCloud, available space box and Change storage plan. If you are using a version of iOS earlier than 10.3, you must go perform the same operation Settings> iCloud > file > Buy more space.

    Restore data and apps.

    How to clone an iPhone

    Once you have completed the above procedure by which you have cloned your iPhone, you can restore data and applications on your device by going to the iOS settings section, selecting the general items, then on Restore and , then on Initialize content and settings from the screen that opens.

    Then press the Initialize iPhone button and when the phone setup wizard launches, choose the options Set up your device and Reinstall from backup.

    Finally, log in to your iCloud account and select the backup to be used to complete the operation. By following the same procedure (excluding the first step) it is also possible to activate a new iPhone by cloning data and apps from another iPhone associated with your iCloud account.

    In case of problems

    How to clone an iPhone

    Are you trying to clone iPhone but cannot complete the procedure due to some error? Would you like to restore your iPhone backup to a device that was previously unlocked? If so, you can try to fix it by placing the device in DFU mode.

    In case you have never heard of it, this is a recovery mode that allows you to install iOS without going through some restrictions of the standard recovery mode. It is preferable to use it on jailbroken devices, as it can erase Cydia and jailbroken data that would otherwise remain taking up space in the device's memory.

    To put your iPhone in DFU, connect the device to the computer and turn it off completely by holding down the lock key for a few seconds and moving the option to the right Slide to power off that appears at the top of the screen.

    At this point, hold down the lock and volume keys simultaneously for about ten seconds until the apple logo on the device screen and then release the lock key and continue to hold volume until iTunes detects the device in recovery mode.

    After managing to put your iPhone in DFU mode, press the OK button you see on your computer screen and restore the Apple-branded smartphone by clicking on the Restore iphone button ... button in iTunes. For more details, read my guide on how to put an iPhone in DFU.

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