Customer HubBackup
Apple iOS backups allow users to back up their important data such as contacts, photos, messages and settings and restore them when needed. These backups can be created either via iCloud or iTunes and serve as a protection against data loss in case of device replacement, damage or theft.
Standard restore via the setup wizard
A registered DEP device is restored from a backup to the same state with device monitoring status and MDM profile it was in when the backup was created. The general steps for restoring a device from a backup are described by Apple at the following link: Apple Backup→.
Data Transfer Quick Start
Quick Start data transfer allows content to be moved directly from an old iPhone or iPad to a new one by placing both devices next to each other. The requirements are that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled on both devices and that iOS/iPadOS 12.4 or later is installed.
During the setup assistant on the new device, a prompt appears on the old device asking for confirmation to continue. By scanning the animated pattern on the new screen with the camera of the old device, the devices are paired. After entering the passcode and Apple ID, select the option Transfer from iPhone or iPad, and the data will be migrated directly and securely over a wireless connection.
For a device registered via Apple School/ Business Manager (DEP) to be offered the Quick Start option at all during initial setup, the following setup steps must not be skipped in the assigned DEP profile (leave the checkboxes disabled):
Quickly Set Up iPadRestoring from backup
If either of these options is enabled, the corresponding step in the setup assistant is hidden, and the new device will no longer be able to receive data via Quick Start from the old device.
Restore a DEP-registered device with a new DEP recovery profile
Backup
Create a backup on the device using Apple ID via iCloud or locally on a Mac or PC.
Preparation
Configure a new DEP recovery profile with the following settings:
- Enable
Allow connecting to Macs or PCs and configuring with Apple Configurator. - Do not enable
Allow device location. - Do not enable
Import backup. - Do not enable
Log in with Apple ID.
Integration in Relution
Assign the device via Apple School/ Business Manager to the corresponding Relution server with the DEP recovery profile created before. After assigning, click on Synchronize DEP devices.
Restore backup
Start the reset device and follow the setup wizard. In the setup wizard, select Restore apps and data. For an iCloud backup, use the same Apple ID for the restore that was used for the backup.
During setup, the device automatically goes through the DEP registration process. Settings related to device management are not applied from the backup, but from the DEP profile configured in Relution. After a successful backup, switch back to the original default DEP profile. The setup step to restore the backup to the device will then no longer be displayed.
Registering an unmanaged device with Apple DEP and restoring via backup
An unmanaged iOS device can be registered with Apple DEP afterwards without its users losing their data and content. However, Apple’s documentation states that a restore keeps the device management status from the backup when restoring to the same device (see example below) - so an unmanaged device cannot be moved directly into a supervised DEP state from its own backup. The workaround below routes the backup through a second, temporary device: because the restore then counts as a restore to a different device, Apple takes the management status from Apple School/ Business Manager instead.
Apple documentation states:
- When you restore from a backup to the same iPhone or iPad, your device management status is restored from your backup.
- If you restore from a backup to a different iPhone or iPad, your device management status will come from Apple School/ Business Manager.
Example
If a device is configured to be supervised and automatically registered in the MDM system, but is subsequently restored from a backup created when the same device was unsupervised, the device is not supervised. In other words, an unmanaged device cannot be restored directly from its own backup when enabling Supervised mode and registering the device with Apple DEP in the process - which is exactly why the detour via a second device is needed.
Backup
Create a backup on unmanaged device-01 via iCloud or locally on a Mac or PC. Restore this backup onto a second device, device-02. Then back up device-02 again via iCloud or locally - this second backup is later restored onto device-01 and, since it is technically device-02’s backup, counts as a backup “from a different device”.
Preparation
Reset device-01 to factory settings. Add device-01 to the Apple School/ Business Manager via Apple Configurator 2. Read more in our Insight Add Apple devices to DEP afterwards →. Also configure a DEP recovery profile for device-01 as described in the previous “Preparation” section.
Integration in Relution
Assign device-01 via Apple School/ Business Manager to the appropriate Relution server with the DEP recovery profile created before. Set up the device by following the setup wizard on the device.
Restore backup
On device-01, select Restore apps and data in the setup wizard and choose the backup previously created from device-02. For iCloud backup, use the same Apple ID for restore that was used for backup.
Because the backup is technically from device-02, the restore counts as a restore to a different device: settings related to device management are not taken from the backup, but from the DEP profile configured in Relution - this is what supervises and DEP-registers device-01.
After a successful restore, switch back to the original default DEP profile. The setup step to restore the backup to the device will then no longer be displayed.