TUTORIALS

How to Restore iOS 12 Backups to iDevice on iOS 11?

06/15/2018

6683

As a result of system limitation, we can not restore backups of high iOS version to a lower iOS version. Thus, if you downgrade your device to iOS 11.4 or iOS 11.4.1 beta from iOS 12, you can not restore iOS 12 backups on your device.

 

How to Restore iOS 12 Backups to iDevice on iOS 11?


We can extract the data from iOS 12 backups, then restore to the iOS 11 device. You can export photos, contacts, notes and Safari bookmark from the backups, then separately restore them to the device. But you can not restore history calls or messages, you can view them via backup viewer or export as PDF. For the rest of the data, we can neither view it nor restore it.

 

Restore data separately


Step 1 Launch 3uTools, navigate to Back up/Restore -> Backup Management

 

Step 2 Select the backups you want to restore, then click “View”.

 

Step 3 Here, you can view you data of the backups. Click Photos, you can view the photos from the backups. Select the folders you want to restore, then click “Export” to export photos to your PC.

 

How to Restore iOS 12 Backups to iDevice on iOS 11?


Step 4 Go back to iDevice -> Photos -> Import, then select the photos which are just exported from the backups. Then you can restore these photos to your device


How to Restore iOS 12 Backups to iDevice on iOS 11? 


Step 5 In the same way, you can restore contacts, notes and Safari bookmark.

 

How to Restore iOS 12 Backups to iDevice on iOS 11?


View data

 

Messages - Click Messages on backup viewer, then export as PDF, you can double-click sms.db to view the exact messages.

 

How to Restore iOS 12 Backups to iDevice on iOS 11?


Apps - From App List, you can view the apps you backup. After click "Restore", 3uTools will download and install the apps to your device


How to Restore iOS 12 Backups to iDevice on iOS 11?

Windows
Mac OS
iOS
Linux
3uTools
Win 64-bit For this device
V9.0 2025-11-11
Download
Win 32-bit For this device
V9.0 2025-11-11
Download
3uTools V3.18
2025-09-18
Please use the 3uTools PC client to install the iOS client:
1、 Install either the Windows or Mac version of 3uTools on your computer
2、 Open the PC client and connect your device to the computer via USB cable
3、 After the connection is successful, wait for the computer to automatically install the mobile app for the device, or locate “Install Mobile App” on the computer and manually click to install.
3uTools
deb file
v3.01 2025-11-20
Download
rpm file
v3.01 2025-11-20
Download
Windows
iOS
Android
3uAirPlayer
Win 64-bit For this device
V6.0.2 2025-11-19
Download
Win 32-bit For this device
V6.0.2 2025-11-19
Download
iOS Device Mirroring (No App Required)
1、 Install 3uAirPlayer on the Windows PC
2、 Open Control Center and select Screen Mirroring
3、 From the list, choose your PC to start mirroring
4、 Or connect your iOS device to the PC via USB to begin mirroring
Scan to get "3uAirPlayer" App