How to Restore iPhone from Backup when iTunes Backup is Corrupt or not compatible

Summary: Are you receiving the error, ‘iTunes backup was corrupt or not compatible’ while trying to restore iPhone? iPhone recovery is not possible from a corrupt backup file. This post shares how you can resolve corrupt iTunes backup file issue and restore iPhone’s lost data.

‘I dropped my iPhone and broke it. I got it repaired and formatted to factory settings to fix the various issues caused due to the fall. Since I had a backup in iTunes, so was not worried about my data. But had least idea that my iTunes backup file was corrupted! As I tried to restore iPhone from iTunes, a message appeared –: ‘iTunes backup was corrupt or Not compatible.’ Now I don’t know how to restore my iPhone. Please help.’ –  Simon, UK

It’s not new when users get bowled over by iTunes when trying to restore their iPhone. iTunes sometimes shows a message that it could not restore iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone that was being restored.

It may be because iTunes does incremental backup by updating the previous backup. It’s possible that some old backup data was corrupt, which results in the error message.

Whatsoever, it’s a fact that there’s no recovery possible from a corrupt backup file.

So how to fix such corrupt iPhone backup in iTunes and restore iPhone in such cases?

Here we share the best ways to fix corrupt iTunes backup file and efficient methods to restore iPhone’s lost data.

You can apply these methods on all iPhone models including series of iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, XS, XS Max, XR, X, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6S Plus, 6S, 6 Plus, 6, 5S, 5c, 5, 4S and 4 with latest iOS 16.x.

What you can do to fix ‘iTunes backup was corrupt or Not compatible’

Since you can’t repair or recover from a corrupt or incompatible iTunes backup file, it is best to delete such corrupt files and next try to create a new backup in iTunes.

How to delete your corrupt iPhone backup file in iTunes

1. Launch iTunes on your PC or Mac
2. Windows users click Edit > Preferences (on Windows PC). Mac users click iTunes Menu > Preferences
3. Select Find your iPhone backups
4. Select the corrupt or incompatible backup. Click Delete Backup
5. Close the iTunes Preferences window

How to delete the old iTunes backup files manually

If you don’t see the old backup in iTunes, then delete the backup manually.

1. In iTunes, under Summary click on Serial Number. You will see the iPhone’s UDID. Note it down.
2. Navigate to the iTunes backups folder on your computer.

On Mac follow: Finder > Option> Go menu> Library> Application Support >MobileSync> Backup

On Windows 11/10/8 follow: In Search box type %appdata%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup. Press Enter key

If you installed iTunes from the Microsoft Store, follow: In Search box type %userprofile%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup. Press Enter key.

3. You will see the backup folders named by your device UDID
4. Select the folders with your device UDID and delete them
5. Next go to iTunes and take the backup again

How to backup iPhone in iTunes again

1. Connect your iPhone to computer via lightning cable
2. Launch iTunes
3. Click on Back Up Now The backup process begins.

| Did you get a message — iTunes can’t back up your iPhone because an error occurred? Here’s what you should do…
• Update your iOS to the latest version
• Update your iTunes to the latest version
• Disable antivirus software on your computer
• Now create backup in iTunes

|
| — |

How to restore iPhone when iTunes backup file is corrupt

Method 1: Restore iPhone from iCloud backup

Method 2: Recover from iCloud backup without erasing existing data

Method 3: Restore lost data directly from iPhone/ iPad

Method 1: Recover from iCloud backup

Instead of iTunes, you can restore iPhone by using the alternative backup solution, iCloud.

Steps to restore iPhone with iCloud

• Click to follow Settings > General > Reset> Erase all Contents and Settings

• A dialog box pops up, choose Erase Now
• Follow the instructions until you get on to the Apps & Data screen
• Tap Restore from iCloud Backup

• Sign in to your iCloud account
• Choose the recent backup and click Restore

Method 2: Recover specific files from iCloud without losing existing iPhone data

In case you want to restore specific data from backup, instead of complete backup, use an iPhone recovery software.

Steps to restore specific files from iCloud:

• Download and launch Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone on your computer.

• Select Recover from iCloud Backup on main screen of software.

• Select what you want to recover. Click Next
• Enter the Apple ID and password
• Select the relevant iCloud backup and click Scan

• Select the data in the iCloud backup files list on left and preview

• Click Save
• In the dialog box select computer or iPhone to save the recovered data. To save directly onto your iPhone, connect your iPhone to the computer.

Method 3: Recover data from iPhone

If iTunes could not restore iPhone or iPad because the backup was corrupt and neither iCloud is able to restore backup, recover data from the device directly. You can easily restore lost photos, videos, messages, calendar, voice memos, Safari bookmarks, etc., with this method. It works in cases of broken/ water-damaged iPhone, factory reset, iOS crash etc.

Steps to recover lost data from iPhone/ iPad

• Connect your iPhone to computer
• Launch Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone
• On the home screen select Recover from iPhone

• Select the data you want to restore
• Click Next

• Preview the data and click Save. You can save the recovered data on computer or iPhone

Conclusion

You cannot repair or recover data from corrupt iTunes backup file that gives — ‘iTunes backup was corrupt or Not compatible’ message.

However, the situation can be tackled by deleting the corrupt backup file and creating a fresh new backup in iTunes.

To restore iPhone, you may use either the new iTunes backup or bypass iTunes by using alternative recovery methods. Other than iTunes, iCloud or Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone are the effective ways to restore lost data on your iPhone. Among these too, if you wish to restore specific data like photos, videos, voice memos, or contacts etc., Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone would be the best solution.

Apple will delete your photos in July. Here’s what you should do

Apple has recently announced that it will permanently delete photos from its users’ ‘My Photo Stream’ this month. This news has come as a surprise to the Apple community, as users struggle to understand the implications of this announcement and what necessary precautions can be taken. In this blog post, we will get into the details of this new move by Apple, explore the reasons behind it, and provide tips on how iPhone/iPad/Mac users can safeguard their precious photos.

The Announcement

_”_My Photo Stream is scheduled to be shut down on July 26, 2023. As part of this transition, new photo uploads to My Photo Stream from your devices will stop one month before, on June 26, 2023.

The photos in My Photo Stream are already stored on at least one of your devices, so as long as you have the device with your originals, you won’t lose any photos as part of this process. If a photo you want isn’t already in your Library on a particular iPhone, iPad, or Mac, make sure that you save it to your Library on that device…” Read more

What is Apple’s My Photo Stream?

My Photo Stream, launched in 2011, was designed to sync photos across multiple Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

This feature automatically stores your most recent pictures (up to 1000) for approx. 30 days so you can view and download them easily from other Apple devices. After this period, photos are removed from My Photo Stream but remain in your device’s Photos app. However, this only shows photos and not your live images or videos.

How to Protect Your ‘My Photo Stream’ Pictures?

Apple, known for its commitment to user privacy and data security, has recommended several preventive measures to mitigate the risk of losing any important photo due to this update.

1. Move My Photo Stream images to your Library

Even if the pictures in My Photo Stream are already there on at least one of your Apple devices, you must save these pictures to your Photo Library to avoid losing them**.** Here’s how to copy My Photo Stream pictures to your Photo Library:

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch:

• Open the Photos app and tap Albums.
• Tap on My Photo Stream > Select.
• Select all the photos you want to save, then tap the Share button > Save Image.

On your Mac:

• Open the Photos app and then open the My Photo Stream
• Select the photos you want to save which aren’t currently in your photo library.
• Drag and drop them from the My Photo Stream album into your Library.

2. Move to iCloud Photos

To preserve your My Photo Stream images in their original and high-resolution version, you can transfer them to iCloud Photos.

If you already have an iCloud account, just enable iCloud Photos to automatically upload & sync every photo and video you capture on the device, making them accessible from anywhere.

To use the iCloud Photos service, you will require the following:

• iPhone running iOS 8.3 or later version.
• iPad with iPadOS 8.3 or later version.
• Mac running OS X Yosemite or later version.

How to set up iCloud Photos on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch?

• On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings.
• Next, click on [Your Name] > iCloud.
• Tap on Photos and do the following:

For iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or later versions: Toggle on the ‘Sync this [device]‘ option.

For iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or earlier versions: Turn on the iCloud Photos

How to set up iCloud Photos on your Mac?

• On your Mac, go to Apple Menu and click on System Preferences.
• Click Apple ID and then select iCloud in the sidebar.
• Now, select Photos and turn on the switch next to Sync this Mac.

**

**

Don’t want to use iCloud Photos?

While iCloud Photos is a convenient option for many Apple users, it’s important to acknowledge that it is not the best fit for everyone. Limited free storage of 5GB or lack of cross-platform compatibility can compel Apple users to look for other alternatives.

Storage options, such as Google Photos, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, external hard drives, etc., are available to ensure your iPhone Photos are safe and easily accessible.

The Bottom Line

Apple’s announcement of the potential discontinuation of My Photo Stream has understandably caused worry among its users. While a specific reason for this action remains undisclosed, they are actively addressing the issue to prevent data loss. In the meantime, iPhone users must take precautionary measures to safeguard their photos. They can simply move the My Photo Stream images to the Photo Library, iCloud Photos, or other backup folders.

How to Recover Lost Data from iTunes Backup File?

If you have lost iPhone data and are unable to restore it from the iTunes backup file, use Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone. The software quickly recovers lost or deleted iPhone data from iTunes.

Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone is the best iPhone data recovery tool to recover data from iTunes backup files. The tool uses a sophisticated algorithm, which scans through the entire backup file to recover data. You can easily restore saved iOS data like Messages, Call History, Calendar, Notes, etc., from the backup file.

Note: Make sure your Mac or PC is updated and you are using the latest version of iTunes.

Follow the below steps to recover lost data from iTunes backup file:

1. Launch ‘Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone’ tool on your computer.

    Figure: Home screen of Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone

2. Click ‘Recover iTunes Backup’ option on the left. The software scans the system for iTunes backup files and lists them along with the date of creation.

3. Select an iTunes backup from which you want to restore data.

  4. On the left pane, click on the type of data that you want to recover. You can restore Camera Roll, Photo Stream, Contacts, Messages, Message Attachments, Call history, Calendar, Reminder, Voice Memo, Notes, Notes Attachments, Safari Bookmarks, WhatsApp, WhatsApp Attachments, Line, Kik Viber, Tango, WeChat, and Apps Library.  

The software lets you preview, select, recover, and also search for specific photos, videos, messages, and other data.

5. Select what you want to recover and click on Save. Select a destination to save the iPhone data.

   

How to Recover Deleted Screenshots on iPhone?

Summary: Accidentally deleted or lost screenshots from your iPhone? Don’t know how to recover deleted screen grabs? Learn five methods to recover deleted screenshots on iPhone. Also, know how Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone quickly restores deleted screenshots from your Apple device.

Screenshots are the fastest way to save anything you see on smartphones or systems. Many of you may have also captured screens of chats, video calls, online products, etc., on your iPhone. Since  screenshots are saved in various image formats like JPG, PNG, GIF, etc., they can get deleted like any other file on your Apple device.

Hence, if you have lost or mistakenly deleted screenshots on your iPhone, this blog shares successful methods to recover deleted screenshots on your iPhone.

But first, you must know the locations on your iPhone where you can search for deleted or missing screenshots.

Where are screenshots saved?

There’s nothing unusual about searching screenshots on your iPhone. Sometimes, files may be saved at multiple locations, and you may not locate them at once or forget them. So first, check your iPhone thoroughly.

On the iPhone, screen grabs are saved in two different locations. One is the Photos app in a separate folder named ‘Screenshot,’ and the other is the Files app.

How to recover deleted screenshots on iPhone?

Here, we have shared five workable solutions to restore deleted screenshots on iPhone.

Method 1: Recover Deleted Screenshots on iPhone from Recently Deleted Album

It’s well known that the Recently Deleted Album on iPhone keeps the deleted photos and screenshots for up to 30 days. Hence, the natural first place to look for deleted screenshots on iPhone is here.

• Open the Photos app, tap the Recently Deleted album, locate the screenshots, and tap Recover to save it to the original Camera Roll location.

Method 2: Deleted Screenshot Recovery in iPhone from iTunes Backup

On macOS Mojave or earlier versions, restore permanently deleted screenshots from an iTunes backup. To recover deleted photos or screenshots , follow these steps:

• Open iTunes and connect your iPhone to your computer.
• Click the iPhone icon at the upper corner of the iTunes window.

• Click Summary in the left pane and select the Restore Backup option in the Backup section.

• Choose the most relevant backup of your iPhone and click Restore to start the process.

Method 3: Recover Permanently Deleted Screenshots using Finder

In macOS Catalina and newer versions, Finder syncs and manages the content on iPhones, iPad, and iPods.

Steps: How to recover permanently deleted screenshots on iPhone from Finder:

• Connect your iPhone to your Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15 or above.
• Open Finder on your Mac and select your iPhone from the location list.

• Go to the General tab and click Restore Backup.

• Select the backup date and click Restore to start the process.

Method 4:  Recover Deleted Screenshots using Data Recovery Software

Get a professional Screenshot Recovery Software – Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone . It can recover deleted or lost screenshots of all formats, GIF, PNG, JPG, or TIFF, etc., from iPhone. In addition, the software supports recovery of screen captures taken through iPhone lost due to formatting, empty Recently Deleted folders, virus attacks, etc.

Step-by-step: How to find deleted screenshots on iPhone using data recovery software

• Connect your iPhone to your system.

• Download and launch the trial version of Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone.

• Select Recover from iPhone in the What to Recover screen.

• Select Camera Roll and click Next. The scanning will start.

• A list of deleted screenshots appears. Preview the screenshots. The free version of the software allows the preview of files up to 20 MB. If you don’t see the required screenshots, toggle the Deep Scan option and scan again.

• Click Recover and Save the screenshots on your system or iPhone at the desired location.

Note – The trial software scans the media and shows a preview of all the recoverable screenshots. Once you can ascertain the effectiveness, save the recoverable files after activating the software.

Method 5: Recover Screenshots on iPhone using iCloud Backup

iCloud Backup stores and syncs files among Apple devices. Your screenshots and photos may be saved here in the cloud storage only if you have enabled iCloud Photos to backup all your iPhone photos. Here’s how to restore deleted screenshots from iCloud:

• Go to the iCloud Website and sign in with your Apple credentials.

• Once logged in, click on Photos and go to the Recently Deleted Album.

• Select the screenshots you wish to restore and click Recover.

Wrapping Up

Deleted screenshots recovery is easy. Backup is the best way to recover deleted screenshots from your iPhone. However, it would be best to first look for the deleted screenshots in your iCloud, iTunes, Finders, etc.

Besides, if you are lucky, you can get back the deleted screenshots from the Recently Deleted folder on your iPhone.

Nonetheless, robust and secure software is the right approach to recover screenshots for all complex data loss cases. For example, if the screenshots are permanently deleted from iPhone, use Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone. The software scans the iPhone or iPhone/ iCloud backup, displays the found screenshots, and allows a preview before saving.  

FAQ

1. How to recover the permanently deleted screenshots from my iPhone?

Check the Recently Deleted album in your Photos app on your iPhone. Or use iCloud or iTunes backup to recover them. If screen grabs are not in the Recently Deleted album, use iPhone data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone to recover them.

2. Can you recover deleted screenshots on iPhone without any backup?

It is possible to recover permanently deleted iPhone screen grabs using professional iPhone data recovery software. We recommend Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone.

3. Where do deleted screenshots go on the iPhone?

When you delete screenshots on an iPhone, it is moved to the “Recently Deleted” folder of your Photos app.

4. How to take long screenshots on iPhone?

To take a full screenshot of a website, take the screenshot and tap preview before it disappears—tap Full Page to save the screenshot as a PDF.