iPhone restore didn't restore everything

I religiously back up my iPhone to my computer and over the years have garnered a massive amount of both messages and contacts that go back to when I first got the phone in the early 2010s.


Recently, my iPhone got an issue while updating--best guess, my computer went to sleep while I was doing the most recent update by computer (as opposed to downloading it on the phone). Huge mistake, apparently, and I had to do a massive restore. It took forever, but it got it back up and running.


However--I'm coming across some missing items--specifically, in my iMessages. One example is the messages I've had back and forth with my friend over the years and a significant portion of my videos, pictures and screenshots appear to be missing or are otherwise not populating. I checked, and there are some others that are missing, too.


Thing is, my phone *appears* to have it somewhere on the phone, because I did an iPhone storage check and and the space that's being taken up on the phone is still roughly the same as before the phone had to be reset and restored.


Any idea on a) what's happening and b) proper measures to fix it? Another restore, perhaps, or am I out of luck?

Posted on Aug 1, 2023 08:16 PM

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Aug 1, 2023 08:32 PM in response to DoubleyaD

DoubleyaD Said:

"iPhone restore didn't restore everything: [...]Thing is, my phone *appears* to have it somewhere on the phone, because I did an iPhone storage check and and the space that's being taken up on the phone is still roughly the same as before the phone had to be reset and restored.[...]"

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Recovering Message Threads and Clearing Space:



Use my User Tip: How to Save or Print a Complete iPhone Messages Thread - User Tip


Troubleshooting iPhone Storage:

Internal storage cannot be upgraded. It is what it is. So, the maximum internal storage capacity never increases, even if you upgraded your iCloud plan. Learn More here: What's the Difference Between Device Storage and iCloud Storage? Apple Support


So, what to do...

Clear Space Using my User Tips:

Aug 1, 2023 08:50 PM in response to DoubleyaD

DoubleyaD Said:

"This does not answer my question and is not relevant to the issue I have whatsoever. The issue is not with space or upgrading it. It's with getting back what appears to be on my iPhone backup, but isn't populating on my phone for some reason."

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Resting From a Backup:

So, what is the source of the backup you are restoring from? iCloud doesn't back up everything: What does iCloud Back Up? - Apple Support. As for all of the data and files in a message, they ought to be accessible if backed up.

Aug 2, 2023 08:56 AM in response to Seallbay

Again, this answer does not apply to me.


To be clear, I have a full, unadulterated backup that is not on iCloud. It’s on my desktop. I have messages that go back around 10 years or so, but some of those message threads, pictures, videos, etc. are not showing up.


They have been a part of every backup, every iPhone upgrade, every hard reset I’ve ever had to do on the phone.


It appears, judging from the space that this backup is taking up, that something is there in the backups, but it is not populating on iMessage.


I’m looking for a resolution to this issue.

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iPhone restore didn't restore everything

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