Why is 'Restore Backup' greyed out for an iPhone 12 backup on iTunes PC?

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Why is 'Restore Backup' greyed out for an iPhone 12 backup on iTunes PC?

Im on PC. I moved my iPhone Backup I made two months ago to an external harddrive and back again (into the same folder) recently after my old phone broke. Now I want to restore from that backup. My new phone is an iPhone X with iOS 16 (latest version for that model). The Backup has iOS 18.

The Backup is shown in the list of backups at Edit > Preferences > Devices, but on the main page of iTunes (image included) under Latest Backups it isn't showing up and the Restore button is greyed out.

I tried a lot already. Its the only way I can get the images and contacts from that old phone.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone X, iOS 16

Posted on May 28, 2025 12:58 AM

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Answer 1

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Ingo2711

Level 9

78,645 points

May 28, 2025 2:47 AM in response to 222emilia222

You can not restore a backup made by a newer iOS version on a device running an older iOS version.

You will need an iPhone that already has iOS 18 installed or can install iOS 18, before you restore it.

Restore an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch that needs a newer version of iOS or iPadOS - Apple Support

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Why is 'Restore Backup' greyed out for an iPhone 12 backup on iTunes PC?

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