Question re: Upgrading to New iPhone

[Keebler Elf]

I'm finally upgrading my iPhone from the 4 model to the SE but this isn't about the version or which phone is best etc. I'm assuming it will come with a new SIM card (and mine is really old so I want to upgrade anyways). I have iTunes installed and will fully back up before I make the switch.

Question: What, if anything, will I lose from my current phone? E.g., Text messages? Contacts? Recorded voice mails? etc.

I figure most things will carry over from my iTunes backup but want to know now what doesn't so I don't get any unwelcome surprises.

 

[etal]

I did this a week ago, 4S to SE and lost nothing, text, email, contacts, music everything was there except a couple of apps which were easily downloaded again. When you set up the new phone just restore from back up and you should be good.

 

[Frankfooter]

I think you will lose text messages only, but I'm not positive.
Recorded voice mails maybe.
Contacts, email, apps will switch over through itunes.

 

[Keebler Elf]

I did this a week ago, 4S to SE and lost nothing, text, email, contacts, music everything was there except a couple of apps which were easily downloaded again. When you set up the new phone just restore from back up and you should be good.

Were your texts in the default Apple phone app or another app like WhatsApp? I imagine the latter would be carried over but I thought texts from the Apple default app did not.

 

[SchlongConery]

First, may I respectfully suggest that all the Apple critics, Android users, global warming critics/proponents, Trump haters/lovers PLEASE try not to spoil a legitimate, specific question .

I'm finally upgrading my iPhone from the 4 model to the SE but this isn't about the version or which phone is best etc. I'm assuming it will come with a new SIM card (and mine is really old so I want to upgrade anyways). I have iTunes installed and will fully back up before I make the switch.

Question: What, if anything, will I lose from my current phone? E.g., Text messages? Contacts? Recorded voice mails? etc.

I figure most things will carry over from my iTunes backup but want to know now what doesn't so I don't get any unwelcome surprises.

If you fully back up (including apps, etc) to iTunes, you will lose nothing. Including iMessages. Not sure about actual SMS "Text" messages.

Your voice mail recordings reside on your telephone carrier's servers.


And I suggest you not allow Photos to be "Optimized" for storage to iCloud. The original photos on your phone will be shrunk and have to be downloaded if you want to see them at decent resolution on your phone. It takes cell data and can be frustratingly slow. Especially videos!!! :frusty: It is a PITA to undo this.

Also, be careful of "upgrading" to iTunes "Music" Something I think. All your locally stored music is now streamed whenever you listen to a song.

 

[Frankfooter]

First, may I respectfully suggest that all the Apple critics, Android users, global warming critics/proponents, Trump haters/lovers PLEASE try not to spoil a legitimate, specific question .







If you fully back up (including apps, etc) to iTunes, you will lose nothing. Including iMessages. Not sure about actual SMS "Text" messages.

You will lose SMS text messages.
And cause global warming.
Not to mention Trump says you should boycott Apple.
And you could instead buy a cheap virus filled Android.

Just listen to the words of the experts on this board.

Also, be careful of "upgrading" to iTunes "Music" Something I think

 

[etal]

Were your texts in the default Apple phone app or another app like WhatsApp? I imagine the latter would be carried over but I thought texts from the Apple default app did not.

Default app. I thought I would loose all text history but, it was all there when I checked the new phone.

 

[Frankfooter]

Default app. I thought I would loose all text history but, it was all there when I checked the new phone.

That's good, I've had to re-boot my iPhone from an iTunes backup a couple of times and both times it killed all SMS history.
Maybe the latest updates have fixed this, or my buggy iTunes is to blame (it kills my iphone when I hook up to itunes and upgrade the os, requiring the backup copy).

 

[etal]

That's good, I've had to re-boot my iPhone from an iTunes backup a couple of times and both times it killed all SMS history.
Maybe the latest updates have fixed this, or my buggy iTunes is to blame (it kills my iphone when I hook up to itunes and upgrade the os, requiring the backup copy).

Never experienced that. I do back up to the computer, not iCloud for my phone not sure if that has anything to do with it. I also switched carriers so I was more surprised, didn't know the back ups for text were actually on the computer. Anyway you should be fine.

 

[Keebler Elf]

To close the loop on this, I backed up my iPhone 4 (both to iCloud and iTunes on my PC) and both backups restored all my text messages to my new iPhone SE. Changing SIM cards didn't make any difference. So all is good. I was talking to a senior Apple tech advisor about other things and he told me that unless there's a error/glitch, all texts should be backed up.

Thanks for your help on this folks!