Week 4: New phones for the drivers

Activation and Activation Lock

Setup must activate the device with Apple over Wi-Fi or cellular (active SIM or eSIM). "Unable to activate" usually means no internet, a SIM or carrier issue, or a busy activation service: check the connection and Apple's System Status page, then retry. A screen saying the device is locked to the owner is Activation Lock: Find My was still on when it was erased.

• Activation Lock: enter the previous owner's Apple Account and password
• Company devices: MDM can bypass Activation Lock on supervised devices
• No access at all: proof of purchase to Apple Support

Exam tip Before handing a device on: sign out of the Apple Account (turns off Find My), then erase. That prevents Activation Lock.

Quick Start and data transfer problems

Quick Start sets up a new iPhone from an old one nearby. If the devices don't see each other: keep them close, plugged in, with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on, and restart both. If transfer stops, finish setup, then erase the new phone (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone) and start again. Company devices assigned in Apple Business may not allow device-to-device transfer.

Exam tip Apps look dimmed after a restore? They're still downloading in the background. Keep the device on Wi-Fi and power.

Restore and version problems

A backup made on a newer iOS version can't be restored to a device running an older one. Setup then says the device needs a software update: update during setup, or set up as new, update iOS, erase and restore again. A Remote Management screen on a phone you bought used means it is still assigned to an organization; only that organization can release it.

Priya: Activation Lock or Remote Management on a used device? You can't bypass it. The owner has to let go.

Three ways to back up

An iPhone or iPad can back up to iCloud, to a Mac (in Finder), or to a Mac with Apple Configurator (which uses the same backup format as Finder). None of them is a full disk image: each leaves out data that is stored elsewhere or protected on purpose.

Rosa: Three ways, and none of them saves everything? Sneaky.

Ranger: hides a treat, unbacked-up

iCloud Backup leaves out

iCloud Backup saves the data and settings that don't already sync to iCloud. So it skips:

• Data already in iCloud: Contacts, Calendars, Notes, iCloud Photos, Messages in iCloud
• Data in other cloud services, such as Gmail or Exchange mail
• Apple Mail data, Apple Pay information and settings, Face ID or Touch ID settings
• iCloud Music Library and App Store content (downloaded again)
• Offline maps

Exam tip Trap: "Photos are missing from the iCloud backup." If iCloud Photos is on, they were never in the backup; they're in iCloud Photos.

Mac and Apple Configurator backups leave out

A backup to a Mac includes almost all device data and settings, but not:

• Content from the App Store and Apple's media stores, and content synced from the Mac (music, videos, photos)
• Data already synced to iCloud (iCloud Photos, iMessages and SMS/MMS in iCloud)
• Face ID or Touch ID settings, Apple Pay information, Apple Mail data, offline maps
• Activity, Health and Keychain data unless the backup is encrypted

Exam tip Want saved passwords, Health and Activity data in a Mac backup? Turn on Encrypt local backup and keep that password safe.

iCloud Backup problems

Most failures are space or network. Check Settings > [name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup for the last successful backup and the size of the next one.

• Not enough iCloud storage: delete old backups, exclude big apps from the backup, or upgrade to iCloud+
• "Couldn't be completed": confirm Wi-Fi, try another network, install pending updates
• Automatic backup needs: Back Up This iPhone on, power, Wi-Fi and the screen locked
• Option dimmed: a restore is still running, or an MDM profile restricts iCloud Backup

Exam tip Turned off iCloud Backup? Existing iCloud backups are kept 180 days, then deleted.

Mac (Finder) and Apple Configurator problems

Connect with a cable, unlock the device, and tap Trust and enter the passcode when asked. The Mac needs enough free disk space for the backup and a current macOS. Try another cable or port if the device disconnects. Apple Configurator backups follow the same rules and show errors in its activity log.

• Device not shown in Finder: unlock it, Trust this computer, try another cable
• "Not enough space": free space on the Mac's startup disk
• Session failed or device disconnected: restart both, update macOS

Forgotten encrypted backup password

Apple can't recover the password of an encrypted local backup, and that backup can't be restored without it. To make new encrypted backups, use Reset All Settings on the device (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset): it removes the backup encryption password without erasing data. Then make a fresh encrypted backup with a new password.

Exam tip Reset All Settings resets settings like Wi-Fi passwords and wallpaper, but keeps apps, photos and data.