Articles on: Support & Troubleshooting

How to restore your device from iCloud backup

Restoring your device from an iCloud backup is the only way to potentially recover files that were stored On My iPad or On My iPhone when a device broke or was erased — but only if iCloud Backup was turned on before the device broke. This is a last-resort recovery path. Files stored in Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud Drive don't need this — just sign in on your new device.

📝 NOTE: This article is for users restoring a broken or replaced device, or recovering after a full device erase. If you accidentally deleted a single file, check I accidentally deleted my script. How do I recover it? first — the Recently deleted folder is much faster.

Step 1: Check that iCloud Backup was on

If iCloud Backup wasn't enabled before your files went missing, restoring won't bring them back. To check on a working device:

Open Settings.
Tap your name at the top.
Tap iCloud → iCloud Backup.
Confirm the toggle was ON, and check the date of the Last Successful Backup.

If the last backup was made before your files went missing, restoring from it should bring them back. If the backup is more recent than the loss, or backup was off entirely, the files aren't recoverable through iCloud.

Step 2: Before you erase the device — protect what you still have

⚠️ HEADS UP: Restoring from iCloud backup erases everything currently on the device. If your device still works, protect any files you still have access to before you proceed.

Move or copy local files to a cloud provider (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud Drive).
Or share files with yourself via email as a quick backup.

Step 3: Erase the device and restore from backup

Open Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPad/iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings.
Follow Apple's setup prompts.
During iOS setup, when offered the option, choose to restore from your iCloud backup and sign in with your Apple ID.

📝 NOTE: The exact wording of these setup screens can change between iOS versions. If you're unsure, Apple's restore-from-backup guide walks through the current flow.

📝 NOTE: Restoring from iCloud Backup can take a while — there may be a lot of data to download. Let the device finish before you start using it.

Step 4: After the restore

Once your device finishes restoring:

If your subscription doesn't activate automatically, see I purchased Industry Pro. How do I activate it on all of my devices?
Re-link any cloud storage you use (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive). See How to sync files across devices with Cloud Storage.

Still missing files?

If you've restored your device and your files still aren't back, use the Send us an email button at the bottom of this page. Please include your device model and iOS version, your Scriptation version, and roughly when the files were last seen.

What's Next

My iPad broke! Are my files backed up?
I accidentally deleted my script. How do I recover it?
How to sync files across devices with Cloud Storage

Updated on: 25/06/2026

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