help, I can't pay my bills!
March 18, 2011 9:40 AM Subscribe
Is there any way to restore the data on just one particular app from an older iPhone to a new one? Special difficulties inside...
I was using a jailbroken iPhone 3gs (on T-Mobile) until I dropped it and cracked the screen, and then botched the repair process so badly that I was told it was hopeless. So I upgraded to the iPhone 4 (on AT&T, so it is not jailbroken), and was able to successfully get all my old apps onto the new phone- except without any of the data that had been on them. When I first synced my new phone to the computer, it gave me the option for restoring it from backup (of the old phone) which I did- in the process, it wiped out all the contacts that they had transferred for me at the store. But somehow I was able to get them all back on there through iTunes and asking it to sync again. However, all of the apps were "new"- none of the information I had had on them got transferred to the new phone. Overall, not a really big deal, just a minor inconvenience.
However, now I'd like to get my old password app (which is on my new phone) to retrieve the data that was on the old phone. I've learned an important lesson about not relying completely on just one device for important information, but I feel like there has to be a way to get this information onto the new phone. I still have the old phone, and it "works" in the sense that when you connect it to iTunes everything is normal (after all, the poor thing doesn't know that it doesn't have a screen anymore). But since it doesn't have a screen, I have no way of going into it and checking to make sure that the info on my old apps didn't mysteriously get wiped somehow- I have no reason to think that it would have (all the music is still there, as were the contacts), but it does make things a little trickier.
I'd like to avoid completely replacing all the data on the new phone with data from the old phone, because in the meantime I have put some info into a couple of other apps that I'd like to just leave alone- so if anyone knows how to get just this one app, the password app, to update itself, I would be extremely grateful!
I was using a jailbroken iPhone 3gs (on T-Mobile) until I dropped it and cracked the screen, and then botched the repair process so badly that I was told it was hopeless. So I upgraded to the iPhone 4 (on AT&T, so it is not jailbroken), and was able to successfully get all my old apps onto the new phone- except without any of the data that had been on them. When I first synced my new phone to the computer, it gave me the option for restoring it from backup (of the old phone) which I did- in the process, it wiped out all the contacts that they had transferred for me at the store. But somehow I was able to get them all back on there through iTunes and asking it to sync again. However, all of the apps were "new"- none of the information I had had on them got transferred to the new phone. Overall, not a really big deal, just a minor inconvenience.
However, now I'd like to get my old password app (which is on my new phone) to retrieve the data that was on the old phone. I've learned an important lesson about not relying completely on just one device for important information, but I feel like there has to be a way to get this information onto the new phone. I still have the old phone, and it "works" in the sense that when you connect it to iTunes everything is normal (after all, the poor thing doesn't know that it doesn't have a screen anymore). But since it doesn't have a screen, I have no way of going into it and checking to make sure that the info on my old apps didn't mysteriously get wiped somehow- I have no reason to think that it would have (all the music is still there, as were the contacts), but it does make things a little trickier.
I'd like to avoid completely replacing all the data on the new phone with data from the old phone, because in the meantime I have put some info into a couple of other apps that I'd like to just leave alone- so if anyone knows how to get just this one app, the password app, to update itself, I would be extremely grateful!
Response by poster: It is 1Password, in fact! What do I need to do on the old iPhone via iTunes that will sync it over?
posted by Aubergine at 9:58 AM on March 18, 2011
posted by Aubergine at 9:58 AM on March 18, 2011
Eep. Unfortunately you need to set it up on the phone at first, as far as I can tell. You could try getting in touch with their support team directly, they're generally really helpful. Once it's set up (on your new phone!) it should be seamless and easy from there on out, though.
posted by bcwinters at 10:14 AM on March 18, 2011
posted by bcwinters at 10:14 AM on March 18, 2011
Usual answer would be to make a full backup of your old phone, and then restore to your new phone. Not sure how that works when the old phone is jailbroken. Also, did your phone number transfer over to your new phone?
Otherwise, in theory, there are manual ways to transfer the information over.
However, you need direct access to the app folder for 1Password (or any other app) on your old phone, and on your new phone. Jailbreaking is one way to get access to the root folder, but I couldn't tell you how to navigate, and you might have to consider jailbreaking your new phone too.
There are 3rd party apps that can access app folders. One that I have is Phone Disk, which I've been playing with a little this week. It does the trick, though it can be awkward finding and opening up multiple app folders in a row. You may prefer this to jailbreaking your new phone.
There's going to be some guess work as to which files are needed. I can't really tell for sure; it looks like there's supposed to be a designated section, but developers may do different things.
I'd email 1Password support, and explain the situation. If you tell them you have direct access, maybe they can help identify files to copy, or offer up a different solution entirely.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:44 AM on March 24, 2011
Otherwise, in theory, there are manual ways to transfer the information over.
However, you need direct access to the app folder for 1Password (or any other app) on your old phone, and on your new phone. Jailbreaking is one way to get access to the root folder, but I couldn't tell you how to navigate, and you might have to consider jailbreaking your new phone too.
There are 3rd party apps that can access app folders. One that I have is Phone Disk, which I've been playing with a little this week. It does the trick, though it can be awkward finding and opening up multiple app folders in a row. You may prefer this to jailbreaking your new phone.
There's going to be some guess work as to which files are needed. I can't really tell for sure; it looks like there's supposed to be a designated section, but developers may do different things.
I'd email 1Password support, and explain the situation. If you tell them you have direct access, maybe they can help identify files to copy, or offer up a different solution entirely.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:44 AM on March 24, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
This won't help you in this exact instance, but for something crucial like password storage, you might consider switching to something like 1Password that has better synching capabilities. I now keep my passwords on my DropBox (along with my to do lists and notes using Notesy) because I'm paranoid about losing them.
posted by bcwinters at 9:57 AM on March 18, 2011