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PSA: There's No iOS 11.2 Beta for iPhone X, so Beta Testers Can't Restore From Backup [Updated]

Friday November 3, 2017 9:37 am PDT by Juli Clover
Developers and public beta testers who installed the iOS 11.2 beta on their devices earlier this week will be disappointed to learn that there's no iOS 11.2 beta for the iPhone X as of yet, and therefore no way to restore from an existing iOS 11.2 backup on a new iPhone X.

If you're running iOS 11.2 on your existing iPhone and create an iCloud backup, that backup is not going to be compatible with the iPhone X.


New iPhone X owners who want to restore from a backup will need to wait for Apple to release a version of iOS 11.2 for the iPhone X or downgrade back down to iOS 11.1.

It's not entirely clear when Apple plans to release a beta of iOS 11.2 for the iPhone X.

It could happen today now that the iPhone X is out in the wild and there are customers who can't restore, but Apple could also choose to wait until it's time for the second beta to be released, which means public beta testers and developers will be left over the weekend without a restore option.

The other alternative to restoring is to set a device up as new, but that requires re-downloading all apps and re-entering a lot of information, which is a time consuming process.

Out of the box, iPhone X models appear to have iOS 11.0.1 installed, so the iOS 11.1 update will need to be installed over-the-air or via iTunes after opening it up. When restoring from an iOS 11.1 backup onto an iPhone X, it appears the iOS 11.1 update will be installed on the device automatically.

Update: Apple has released a new beta of iOS 11.2 for the iPhone X.

Related Roundup: iPhone X
[ 186 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

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vdgroodt
18 months ago
Honestly, i was already planning for a fresh instal. Never hurts for the storage nor performance + it has never been so easy with pictures, music and all the rest being sincronised via iCloud..
Rating: 4 Votes
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dumastudetto
18 months ago
Yes, I'm very surprised Apple didn't release an external iOS beta for a phone nobody had received yet.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Return Zero
18 months ago
I must say I was surprised that the X had 11.0.x out of the box and not 11.1. However, they did make a nice change that allows for software updates as part of the setup/restoration process, so I didn't have to set up manually, then update, then wipe, then setup again. All in all this is becoming a much more seamless process with each year. Transferring the Apple Watch to the new phone was especially easy this time.
Rating: 4 Votes
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whyamihere
18 months ago

When restoring from an iOS 11.1 backup onto an iPhone X, it appears the iOS 11.1 update will be installed on the device automatically.


Not for me. Restored from an encrypted backup in iTunes (not iCloud) and I first had to set up the X as new, then update to 11.1, then I was able to restore.
Rating: 4 Votes
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mitchfin
18 months ago
I just successfully downgraded to 11.1 from 11.2 by connecting to iTunes and manually selecting the 11.1 ISPW with option + click on check for updates, didn't lose any data. Now can reback up for my new iPhone. Took 2 minutes
Rating: 4 Votes
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C DM
18 months ago

a smooth launch day from Apple? Never, always something ... it would have been nice if Apple told developer prior. Instead the kept notifying us update our apps for the iPhone X.

What's not known about this? Those who install betas are told to create a backup before so that it could be used if needed. They are also told not to do it on their primary devices. All of these types of things are known.
Rating: 3 Votes
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jaw3net
18 months ago

Come some one walk us through how to download and install OS11.1 ? Where do I find the info ?


You can download the iOS 11.1 IPSW at https://ipsw.me/. Once you have it downloaded, connect your current phone to your computer. Open itunes, select your iphone in itunes. Hold the option key on your keyboard while clicking "check for update". Select the 11.1 ipsw you downloaded and it will install. Nothing will be lost on your phone.

Once it's installed, make sure everything is as it should be. Then perform an icloud backup. You will likely receive an error message stating that the icloud backup can't be completed because icloud has a newer backup. Go to Settings > tap your name > icloud > manage storage > backup > choose your iphone > delete backup. That will delete the 11.2 beta backup that is in icloud. Then go back to perform a full 11.1 icloud backup which you can then restore from on your iphone x.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Mlrollin91
18 months ago

[doublepost=1509727326][/doublepost]
IM NOT A BETA USER AND STILL CANT RESTORE FROM BACK UP! WTF!!!!

Well what version is your X on and what version was the backup. Likely your backup is 11.1 and the X is 11.0.3. Update the X then restore.
Rating: 3 Votes
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dannyyankou
18 months ago
I would understand this if it was a developer beta only, but they released the public beta too. Major inconvenience.
Rating: 3 Votes
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california_kid
18 months ago
Come on folks. If you want to use Beta, you must backup your phone every time before an update to a newer version. Not doing this is just plain reckless. That fact that there is no 11.2 version out for X is surprising, but no different than installing a new Beta on your current phone and finding out it's completely fragged and requires a roll back.
Rating: 3 Votes

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