How to Restore iPhone XS Max from iPhone 8 plus back up on iOS 12.3.2

Many iPhone users after upgrading their iPhone to iPhone XS Max are facing issue in restoring the database that while restoring iPhone is giving error that software version are not compatible. This issue is mainly faced on iOS 12.3.2 which is latest release by Apple for iPhones. While trying to do backup on iPhone XS Max from iPhone 8 Plus using the iCloud and iTunes and the software versions are not compatible.

iPhone XS max backup restore issue: incompatible software versions

In iOS you can't restore a backup made with a newer version of iOS to a device running an older version. And unfortunately the latest iOS 12.3.2 release only applies to the 8 Plus, making those backups incompatible with anything else running 12.3.1. So if you have update 8 Plus and purchased a new iPhone XS Max you might also be wondering the method to restore on a new xs max  12.3.1 the backup of my old 8plus 12.3.2

How to restore iPhone backup from a new version to older version iPhone :

There is a trick available to do this, The trick is that you need to make a backup from your iPhone 8 plus on iTunes, so not the probably most used way in iCloud. Just to be sure make another backup also in iTunes say 5 minutes after the first one and work with the last one. The first backup may then be used in case something goes totally wrong which I don't expect, but you never know of course.

Now use the File Explorer and go to:

C:\Users\<YourName>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\<60ea0d293332c1db596d8955c9d6a262954ea86e>

At least at my computer the last folder name was <60ea0d293332c1db596d8955c9d6a262954ea86e>, but it may or probably is a different folder name with you.

(Please note that I have a Windows PC, it may be in a different location on e.g. an Apple computer? I don't know, because I don't have one, so can't check. On an Apple you then need to find the location on your own I guess?)

In that folder look for a file named Info.plist.

Open that file with the Notepad app, which is a file editor that will not change the format of the file.

Look into the file and then search for Product Version (Tip: use Ctrl F), and you'll find a section that looks like this:

<key>Product Type</key>

<string>iPhoner10,5</string>

<key>Product Version</key>

<string>12.3.2</string>

<key>Serial Number</key>

<string>XXX</string>

Then change 12.3.2 to 12.3.1 (make sure that you only change the 2 in a 1) and then save the file.

Now you can set up your new iPhone Xs Max the usual way without losing any data that was on your old iPhone 8 plus by setting it up not as a new phone but at a certain point in the proces restoring it from a backup in iTunes.  By selecting Restore from iTunes, then connecting the new iPhone Xs to your computer and let it connect to iTunes, next select the most recent (just slightly modified) backup files and then it will work. Your Xs will start restoring from the iPhone 8 plus backup!!!

The only thing I still had to do was to login again in various e-mail accounts and Whatsapp with my respective passwords to make contact again and have e-mails, Whatsapp messages etcetera copied to or make accesible again at the new Iphone Xs.

Hope this helps to fix the issue.