Phone and tablet data recovery: what should I do?
Every attempt you make can turn recoverable data into data that can no longer be recovered.
If you have lost data from your phone or tablet, first use the device as little as possible and do not reset it to factory settings. Check your iCloud, Google account, WhatsApp and computer backups. If the device will not turn on, fell into water or is broken, do not charge it and do not force it. Note the brand, model and symptoms, then contact us.
- Check your backups first: iCloud, Google Photos or Drive, your WhatsApp backup, any backups you made to a computer.
- Use the device as little as possible. New photos, apps and updates can overwrite the deleted data.
- Write down the brand, the model, what happened and when.
- Keep your screen lock passcode and account details at hand; they can affect the outcome.
- If the device fell into water, switch it off immediately and do not charge it.
- Do not reset it to factory settings or choose 'reset' or 'erase all content'.
- Do not install random apps on the device that claim to bring back deleted data.
- Do not charge a wet device or try to dry it with a hairdryer or heater.
- Do not try to open a device with a broken screen or a faulty device yourself.
- Do not keep guessing the passcode; the device may lock or erase the data.
Why do phones lose data?
- Accidental deletion of photos, messages or files
- Falling into water, being dropped or crushed
- The device not turning on or getting stuck on the startup screen
- Data loss after an update or a reset
- Memory card or internal memory failure
What should you do based on the symptom?
| What are you seeing? | What could it mean? | What should you do? |
|---|---|---|
| Photos or messages were deleted | They may still be in a backup | Check your backups, use the device as little as possible, do not reset it, and do not do things like uninstalling and reinstalling apps. If you have no backup, contact us |
| The phone will not turn on or gets stuck on the logo | There may be a software or hardware problem | Do not keep forcing it; note the model and symptoms and contact us |
| It fell into water | There is a risk of short circuits and corrosion | Switch it off immediately, do not charge it, contact us |
| The screen is broken or the touchscreen does not work | The data may be intact, but access has become harder | Do not force the device into use, contact us |
| The screen lock passcode has been forgotten | Wrong attempts can lock the device | Stop trying and tell us about the situation |
Check your backups first
On phones, data is often also stored in the cloud or on a computer. Your photos may be in Google Photos or iCloud, and your messages in a WhatsApp backup. Checking the state of these backups before signing in to the device again is the safest first step, both in terms of time and data. If you have no backup, do not do things like uninstalling and reinstalling an app you saw online. Do not install data recovery apps on your phone. Anything you do can turn data that could have been recovered into data that can no longer be recovered.
Why does the outcome vary from device to device?
With phones and tablets, the outcome is affected by the brand, the model, the type of damage, the device's encryption and its lock status. In some cases the data can be brought back, in others it cannot. The outcome will be shaped by the state of the data remnants in your phone's memory. Devices of the same brand and model can give different results. It is not possible to see the outcome before the analysis is complete. For other devices such as disks and USB drives, see our deleted files page and our physical damage page.
What happens when you contact us?
First you send us your phone's brand, model and capacity, along with a short description of your request, via WhatsApp. We send you written information about the work, the price and the time before any work begins. You get your phone to us, the necessary professional technical work is carried out and the result is communicated to you. All the steps are described on the process page.
How long does it take and how much does it cost?
Standard jobs take 10 business days on average, urgent jobs 24 business hours on average. The actual time depends on the type of fault, sourcing the parts needed and the capacity of the disk. Some jobs are completed within a few hours, while others can take months.
The price depends on the type of fault, the parts needed and the time the work takes. After the analysis we send you the exact price in writing. If you do not accept the quote, you get your device back without paying. Not every case falls within the free analysis scope. For requests outside the free analysis scope, you receive written information about the analysis fee before any work begins. For details, see what determines the price and how long it takes.
Can the data always be recovered?
No. With phones and tablets, the outcome varies with the brand, the model, the encryption and the type of damage. If the deleted data has been overwritten or the device is badly damaged, some or all of the data may not be recoverable.
Frequently asked questions
Can you bring back my deleted photos?
Check your backups first. If there is no backup, the outcome depends on the state of the remnants of your deleted data in the device's memory. Write to us about your request and we will send you information.
Can I dry a phone that fell into water myself?
Switch it off and do not charge it. Do not use a heater or a hairdryer. Trying to open the device or switching it on again and again can increase the damage. We recover data from faulty phones. Get in touch with us.
I don't know the screen passcode. What happens?
Do not keep guessing the passcode. Passcode attempts can sometimes cause the data to be permanently erased. Send us your request and we will give you information.
Do I pay anything if I don't accept the quote?
No. If you do not accept the quote after the analysis, you get your device back without paying. In cases where it cannot be foreseen at which stage the data will become reachable, the price may be set after the data has been recovered, based on the time and resources spent on the work. In that case you are under no obligation to pay. Not every case falls within the free analysis scope. For requests outside the free analysis scope, you receive written information about the analysis fee before any work begins.
Let's assess your situation together: call 0212 909 56 19 or write to us on WhatsApp. See our contact page for the address and opening hours.
If you are not sure what to do, call us first
Tell us about your situation and we will tell you what to do as a first step.