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Phone and tablet recovery

Phone and tablet data recovery: check the cloud, then call the lab.

Photos and messages on a phone that won't turn on are often still recoverable, and sometimes they are already backed up. Check the backups first. If the data only exists on the device, per DriveSavers they recover iPhones, iPads, and Android phones and tablets that failed electronically or were physically damaged.

Start a case with DriveSavers Ask us first: (585) 388-8780

What to do right now

  1. Check your backups first. Sign in to iCloud or your Google account from another device and see whether the photos, contacts, and messages are already there.
  2. If it got wet, turn it off and don't charge it. Power and moisture together cause the corrosion that ends recoveries. Apple advises against putting an iPhone in a bag of rice.
  3. Don't factory reset it. On modern phones a reset erases the data for good.
  4. Skip the recovery apps. Per DriveSavers, off-the-shelf recovery software can further damage a device and make the data unrecoverable.
  5. Know your passcode. Modern phones encrypt their storage, and the passcode is usually needed to read recovered data.
  6. Keep the phone, however bad it looks. A cracked, bent, or water-damaged phone can still hold recoverable data.

Common phone failures

Water and liquid damage

Corrosion builds on the board over time, so the sooner a wet phone reaches a lab, the better the odds.

Won't turn on

A failed board, battery, or charging circuit can leave the data intact on the storage chip.

Physical damage

Dropped, crushed, or bent phones and tablets. The storage often survives damage the screen and case do not. Per DriveSavers, they also recover devices damaged by liquid and fire.

Deleted photos and messages

Check the Recently Deleted album in Photos, the trash in Google Photos, and your cloud backup first. Recovering deleted data from the phone itself is much harder, because of encryption.

Before you send it

When you start the case, tell DriveSavers the make and model, what happened, and which data matters most. Phones and tablets take longer than drives on DriveSavers' Economy service, and your advisor confirms the timing with your quote.

How to start

The data is only on the phone

Go straight to DriveSavers

Start a case with DriveSavers and use code DS22831 for 10% off. Per DriveSavers, they email a free shipping label, then call with the evaluation results and the cost. If the data can't be recovered, or you decline the recovery, you pay nothing.

Start a case

J&N referral code

10% off your DriveSavers recovery

Give DriveSavers this code when you start your case, or use our referral link, and they'll take 10% off. Mention it up front: it can't be added once a job is already underway.

DriveSavers Data Recovery authorized reseller: get discount code
DS22831
Use our referral link

Phone data recovery questions

Can data be recovered from a phone that won't turn on?
Often, yes. A failed board, battery, or charging circuit can leave the data intact on the storage chip. Per DriveSavers, they recover phones and tablets that failed electronically or were physically damaged. Check iCloud or your Google account first, in case the data is already backed up.
Should I put a wet phone in rice?
No. Apple advises against putting an iPhone in rice. Turn the phone off, don't charge it, and get it to a lab quickly, because corrosion builds over time.
Do I need my passcode for phone data recovery?
Usually, yes. Modern iPhones and Android phones encrypt their storage, and the passcode is generally needed to read the recovered data.
Can deleted photos be recovered from a phone?
First check the Recently Deleted album in Photos, the trash in Google Photos, and your cloud backup. Recovering deleted data from the phone itself is much harder, because modern phones encrypt their storage.
How long does phone data recovery take?
DriveSavers offers three service speeds, and phones and tablets take longer than drives on the Economy service. Priority work starts as soon as the device arrives, 365 days a year. Your advisor confirms the turnaround with your quote.
What does data recovery cost?
It depends on the device and what's wrong with it, so DriveSavers quotes each case after a free evaluation. Per DriveSavers, if they can't recover your data, you don't pay for the recovery. Our code takes 10% off the recovery.
How do I get the 10% off?
Give DriveSavers our referral code, DS22831, when you start your case, or start it through the referral link on this page. The discount is applied by DriveSavers, so mention the code before the job begins; it can't be added to a case that's already underway.

Other recovery guides

Clicking or dead hard driveClicking, beeping, grinding, or not spinning. SSD and NVMeNot detected, wrong capacity, or files deleted. RAID and NASFailed arrays, rebuilds, Synology and QNAP. External drives, USB, and SD cardsNot recognized, dropped, or asking to format. Deleted and formattedDeleted files, formatted drives, lost partitions. RansomwareEncrypted files and a ransom note.

Start from the main page: data recovery through DriveSavers, or data recovery in Rochester, NY.

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Get the photos back.

Check your backups, then start a case with DriveSavers using code DS22831 for 10% off.

Start a case with DriveSavers Call (585) 388-8780

J&N Computer Services is a DriveSavers referral partner and may receive a referral fee when you use our code or link. DriveSavers performs all recoveries and sets its own pricing, terms, and turnaround.