Phone Data Recovery: A Professional Solution for iPhone and Android
When a phone falls into water, when its screen shatters, or when it simply will not turn on one morning, what you lose is not really glass and metal. It is years of photos, conversations, contacts and documents. DSET has been working to bring that data back in Ankara since 2003. On this page we explain the realities of phone data recovery, what is possible in each scenario, and the honest limits that modern encryption imposes.
Quick Answer
Phone data recovery is the process of bringing back photos, messages, contacts and documents from iPhone and Android devices that have been water damaged, have a broken screen, will not turn on, or had data deleted by mistake. Success rates for physical faults are high. However, on a forgotten passcode, locked and encrypted phone, the data can usually only be recovered with the correct passcode. At DSET the initial diagnosis is free.
What Happened to Your Phone? Fault Scenarios
Every data loss is unique. The right method depends entirely on what actually happened to the phone. Below are the situations we see most often.
A Phone Dropped in Water or Liquid
Water is the most insidious enemy of a phone. A short circuit can happen instantly, but the real damage usually comes later. Liquid slowly corrodes the copper traces and solder points on the board. This is why time truly matters with a water damaged device. If you turn the phone off immediately, avoid charging it, and bring it to us quickly, our chances of reaching the data on the memory chip through board cleaning and, when needed, component repair improve significantly. Sea water and sugary drinks are far more aggressive than clean water, because salt and sugar accelerate corrosion.
A Broken Screen but Intact Internals
Here is the good news: a broken screen often does not mean the data is gone. The screen and the memory that stores your data are separate parts. If the phone still vibrates, makes sounds, or is recognised when connected to a computer, your data is most likely still intact. In this case we either fit a temporary screen and back up the device normally, or read the data directly from the board. For the detailed process, see our broken screen phone data recovery page.
A Phone That Will Not Turn On or Is Dead
A phone that will not turn on at all is the most frightening scenario for a user, but for an engineer it is often a solvable puzzle. The fault sometimes lies in the charging circuit, sometimes in the power management chip, and sometimes in a single short circuited component. If the memory chip is physically intact, the data is usually recoverable through board repair or direct chip level reading. For a full breakdown of the causes, see our phone that will not turn on data recovery page.
Accidentally Deleted Photos and Messages
Deleting the wrong album or clearing a chat happens to everyone. On modern phones, deleted data does not vanish instantly; most gallery apps keep a Recently Deleted folder for up to thirty days. If cloud backup is active, lost content can often be restored from the backup. But let us be honest: on encrypted modern phones, classic deep scan recovery of deleted files is no longer as easy as it once was, because deleted data often becomes inaccessible almost immediately. This is why the most critical step is to stop using the phone the moment you notice the deletion.
A Forgotten or Locked Passcode
This is where we must be most honest. If a modern iPhone or Android phone is locked and you do not know the passcode, the data is encrypted at the hardware level and the key to that encryption is tied to your passcode. No reputable laboratory can magically unlock a phone; stay away from anyone who promises this. If you remember the passcode but cannot enter it because of a screen fault, a screen repair solves the problem. If you have truly forgotten the passcode, the solution usually runs through cloud backups and account recovery, not through the phone itself.
Failure to Boot After an Update
A software update stops halfway and the phone gets stuck on the logo. In these cases the data usually remains intact in memory; only the operating system is inaccessible. With the right method, the data is reached either by repairing the system or by using recovery tools. A wrong factory reset, on the other hand, can permanently erase everything, so this is not a stage to rush.
iPhone and Android Encryption Realities
The biggest difference between phone data recovery and computer data recovery is encryption. Without understanding this, it is impossible to set the right expectations.
iPhone and the Secure Enclave
Apple devices contain a separate security chip called the Secure Enclave. The data on your phone is encrypted with a key derived from your passcode and a key embedded in the hardware of this chip. This means that even if the data is taken to a chip reader, without the passcode the content is just a meaningless pile of bits. iPhone recovery gives the best results when the device can be powered on, when the passcode is known, or when an iCloud backup exists. With a physically damaged but passcode known iPhone, our chances are high. For details, see our iPhone data recovery page.
Android and File Based Encryption
Current Android versions use File Based Encryption by default. Here too, the encryption key is linked to the user passcode and a device specific hardware key. The result is similar to iPhone: even if the chip can be read physically, data decrypted without the passcode is not readable. So the golden rule for both iPhone and current Android is the same: if the passcode is known, the chance of recovery is much higher.
What Is and Is Not Recoverable
Setting honest expectations from the start prevents disappointment. The general picture is this:
Situations that are recoverable include phones with a broken screen that can still be powered on, water damaged devices whose memory chip is intact, phones that will not turn on but can be revived through board repair, locked devices whose passcode is known, and accounts that have a cloud backup.
Situations that are very difficult or impossible include encrypted modern phones with a completely forgotten passcode and no backup, devices whose memory chip is physically burned or shattered, and phones that have been factory reset so that the encryption key is permanently erased. These limits are not ours; they are imposed by modern encryption.
| Situation | Is Data Recoverable? | First Step |
|---|---|---|
| Broken screen, phone powers on | Yes, high likelihood | Back up the phone or bring it to us |
| Dropped in water, turned off at once | Often yes | Do not charge it, bring it quickly |
| Will not turn on, dead | Frequently possible | Bring it for diagnosis without tampering |
| Photo deleted by mistake | Usually yes | Stop using the phone, check Recently Deleted and cloud backup |
| Passcode forgotten, no backup | Usually no | Try account and cloud recovery routes |
| Factory reset performed | Usually no | Unfortunately the encryption key is erased |
Cloud Backup: Often the First and Best Answer
Even if the phone is physically lost, your data may be living somewhere else. If you use an iPhone, an iCloud backup keeps your contacts, photos and settings in the cloud; if you use Android, a backup taken with Google One does the same. Restoring to a new device from that backup is the fastest and most complete recovery method. This is why one of the first things we ask in a device failure is: was your cloud backup turned on? If it was, an important part of the job is already solved.
Chip-off and ISP for Damaged Boards
When the motherboard of a phone is severely damaged, it may not be possible to run the phone normally. At this point two advanced techniques come into play. In the ISP method, a direct connection is made through test points on the board without removing the memory chip. In the chip-off method, the memory chip is separated from the board with controlled heat and placed in a special reader. Both methods are delicate, irreversible procedures that demand expertise. But one fact must not be forgotten: the data read from the chip is still encrypted, so these techniques only give meaningful results when the passcode or decryption key is available.
What Not to Do
The greatest harm in data recovery often comes from well intentioned but wrong actions. Please avoid the following:
Do not believe the rice myth. Burying a phone in rice does not draw out moisture; on the contrary, rice dust and starch get inside the device and make the job harder. Never charge a wet phone and do not try to turn it on; a wet board that is given power can short circuit instantly and permanently. Do not repeatedly try the passcode on a locked phone; many failed attempts can, on some devices, cause the data to be permanently locked. Do not try to heat the phone with a hair dryer; excessive heat damages the chips. And most importantly, the moment you notice data loss, stop using the phone, because every new photo and every new message increases the risk of overwriting the deleted data.
The Advantage of Being Local in Ankara
In a phone failure the most valuable thing is time, especially in cases like water damage where corrosion races against the clock. The fact that DSET is located in Beytepe, Ankara, inside Hacettepe Teknokent, is a real advantage for users in the region. You can bring your device in person without waiting for shipping, discuss the diagnosis face to face, and learn directly from our team what is happening at every stage of the process. Your data is examined in a secure laboratory environment without leaving its place.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I dropped my phone in water and buried it in rice. Did I do the right thing?
Unfortunately this is a common myth and it does not help. Rice does not effectively draw out moisture and can push dust into the phone. The best thing is to turn the device off immediately, avoid charging it, and get it to an expert as soon as possible.
I forgot my phone passcode. Can you open my data?
Our honest answer is this: if a modern phone is locked and the passcode is unknown, the data is encrypted at the hardware level and there is no magic unlocking method. In this case the most realistic path is to try backup and account recovery through your iCloud or Google account.
My screen is completely broken. Are my photos gone?
Most likely not. The screen and the data are separate parts. If the phone vibrates, makes sounds, or is recognised by a computer, your data is probably intact and can be recovered with a temporary screen or directly from the board.
How does diagnosis and pricing work?
Our initial diagnosis is free. We examine your device, clearly explain what is possible, and give you a firm price. Most importantly: if no data comes out, we do not charge.
How long does the process take?
The time depends on the fault. Simple deletion and restore from backup scenarios are often solved the same day, while water damage, board repair, or chip level work can take a few business days. After diagnosis we give you a realistic timeframe.
Get in Touch with DSET
DSET has been serving from Hacettepe Teknokent Beytepe in Ankara since 2003. Our data recovery success rate is 99.4 percent. The initial diagnosis is free, and if no data comes out, there is no fee. Whatever the situation with your phone, let us talk first.
Phone: +90 536 662 38 09