Forum Discussion
Anyone know the best iphone data recovery software still works now?
Hello everyone,
I deleted a couple of files a while ago when cleaning up my iPhone storage. I checked the Recently Deleted section within the Files app, but they are not there. I also checked the "Recently Deleted" albums in other apps like Photos and iCloud, but no luck. I hope someone can help me recover some important files that I deleted from my iPhone.
Can someone suggest the best iphone data recovery software so I can use it on my computer to retrieve the deleted files?
Thank you
8 Replies
- EasionIron Contributor
It is really hard to find a good iphone data recovery software these days, lol
- CyrusIronwoodIron Contributor
The "Hidden" System Cache for specific file types on an iPhone refers to temporary files stored by the system or apps that are not directly accessible through normal user interfaces. These caches can sometimes contain data related to photos, videos, messages, or other app files, but they are typically not recoverable through standard recovery methods or free iPhone data recovery software because iOS is designed to protect system integrity and user privacy.
This is a long shot but worth a quick check for certain file types.
Safari Browser: If the file was a PDF or document you downloaded via Safari, it might be cached. Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data. This won't list files neatly, but it shows cached data. You can't easily browse it, but its existence proves the app has stored data.
Spotlight Search: Swipe down on your home screen and search for the exact name of the file. Sometimes Spotlight's index still knows about a file that is no longer accessible.
- DanteReedIron Contributor
Before you seek help from the iPhone data recovery software, please pay attention to this. This is the most important and often overlooked step. Many apps have their own, separate trash or recently deleted section that doesn't sync with the iPhone's main "Files" app.
Mail App: If you deleted an important email, check the Mail app > "Mailboxes" > tap "Trash".
WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal: These messaging apps often have a "Chat Backup" or "Cache" section within their settings. While it won't recover individual files, it might restore a backup that contains them.
Document Scanners (like Genius Scan, Adobe Scan): These apps almost always have their own "Trash" or "Recently Deleted" album.
Word Processors (Google Docs, MS Word, Pages): Check the "Recents" or "Deleted" section within the app itself or its associated cloud account (even if you weren't intentionally using the cloud).
Productivity Apps (Like Trello, Notion): Check for "History" or "Deleted Items" in the menu. - DevinJohnsonIron Contributor
Recovering deleted files from iPhone using iTunes or iCloud backup is safe and has higher success rate but it comes with a major problem. It lacks the granularity.
You cannot simply browse a backup and restore a single deleted photo or message. Instead, restoring from a backup is an all-or-nothing process that rolls your entire device back to the state it was in when the backup was created. This means you will lose any new photos, messages, or app data created after that backup, which is often a worse trade-off than losing the deleted files.
Furthermore, if you have been regularly backing up your phone after the files were deleted, you have likely overwritten your good backup with one that already contains the deletion. In this common scenario, the deleted files are no longer in your most recent backups, making recovery from iTunes or iCloud impossible. This automated and silent overwriting process can permanently erase your chance of getting the files back through standard backup restoration.
For individual file recovery, i recommend using a professional iphone data recovery software instead.
- AldenGroveIron Contributor
Compared to the iPhone data recovery software, iTunes or Finder backup can solve your problem more quickly for you. Restoring deleted files from an iPhone via an iTunes or Finder backup is possible if you have a backup that was created before the files were deleted. Here's how it works and what you need to keep in mind:
Key Points:
- Restoring from a backup will overwrite your current data on the iPhone with the data from that backup.
- Only files included in the backup will be restored; if you didn't back up your data before deleting the files, this method won't recover the deleted files.
- It's a good idea to back up your current data separately before restoring an older backup, so you don't lose recent information.
Steps:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer.
- Open iTunes.
- Click on your device icon.
- Under the Summary tab, click Restore Backup.
- Choose the backup date/time before the files were deleted.
- Click Restore and wait for the process to finish.
In this way, you can recover deleted files from iPhone without having to download or install any iPhone data recovery software.
- ScarlettDavisBronze Contributor
For iOS 12 and later, there is a built-in feature to restore deleted files less than 30 days after deletion.
For Photos and Videos:
- Go to the Photos app.
- Tap Albums and scroll down to Utilities.
- Tap Recently Deleted.
- Select the photos/videos and tap Recover. They stay here for 30 days.
For Notes:
- Open the Notes app.
- Tap Back in the top-left until you see the Folders list.
- Tap Recently Deleted.
- Select the notes and tap Move to restore them. They stay here for 30 days.
For Messages:
- You can recover recently deleted messages for 30 days.
- In the Messages app, tap Edit in the top-left corner, then Show Recently Deleted.
- Select the conversations and tap Recover.
If the above trick did not work, then use a dedicated iphone data recovery software instead.
- FlynnArcherIron Contributor
Recovering deleted files from an iPhone can be challenging, especially if they are not in the "Recently Deleted" folders. If you are finding an iPhone data recovery software for recovering files from your iPhone, You can give Google Drive a try, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone. If you don't have it, download it from the App Store and sign in with your Google account.
- Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner.
- Select "Trash" or "Bin" from the menu. This is where deleted files are temporarily stored.
- Browse through the deleted files to find the ones you want to recover.
- Tap on the file you wish to restore.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon next to the file and select "Restore." The file will be moved back to its original location in Google Drive.
Note: Files deleted from your iPhone's local storage are only recoverable if you had previously uploaded or saved them to Google Drive. Files deleted directly from the Google Drive app or from the cloud can be restored within 30 days if they are still in Trash. After that, they are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered from Google Drive. - KennedyScottIron Contributor
The ultimate iPhone data recovery solution - restore from a backup. This should always be your first step. It's the most reliable and secure method.
How to Check iCloud Backup:
1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] at the top.
2. Tap iCloud.
3. Tap Manage Account Storage (or just Manage Storage on some iOS versions).
4. Tap Backups.
5. You will see a list of your devices. Tap on your current iPhone's name.
You will now see critical information, such as date and size of the backup. This tells you if you have a recent backup that would contain the files you deleted. In addition, you can also see which apps are being backed up. Make sure the app that contained your data (e.g., Photos, Messages) is toggled on.
How to Recover from iCloud Backup
1. After the phone erases, it will reboot to the "Hello" setup screen.
2. Follow the on-screen steps until you reach the Apps & Data screen.
3. Tap Restore from iCloud Backup.
4. Sign in to your iCloud account with your Apple ID.
5. You will see a list of available backups. Choose the backup from the date before you accidentally deleted your files. This is the best iphone data recovery software with 100% success!
6. The restore process will begin. Stay connected to Wi-Fi and power until it completes. It may take from minutes to hours, depending on your backup size and network speed.
Once finished, your phone will restart, and you will have your data back as it was at the moment of the backup.