How to Recover Data from iPhone After Factory Reset: The Complete Guide

Jason

By Jason

Update on

Recover Data from iPhone after Factory Reset

Performing a factory reset on your iPhone can often seem like the best solution when your device is malfunctioning or slow. However, hitting that reset button also means erasing all your data – photos, messages, contacts, app data and more.

Losing personal data is frustrating, but there are several ways to recover the lost files after a factory reset. This guide will provide iPhone users with a comprehensive overview of the most effective data recovery methods.

Key Takeaways

  • Immediately stop using your iPhone after the reset to avoid overwriting deleted data.
  • You can restore from a recent iTunes or iCloud backup to get your data back.
  • Third-party software like Tenorshare UltData can extract data from iPhone, iTunes and iCloud backups.
  • Enabling two-factor authentication and encryption provides extra protection for iCloud backups.
  • Regularly backing up your device and using cloud storage services prevent data loss from resets.

Attempt Data Recovery via iCloud Backup

If you had iCloud backups enabled, you may be able to fully restore your iPhone data from the cloud. Here are the steps:

Restore from iCloud Backup
  1. When you boot up your iPhone, tap Slide to Setup.
  2. Choose your language and country options.
  3. Connect to a WiFi network. Using cellular data may fail to download all your backup data.
  4. Keep Location Services enabled or disabled based on your preference.
  5. On the next screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup and sign into your iCloud account.
  6. Accept the Terms and Conditions.
  7. Select the latest backup available from the list.
  8. Wait for the restoration process to complete. Your data will be restored to your iPhone.

If you stopped using the device immediately after the reset, this iCloud restore has a good chance of recovering most of your data.

Use iTunes to Restore from Backup

You can also restore from your latest iTunes backup by following these steps:

recover data from iPhone after factory reset via iTunes Backup
  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and launch iTunes.
  2. Go to the Summary tab and click Restore Backup.
  3. Pick the desired backup and click Restore.
  4. Keep the iPhone connected until the process finishes.

iTunes restore works similarly to iCloud but depends on you having an available backup stored locally on your computer.

Selectively Recover Data using Backup Extractors

In addition to full restores from iTunes and iCloud, you can use third-party iOS data recovery software to selectively retrieve specific data types from your backups.

Tenorshare UltData is an excellent toolkit for this purpose. Here’s how it works:

preview photos on itunes backup
  1. Launch UltData and pick Recover from iTunes Backup or Recover from iCloud Backup.
  2. Select the file types you want to restore – Contacts, Messages, Photos etc.
  3. Click Scan. Preview and choose the data to recover.
  4. For iCloud, log in and download the backup before scanning.
  5. Click Recover and save the data to your computer.

UltData extracts backups and recovers data even from encrypted iTunes and iCloud backups. You don’t have to overwrite your iPhone to retrieve lost files.

For the iCloud preference, you will need to log in to the cloud account and then download the desired iCloud backup file. Then, you will need to scan the download.

Enable Extra Protection for iCloud Backups

You can enable a few additional security measures for iCloud backups to prevent unauthorized access:

  • Two-factor authentication: Add a second verification step via SMS code or authentication app.
  • Backup encryption: Lock your iCloud backup with a password for extra security.

With 2FA and encryption enabled, you can ensure your personal data remains protected even on the cloud.

Best Practices to Avoid Data Loss from Resets

While data recovery is possible in many cases, prevention is always better than cure. Here are some tips:

  • Maintain regular local iTunes and iCloud backups.
  • Use cloud storage services like iCloud Drive, Google Drive etc.
  • Enable automatic iCloud sync for contacts, photos, notes etc.
  • Set a strong passcode on your iPhone.
  • Be cautious before factory resetting and have a recent backup available.

FAQs about Recovering Data from iPhone Factory Reset

Q1. Can I recover data if I don’t have a backup?

It becomes very difficult to recover data without a backup. You can try advanced data recovery tools to scan and extract raw data from the iPhone storage, but success rates vary.

Q2. How long does an iCloud restore take?

The iCloud restore time depends on your internet speed and backup size. It can range from a few minutes for small backups to several hours for large backups.

Q3. Can I selectively restore data from iTunes?

Yes, iTunes allows you to preview the contents of an iPhone backup and selectively restore only certain data types like messages, contacts etc.

Q4. How expensive is professional iOS data recovery?

Costs vary widely based on case complexity and service provider. Ask for a quote beforehand. DIY methods using software are more affordable.

Q5. How can I stop accidental factory resets?

Be very careful while operating your iPhone, don’t tap on options you don’t understand, and keep the software updated. Use passcodes and biometric authentication as a precaution.


Conclusion

While factory resetting your iPhone results in data loss, there are several effective methods to recover your personal files and information as outlined in this guide. Maintaining regular backups, using cloud storage wisely and having robust security precautions enabled on your device can go a long way in preventing permanent data loss resulting from factory resets.

Special tools like Tenorshare UltData also make selective recovery from iPhone and backups easy without needing to factory reset again. Follow the best practices outlined above and leverage the right data recovery options to retrieve your lost data after an iPhone reset.

Jason
Jason

Skilled software testing specialist with expertise in comparisons and research, passionate about blogging, reviews, and creating video tutorials.

THERE’S MORE TO READ.