Losing important data from your iPhone due to accidental deletion, software updates, hardware issues, or any other reason, can be a stressful experience. Luckily, there are several DIY methods and tools available that you can try to recover lost data from your iPhone. Whether you have backup or not, these iPhone data recovery methods will help in easy and effective recovery of lost data from iPhone.
Here, in this ultimate guide, we will walk you through step-by-step instructions on how to recover various types of data. These methods, including both iCloud and iTunes backups, as well as third-party iPhone data recovery software, will help you to recover deleted data including photos, messages, contacts, and more.
What Causes Deletion of Data on iPhone?
There are several causes why data gets deleted on an iPhone. It is important to understand the exact cause in order to determine the exact iPhone data recovery method or take adequate preventive measures to avoid losing important data. Some of the most common reasons why data gets deleted from an iPhone are:
- Accidental Deletion: Instances may occur when you have mistakenly deleted photos, videos, messages, contacts, or other files from your iPhone while navigating through other files or folders.
- Software Updates or Restores: Installing the latest iOS updates or restoring your iPhone to factory settings without backup can cause data loss.
- Factory Reset: Initiating a factory reset on your iPhone deletes all data and settings, causing complete data loss if not properly backed up.
- Jailbreaking: Jailbreaking your iPhone can expose your device to security vulnerabilities and may lead to corruption or sudden loss of the stored data due to software modifications.
- Unintentional Overwrites: Syncing your iPhone with iTunes or iCloud without verifying the data can overwrite the existing files with older versions, causing data loss.
- Physical Damage: Dropping or damaging your iPhone physically can lead to hardware failures, making the device inaccessible and leading to sudden loss of stored files.
How do I Recover Deleted Data from an iPhone?
Whatever is the cause for the deletion of data from your iPhone, there are several iPhone recovery methods available that you can use to restore lost data. This part explains such recovery workarounds, including manual iPhone data recovery methods or third-party iPhone recovery software, which can help you in lost data recovery:
Method 01: Use Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone
If you are looking for an easy and quick approach to recover data from an iPhone, then you can use professional iPhone recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone. It is an all-in-one data recovery software for iPhone which supports the recovery of multiple types of data, such as photos, videos, documents, and many more.
The Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone software can easily restore files deleted due to multiple reasons, including accidental deletion, virus attacks, software or hardware-related issues, etc. The software is known for several amazing features, which make it best for your lost data recovery. These features include:
- It is compatible with iPhone Series 15/14/13/12/11/X and below.
- Supports recovery of lost data from the latest iOS 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, and below.
- Restore all types of deleted data from iCloud & iTunes.
- Allows you to preview the recoverable files after completion of storage scanning.
- The software is available in multiple versions, check their features and pricing and use the one that best suits your requirements.
Here’s how to recover data from iPhone using the Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone tool:
Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone tool on your Windows or Mac device. Connect your iPhone to that device and launch the software.
Step 2: From the homepage, select the type of data you want to recover and click Next.
Step 3: After uploading the desired file type, wait till the scanning process is completed.
Step 4: Preview the recoverable files, select the data you need to recover and click Save to save the recovered files back to your device.
Method 02: Recover Deleted Data on iPhone Using iTunes Backup
If you have regular iTunes backups saved on your computer, you can use iTunes to restore your lost data. Usually, when you connect your iPhone to your computer with iTunes enabled, it will provide you with an easy and quick data backup that can be used to recover data from all your devices. Go through the below-given iPhone recovery steps to recover lost data from the iPhone using iTunes backup:
- Firstly, connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
- Launch iTunes and select your iPhone when it appears on the iTunes screen.
- Go to the Summary tab and then click the “Restore Backup” button. Also, choose the most recent backup that contains your lost data.
- Lastly, click the “Restore” to initiate the restoration process and wait for it to complete.
Method 03: Use iCloud Backup to Recover Data from iPhone
Another alternative to recover lost data on iPhone using backups is via the iCloud backup option. If you have enabled iCloud Backup on your iPhone and have recent backups available, follow the below-given iPhone data recovery steps to restore your lost data:
- Firstly, go to “Settings” > “General” > “Reset” > “Erase All Content and Settings” to erase all contents and settings on your iPhone.
- Now, when your iPhone reboots and the Hello screen appears, tap the “Restore from iCloud Backup” option from the “Apps & Data” screen.
- Enter your iCloud login credentials and select the backup you need to restore from the list of iCloud backups available.
- Once done, wait for the iCloud backup restore process to complete.
Tips to Avoid Data Loss on iPhone
Now that you are familiar with the iPhone data recovery methods to restore lost data, it’s essential to implement preventive measures to avoid future data loss:
- Regularly Backup Your iPhone: Turn ON iCloud Backup or create regular iTunes backups of your important files to help you in recovering lost/deleted data.
- Update Your iPhone Regularly: Keeping your iPhone’s OS and all the installed software programs up to date can help you to fix bugs and security vulnerabilities.
- Avoid Jailbreaking Your iPhone: Refrain from jailbreaking your iPhone, as it can make your device vulnerable to malware and data corruption
- Be Cautious When Installing Apps: Avoid downloading and installing apps from malicious sources to minimize the risk of downloading software that can affect the integrity of your data.
Conclusion
Recovering lost data from your iPhone can be an easy and quick process using the above-mentioned tools and methods. You can check previously created backups, like iCloud and iTunes backups, as well as use third-party iPhone recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone to restore your lost data. By following the step-by-step instructions outlined in this ultimate guide, you can effectively recover deleted photos, messages, contacts, and other types of data from your iPhone. Additionally, implementing preventive measures such as regular backups, software updates, etc. can help you avoid future data loss issues on your iPhone.

