Data recovery FAQ: answers to your questions
Find answers from our specialists to the most frequently asked questions about data recovery: hard drive failures, SSD, RAID, USB drives, pricing, turnaround times and process. SOS Data Recovery (Tesweb SA), Swiss specialist since 2006 with over 10,000 cases handled, answers your questions.
Why consult our data recovery FAQ?
Our technicians answer the most frequently asked questions about hard drive, SSD, RAID, NAS, USB drive and memory card failures. Each answer is based on over 10,000 cases handled since 2006 and regularly updated. If you cannot find the answer to your question, contact us — free diagnosis within 3 hours.
Data Recovery: iPhone or Android, is there a difference?
Yes, the architectures are different and influence the recovery method. The iPhone systematically encrypts all data via the Secure Enclave chip. Without the PIN code or Apple ID credentials, extracting the encrypted data is impossible even in a laboratory—this is a deliberate protection by Apple.
Android smartphones offer more flexibility: encryption is enabled by default on recent devices, but the access methods (ADB, EDL mode for Qualcomm, manufacturer recovery modes) are more varied. Success depends on the manufacturer (Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, etc.) and the Android version.
In both cases, our technicians have the necessary professional tools (Cellebrite, MSAB, specialized hardware tools) to maximize the chances of recovery.
Is it possible to recover data from an iPad tablet with a broken screen?
Yes. The internal memory of an iPad is separate from its touchscreen. A cracked or completely failed screen does not prevent the recovery of stored data.
For recent iPads (Face ID), a replacement screen is often required in the lab to bypass authentication. For older models (Touch ID), connecting to a trusted computer via Lightning or USB-C is usually sufficient.
If USB debugging was enabled and a trusted computer was already paired, extraction can be done without manipulating the screen. In the most complex cases (completely inert iPad), our technicians proceed with a direct extraction of the NAND memory chip.