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 a smartphone that has been submerged or dropped in water?
Yes, data recovery from a wet smartphone is possible in most cases, provided you act quickly and correctly. Fresh water is less destructive than salt or chlorinated water, but in all cases, the intervention time is critical.
The first rule is to not turn on the phone after immersion — a short circuit can irreparably damage the memory chips (eMMC or UFS). Remove the battery if possible, do not plug in a charger, and bring the device to a specialized laboratory as soon as possible.
In the laboratory, our technicians completely disassemble the device, ultrasonically clean the components, and directly extract the data from the memory chip. The success rate exceeds 80% when the smartphone reaches us within 24 to 48 hours following the water damage.