Find the guide for your device.
Filter by device and situation, or search for the files, fault or backup you need help with. Every guide has practical first steps, limits and sources.
48 guides
Deleted data
Find the realistic options for deleted iPhone data: recovery folders, existing copies and backups, with clear limits on permanent deletion.
Backups & iCloud
Find and preserve iPhone backups, understand iCloud sync, check encrypted backup passwords and plan a restore without overlooking newer data.
Locked or unavailable
Understand iPhone Unavailable, the supported 72-hour previous-passcode option, existing copies and why an ordinary passcode reset erases data.
After a factory reset
Learn what an iPhone factory reset means for recovery, how erasure affects encryption keys and where to look for surviving backups and copies.
Files & documents
Find missing iPhone documents in Files, iCloud Drive and existing copies, with practical checks before a restore or a recovery assessment.
Photos & videos
Check Recently Deleted, hidden albums, iCloud Photos and existing copies to understand realistic recovery options for missing iPhone photos.
Messages
Find realistic options for deleted iPhone texts and iMessages, including Recently Deleted, Messages in iCloud and suitable existing backups.
Contacts & notes
Trace missing iPhone contacts and notes to the right account, then check recovery folders or iCloud archives before replacing current information.
Water damage
Safe next steps for a wet iPhone: protect local data, check existing copies and decide when a specialist recovery assessment is useful.
Physical damage
Understand recovery options after a broken screen, drop or impact. Preserve original parts, explain your data priorities and choose the next step.
Dead iPhone
A black screen is a symptom, not a verdict on your files. Check existing copies, record what happened and plan an assessment of the original iPhone.
Boot loop
Understand an iPhone stuck on the Apple logo, the difference between Update and Restore, and when preserving local data calls for an assessment.
Files & documents
Find missing iPad documents, downloads and creative projects by checking Files, app storage, iCloud Drive and existing exports before a restore.
Photos & videos
Check iPad Photos, Recently Deleted, Hidden, iCloud libraries and separately saved images before deciding whether a backup or assessment can help.
Water damage
What to preserve after an iPad gets wet, how to check copies without powering it, and when a data-focused hardware assessment is appropriate.
Physical damage
Plan recovery from a cracked-screen, bent or impact-damaged iPad, with attention to unlocking, local app projects and preserving the original device.
Will not turn on
Separate a frozen or uncharged iPad from damage, try the correct model-specific restart when appropriate, and protect local data before repair.
Boot loop
Understand iPad startup loops, recovery mode and the difference between Update and Restore before risking the only copy of local files.
Messages
Check iPad Messages recovery, account and forwarding settings, attachments and backup coverage without assuming every synced device is a separate copy.
Contacts & notes
Locate iPad notes and contacts in the correct account, use supported recovery folders or archives, and protect handwriting and attachments.
Backups
Identify the right iPad backup, check what it can contain, preserve older copies and plan restoration without losing newer work.
Deleted data
Choose the right iPad recovery folder for files, photos, messages or notes, then check app copies and backups when the deletion window has closed.
Unavailable or locked
Review the limited previous-passcode option, existing copies and the consequences of resetting an unavailable iPad before erasing local data.
Erased iPad
Understand completed iPad erasure, its encryption limits and the practical search for iCloud data, earlier backups and independently saved projects.
Files & documents
Find missing MacBook documents, earlier versions, cloud copies and Time Machine backups before changing the disk that held the only copy.
Photos & libraries
Check MacBook Photos libraries, Recently Deleted, iCloud originals and Time Machine before repairing a library or changing its sync settings.
Liquid damage
Protect MacBook data after a spill, separate wet-port advice from internal damage, and understand when the original hardware matters for recovery.
Physical damage
Work out whether a damaged MacBook has a display problem, inaccessible storage or board damage, and protect its data before arranging repair.
Not turning on
Distinguish a MacBook power problem from a blank display, make limited safe checks, and preserve data before firmware or hardware work.
Not booting
Protect MacBook files when startup stalls, use the correct transfer mode, and separate copying data from First Aid, reinstall and firmware restore.
SSD recovery
Identify MacBook storage architecture, distinguish SSD failure from deletion, and understand hardware encryption and the limits of chip-level recovery.
FileVault & passwords
Identify the correct MacBook login or FileVault recovery key, use authorised recovery options, and understand why account recovery does not guarantee disk access.
Time Machine
Choose useful Time Machine backup dates, restore selected MacBook files or migrate to a healthy Mac, and protect an unreadable backup disk.
Deleted files
Check MacBook Trash, cloud recovery windows and retained snapshots, while avoiding new writes and unrealistic SSD undelete promises.
Erased MacBook
Identify how a MacBook was erased, distinguish cryptographic erasure from other loss, and look for independent backups without promises of SSD recovery.
External drives
Check why a MacBook cannot access an external disk, distinguish visibility, connection and encryption problems, and preserve a failing or erased drive.
Files & documents
Find documents on an iMac, distinguish local folders from iCloud Drive, and recover suitable earlier copies before changing the storage.
Photos & videos
Check the correct Photos library, iCloud originals, deleted items and separate archives before attempting iMac photo-library repair.
Damaged iMac
Preserve an iMac after impact, liquid exposure, electrical damage or a broken display, with model-specific recovery decisions.
Will not turn on
Separate power failure from a blank display or startup problem and preserve iMac storage before repair or replacement.
Will not boot
Preserve files when an iMac stops at a question mark, Apple logo or blank screen, and understand copying, First Aid and firmware options.
Hard drive recovery
Recognise failing mechanical storage in an older iMac, preserve the original drive and understand what a recovery assessment should establish.
SSD recovery
Understand iMac SSD failures, hardware encryption, deleted-data limits and why original components matter before repair or replacement.
Fusion Drive
Preserve both parts of an iMac Fusion Drive and avoid destructive rebuilding when files are missing or the system no longer boots.
FileVault & passwords
Identify legitimate FileVault unlock options and preserve the original iMac hardware without assuming a password reset will recover encrypted data.
Time Machine
Restore suitable iMac files from an existing Time Machine backup, understand local snapshots and protect a damaged backup disk.
Deleted data
Check Trash, app recovery folders, cloud retention and older copies, with realistic limits for deleted files on iMac SSDs and Fusion Drives.
Erased or formatted
Distinguish an iMac factory erase, disk format and Fusion rebuild, and check backups without promising recovery after secure erasure.
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