Published 13 October 2026. Updated 17 October 2026.
Can data be recovered from a water damaged iPhone 17 Pro that a repair shop has already opened? In this iPhone 17 Pro water damage data recovery case study, yes. The board was badly corroded, so we moved the CPU, storage and encryption chips to a donor board and recovered over 200GB, including 14,000 photos and 3,000 videos.
Case study summary
Client: Sarah
Device: iPhone 17 Pro
Problem: The phone went swimming and would not switch on. It had already been opened in an earlier repair attempt
What we found: Serious water damage. Under the microscope, many chips on the board were corroded, so a normal repair was impossible
What we did: A motherboard transplant. The CPU, the storage chip and the encryption chip were lifted, cleaned, given fresh solder balls and placed on a working donor board. A second corroded layer of the original board was repaired as well
Result: Over 200GB recovered, including more than 14,000 photos and 3,000 videos. All other data saved as files, plus a complete iTunes backup to restore to a new iPhone
Service: Fixed price phone service, chosen through our website. No assessment and no waiting
Apple: Payam Data Recovery is listed by Apple as a recommended data recovery provider (Apple’s data recovery page)
Sound familiar?
- Your iPhone got wet and now will not switch on.
- A repair shop has already opened it, and it still does not work.
- You have years of photos and videos on it and no recent backup.
- You have tried rice and nothing has changed.
Same problem? Call 1300 444 800 or get a free quote.
An iPhone 17 Pro That Went Swimming
This is Sarah’s iPhone 17 Pro. It went swimming, and afterwards it would not switch on.
It had also already been opened in an earlier repair attempt. The phone was still dead, and Sarah’s photos and videos were still inside it.
Sarah visited our website, filled out the job form and chose our fixed price phone service. No assessment, no waiting. The phone went straight to our data recovery engineer.
The Problem: What Does Water Do Inside an iPhone?
Our data recovery engineer found serious water damage. Under the microscope, many chips on the board were corroded.
Some of those chips are smaller than a grain of rice. Even slight corrosion on parts that small can stop the whole phone from working.
On this board the damage was too widespread. A normal repair was impossible.
Why a Motherboard Transplant Was the Only Way Forward
On an iPhone, three chips hold the data and the key that unlocks it: the CPU, the storage chip and the encryption chip. They work as a matched set. Your photos cannot simply be read off the storage chip on its own.
So the only way forward was a motherboard transplant: move those three original chips onto a working donor board, so the phone could start again with Sarah’s own data and her own key.
The iPhone 17 Pro Water Damage Data Recovery Process
Our data recovery engineer lifted each of the three chips from the corroded board. He cleaned off the old solder balls, the tiny dots of solder you can barely see, and rebuilt them fresh.
Then he placed all three chips onto a working donor board. Payam Data Recovery keeps over 30,000 donor parts in-house, so work starts without delays.
The phone powered on. But it was not finished yet. Another layer of the original board was also corroded, so he repaired that as well.
iPhone 17 Pro Water Damage Results: 14,000 Photos and 3,000 Videos
Over 200GB came back. That included more than 14,000 photos and 3,000 videos.
All of Sarah’s other data was saved as files. We also created a complete iTunes backup, so she can restore everything to a new iPhone.
So Sarah did not just get her pictures back. She can set up a new iPhone and carry on where she left off.
What Should You Do If Your iPhone Gets Wet?
Rice may help with a light splash on the outside. Once liquid has reached the board, it makes no difference.
Corrosion keeps spreading. Do not charge the phone, and do not keep trying to switch it on. Get it to a professional as soon as you can. The sooner the better.
If a repair has already been tried, tell us when you get in touch. As Sarah’s phone shows, an earlier attempt does not always mean the data is lost.
Why People Choose Payam Data Recovery
When an iPhone will not start, its data is locked to its own chips, so those chips have to be working again before anything can be copied. That is the work we do every day.
- We are a specialist data recovery lab, not a phone repair shop. We have been recovering data since 1998, from over 300,000 devices.
- We are listed on Apple’s data recovery provider page, one of three recommended data recovery providers.
- 500 mobile phone repair shops and over 2,000 IT companies and computer shops across Australia send us their customers’ complex cases every year.
- Board level repair under the microscope by our own data recovery engineers, here in Australia and never outsourced overseas.
- Your data stays private. Our data recovery engineers open only a few random, non-sensitive files to check the recovery worked, and we can sign an NDA on request.
- Rated 4.9 from over 2,400 Google reviews.
We are not the cheapest. We are the best in Australia at this work. We know what to do, how to do it, and we will do our very best for you. Your best chance of getting your data back is with us.
iPhone Data Recovery Pricing and Service
Mobile phones and tablets, including iPhone and iPad, are a fixed price service. Phones and tablets are a fixed price. Most recoveries are no fix, no fee. Some complex cases have an attempt fee, then a completion fee only if the recovery is successful. You see your files before you pay. We are successful in 99 percent of cases. Contact us for a free quote and we will confirm the price, the turnaround options and the next step. You will need to know the passcode. Pay by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link or PayPal, split the cost with Afterpay, Zip, Klarna or PayPal Pay in 4, or pay by bank deposit (EFT).
Our iPhone data recovery service covers every model, from water damage and phones that will not turn on to phones another repairer has already tried.
How Our Process Works for International Customers
International customers are always welcome. The easiest way to reach us from overseas is by email at help@payam.com.au, which works in every time zone. Start with the free quote form, and we will confirm the price and how to send the phone to our main data recovery lab in Rhodes, NSW by tracked courier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can data be recovered from a water damaged iPhone 17 Pro?
Often, yes. In this case the board was badly corroded and a normal repair was impossible. Our data recovery engineer moved the CPU, storage chip and encryption chip onto a working donor board and recovered over 200GB, including more than 14,000 photos and 3,000 videos.
Will rice fix my wet iPhone?
Rice may help with a light splash on the outside, but once liquid has reached the board, it makes no difference. Corrosion keeps spreading. Do not charge it, do not keep trying to switch it on, and get it to a professional as soon as you can.
A repair shop already opened my iPhone. Is it too late?
Not always. Sarah’s iPhone 17 Pro had already been opened in an earlier repair attempt and still would not switch on. With a motherboard transplant and a repair to a second corroded layer of the original board, her photos, videos and other data all came back.
What is an iPhone motherboard transplant?
The CPU, storage chip and encryption chip hold your data and the key that unlocks it. In a motherboard transplant, our data recovery engineer lifts those three chips, rebuilds their solder balls and places them on a working donor board, so the phone can start again with your own data.
How will I get my data back?
Sarah’s photos, videos and all her other data were saved as files. We also created a complete iTunes backup, so she can restore everything to a new iPhone. You need to know your passcode, because iPhone data is encrypted and the passcode is needed once the phone powers on.
How much does it cost, and do I pay if it fails?
iPhone data recovery is a fixed price service with no assessment. Phones and tablets are a fixed price. Most recoveries are no fix, no fee. Some complex cases have an attempt fee, then a completion fee only if the recovery is successful. You see your files before you pay. You pay at the end, on success. Contact us for a free quote and we will confirm the price and turnaround options.
Will using an Apple-recommended provider affect later Apple service?
Payam Data Recovery is listed by Apple as a recommended data recovery provider. Apple states it will not exclude warranty coverage because a company it recommends modified a product during data recovery. The cost of the recovery itself is not covered by the Apple Limited Warranty or AppleCare.
I am overseas. Can I send you my iPhone?
Yes. International customers are always welcome. Request a free quote first, and we will confirm the price and how to post the phone to us by tracked courier. The easiest way to reach us from overseas is by email at help@payam.com.au, which works in every time zone.
About Payam Data Recovery
Payam Data Recovery has been recovering data since 1998, with more than 300,000 devices recovered. Apple lists us as one of three recommended data recovery providers, and team members hold Apple Certified Macintosh Technician and Apple Certified iOS Technician certifications. Board level repair is done under the microscope by our own data recovery engineers, and everything is done in Australia and never outsourced overseas. Head office and full service lab in Sydney CBD, with our main data recovery lab for complex cases in Rhodes, NSW, full service labs in Melbourne and Brisbane, and secure drop-off offices in Adelaide and Perth with free overnight express delivery to Rhodes, NSW. You can read more about Payam Data Recovery.
Get a Free Quote
iPhone wet and will not switch on? Already tried a repair? Do not charge it. We can help.
Fixed price service. Phones and tablets are a fixed price. Most recoveries are no fix, no fee. Some complex cases have an attempt fee, then a completion fee only if the recovery is successful. You see your files before you pay.
Every iPhone model, anywhere in Australia. International customers are always welcome.
Call 1300 444 800 or email help@payam.com.au
Related Case Studies
- iPhone 15 Pro in salt water for 48 hours, logic board transplant
- iPhone 14 Plus water damage after two failed repair attempts
- iPhone 12 dropped in a swimming pool
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra chip transplant
Video Transcript
Hey, I’m Mike at Payam Data Recovery Specialist lab in Sydney, Australia, detailing a real recovery from start to finish. This is Sarah’s iPhone 17 Pro, which went swimming. It wouldn’t switch on, and it had already been opened in an earlier repair attempt. Sarah visited our website, filled out the Submit a Job form, and chose our fixed price phone service. No assessment, no waiting. Our data recovery engineer found serious water damage. Under the microscope, many chips on the board were corroded.
Some chips are smaller than a grain of rice, so even slight corrosion can stop the whole phone. A normal repair was impossible. The only way forward was a motherboard transplant. The CPU, the storage chip, and the encryption chip hold Sarah’s data and the key that unlocks it. He lifted each chip, cleaned off the old solder balls, which are the tiny dots of solder you can barely see, and rebuilt them fresh. Then he placed all three onto a working donor board. Payam Data Recovery keeps over 30,000 donor parts in-house, so work starts without delays.
The phone powered on, but it wasn’t finished yet. Another layer of the original board was also corroded, so he repaired that as well. The result, over 200 gigabytes recovered, including more than 14,000 photos and 3,000 videos. All of Sarah’s other data was saved as files, and we created a complete iTunes backup so she can restore everything to a new iPhone. Here’s what to know if your phone gets wet.
Rice may help with a light splash on the outside, but once liquid has reached the board, it makes no difference. Corrosion keeps spreading, so don’t charge the phone and get it to a professional as soon as you can. The sooner the better. Australian and international customers are always welcome. You pay at the end on success. Call 1300 444 800 or search for Payam Data Recovery. Thanks for watching.
