Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions about iPhone data recovery. For the full service details, see our Apple iPhone Data Recovery page.
Yes, we specialise in iPhone data recovery from physically damaged devices including liquid damage, smashed screens, and logic board failures. We’ve completed over 2,000 Apple device data recovery cases per year.
Yes. We recover photos from dead iPhones all day, every day, including ones Apple says can’t be fixed, and there’s a very good chance we can help.
Yes. We see this problem every day, and in the majority of cases the data can be safely recovered and everything backed up for you.
No, unfortunately not. Once an iPhone has been factory reset or erased, there is no professional data recovery or mobile phone forensic software that can recover the photos.
Yes, we can. Apple may replace your phone with another one or swap it for a refurbished phone, or they may reflash the firmware to fix the problem. So it’s always better to have us recover the data first. Then, when you get your new phone, you can restore the data onto it. We normally provide an Apple iTunes backup, plus a backup of all your photos and videos.
Yes, we can. We’ll temporarily repair the problem and make a full backup of everything for you onto a hard drive.
Yes, we can help. We have a very safe, professional and proven method to back up all your photos and videos, and we can make an iTunes backup for you.
We recommend you call us first, so we can explain how our service works and ask which files and information matter most to you. If you’d like to get started straight away, go to our website and press the green "Start your data recovery now" button at the top right. Select mobile phone and complete the form, which gives you a job number. Then bring your phone to our office as soon as you can, and we’ll ask you for the passcode in person. Once the recovery is finished, you’ll receive an email and an SMS with a report when your data is ready. You’ll get an Apple iTunes backup, plus all your photos and videos saved in a separate folder. You can then restore that backup onto a new or replacement phone and get everything back the way it was.
Yes, we can. We have specialised hardware and software that support older legacy devices and operating systems, so we can back up the data. Because these phones are older, we do need the correct passcode or PIN. Please make sure you provide the correct one, otherwise we can’t help.
Yes. Payam Data Recovery can help you get everything back. We’ll create a backup for you and save all your photos and videos. Once you have a new phone, you can restore the backup onto it. Most of the problems we see are damaged logic boards, which are electronic faults, but we can help with logic board damage, liquid damage, software problems, full storage, component-level damage and almost any other problem stopping the phone from working.
Yes, we can help with all models and types of iPads.
iPhone and iPad recovery is a fixed price: Economy $795, Priority $1,500, Emergency $2,500, nothing paid upfront. The rare exception is a complex logic board transplant that needs an expensive or uncommon donor phone. If your phone needs one, we quote the extra cost first, and you choose whether to go ahead. These rare cases usually cost $1,500 to $2,500, plus any donor phone or parts we need to buy. Full prices by device are on our data recovery cost page.
Economy service takes 1 to 2 weeks on average, Priority 4 to 7 days on average, and Emergency is our fastest service. Times depend on the complexity and rarity of the case.
Any hardware modifications may impact warranty coverage. Apple makes decisions case-by-case. We recommend visiting Apple first to document the fault with a repair case number.
Apple lists only providers that meet its requirements for privacy, genuine parts and process. Being one of the three companies on that page means Apple Retail Stores and Apple Authorised Service Providers can refer you to us, and it gives us GSX access to genuine Apple parts. We provide data recovery services to Apple Retail Stores, Apple Authorised Service Providers and Apple employees.
When we recover your data, we’ll put everything on a USB drive for you and create an iPhone/iTunes backup so you can easily get everything back on your device.
We have labs in Sydney CBD, Rhodes NSW, Melbourne and Brisbane, plus secure drop-off offices in Adelaide and Perth, so we can help you no matter where you are in Australia.
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.
Yes, you will need to know the passcode. We do not crack, bypass or reset passcodes, Activation Lock or encryption. Only the correct credentials can unlock the data. Please do not send cables, cases, SIM cards, memory cards or other accessories unless we ask for them.
We can only recover data that was on the device. If a message, photo or file was deleted, was never saved to the device, or lived only in iCloud, Google Photos or another cloud service, it is not on the device and cannot be recovered from it.
Yes. You tell us which files matter most. Before you pay for the recovery, we’ll send you a list of your recovered files so you can check them. If any of the files you listed are missing, tell us and we’ll search again.
Yes. You can pay by card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link, PayPal or bank deposit (EFT). If you need more time, you can split the cost into instalments with Afterpay, Zip, Klarna or PayPal Pay in 4, using the account you already have.
Your data stays private. We only look at it as far as needed to do the recovery, and we handle personal information under the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles. After you collect your recovered data, or we post it to you, we keep a backup copy for two weeks in case you need another copy. After that the backup copy is erased for your privacy.
Within Australia, if you don’t want to go ahead there’s no charge. You can pick it up from our office, organise your own courier to collect it, or pay $20 for return delivery, which covers shipping and handling to return it to you by Australia Post.
Every job has three service levels. Economy is our standard service. Priority and Emergency are faster and cost more, because our data recovery engineers work on weekends and after hours and stop work for other customers to speed up your job. The mobile job form shows the price and turnaround for each level, and you choose.
First published 26 October 2026, 12:38 AM AEDT. Last updated 26 October 2026, 12:38 AM AEDT.
The information on this page is provided by Payam Toloo, founder and owner of Payam Data Recovery. This content is copyright and may not be reproduced on other websites without written permission. You are welcome to quote or reference it with a link to this page.
Questions before you start?
Send us a few details and we will email you our fixed prices, what to expect and how to get started.
Phones and tablets are a fixed price, so there is no quote to wait for. When you are ready, submit the mobile job form: the price of the service you choose there is the price for your job.
Phone: 1300 444 800 (within Australia)
International: +61 2 80766079
Email: help@payam.com.au
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.
