Need files from a device that won't turn on?
If your photos, messages or work files are still on an iPhone, iPad or MacBook that won't start, a repair to its main circuit board may make a backup possible. We assess the fault and explain the recovery options. Visit us in Revelstoke or mail your device from anywhere in Canada.
- 90-dayWarranty on every repair
- 1–4 weeksBoard-level & water-damage turnaround
- No fix, no feeon board-level work
Why recovery can require a board repair
Modern Apple devices encrypt their data using security hardware in the device. Recovery often requires getting that original hardware working again.
Your files are protected by encryption
Encryption keeps your files unreadable until the device can unlock them. On modern iPhones, iPads and MacBooks, that protection depends on the original security hardware as well as the storage chip. Moving the storage chip to another computer does not unlock the files.
A repair may let you unlock and back up
We try to repair the fault that stops the device from starting, such as a damaged power circuit, charging component or corroded connection. The aim is to get it running far enough for you to unlock it with your passcode and make a backup.
The storage chip is only part of the recovery
On older devices, lifting the storage chip and reading it externally is sometimes viable. On modern Apple hardware that doesn't produce usable data, because storage is encrypted at rest and the keys live in the device's security hardware. That's why our approach is repair-first: get the device working enough to unlock, then back up.
Hard drives and other storage media
For hard drives and SSDs we do no-open recovery only: we never open the drive itself. If our recovery software can't retrieve your data, we can send the drive to a professional data recovery centre.
When customers come to us for data recovery
If your situation looks like one of these, board-level data recovery may be a fit. The diagnostic confirms what's actually possible.
Dead iPhone
The iPhone won't turn on but you have important photos, contacts or messages inside.
Dead iPad
The iPad has stopped powering on with notes, projects or photos still on the device.
MacBook will not turn on
The MacBook is unresponsive but the files inside still matter — work, photos, archives.
Liquid-damaged phone or MacBook
Water, coffee or another liquid took the device down before your last backup.
No power
The device shows no signs of life on a known-good charger and a known-good cable.
Keeps restarting or stays on the Apple logo
The device never reaches the Lock Screen. Repeated restarts are also called a boot loop.
Damaged board or charging circuit
A failed charging chip, USB-C controller or power supply circuit keeps the device from starting normally.
Data needed before replacing a device
You're already planning to replace the device — you just need the files off the old one first.
What to do before bringing it in
Keep a liquid-damaged device powered off. Repeated charging, heat or repair attempts can add to the damage.
Especially after a liquid spill or sudden failure
- Keep a liquid-damaged device switched off and unplugged. Charging can cause further damage.
- Leave it off rather than repeatedly trying to start it. Further attempts can make the fault worse.
- Avoid rice, hair dryers, ovens or other heat. Heat can damage the board.
- If the files matter, contact us before attempting a repair. Damage to the storage chip can make recovery harder.
Our data recovery process
We start with the fault and your data priorities, then explain what a recovery attempt involves.
- Step 1
Tell us which files matter
We record what you most need recovered, such as photos, messages or work files, so we can focus the work.
- Step 2
Understand what happened
We ask about spills, drops, previous repairs and recent updates. That history helps us assess the chances of recovery.
- Step 3
Find the board fault
We inspect the main circuit board under a microscope and take electrical measurements to find what has failed.
- Step 4
Try to get the device running
Where possible, we repair the board enough for the device to start and give you access to its files.
- Step 5
Data access & backup
Once the device is reachable, you sign in with your passcode and we run a full backup to your drive.
- Step 6
Return or further repair
We return the device and any recovered data. You decide whether to continue with a full repair or replace the device.
How we handle your data during recovery
Your files, passcodes and backup
Recovered data is copied directly to a drive you provide or one we supply, handed back at the end of the job. We keep recovered data for 7 days after the job is finished, then delete it. We don't bypass passcodes, Apple ID / iCloud, FileVault or activation locks — your credentials remain yours.
See our privacy policy for how customer data on devices in our care is accessed and retained, and our terms and conditions for the data-loss disclaimer.
What affects recovery
Recovery depends on the damaged components and whether the device can be unlocked. We cannot guarantee success.
Realistic limits
- Data recovery is never guaranteed — outcomes vary case by case.
- Severe storage, processor or security-component damage may make recovery impossible.
- Passcodes, FileVault, Apple ID / iCloud lock and activation lock all affect what data is reachable. We don't bypass these.
- Devices that have been repeatedly powered on after a fault, or aggressively heated or dried, are harder to recover than ones brought to us promptly.
- We explain the findings and whether further recovery work is practical.
Pricing, turnaround and warranty
No fix, no fee
Board-level work is no repair, no fee: if we can't fix it, you pay nothing. On mail-in repairs, shipping costs still apply. A simple repair quote by phone or email costs nothing. You approve the quote before repair work begins.
Turnaround
Board-level work, water damage and severe damage take 1–4 weeks, depending on severity and parts availability. After diagnosis, we can give you an estimate for your repair.
Warranty
90-day warranty on every repair — longer on screens and batteries.
Frequently asked questions
What to know about the repair, your data and getting started.
Can you recover data from a dead iPhone?
Sometimes. We first find out why the iPhone won't start. A damaged power or charging chip, or a corroded connection, may be repairable. If that lets the phone start, you may be able to unlock it with your passcode so we can make a backup. Recovery is never guaranteed.
Can iPhone data be recovered by removing the storage chip?
Modern iPhone data is encrypted, and the encryption keys are tied to the device's security hardware, not just the storage chip. Pulling the chip off the board and reading it like a USB drive doesn't produce usable data on a current iPhone. That's why our approach is repair-first: make the device functional enough that you can sign in and back up.
Can you recover data from a water-damaged phone?
Often we can attempt it. Water-damaged data recovery is time-sensitive — corrosion progresses even after the device has been dried. We disassemble, ultrasonically clean the affected sections, repair failed components, and try to bring the device back far enough to access the data. Severe or long-standing liquid damage can make recovery impossible. Water-damaged devices get a liquid-damage treatment instead of the $55 diagnostic: $100 for phones, $150 for laptops. The treatment adds at least 24 hours to the repair: ultrasonic cleaning, a bath in 99% isopropyl alcohol, then drying overnight.
Can you recover data from a MacBook that will not turn on?
Sometimes. MacBook data recovery on a no-power MacBook starts with the same board-level diagnostic we use for liquid-damaged or no-charge MacBooks. If the storage chips are intact, repairing the underlying board fault often brings the MacBook back far enough to copy data off. Apple Silicon MacBooks have additional constraints because storage is paired to the chip.
Do I need my passcode?
Yes, for the data itself. Modern iPhone, iPad and MacBook data is encrypted, and we cannot bypass passcodes, Apple ID / iCloud, FileVault or activation lock. We can repair the board so the device boots, but you need your credentials to actually access the recovered data.
Is data recovery guaranteed?
No. Data recovery is never guaranteed. It depends on what failed, the condition of the storage, processor and security hardware, previous damage or repairs, and whether the device can be unlocked. We explain what we find and the recovery options before proceeding.
What if you can't repair the board?
Board-level work is no repair, no fee: if we can't fix it, you pay nothing. On mail-in repairs, shipping costs still apply. That's separate from whether your data can be recovered, which depends on the factors above.
Should I charge my device after liquid damage?
No. Charging a liquid-damaged device pushes current through corroded paths and can cause shorts that destroy components that were otherwise salvageable. Power the device off, don't plug it in, and contact us as soon as possible.
Do you offer mail-in data recovery?
Yes, across Canada. Power the device off — don't pack it with a charger connected — and pack it securely. Start a mail-in request for a prepaid Canada Post label (approved requests get one). Prefer to ship it yourself? You don't need to send a request first: ship it by Canada Post to our PO box, or by courier to the shop (couriers can't deliver to a PO box). Put a note in the box with your name, phone number, email and what's wrong (and your request reference, if you sent one). See our mail-in microsoldering page for full guidance.
Tell us which files you need to recover.
Call us with the model, what happened and whether the device still turns on. We'll explain how to have it assessed and what to do before bringing it in or shipping it.