Board-level data recovery for iPhone, iPad and MacBook
Board-level data recovery starts with the same question every time: what's actually broken on the board, and can we bring the device back long enough to reach the data? We diagnose and repair the underlying fault, then help you back up once the device is reachable. Walk-in service in Revelstoke, BC, with mail-in service across Canada.
- 90-dayWarranty on every repair
- 1–4 weeksBoard-level & water-damage turnaround
- No fix, no feeon board-level work
How modern Apple data recovery actually works
Plain English up front, because there's a lot of misinformation out there. Modern Apple devices don't behave like old hard drives or USB sticks, and that changes what data recovery looks like.
Modern iPhone, iPad and MacBook data is encrypted
The data is encrypted, and the encryption is tied to the device's security hardware — not just the storage chip. It can't simply be pulled off a chip and read on another computer.
The device usually needs to be made functional
For most cases, the path to your data is repairing the board-level fault keeping the device down — power management, charging circuit, liquid-damaged components — until it boots far enough for you to sign in with your passcode.
Why "just pull the chip" usually doesn't work on Apple devices
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.
No-open recovery, and a professional centre when software can't help
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.
Boot loop
The device restarts repeatedly, or hangs on the Apple logo and never reaches the Lock Screen.
Damaged board or charging circuit
Charging IC, USB-C controller or charge-rail damage that keeps the device from booting 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.
If the data matters, please don't do these
Most cases that become unrecoverable are made worse after the failure, not before. A few simple don'ts can change your odds.
Especially after a liquid spill or sudden failure
Power the device off, leave it off, and contact us before you try anything else.
- Don't keep charging a liquid-damaged device — pushing current through corroded paths makes things worse.
- Don't repeatedly try to power it on — every boot attempt risks turning a salvageable fault into a permanent one.
- Don't heat or dry the device aggressively — no rice, no hair dryers, no oven trays. Heat can damage the board.
- Don't attempt DIY fixes from the internet if the data is important — a half-finished repair can damage the storage chip.
Our data recovery process
Every recovery follows the same predictable workflow, diagnostic-first, with realistic expectations shared up front.
- Step 1
Intake & data goals
We capture what you most need recovered — photos, messages, work files — so the work is focused.
- Step 2
Device history
Spills, drops, prior repairs and recent updates — context that significantly affects the realistic odds.
- Step 3
Board-level diagnostic
Microscope inspection plus electrical measurements identify the actual failure on the logic board.
- Step 4
Attempt temporary function
Where possible, we repair the board fault just enough to bring the device into a state where the data is accessible.
- 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 hand back the device and the recovered data, and you decide whether to fully restore it or move on to a new one.
How we handle your data during recovery
Your data is treated as yours, not a curiosity to browse
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.
Realistic expectations before you commit
Data recovery is never guaranteed. This is the honest version of what affects outcomes.
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 don't use guaranteed-recovery language. If recovery isn't realistic for your case, we'll say so.
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 always see the quote before we start any repair work.
Turnaround
Board-level work, water damage and severe damage take 1–4 weeks, depending on severity and parts availability. We will tell you where your repair sits in that range once the board has been diagnosed.
Warranty
90-day warranty on every repair — longer on screens and batteries.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most about this repair.
Can you recover data from a dead iPhone?
Sometimes. Dead-iPhone data recovery starts with a board-level diagnostic to figure out why the device is dead. If we can repair the underlying fault — usually a power management IC, a charging IC or a corroded section — the iPhone may come back far enough to be unlocked with your passcode and backed up. We don't promise recovery.
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. Outcomes depend on the failure mode, the state of the storage, the condition of the security and processor components, prior handling, and whether the device is locked. We share a realistic read for your situation before any work begins.
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 what your device is doing.
Send us the model and the symptoms, and we'll follow up with next steps. No repair, no fee on board-level work.