How To Recover Your iPhone Files, Photos, Contacts, Notes, SMS, Call History, Etc.

December 2, 2008 · View Comments

in Tutorials,iPhone

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If for some reason, you lost some important information on your iPhone, whether from 3rd party applications, your photos, contacts, notes, SMS, call history, calendar, etc., and doing a restore from iTunes is futile, don’t give up yet! As long as you have performed a backup in iTunes recently, your data is safely tucked away in a database in your computer—but you need another tool that can read and extract the data so you can copy it back to your iPhone.

In case you want to know, your iPhone backups are located in your Mac (~Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup) or on a PC (c:\Documents and Settings\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup).

What You Need

Download and install the following:

DiskAid for Mac or Windows (requires a jailbroken phone to access the Root Folder)
iPhone Backup Extractor for Mac (not sure if there is a Windows equivalent)

Use iPhone Backup Extractor

(1) Open iPhone Backup Extractor

(2) Click Read Backups

(3) Select from Device Name or Date where you want to retrieve your backup data and click Choose.

(4) Select the Application where you want data be restored from or scroll down and select Other Files if you want to restore data from the built-in iPhone apps such as photos, address book, notes, SMS, etc.

In this example, we will extract the Notes backup to our computer so we need to select Other Files.

(5) Click Extract and select a folder where you want to extract the Notes data in your computer (remember this location).

Use DiskAid To Copy Backup Data To iPhone

(6) Connect your iPhone to your Computer.

(7) Open DiskAid.

(8) Click the pull-down at the bottom of the screen where it says Media Folder and select Root Folder (click Go Ahead when a warning window pops up).

For this example, we will recover data from our Notes application.

(9) Click User -> Library -> Notes.

(10) Click the Copy to Device icon above.

(11) Go to the folder where you extracted the Other Files backup files (in step 5) and select “notes.db“.

(12) Click Open.

(13) Click Replace.

(14) Check your iPhone to verify the recovered data.

(15) Do the same for the rest of your data that you want to recover.

Smile! :)

Note: If you want to save and read your iPhone text files (ex. SMS) on your computer, check out my post,
“How To Save and Read Your iPhone Text Messages On Your Computer”.

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{ 95 comments }

1 Supper April 26, 2010 at 12:03 am

Transfer iPhone songs, videos, photos, contacts and SMS to computer

http://www.transfer-iphone.com/

2 Mark May 9, 2010 at 10:35 pm

You can use an iPhone to Mac transfer program to help.I personally use AVCWare Mac iPod to iPod/Computer/iTunes Transfer. It helps me to copy my songs/videos/photos etc from iphone to Mac directly and safely.It works well for me,you can give it a try.

Free download it at: http://www.ipodtocomputercopy.com/macconverter/...

Hope it helps.

3 mitchdcba May 18, 2010 at 11:00 am

I wish I had stumbled upon this before my last phone went dead so I could have retrieved the last voice mail I received from my mom before she passed away. Thank you!

retrieve text messages

4 kgezhzw1 May 19, 2010 at 7:52 pm

http://www.mac-dvd-ripper-soft.com/media-conver...
Daniusoft Media Converter is a powerful DRM media converter that supports both DRM Audio and DRM Video. This all-in-one DRM media converter allows you to convert DRM media in a fast and professional way.

5 Brian June 4, 2010 at 2:17 am

I have Windows XP, SP3 on one computer and Windows 7 on another and I cannot find the folder (c:Documents and SettingsApplication Data) on either one. I know it is there somewhere. I am good with computers but it is hidding well. iPhone Backup Extractor can find it on my Windows 7 computer but my data is on the XP machine. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

6 cheese June 8, 2010 at 1:45 am

i had a video of a stripper giving me a blow job and my friend made me delete it and i need it back

7 Bobbi Jo June 15, 2010 at 9:42 pm

Did you end up getting your contacts back? Because I have this very problem now!

8 egniknok June 16, 2010 at 2:24 am

stop using windows… buy a mac!!

9 Fcajohn June 17, 2010 at 12:16 am

I use iPhone 3gs for 6 months, and I just buy mac book pro for today.
I want to sync contacts from iPhone to address book. but now all my contacts gone.
no contacts in my iPhone now. anyone know how to recovery my contacts in iPhone. please

10 Steve June 17, 2010 at 2:15 am

Thanks. It didn't work as we didn't have the right backups done, but it would have restored the wrong backups perfectly! :-) Thanks anyway.

11 Kaka June 18, 2010 at 7:49 am

Transfer all iPhone data files from iPhone to computer in a few clicks!

http://www.transfer-iphone.com/transfer-files-s...

iPhone Tool Kits is an easy to use utility designed to help you back up all your files on your iPhone, so that you can recover any lost or missing songs, videos, books, photos and so on. It can easily backup and transfer iPhone songs, videos, photos, SMS, call list, contacts and books(you purchased via iBook Store) to computer. And even enable your iPhone as a removable hard disk.

“iPhone Tools Kits” Transfer is a must-have utility to keep your iPhone safe if you have an iPhone. It supports iPad, iPod touch as well.

Download iPhone Tools Kits directly from: http://www.regnow.com/softsell/visitor.cgi?affi...

12 Ex Back June 21, 2010 at 11:47 am

there are so many good tips!

13 Su464837421 June 23, 2010 at 7:17 am

i am quite agree with the author that Its really important to take a Backup on our handset.
but my device is HTC HD2 .i found a software called [b][url=http://www.godswmobile.com.html]“GodswMobile Windows Mobile Transfer Suite 1.1″[/url][/b],It contains a computer app to Backup and restore contacts, including sim card contacts and mobile contacts.it is fast to backup ,restore and easy to use!

14 Me June 25, 2010 at 1:03 am

why would someone do a ridiculous thing like that??

15 Vaughn June 27, 2010 at 5:22 am

MobileSyncBrowser saves your data in formats you can actually use, not the raw phone databases.

MobileSyncBrowser.com

16 Udit June 28, 2010 at 7:30 am

nO need to work hard…..
Use iPhone backup extractor….YOu can extract your contacts, mails, messages and everything from your iPhone…

http://sharecash.org/download.php?file=877730

17 Rawny July 1, 2010 at 6:21 am

Here are some tips for windows users to backup their iPhone photos to PC:
I used Tansee iPhone Transfer Photo.
http://www.gutensoft.com/Utilities/Tansee_iPhon...
It can help copy both iPhone Library Photo ( the photos sync with iTunes) and iPhone Camera Photo ( the photos taken with iPhone Camera ) to your selected folder on your computer completely and safely. The whole process needs just a few simple clicks.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how:
http://www.gutensoft.com/Guide/How-to-Transfer-...

Best luck!
You can also search more others at http://ask.com

18 Stevens July 3, 2010 at 3:36 am

Here is an easy way. Simply use this iPhone contacts backup software to help you transfer all contacts and contacts photos from your iPhone to your computer

I've used it when I changed my computer. It works perfectly fine. I recommend you give it a try.

Here is detailed guide on how to do it:
http://www.gutensoft.com/Guide/how-to-backup-ip...

Hope this can help you.

19 Baby_keith July 6, 2010 at 5:41 pm

MAy i know how to recover my missing data like photo , contact after i update to iso4 from 3.13. I forgot i got backup b4 update , But now i cant find back any restore , do u hv any idea to solve it ? if u got pls email me baby_keith@hotmail.com
Thx

20 ThankYou July 7, 2010 at 8:32 am

This is awesome! Thanks for sharing this.

21 south africa July 9, 2010 at 7:23 am

can someone please help me?
my iphone broke.
i had all my information saved on my mac.
I bought a new iphone and tried to put the computers info on the phone but managed to sync the computer with the phone instead. now all my information is gone!
please could someone help explain to me how to get it back (as as i understand this post explains the reverse, i.e. how to find info that was stored on the phone rather than info that was on the mac). thanks!

22 Vaughn July 9, 2010 at 3:15 pm

If you synced your first phone on that computer, the data should still be there. Its unlikely a second phone overwrote it.

MobileSyncBrowser (MSB) can show you what data has been backed up on your Mac.

MobileSyncBrowser.com

Cheers

Vaughn

23 beysin July 13, 2010 at 2:48 pm

Hello Guys,

I have lost all my contact number. I have been tried to reserve my contact number with outlook and unfortunately i lost all my contact after i synced.

Fortunately i have been saved my backup file i mean “documents and SettingsusernameApplication DataApple ComputerMobileSyncBackup-this file.

i would like to fix my Iphone. what should i do?

thanks in advance.

b.yasinkutlu@gmail.com

24 Aidan Fitzpatrick July 13, 2010 at 6:50 pm

Download the iPhone Backup Extractor for Windows (http://www.iphonebackupextractor.com) — that'll get your contacts extracted so that you can easily import them into your contacts client and sync with your iPhone.

25 John July 16, 2010 at 7:37 pm

thank alot……made my day…..

26 Akmalsiddiqui July 17, 2010 at 3:09 am

This post was really helpful I could retrieve all my contacts and notes from the backup.

THank you so much

27 Lex July 19, 2010 at 7:56 pm

Hello, My question is… Can you recover contacts from an Iphone that has never been synced before to a computer? My phone took a dump and I have never synced up… 3 days searching for a tool that can just pull my contacts from the phone. Apple says I have to restore and will lose everything… Anyone have a clue? Thanks in advance…

28 Neotd4 July 20, 2010 at 9:52 pm

Lost all my contacts from my iphone when I synced with my new mac please help. I had not backed upmy contacts with the old mac.

29 Connie July 21, 2010 at 5:03 am

hi I tried to import photos from my iphone 3G to my windows xp 2002 version and did the restore . Unfortunately I can fnd my photos on my iphone anymore how can i reclaim them again

30 Ms July 22, 2010 at 11:11 pm

iphone sucks!!!

31 Chanzor July 23, 2010 at 6:17 am

Any mac program for this?

32 Chanzor July 23, 2010 at 6:18 am

Were did you find the contacts file? I'm having trouble finding it.

33 Larry July 26, 2010 at 3:11 am

Contacts are gone???????????

34 Johnjack_87 July 27, 2010 at 4:48 am

Thanks

35 Alimalik22 July 29, 2010 at 10:17 pm

i transfer all the contacts number from my iphone to I tunes ? i dont know how to get my conatcs ? cannt see them …cannt find them either ? to worried as all my friends number etc

36 Alimalik22 July 29, 2010 at 10:18 pm

Help me pllzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

i transfer all the contacts number from my iphone to I tunes ? i dont know how to get my conatcs ? cannt see them …cannt find them either ? to worried as all my friends number etc

37 R20 July 30, 2010 at 6:15 am

Amazing!! Thank YOU!!!

38 Louisbissiw July 30, 2010 at 1:13 pm

just go to this site and download the program. After just import to address book the sync with itunes.

39 Miss you mom August 8, 2010 at 10:52 pm

That really sucks man. My mom called the iPhone first so she didn't leave a message but her second call was to the house phone so I managed to recover her last coherent words from their. I wish you could have your mom's VM too.

40 dumba$$ kid August 10, 2010 at 4:50 am

im 13 yrs old and i accidently restored my moms iphone trying to update it and i didnt back up it so now she has no contacts or nothing so can som1 help me on what to do?????????? email me sk8er_boi85@hotmail.com

41 Sara August 12, 2010 at 6:52 pm

I sync my calendar to my laptop on the 10th and so I placed a checkmark in the sync calendars box to “Outlook.” (I don’t have outlook on my computer, don’t know what I was thinking) Still thinking my calendar information was saved on my laptop, on the 11th, I opened my calendar and NOTHING was in it. I thought maybe I could sync it back to iTunes and get it all back, but come to find out it was another bad move because it did an override on my old backup in iTunes. Is there anyway I can get all of my calendar stuff back from before the 10th. Please help me! Please email me at sarajones02@yahoo.com if you know how I can get my calendar information back.

42 KK August 13, 2010 at 1:12 am

can some one help me plzzzzzz
I format my macbook pro and after that 2nd step was i update my iphone software and now i lost my last 2 year data can some one help me plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Please please

43 Rousseau August 20, 2010 at 6:14 pm

My iPhone died while I was on vacation. The Apple store couldn’t fix it so they replaced it. I took over 500 pictures on the new phone. When I got home, I stupidly clicked RESTORE instead of SET UP AS NEW PHONE and it deleted all of my pictures. Is there any way to get them back? I’m desperate here!

44 free registry repair August 24, 2010 at 10:27 am

Eusing Free Registry Cleaner is a free registry repair software that allows you to safely clean and repair registry problems with a few simple mouse clicks. The Windows Registry is a crucial part of your PC’s operation system.

45 Botan_ko September 2, 2010 at 1:42 am

HELLO EVERYONE CAN YOU HELP ME I HAVE LOST ALL MY CONTACTS WHILE I WAS TRYING TO SYNC ALL CONTACTS FROM MY I PHONE TO PC PLEASE HELP ME

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