A dead, smashed or water-damaged phone doesn’t always mean your photos and contacts are gone. DR.FONE assesses the device first, tells you honestly what’s recoverable, and only proceeds with your approval.
Situations we can assess
- Phone won’t turn on or shows no sign of life
- Broken or black screen with your data still inside
- Water or liquid damage
- Stuck in a boot loop or dead after a failed update
Broken screen, but the phone still works?
This is often the most recoverable situation. If the phone itself is alive and only the display or touch is damaged, your data is usually still intact — in many cases a screen repair or a temporary display is enough to get your files out. We still confirm at assessment before promising anything, but it’s frequently good news.
Diagnosis first — no false promises
Whether data can be recovered depends on the phone, the type of damage and how it has been handled since. We never guarantee recovery up front. We assess the device, explain what’s realistically possible, and agree the approach and cost with you before any chargeable work. Our pricing approach, including any diagnosis fee and what happens if no data is recovered, is set out in [DATA_RECOVERY_POLICY].
One practical tip: if the phone has been in water or won’t boot, stop trying to switch it on — repeated power attempts can make recovery harder. See our water damage diagnosis page for what to do first.
Your privacy matters
Your phone holds personal photos, messages and accounts. We handle every device confidentially and access only what is needed to recover your files, in line with GDPR and our privacy policy. Recovered data is returned to you and not shared with anyone else.
How it works
- 1. Bring the phone in — tell us what happened and which data matters most.
- 2. Assessment — we check the device and tell you what’s realistically recoverable.
- 3. You decide — you approve the approach and the price before chargeable work.
- 4. Handover — recovered files are returned to you on your chosen media.
Need recovery from a laptop, memory card or USB drive instead? See our main data recovery page. Questions first? Call [DRFONE_PHONE] or message us on [DRFONE_WHATSAPP].
Can you recover data from a locked phone?
Honestly: a screen lock and modern encryption significantly limit the options, and in some cases recovery isn’t possible without the passcode. We’ll tell you where you stand after seeing the device. For any locked device we also require proof of ownership before we work on it.
What are your success rates?
We don’t quote success rates, because every case is different — the same fault on two phones can have very different outcomes. What we promise instead is an honest assessment before you spend anything.
What does phone data recovery cost?
It depends on the damage and the work involved. Our diagnosis and pricing approach, including our policy if no data is recovered, is described in [DATA_RECOVERY_POLICY] — and you approve any cost before chargeable work begins.
Should I keep trying to turn the phone on?
No. Repeated power attempts can make recovery harder, especially after water damage. Leave it off and bring it in as soon as you can.