How to Recover Data from Water Damaged iPhone

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By Jenefey Aaron

2025-02-12 / iPhone Recovery

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“I dropped my iPhone XS into water, and now I’m desperate to find out how to recover data from water-damaged iPhone. Is data recovery even possible in this situation? Has anyone managed to handle something like this before?”

It can be a worrying situation if your iPhone suffers water damage. The first thought that comes to mind is whether your important data can still be recovered. Losing valuable photos, videos, and messages can be distressing, but there are potential solutions to recover data from water-damaged iPhone.

In this guide, we have shortlisted the best tips and methods to retrieve data from a water-damaged iPhone. So, let's jump right into it!

Part 1: Things To Do Before Retrieve Data from Water Damaged iPhone

When your iPhone has been exposed to water, taking the right steps immediately can minimize the damage and increase the chances of data recovery. Some of the crucial things to do before retrieve data from water damaged iPhone are as follows:

1. Power Off Immediately

Water conducts electricity, which can cause short circuits and destroy internal components. So:

  • Turn off your iPhone immediately after exposure to halt electrical activity.
  • Do not press buttons, charge the device, or connect accessories, as this may accelerate corrosion.

2. Dry It Properly

Remaining moisture can permanently damage logic boards and storage chips. So:

  • Avoid using a hairdryer, as it can warp components and push water deeper into the device.
  • Place the iPhone in a sealed container with silica gel packs (ideal) or uncooked rice for 24 to 48 hours to draw out moisture.

3. Consult a Professional

Lastly, you can have experts help to ensure safe water damage restoration for iPhones. So:

  • Visit Apple-certified service centers or reputable third-party repair centers. Technicians use specialized tools to clean corrosion, replace damaged parts, and stabilize the device.
  • Professionals can often salvage critical components needed for iPhone data recovery after water damage, even if the device does not power on.

Once the iPhone is back in working condition, proceed to the next part to learn about the best methods for water damaged iPhone data recovery.

Part 2: How to Recover Data from Water Damaged iPhone

There are multiple ways to perform iPhone data recovery after water damage. Below are the three best-proven ways worth trying in 2025:

1. Water Damaged iPhone Data Recovery without Backup

iPhone users often struggle to recover lost data without a backup due to water or other damage. However, with a reliable iPhone data recovery tool like UltData, recovery is possible. UltData iPhone Data Recovery is the top iPhone recovery software that helps retrieve data from water-damaged iPhones without a backup. You can preview and selectively restore files. It supports various iPhone models, including the iPhone 16 series.

ultdata iphone data recovery

The key features of UltData iPhone Data Recovery include:

  • Recover lost iPhone data due to water damage, accidental deletion, virus attack, factory reset, system crash, iOS upgrade bug, etc.
  • Recover images, videos, messages, contacts, and 35+ data types.
  • Recover data without backup, factory reset, or any prerequisite.
  • Deep scanning algorithms for high success rate.
  • Preview-based selective data recovery.

Follow the below steps to perform water damage restoration iPhone with UltData iPhone Data Recovery:

  • Download, install, and launch UltData iPhone Data Recovery on your computer. From the main dashboard, click "iPhone/iPad Data Recovery".
  • selecting iphone/ipad data recovery
  • Connect your iOS device to the computer using a USB cable.
  • connecting iphone to computer via usb cable
  • Pick the data types to recover and click "Scan".
  • 
selecting the data types to scan
  • Preview and select the data to recover, then hit the "Recover" button. Once you've done this, your lost data will be restored to your PC, from where you can transfer it to your iPhone.
  • preview-based recovery

That's how you can quickly recover photos from water damaged iPhone without backup using UltData iPhone data recovery.

2. iPhone Data Recovery after Water Damage from iCloud

iCloud is the default medium to create iPhone backups. You can configure iCloud to auto backup iPhone after the set interval. So, if you luckily created an iPhone data backup on iCloud before the water damage, you can retrieve the lost data by restoring the backup.

UltData iPhone Data Recovery is your ideal companion for restoring iCloud backup. It can selectively extract backup without data loss. What’s more, it can let you restore selective data through a preview-based process.

Here are the steps to perform iPhone data recovery water damage from iCloud using UltData iPhone Data Recovery:

  • Launch UltData iPhone Data Recovery and select "Recover Data from iCloud".
  • selecting recover data from icloud
  • Enter your Apple login credentials.
  • entering apple login credentials
  • Select data types to recover and click "Scan". Afterward, wait for the program to download the iCloud Data.
  • selecting the data types to scan
  • Preview and select the data to recover and click the "Recover" button.
  • preview-based recovery

This way, you can smartly pull the lost data from iCloud and bring your iPhone back to the normal state.

3. Water Damage Restoration iPhone from iTunes

iTunes is another excellent medium for creating an iPhone backup on your computer. If you have an iTunes backup of an iPhone, you can restore it to retrieve the lost data. However, restoring iTunes backup directly will overwrite the existing iPhone data.

Therefore, UltData iPhone Data Recovery again comes to the rescue. It can pull the data from the backup and lets you only restore the needed data without overwirte. Follow the below steps to perform water damage restoration iPhone from iTunes:

  • Launch UltData iPhone Data Recovery and select "Recover Data from iTunes".
  • selecting recover data from itunes
  • Select the "iTunes" backup to recover and click "Next".
  • selecting itunes backup to recover
  • Select the data types and click "Scan".
  • 
selecting data types to scan
  • After the scan, preview and select the files to recover and hit the "Recover" button.
  • preview-based recovery

This way, your iTunes backup helps you recover lost data due to water damage.

Part 3: DIY vs Professional Water Damage Restoration for iPhone

help from professional restoration services. Although both have their pros and cons, the choice mainly depends on the extent of damage. Many times, DIY can be a more effective and cost-friendly solution.

Some of the key DIY benefits include:

  • Instant handling of the situation without delay, which increases the chances of recovery.
  • Cost-effective than seeking help from professionals.
  • Full control of the personal data.
  • Opportunity to learn and evolve skills.

In short, the DIY approach should be your first priority. However, if your iPhone has experienced severe damage, it becomes necessary to let professionals handle the matter.

Wrapping Up

Water damage to the iPhone looks severe, but it is fixable if you take the right steps immediately. Above, we have discussed the best DIY tips to handle water damage impact and then the recommended methods to recover data from water damaged iPhone. Now it is up to you how you want to proceed. However, we will wrap up by emphasizing the use of the UltData iPhone Data Recovery tool, as it is your companion in recovering lost data with or without backup. So, install UltData iPhone Data Recovery and retrieve lost data effortlessly.

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