Restoring an iPhone using iTunes or Finder can sometimes feel like it deletes everything on your device. When you restore, your iPhone goes back to its original factory settings, which means all your photos, messages, downloaded apps, and other personal data will be removed. However, a full restore does not permanently delete all your information right away. There are still ways to recover data after a restore if you act quickly enough.
What does an iPhone restore do?
When you restore your iPhone using iTunes or Finder, the device’s software is overwritten with a clean, original version of the iOS operating system. This removes any bugs or glitches in the software and gives you a fresh start. All settings, applications, and user data added since you first started using your iPhone will be wiped out.
Essentially, restoring an iPhone makes it like you just took it out of the box for the first time. The operating system goes back to its factory default state. The process removes any material you’ve added or changed on the device outside of what Apple originally installed.
Data deleted during an iPhone restore
Here are some examples of data that gets removed when you restore your iPhone:
- Downloaded apps
- Photos
- Contacts
- Messages
- Call history
- Voicemails
- Calendars
- Notes
- Home screen layout
- Settings and preferences
Essentially, any information you added to the device yourself outside of what Apple installed will be deleted. Your personal content is removed to give you a clean slate.
Data that is not deleted
Some types of data are stored separately from the operating system and will not be touched during a restore. Information that remains on your iPhone after a restore includes:
- Content synced from iTunes or Finder – Music, movies, TV shows, books
- Contacts, calendars, bookmarks, notes synced from iCloud
- Apple Pay information
- Passwords saved in iCloud Keychain
- Some app data stored in iCloud
So in summary, a restore removes any information unique to your device that you added after originally getting it. But anything synced from a computer or cloud account will still be retrievable.
Is data immediately deleted during a restore?
Data removed during an iPhone restore is not instantly deleted forever. When you restore through iTunes or Finder, your personal content is marked as free space to be overwritten. The areas of memory storing that data can be reused to install the clean version of iOS and new apps.
Until those spaces are reused, the data is still physically present on the device storage. With the right tools, it’s possible to recover deleted iPhone data before it gets overwritten.
When is data completely erased?
Data no longer marked as free space will become harder and harder to recover over time. Here is an approximate timeline for when deleted iPhone data becomes less retrievable:
- 1-3 days – Data has the best chance of being recovered during this window after a restore. Use data recovery software as soon as possible.
- 1 week – Less data can be retrieved, but some recovery is still possible if software can access the storage directly.
- 2+ weeks – Overwritten areas of memory make recovery very difficult and unlikely.
So in summary, there is a window of opportunity for a few days after an iPhone restore when deleted data can still be retrieved with the right tools.
How to recover data after restoring iPhone
If you need to access personal content removed during a restore, either do not use your iPhone or limit usage as much as possible for 1-3 days afterwards. This gives you the best shot of recovering deleted data before too much gets overwritten.
You will need data recovery software designed to work with iOS devices. Examples include:
- iMyFone D-Back – Scans iPhone storage and extracts recoverable data.
- Fonelab – Retrieves up to 18 types of lost iPhone data.
- EaseUS MobiSaver – Finds residual data after restore for recovery.
Using software like this right after a restore can increase the amount of photos, messages, notes, and other personal data you can get back before they are gone for good.
Recovery tips
Follow these tips when trying to recover data after an iPhone restore for the best results:
- Use data recovery software as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours.
- Avoid installing new apps and adding content, which could overwrite deleted data.
- Connect iPhone to computer and create an encrypted backup, which recovery tools can scan.
- Jailbreak iPhone if needed to allow software direct access to storage.
- Pay for advanced recovery suite with maximum capabilities if needed.
Can you retrieve data without backup?
Recovering data after an iPhone restore is most successful if you have an existing backup of your information. However, it is sometimes possible to restore some data even without a backup if you act before it has been overwritten.
Data recovery software looks for residual data left on the storage chips inside an iPhone after a restore. Even without a backup, some retrievable bits may still be left behind for a few days before they are replaced with new data.
The more you use your phone after the restore, the less data will remain to be recovered without a backup. But if you don’t save or add anything new and run recovery software quickly, you still have a chance of getting some files back even with no backup available.
Preventing data loss before iPhone restore
While data recovery after a restore is sometimes possible, it is much easier to simply avoid losing anything important in the first place. Here are tips to preserve your personal content and settings before initiating a restore.
Encrypted iTunes backup
Make a full, encrypted backup of your iPhone using iTunes on your computer. Encrypting prevents unauthorized access. When your iPhone is restored, you can use this backup to return your data.
iCloud backup
Alternatively, enable iCloud backups on your iPhone. iCloud will automatically save copies of your data online. After a restore, sign into iCloud to download your backup during setup and get everything back.
iCloud app data
Ensure important app data you want to keep is synced to iCloud. Developers can save app-specific data such as game progress to iCloud so it is not lost in a restore.
Store media offline
Keep copies of sentimental media like photos and videos off your iPhone. Save them to a computer, external hard drive, cloud storage, or photo printing service so they cannot be deleted.
Contacts sync
Activate contacts syncing to iCloud so your phone book is preserved online when you restore. Contacts can also be backed up locally through iTunes.
App download history
Your download history is saved in your App Store account. You can easily redownload purchased apps if needed after an iPhone restore.
Reasons to restore an iPhone
Why would someone need to completely wipe their iPhone and revert it to factory settings in the first place? Here are some common reasons to restore an iPhone.
Before selling
Performing a full restore erases all personal content and resets the phone to like-new condition before selling it or giving it away. This protects your privacy.
Fixing software issues
A restore can fix some persistent bugs or performance problems caused by faulty iOS installations. It gives you a fresh OS.
Removing a passcode
If you forgot your passcode, a restore will reset it and let you set a new one, since passcodes are not stored in backups.
Resolving app glitches
Apps that freeze, crash, or have errors may be fixed by doing a restore to provide a clean slate.
Starting fresh
Some people just like starting over from scratch once in a while for a nice, new feeling.
Updating and restoring
When updating to a new major iOS version, like iOS 16, a restore installs a fresh copy so nothing gets carried over.
Risks of restoring iPhone
While there are valid reasons to restore your iPhone, it does entail some risks you should consider beforehand.
Data loss
Personal content like photos, messages, and app data could be lost during the restore unless you have backups.
Time consumption
It takes time to backup, wipe, reinstall iOS, and restore data. This process can be lengthy.
App reinstallation
All your apps will be deleted and need to be redownloaded and set up again from scratch.
iOS bugs
Rarely, the fresh OS installed after a restore has its own bugs or issues.
Incomplete backups
Backups can sometimes fail or be corrupted, leading to permanent data loss even if you tried backing up.
Alternatives to restoring iPhone
Because there are risks to restoring, it may be wise to consider some alternative options that can fix iOS problems without a full wipe.
Reboot device
If your iPhone is acting up, sometimes simply powering it down and back on fixes temporary glitches.
Update iOS
Installing the latest iOS update can improve performance and patch bugs without deleting everything.
Free up storage
An overloaded, full storage capacity can cause operating issues. Deleting unused apps and media may help.
Factory reset
Some devices have an option to factory reset in Settings, which erases data but does not reinstall iOS.
Third-party apps
App store apps can fix specific issues like recovering lost data or saving app information without a full restore.
Conclusion
Restoring an iPhone through iTunes or Finder resets the device to factory default settings, which deletes your personal data in the process. However, data removed by a restore is not immediately erased from the storage for a few days, leaving open a window to use data recovery software to retrieve photos, messages, and other content that was removed before it gets overwritten.
To avoid needing data recovery after a restore, it is best to back up consistently with iTunes or iCloud so you can easily reload your information. But should you find yourself needing to recover data following a restore, act quickly while avoid adding anything new to your iPhone to have the best chance of retrieving your files using data recovery tools and techniques.