Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone – iPhone Data Rescue, Photo Recovery, Message Restore

What is included in Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone?

Direct Device Scan – Recovers deleted iPhone data without an existing backup.
Deep Scan – Signature-based search when the quick scan misses files.
Encrypted Backup Access – Opens password-protected iTunes and Finder backup files.
Chat Message Recovery – Restores WhatsApp, WeChat, Line, Viber and Kik.
Core Capacity – Recovers twenty documented iOS data types, including attachments.
Important – iCloud backup recovery and Android devices are not supported.

What are the main benefits of Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone?

Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone is a desktop application for Windows and macOS that scans a connected iPhone or iPad, or an iTunes/Finder backup, and extracts deleted photos, videos, messages, contacts and app chat data. It is the Standard edition of the iPhone line, focused purely on recovery rather than repair or erasure.

No Backup Needed – Scans the device itself when backups are missing.
Read-Only Operation – The software writes nothing back to the device.
Selective Restore – Preview each item and save only what matters.
Contact Export Formats – Saves recovered contacts as VCF, CSV or HTML.
Current iOS Coverage – Supports iOS 26 down to iOS 12 devices.
Free Preview Scan – Demo recovers ten files up to 10 MB.

Why backups protect against expensive data loss
For more background on backup planning, read our guide:

What does Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone actually do?

It connects an iPhone or iPad to a Windows or Mac computer by cable and reconstructs deleted items from the device storage or from an iTunes/Finder backup. Recoverable categories include Camera Roll, Photo Stream, Contacts, iMessages and attachments, Call History, Calendar, Notes and Notes attachments, Voice Memos, Safari Bookmarks, Reminders, FaceTime records and the Apps Library. Recovery works only while the deleted data has not been overwritten, so the practical rule is to stop using the phone as soon as the loss is noticed. The software runs on the computer, not on the phone itself, and there is no iOS app version.

Can it recover data from an iCloud backup?

No. Stellar removed iCloud backup recovery in the current version, so the two supported sources are the connected device and local iTunes/Finder backups. This matters for anyone who backs up only to iCloud and has already erased the handset, because in that scenario the software has nothing local to read. Encrypted iTunes backups are supported, but the backup password must be entered manually — without it the archive cannot be opened. Users who rely entirely on iCloud should restore through Apple's own process first, then scan the restored device.

How does it differ from Stellar Toolkit for iPhone?

Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone covers recovery only, while the Toolkit edition adds four repair and erasure modules on top of the same recovery engine. The Toolkit includes permanent iPhone data erasure, third-party app data wiping, iOS system repair for black screens and Apple logo boot loops, and removal of a configured Apple ID when the password is forgotten. If the device is unresponsive rather than simply missing files, the Standard edition cannot bring it back to a scannable state. Choose this edition when the phone still boots normally and only the data is gone.

Which devices and iOS versions does it support?

The current version 9 supports iPhone 17 through iPhone 4s and all iPad variants including iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad Pro, running iOS 26, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13 or 12. The Windows build requires a 64-bit system running Windows 8 or later, and the Mac build runs on both Intel and Apple Silicon machines. iTunes no longer has to be installed for the software to communicate with the device, which removes a common setup obstacle on clean Windows installations. Android phones are outside the scope of this product entirely — Stellar sells a separate Android tool for that.

What should users check before choosing this edition?

Check three things: whether the phone still boots, whether a local iTunes or Finder backup exists, and whether the device has been used heavily since the deletion. The demo build scans the device and shows a full preview before purchase, recovering up to ten photos or videos of 10 MB each, so the realistic test is to run the free scan and confirm the missing files appear in the preview list. If the preview shows nothing after a quick scan, Deep Scan runs a signature-based search and usually surfaces more. If the phone is stuck on the Apple logo or will not respond, the recovery-only edition is the wrong choice.

Frequently asked questions about Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone

Does the software modify anything on my iPhone?

No. The software reads the device and writes recovered files to the computer, so nothing on the iPhone or iPad is altered or overwritten during the scan.

Do I need to jailbreak the iPhone first?

No jailbreak is required. The device is scanned over a standard cable connection in its normal, unmodified state.

In which formats can recovered contacts be saved?

Recovered contacts can be exported as VCF, CSV or HTML. The HTML export also preserves the additional attributes stored with each contact record.

Can photos deleted from Recently Deleted still be recovered?

Yes, photos and videos removed from the Recently Deleted album can still be recovered as long as the storage area has not been overwritten. Keep the device idle and avoid installing apps or taking new pictures until the scan is finished.

Does it work if the iPhone is disabled or unresponsive?

That depends on the severity of the fault. A device that will not respond normally needs the iOS Repair module found in Stellar Toolkit for iPhone, which restores the system so the device becomes accessible again.