Step-by-Step: Using UltFone iOS Data Manager to Recover Lost Photos and MessagesLosing important photos or messages from your iPhone is stressful. UltFone iOS Data Manager is a tool designed to help recover and manage iOS data — including photos, messages, contacts, and more — without overwriting your device. This guide walks you through a complete recovery workflow: assessing options, preparing, scanning, previewing, and restoring lost photos and messages safely.
What UltFone iOS Data Manager does (quick overview)
UltFone iOS Data Manager can:
- Scan iPhone storage and iCloud backups to locate deleted or missing items.
- Export recovered photos and message data to your computer in standard formats (JPEG, PNG, CSV, HTML, etc.).
- Recover data from device, iTunes backups, and iCloud backups.
- Provide preview before recovery so you choose which items to restore.
- Work without erasing device data (no full restore required).
Before you start — Requirements and precautions
- A Windows PC or Mac compatible with UltFone iOS Data Manager.
- A Lightning cable in good condition.
- Enough free disk space on your computer to store recovered files (estimate depends on how much data you expect to recover).
- If you’ll access iCloud backups, know the Apple ID and password for the account.
- Do not create new photos, messages, or large files on the iPhone before recovery; continued use can overwrite deleted data and reduce recovery chances.
- If the device is physically damaged, consider professional hardware repair before software recovery.
Installation and initial setup
- Download the latest UltFone iOS Data Manager installer from the official UltFone website and run it on your PC or Mac.
- Follow the installer prompts and grant necessary permissions. On macOS you may need to allow the app in System Settings → Security & Privacy.
- Launch UltFone iOS Data Manager. The app’s main interface typically shows modules such as Recover Data, Transfer Data, Backup & Restore, and Manage Files.
Step 1 — Connect your iPhone
- Connect your iPhone to the computer with a Lightning cable.
- If prompted on the iPhone, tap Trust This Computer and enter your device passcode.
- The software should detect the device and display its model/name in the interface.
Step 2 — Choose a recovery mode
UltFone commonly provides multiple recovery modes — choose based on where the lost items may be:
- Recover from iOS Device: Scans the device storage for deleted items. Use this first if the device is functional.
- Recover from iTunes Backup: Select when you have local iTunes/Finder backups on your computer.
- Recover from iCloud Backup: Use when backups exist in iCloud and you have Apple ID credentials.
For deleted photos and messages from an active device, select Recover from iOS Device.
Step 3 — Scan the device
- Click the chosen recovery mode (e.g., Recover from iOS Device).
- Select file types to scan — check Photos and Messages (and attachments if available).
- Start the scan. The scan time depends on device storage size and amount of data; for large phones this can take 20–60+ minutes.
Tip: If the app offers a Quick Scan and Deep Scan, start with Quick Scan. If results are insufficient, run Deep Scan (deeper, slower, higher chance to find deleted items).
Step 4 — Preview recovered items
- After the scan completes, the app displays categories (Photos, Messages, Contacts, etc.).
- Browse Photos: you’ll see thumbnails including deleted items typically marked or in a separate “Deleted” folder. Click thumbnails to preview full-size images.
- Browse Messages: view conversations, individual SMS/iMessage entries, timestamps, and attachments. Deleted messages often appear in a different color or with a “deleted” label.
- Use filters and search to find specific dates, senders, or file types.
Step 5 — Select and export/restore
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To export to your computer:
- Select the photos and message threads you want to recover.
- Click Export/Recover and choose destination folder and format (for messages you might be offered CSV, HTML, or PDF).
- Begin export — files will copy to your computer where you can view or archive them.
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To restore back to the device (if the app supports direct restore):
- Select items and click Restore to Device.
- Follow on-screen prompts; some operations may require device restart or additional permissions.
Note: Restoring messages back to iOS can be more complex due to Apple’s database structure; exporting to computer is often the most reliable option.
Recovering from iCloud backups
- Choose Recover from iCloud Backup.
- Sign in to the Apple ID (enter credentials when prompted). UltFone may ask for a verification code for two-factor authentication — enter it.
- The software lists available iCloud backups. Choose the backup with the right date.
- Download the backup and then scan or directly extract Photos and Messages. Preview and export as above.
Security note: Use iCloud recovery only on a private computer; keep credentials secure.
If you don’t see lost items
- Run a deeper or full scan if available.
- Check iTunes/Finder backups on your computer — sometimes older backups contain the deleted items.
- If the data was never backed up and the device has been heavily used since deletion, recovery chances decrease because the data may be overwritten.
- For physically damaged devices or failed storage, consult a professional data recovery service.
Post-recovery: organize and back up
- After recovering, immediately back up important files to multiple locations: local drive, external drive, and cloud storage.
- Set up regular iCloud backups (Settings → [your name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now) or continue using UltFone to create scheduled backups.
- Export messages in PDF or HTML if you need readable, shareable records.
Tips to improve recovery success
- Stop using the iPhone once you notice data loss to reduce overwriting.
- Use original Lightning cable and ensure the device stays connected during scans.
- Prefer scanning the device itself before trying backups.
- If messages are synced via Messages in iCloud, recover from iCloud rather than the device; iCloud sync can remove local traces.
Common limitations
- No guaranteed recovery — overwritten data can be unrecoverable.
- Restoring messages to device can be limited by iOS restrictions.
- Encrypted or password-protected backups require the correct password to access.
Example workflow (concise)
- Connect iPhone → Trust computer.
- Launch UltFone → Choose Recover from iOS Device.
- Scan for Photos & Messages (Quick → Deep if needed).
- Preview results → Select items.
- Export to computer (JPEG/PNG, CSV/HTML) or Restore to device if supported.
- Back up recovered data.
If you’d like, I can:
- Provide a shorter step-by-step checklist for printing.
- Create suggested export folder structures and file naming conventions.
- Walk through specific UI screenshots if you tell me your OS (Windows/Mac) and UltFone version.
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