If your files are at risk right now
- Stop using the device, because continuing can overwrite what you're hoping to save
- If a drive is clicking or grinding, turn it off and leave it off
- Don't run free recovery apps that write to the same drive
- Don't reinstall Windows or macOS or reset the device
- Bring it in, along with any passwords you remember
What can usually be recovered
Most of the time, the computer has failed but the drive holding your data is fine. In those cases, recovery is often straightforward: we connect the drive to our equipment, copy your files somewhere safe and give them back to you on a new drive. Deleted files can often be found too, provided the drive hasn't been used much since they were deleted.
Failing drives need more care. If a drive is going bad, each hour it spins may make things worse, so we work to copy what we can as carefully as possible. Solid-state drives can fail with less warning. And some modern laptops solder the storage to the main board, which means the laptop itself has to be repaired to reach it.
What we need from you
Tell us what matters most. "The photos from 2015 to now" or "the folder called Taxes" helps us focus, particularly on a dying drive when time is limited. Also tell us what happened, including anything you've already tried. And if you know the password, bring that too, because encrypted drives can't be read without it.
We keep your files private
We know what this job means. These are your family's files, and we treat them that way. We only look as far as we need to in order to confirm that your files were recovered and that they open properly.
Great experience. Very friendly on the phone and in person. Got my grandson's phone fixed, and within a few hours at a reasonable price. I was trying to hurry and get there before he closed at 6 and he told me to call him if I'm not able to make it there by closing time and that he'd wait. Wow.
Questions we get a lot
Can you get my files back for sure?
Nobody can promise that. It depends on what failed. Accidentally deleted files and dead computers with healthy drives are often very recoverable. A drive with physical damage is harder. We'll tell you the odds after looking at it.
What about my phone's photos?
Phones are harder, because they're encrypted and the data is tied to the phone's own board. Usually the way to get photos back is to get the phone running again. Our guide explains more.
The drive makes a clicking noise. Can you fix it?
Clicking often means physical trouble inside the drive. Turn it off and don't keep retrying. Some drives need a specialized clean-room lab, and if yours does, we'll tell you so honestly and point you in the right direction.
How can I avoid this in the future?
Keep at least two copies of what matters, with one away from the house or in the cloud. Turn on iCloud or Google Photos on phones. When you pick up your device, ask us to help you set up a backup.