iMobie PhoneRescue Review: Does It Work to Rescue Your Phone Data?

Last updated: Apr. 13, 2018 | Editor's Note: This review has been revamped for freshness and accuracy.

• Apr 2018 Update Note: the latest version of PhoneRescue supports Apple iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra.
• Sep 2017 Update Note: The iMobie team has launched several updates, one of which is the program now supports recovering data from Android devices. You can learn more here.

What Is PhoneRescue?

PhoneRescue is software developed by iMobie Inc. to help mobile phone users rescue deleted or lost data. The program does several things beyond that. According to iMobie, it's also able to:

• Directly scan an iPhone/iPad (or an Android device), then recover deleted photos, messages, contacts, etc.

• Extract iTunes and iCloud backups, then restore your lost files.

• Repair iOS device issues caused by a system crash or update error.


The program runs on Windows and macOS. It's not an app that you can download from the App Store, and it can't be installed or used on your iOS/Android device. Instead, you need to connect your iPhone/iPad (or Android device) to a computer that installs and runs the program. The initial version was released on June 17, 2014, and the latest version (when I updated this review) is 3.4.1. PhoneRescue supports five languages (now seven, Arabic and Chinese were added):

Is PhoneRescue Safe?

I've tested the Windows version on my Windows 10-based HP, and the Mac version on my El Capitan-based MacBook Pro. PhoneRescue is 100% free of virus or malware issues, and contains no bundled third-party programs. Also, given that iMobie is an Apple Certified Developer, there's no reason for its products to contain any malicious threats.

PhoneRescue is safe to use as well. The scanning process performs read-only procedures and thus won't affect your existing device data. When you attempt to recover files, it'll ask your permission before accessing data from iCloud, for example. That said, I still recommend you back up your phone or tablet before using the program.

PhoneRescue — What's In It for You? (And My Test)

While I tested both the Windows and Mac versions of PhoneRescue, I’ve used mainly screenshots I took from the Mac version. The user interface of both versions is almost the same, but I'll point out if a feature in the Windows version is different from the Mac version.

To start with, the download and installation process is easy and straightforward. Launching the app gives you a sense of elegance: It begins with a quick animation of the PhoneRescue icon circling itself, followed by another window called "Quick Tips." This window lists a few things users should keep in mind in order to maximize chances of iPhone data recovery. Once you've read it over, click "I'm Ready to Start".

After that, you'll see a screen like the one below. This is the core of PhoneRescue, and lists four main recovery modes: Recover from iOS Device, Recover from iTunes Backup, Recover from iCloud, and iOS Repair Tools. Each mode deals with a specific type of data loss situation. I've broken this review into four subsections in order dig into each recovery or repair mode. I also added a separate section exploring the export feature.

1. Recover from iOS Device

This mode is best for recovering items you've just deleted from your iPhone including, pictures, videos, notes, messages, etc. Most likely it’s because you didn't have any backups, and can't retrieve the content from iTunes or iCloud. This mode requires that your iOS device be recognized by your computer

Here's how my test went: After connecting my iPhone, I noticed that on the bottom of the screen, the text "Please connect your device" immediately turns to "Your 'iPhone' is connected!. Also, the color of the arrow button in right corner turns from light blue to dark blue, meaning it is now clickable. Hit it to continue.

Then the app started to analyze my device. The process took less than a minute. Tip: Don't unplug your device during this process.

Within a few minutes, it successfully found a lot of files -- 5533, to be precise -- including:

• Personal Data: 542 Contacts, 415 call history, 1958 messages, 81 message attachments, 16 voicemails, 5 Notes, 1 Safari bookmark

• Media Data: 419 photos, 2 Photo Videos, 421 thumbnails, 3 songs, 8 playlists, 1 voice memo

2. Recover from iTunes Backup

This second recovery mode is best to use when your iDevice doesn't work any more, and you've got at least one iTunes backup stored on your computer. Select this mode, then click the arrow on the bottom-right corner to get started. Here's my experience with this recovery mode.

It found an iTunes backup for my iPhone...

...analyzed the backup file and extracted the data...

...then displayed 5511 files. This is quite similar to the result I got from the first recovery mode (5533 items).

3. Recover from iCloud

This third recovery mode works best when you've backed up your iOS device via iCloud, or have enabled iCloud sync across your devices.

Please note: Here, there is a difference between the PC and Mac versions. The Mac version only supports iOS 8.4 or earlier -- NOT later. The Windows version supports iOS 8 and 9 (I think there's a typo in the instructions of the Windows version -- see screenshot). iMobie claims that this is due to Apple's security limitations on Mac.

To get started, select the "Recover from iCloud" mode and hit the blue button to continue. This is how it worked for me:

It asked me to sign in iCloud (with my Apple ID). Pay attention to the text description: iMobie claims they will never retain any of your Apple account info or content. Nice! I hope they keep their promise; I'm really concerned when I'm asked to type my Apple account credentials into third-party apps or websites.

After inputting my Apple ID and password, it found all the devices that have enabled iCloud backup. I need to choose a backup to download before I can move forward.

It found 247 items from my iCloud backup -- not bad. But hold on, this is exactly the same as what I'd see on iCloud.com. I have to wonder: What's the point of adding this recovery mode?

4. iOS Repair Tools

This is the fourth module of PhoneRescue. Unfortunately, I can't test it because I don't have a faulty iOS device. According to iMobie, this recovery mode is best to use when your device is stuck on a black screen or Apple logo, or keeps restarting.

When I click the blue button to continue, you can see it says my device works well, and that there is no need to repair it.

As such, I can't give my own personal take on this repair mode. If you have the chance to use this feature, please let me know what you think by leaving a comment below. I'll gladly update this section and include your feedback here.

5. The Recovery/Export Feature

At the end of the day, it's all about getting deleted or lost files back to your device or computer. The scanning process serves as the initial step so you can evaluate whether your lost data can be found and retrieved.

Unfortunately, the trial version of PhoneRescue doesn't allow you to actually recover found files. You'll have to buy a licence code activate the software, otherwise the export or download buttons are greyed out. I purchased the family version, which costs $80.

The activation process is smooth, all you need to do is copy the serial code, paste it into the small pop-up window, and you're good to go.

I saved many files to my computer. There was no problem; the process is pretty straightforward. Also, I found the quality of recovered filse is high. For instance, the images are all the same size (several MBs) as they were.

What I'm most interested in is the "Export" feature. iMobie claims I'm able to directly save the files back to my iPhone. I tried, and here's how it worked for me.

First, I turned off the "Find My iPhone" app. Otherwise, you'll see the warning message below. To do that, go to Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone, click it, and tap to slide the button to grey. Don't forget to turn “Find My iPhone” on again after you recover your lost files.

Next, I found I could only export certain types of files back to my device: Contacts, Call History, Messages, Voicemail, Calendar, Reminders, Notes, Safari History. I'm kind of surprised that photos and videos are not on the supported list.

To test, I selected a text message. Here's what it said: "Your device will reboot, upgrade config and require you to unlock. This is necessary and complete safe for the recovery. Please wait patiently and don't unplug your device".

Once I clicked "Recover". The screen looked like the one below, and I noticed my iPhone was restarting.

In several minutes, the process was completed. Surprisingly, it showed "Data recovery completed", but underneath it also said "PhoneRescue has successfully recovered 0 item in total". Seriously? I remember I selected one. Is this a bug?

[update 2016.09.23 -- correction: the iMobie team explains that it is because the item I attempted to recover is already on my device. If it is recovered, there will be duplicates. PhoneRescue automatically skips the duplicates on an iOS device. So, this is NOT a bug!]

Reasons behind My Ratings

Effectiveness: 4/5

Like I said, PhoneRescue works. It can recover many types of deleted or lost files from an iOS device. Thanks to the four comprehensive recovery modes, PhoneRescue is capable of dealing with a variety of different data loss scenarios. However, it tends to find many files that are not deleted or lost, which makes it harder to locate the items you actually want to recover

Price: 3.5/5

Personally, I don't like the pricing layers. A $50 for Single License that allows to use in one PC or Mac, and an $80 Family License that works for multiple PCs and Macs. Based on my humble understanding of the nature of data recovery, it's rare to need such recovery software all the time. We only need it when disaster strikes, and after recovering the data (hopefully) we should learn our lesson and be extra cautious in the future.

In this sense, data recovery software is like a one-time shot: The value for future usage is quite limited if not none. Also, unlike system clean apps like CleanMyMac or security applications, this recovery software doesn't have to be installed on every PC or Mac. Thus it doesn't make much sense to purchase the Family License which costs an extra $20. I bought the Family Licence, purely for the purpose of testing both Windows and Mac versions of the program.

Ease of Use: 5/5

There is no question about the usability of PhoneRescue. Elegant user interface design and helpful text instructions make it incredibly easy to handle. Also, the four easy-to-understand recovery modes simplify complex data loss scenarios. Well done, iMobie team!

Support: 4/5

The iMobie customer support team can be reached out via standard email. They promise 24/7 support with response time within 24 hours (usually much less). I emailed them several times, and they were quite responsive. The thing I think they could improve on is customer engagement. While I emailed them several times, they knew my first name but still used the generic "Dear Customer" salutation at the beginning of each email. I'm not sure if this is part of their customer relationship policy or not. I just feel an engaging conversation would make customers feel more valued.

Is PhoneRescue Free?

PhoneRescue has two versions: trial and full.

The trial is totally free to download, use, and allows you to scan and preview certain types of files that it finds. However, you can't save or export the files. You'll see a pop-up window like this:

To actually recover and save your files, you'll need the full version -- activated by purchasing a legal software license. After that, the limitation is removed instantly.

Where to Download PhoneRescue?

The best place to get the latest version of PhoneRescue is to visit the official website of iMobie and download it there. I highly recommend you not download the program from third-party download sites due to security concerns. Also, it's worth noting that the app isn't available on Mac App Store.

Buy PhoneRescue 3 License

The full version of PhoneRescue is not free. Any website that claims you can get a free licence code is either illegal or a scam. It's best to stay away from such sites as they may contain heavy flash ads or even malicious programs.

There are two types of license with PhoneRescue: The Personal License which costs $59.99, and the Family License which costs $79.99. The key difference is the number of PCs or Macs you can install the program on. See the screenshot below:

Normally, the personal licence is all you need. I bought the family license (receipt disclosed below) to test the functionality of both its Windows and Mac versions.

PhoneRescue Alternatives (Free + Paid)

While PhoneRescue is a nice program that could help you rescue your lost iPhone data, it's by no means the only one out there. In fact, if you've backed up your device via iTunes or iCloud, it's often quite easy to restore all your lost files using Apple's built-in apps.

That said, here's a list of free and paid options in case PhoneRescue doesn't help.

• iTunes (Windows & MacOS) — Free. It works only when you have backed up your iPhone or iPad via iTunes before the data was removed.

• iCloud (Web) — Free. Similar to iTunes. If you've enabled iCloud backup across your iOS devices, chances are high to get back your lost files.

• Dr.Fone — Paid ($69.95). An all-around software for managing data on iOS and Android devices. It can also recover deleted files, backup saved data, and more. See DrFone review.
• Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery for iPhone — Paid ($49.95). Its features are quite similar to PhoneRescue.


Conclusion

iMobie PhoneRescue 3 is safe, and it does work to recover many types of files deleted or lost from an iOS device such as iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. The program is intuitive and easy to use thanks to the efforts from the iMobie's design and development team. But, due to the complex nature of data recovery, it's not 100% guaranteed that you'll be able to retrieve all of your lost files using this software.

It's good to see that PhoneRescue provides four different recovery and repair modes to maximize chances of recovery. However, each mode is not without problems. For example, the "Recover from iOS Device" mode tends to find more files than those you deleted, making it time-consuming to identify the files you actually want to recover. Also, I don't see much value in using the "Recover from iCloud" mode, as it's much easier to just log into iCloud.com and access your files via the web app.

Regardless, I think PhoneRescue is a great piece of software, and I like it. Imagine the fear and panic the moment you accidentally delete some precious pictures off an iPhone (I've been asked about that several times -- just take a look at the comments in this iPad article I posted earlier). PhoneRescue at least gives you some hope to recover that data. That said, I'd like to remind you again of the significance of data backup — use iCloud, iTunes or an external hard drive to make multiple copies of all your important files! That is the best way to avoid data loss.

Fair Disclosure

Considering that PhoneRescue is powerful software that offers dozens of features to rescue iPhone data from a variety of scenarios, it was impossible for me to test each feature. I don't have a faulty iOS device, I don't use certain apps (e.g. Line) which iMobie claims the program can recover data from, etc. However, I did test the program as well as I could. As such, I disclaim that this PhoneRescue review is primarily based on my limited testing of the software, the information available on iMobie's website, and the email responses I received from the iMobie support team. Please note the opinions in this review are my own, and they may not be accurate with the passage of time.

I spent $80 and purchased the family license on my own budget with the intent to test both the PC and Mac version of PhoneRescue. I have never asked or used any free licenses from the iMobie marketing team. Also, I'm not sponsored by any parties to write this review. All the content in this review is purely my own opinion.

Your Feedback

Have you tried PhoneRescue? Did you manage to recover the deleted or lost files from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch (or an Android device which I'm yet to test)?

Either way, share your thoughts in the comments below.

P.S. If you decide to purchase iMobie PhoneRescue 3, it would be appreciated if you could visit the links below to do so. That way, I'll get a commission at no additional cost to you (see disclosure above). In doing so, you're helping me create more thorough and unbiased reviews in this blog. Thanks 🙂