While losing data affects everyone who uses an iPhone, especially for those who reply on iPhone for business. It is really an unpleasant experience. And while retrieving the erased data can be extremely difficult to deal with in some cases, preventing against data loss is very important to you.

The reason that data goes missing are varied, but seven listed below are the most common.

1. iOS software update

Some users state that their contacts were wiped when updating to the new iOS, even after restoring the rest of the device’s settings as is the norm. It’s recommended that you just hit “update” button left without any security of your content, all you have to remember is to back up your device to either iCloud or iTunes on a local computer.

2. Restore to factory settings

Restoring your iPhone to factory settings may remove all of your personal information like text messages, notes and appointments, although it retains some of its apps.

3. Jailbreak

Jailbreaking your iPhone voids the warranty, and this operation often got stuck in DFU mode. Restoring your iPhone in iTunes will erase everything including SMS, photos, videos etc.

4. Delete data due to mis-operation

Deleting information simply by touching the screen the wrong way, getting rid of unwanted contacts on your iPhone or other mis-operations will make your regret most before backup.

5. iPhone crashing

iPhone crashing like camera library, mail or contact app crashing will put your iPhone into blank screen with Apple sign in white. Then you find all your photos, contacts were gone after it came back.

6. Get your iPhone wet or have it stolen

If you have had the horrible misfortune of having your iPhone dropped in water or stolen, maybe you will see all your valuable information get lost, including contacts, photos, music, SMS, ideas, etc. in a second.

7. Replacing iPhone battery

All flash memory in the phone (except RAM) is retained without power. Replacing the battery has the same effect as resetting your iPhone, be careful with this!

We didn’t realize the seriousness of the situations such as the above until we deleted a crucial message on iPhone. But are the deleted files deleted permanently? Users should be aware that highly sensitive data can still be retrieved from either iTunes backup file or iPhone directly… some of the time. Below are the steps from recovering lost data via two means.

Restoring from a previous iTunes backup

You’re in luck if you have backed up before you deleted the contacts, just restore from iTunes backup files via iTunes.

Note: Back up your iPhone using iTunes prior to following these instructions. During the following instructions you’ll be advised to erase all data from your iPhone. If you do not back up the data that resides only on your iPhone, such as pictures or notes, that data will be permanently lost.

Step 1: Configure iTunes so that it doesn’t automatically sync with your iPhone when it is connected to your computer;

Step 2: Connect your iPhone to your computer;

Step 3: Open iTunes, right-click on your device and press “Restore from backup…”.

Recovery tool method to retrieve deleted files without backup

Due to the special technology of iPhone, it’s very hard to recover data directly from the iPhone itself, but it’s not impossible. Professional programs such as Fone Rescue, the iPhone data recovery utility (with separate versions for Windows and Mac) can help to retrieve deleted files without backup, it works with all iOS devices including newer iPads, the iPhone 5, and the iPhone 4S etc. Fone Rescue isn’t perfect, but if you’ve accidentally deleted an important photo or file, you know that some things are priceless.