Tablet data recovery
Tablet not working? Our Swiss laboratory recovers your data. Free diagnosis within 3 hours.
How to recover data from a tablet?
A tablet — whether an iPad running iPadOS, a Samsung Galaxy Tab on Android or a Microsoft Surface on Windows — stores your documents, photos and apps on a NAND flash memory chip soldered directly to the motherboard. When the tablet suffers water damage, a cracked screen or a software failure, your data remains physically present on the chip and can be recovered.
Since 2006, SOS Data Recovery has processed over 11,300 media and helped more than 8,000 clients recover their data. Our Swiss laboratory, located in Ins, uses ISO 5 certified laminar flow workstations and chip-off tools to desolder and directly read memory chips, even when the tablet no longer boots.
We offer a free diagnosis within 3 hours to assess the chances of recovery. Our "80%" pricing model means you only pay if your data is actually recovered. SOS Data Recovery is CyberSafe certified and CyberSafe partner and rated 4.5/5 on Avis Vérifiés (249+ reviews).
Which tablet brands do we support?
What issues are you experiencing with your tablet?
Do you recognise one of these situations? Contact us for a free diagnosis within 3 hours.
Cracked screen or unresponsive touchscreen
A broken screen or failing touchscreen prevents access to your data. Our technicians bypass the interface to extract the memory contents directly.
Water damage or oxidation
Water or any other liquid causes rapid oxidation of internal components. Turn off the tablet immediately and do not attempt to charge it.
Damaged charging port or connector
A faulty Lightning, USB-C or micro-USB connector can prevent communication with the tablet and access to stored data.
Failing or swollen battery
A swollen or dead battery prevents the tablet from starting. Our engineers intervene safely to access data from the internal memory.
Deleted data or formatting
Accidental deletion, factory reset or formatting. Stop using the tablet to maximise the chances of recovering your files.
Locked or blocked tablet
Forgotten passcode, iCloud lock or blocked Google account. We have advanced techniques to extract data even from locked tablets.
How does data recovery work?
From free diagnosis to secure delivery — a transparent 4-step process, entirely performed in our Swiss laboratory.
Free diagnosis within 3 hours
Send your media by secure post, drop it at one of our 30 collection points across Switzerland, or bring it directly to our laboratory in Ins. Our team performs a full analysis within 3 hours of receipt — free and with no commitment.
Transparent quote before any work
You receive a detailed quote outlining the type of failure, recovery chances and exact cost. You approve before any work begins. Full payment on success — only attempt costs are charged if recovery fails.
Recovery under ISO 5 laminar flow
Our technicians work under ISO 5 certified laminar flow with specialised tools (PC-3000). Your data never leaves our CyberSafe-certified and CyberSafe partner Swiss laboratory. Duration: 2 to 10 business days depending on complexity.
Secure delivery of your data
Your recovered data is delivered on a new encrypted drive, or via secure download according to your preference. Original media can be destroyed on request to guarantee confidentiality.
Frequently asked questions
Our specialists answer the most common questions.
Can a swollen tablet battery damage data?
A swollen battery (bloated battery) is a real risk to data. As it expands, it can put pressure on the motherboard and internal connectors, causing poor connections, or even physical damage to the solder joints or memory chip.
Do not continue using a tablet with a swollen battery. The risk of fire or explosion is real, and the damage caused by a punctured battery is often irreparable to the motherboard.
If you notice swelling, immediately turn off the tablet, do not plug it in, and take it to a professional. Our technicians can extract the data before any battery replacement.
A tablet with a slightly detached back is often the first sign of a swollen battery. Act before the situation worsens.
How long does data recovery take on a tablet?
The data recovery time on a tablet varies depending on the nature of the failure and the level of urgency selected:
- Initial diagnosis: free, performed within 3 hours of receiving your device in our Ins (BE) laboratory
- Software recovery (accidental deletion, corrupted software): generally 24 to 48 hours
- Hardware recovery (broken screen, power failure): 2 to 5 business days
- Chip-off extraction (memory chip): 5 to 10 business days depending on the model
An Express service (high priority) and a Critical service (24/7 intervention) are available for urgent situations.
How to recover deleted files on an Android tablet or iPad?
Recovering deleted files on a tablet follows the same principle as on a smartphone: deleted data is not immediately physically overwritten; it remains accessible until the space is reused.
For an Android tablet, if USB debugging is enabled or if the tablet is still functional, our professional tools can extract the complete memory image and reconstruct the deleted files. Without USB debugging or root access, extraction may require hardware intervention (ISP or chip-off).
For an iPad, recovery without an iCloud backup is more difficult due to the default AES 256-bit encryption. If you know your PIN code, extracting deleted files is still possible within a timeframe of a few hours to a few days depending on the model.
If you have enabled the recycle bin in your applications (Photos, Files), check it first — most applications keep deleted files for 30 days.
Is it possible to recover data from an iPad tablet with a broken screen?
Yes. The internal memory of an iPad is separate from its touchscreen. A cracked or completely failed screen does not prevent the recovery of stored data.
For recent iPads (Face ID), a replacement screen is often required in the lab to bypass authentication. For older models (Touch ID), connecting to a trusted computer via Lightning or USB-C is usually sufficient.
If USB debugging was enabled and a trusted computer was already paired, extraction can be done without manipulating the screen. In the most complex cases (completely inert iPad), our technicians proceed with a direct extraction of the NAND memory chip.
Regularly pair your iPad with your iTunes/Finder computer and enable iCloud Drive to protect your data in case of breakage. A replacement screen often costs less than chip extraction.
My tablet underwent an update or factory reset — can the data be recovered?
A factory reset erases the file system, but on most Android tablets, the physical data remains partially present on the NAND memory until it is overwritten by new data.
On iPads, encryption is recreated during a reset, and previous data becomes inaccessible — recovery without an iCloud backup is then very difficult.
For Android tablets that have undergone a reset, the more the device is used after the reset, the lower the chances of recovery. In the lab, direct memory chip extraction (chip-off) offers the best chance of recovering partial or complete data.
After an accidental reset, immediately turn off the tablet and do not perform any initial configuration — each step of the initial configuration overwrites sectors of the memory.
My tablet won't charge anymore — is the data lost?
No, the data is not lost. A charging problem is related to the battery, the connector, or a power component — not the memory chip. Your files remain intact on the internal memory.
If the tablet no longer starts due to a lack of battery, our technicians can:
- Replace the battery or directly power the motherboard to access the data
- Extract the NAND memory directly if the motherboard is defective
Data recovery is possible in the vast majority of cases, even if the tablet is permanently out of service.
Avoid repeatedly plugging in a tablet with a damaged connector — you risk aggravating the short circuit and damaging the motherboard.
A swollen battery (bloated battery) is a real risk to data. As it expands, it can put pressure on the motherboard and internal connectors, causing poor connections, or even physical damage to the solder joints or memory chip.
Do not continue using a tablet with a swollen battery. The risk of fire or explosion is real, and the damage caused by a punctured battery is often irreparable to the motherboard.
If you notice swelling, immediately turn off the tablet, do not plug it in, and take it to a professional. Our technicians can extract the data before any battery replacement.
A tablet with a slightly detached back is often the first sign of a swollen battery. Act before the situation worsens.
The data recovery time on a tablet varies depending on the nature of the failure and the level of urgency selected:
- Initial diagnosis: free, performed within 3 hours of receiving your device in our Ins (BE) laboratory
- Software recovery (accidental deletion, corrupted software): generally 24 to 48 hours
- Hardware recovery (broken screen, power failure): 2 to 5 business days
- Chip-off extraction (memory chip): 5 to 10 business days depending on the model
An Express service (high priority) and a Critical service (24/7 intervention) are available for urgent situations.
Recovering deleted files on a tablet follows the same principle as on a smartphone: deleted data is not immediately physically overwritten; it remains accessible until the space is reused.
For an Android tablet, if USB debugging is enabled or if the tablet is still functional, our professional tools can extract the complete memory image and reconstruct the deleted files. Without USB debugging or root access, extraction may require hardware intervention (ISP or chip-off).
For an iPad, recovery without an iCloud backup is more difficult due to the default AES 256-bit encryption. If you know your PIN code, extracting deleted files is still possible within a timeframe of a few hours to a few days depending on the model.
If you have enabled the recycle bin in your applications (Photos, Files), check it first — most applications keep deleted files for 30 days.
Yes. The internal memory of an iPad is separate from its touchscreen. A cracked or completely failed screen does not prevent the recovery of stored data.
For recent iPads (Face ID), a replacement screen is often required in the lab to bypass authentication. For older models (Touch ID), connecting to a trusted computer via Lightning or USB-C is usually sufficient.
If USB debugging was enabled and a trusted computer was already paired, extraction can be done without manipulating the screen. In the most complex cases (completely inert iPad), our technicians proceed with a direct extraction of the NAND memory chip.
Regularly pair your iPad with your iTunes/Finder computer and enable iCloud Drive to protect your data in case of breakage. A replacement screen often costs less than chip extraction.
A factory reset erases the file system, but on most Android tablets, the physical data remains partially present on the NAND memory until it is overwritten by new data.
On iPads, encryption is recreated during a reset, and previous data becomes inaccessible — recovery without an iCloud backup is then very difficult.
For Android tablets that have undergone a reset, the more the device is used after the reset, the lower the chances of recovery. In the lab, direct memory chip extraction (chip-off) offers the best chance of recovering partial or complete data.
After an accidental reset, immediately turn off the tablet and do not perform any initial configuration — each step of the initial configuration overwrites sectors of the memory.
No, the data is not lost. A charging problem is related to the battery, the connector, or a power component — not the memory chip. Your files remain intact on the internal memory.
If the tablet no longer starts due to a lack of battery, our technicians can:
- Replace the battery or directly power the motherboard to access the data
- Extract the NAND memory directly if the motherboard is defective
Data recovery is possible in the vast majority of cases, even if the tablet is permanently out of service.
Avoid repeatedly plugging in a tablet with a damaged connector — you risk aggravating the short circuit and damaging the motherboard.