laurenagustafson

Q: HELP! I've accidentally erased my iPhone 6.

I was on my family member's Find my iPhone app, and wanted to make sure that if my phone got lost some how, I could erase it. (We have the same Apple ID). However, I didn't realize that I was ACTUALLY erasing the phone, while I was just thinking I was setting Find my iPhone up. I have not backed up my iPhone. Is there ANYTHING that I can do? Go into the Apple Store maybe? I am freaking out, all my pictures/memories are gone.

iPhone 6, iOS 9.0.1

Posted on Sep 28, 2015 9:36 PM

Close

Q: HELP! I've accidentally erased my iPhone 6.

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Sep 28, 2015 9:39 PM in response to laurenagustafson
    Level 9 (59,586 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 28, 2015 9:39 PM in response to laurenagustafson

    You have never backed up your phone? You have never imported photos from the iPhone to the computer, or iCloud? If not, and you selected to erase your device, your data is gone. Going to the Apple Store will not help.

  • by laurenagustafson,

    laurenagustafson laurenagustafson Sep 28, 2015 9:52 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 28, 2015 9:52 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    I have not.

    Is there any retrieval program through Apple or anything like that....

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Sep 28, 2015 9:54 PM in response to laurenagustafson
    Level 9 (59,586 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 28, 2015 9:54 PM in response to laurenagustafson

    Nothing through Apple. You may find a number listed on the internet, but they are generally scams to get your money and may recover a small amount of data for too much money. Can I ask why you never backed up the phone or imported the photos? Both are very easy tasks, and iCloud backups are done automatically when connected to power and the screen locked, such as charging overnight. Requires no additional input on your part.

  • by laurenagustafson,

    laurenagustafson laurenagustafson Sep 28, 2015 10:00 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 28, 2015 10:00 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    I am noticing on my phone, because I had to set it up as a new iPhone, that a few of my contacts, not all, and my notes are still in tact, but no pictures.. and all I care about is those.

    I haven't thought about backing up my iPhone, only because I would only do it if I was getting a new phone. I didnt ever think that I would be in this tough situation.

    I do have another question, though... I have once charged my phone on my MacBook Air, would that automatically back it up with out me knowing?!

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Sep 29, 2015 7:57 AM in response to laurenagustafson
    Level 9 (59,586 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 29, 2015 7:57 AM in response to laurenagustafson

    laurenagustafson wrote:

     

    I am noticing on my phone, because I had to set it up as a new iPhone, that a few of my contacts, not all, and my notes are still in tact, but no pictures.. and all I care about is those.

    I haven't thought about backing up my iPhone, only because I would only do it if I was getting a new phone. I didnt ever think that I would be in this tough situation.

    I do have another question, though... I have once charged my phone on my MacBook Air, would that automatically back it up with out me knowing?!

    The contacts may be an anomaly from the cache. Notes, would depend on how you are syncing those, and if from an email or cloud account, that would explain that. Backing up is essential for protecting your data, the same as you would on a computer. I would at least hope you are backing up your computer on a regular basis as well. I back both of those things on a daily basis, and after taking a number of pictures, I import them to the computer for safe keeping. As you have unfortunately discovered, a lack of a backup means you lose everything. My worse case scenario for my device is I would lose 24 hours worth of data. Your only other saving grace is if you were syncing data such as contacts and calendar to a supported application on the computer or cloud service.

     

    Your comment about backing up only if getting a new phone should be that you would perform an extra one, and a sync at that time to prepare your computer or the cloud to restore a new phone to. You could do one just prior to doing that, but you should still be looking into doing in on a regular basis. This Apple support document helps you determine which is the best method for you to backup. About backups in iCloud and iTunes - Apple Support  I do mine through iTunes and physically connecting my device to the computer via USB every night. You can also select iCloud backup, and as I indicated in an earlier post, that does not require any additional input from you once you set it up. You just make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi and plugged into power, like you would to charge the device overnight, and it will automatically backup to iCloud.

     

    Just connecting to the computer would not create a backup unless you had iTunes set up to do an automatic sync when you connected your device, but you would have known that prior.

  • by laurenagustafson,

    laurenagustafson laurenagustafson Sep 29, 2015 7:13 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 29, 2015 7:13 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    I went to the Apple store today and they just told me about how I could pay 5K to get everything restored, which you know... Guess I learned the hard way!!

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Sep 29, 2015 8:16 PM in response to laurenagustafson
    Level 9 (59,586 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 29, 2015 8:16 PM in response to laurenagustafson

    I'm sorry that it had to happen that way. I hope that you have been able to walk away from this with an improved knowledge on how to deal with your device and that something like this should never happen to you again. Good luck with your device.