Forensic extraction
Cellebrite and file-system access
Used when the phone can communicate but the data is inaccessible through normal screen or operating-system access.
Australia-wide mail-in recovery
Mobile Phone Data Recovery Australia-Wide
Recover photos, messages, contacts and app data from water-damaged, broken, locked or completely dead phones. We email every client a free prepaid Australia Post Express label, so you can send the device without travelling to the laboratory or paying intake postage.
- Free Australia Post Express label
- Free diagnosis
- No data, no fee
One tracked path from home to labRequest the label, post the phone, then follow the recovery through Wildfire's online job tracker.
Free Express labelPrepaid Australia Post intake nationwide
Free diagnosisExact written quote before work begins
No data, no feeAvailable on standard consumer recoveries
Live job trackingReturn online with your job number and PIN
Fast mobile recovery path
Get the right next step in about a minute
- 1What happened?
- 2Your phone
- 3Safety advice
- 4Start recovery
Interactive recovery triage
Tell us what happened and get safer next steps
This tool does not diagnose the phone. It collects useful symptoms, identifies immediate safety precautions and prepares a case summary for the laboratory.
Mobile recovery check
Step 1 of 4
Start here
What happened to your phone?
Choose the closest match for an immediate, non-pricing recovery plan. Your selection carries into the saved case brief below so you do not have to explain the problem twice.
Recovery action plan
Protect the data before anything else
The page remembers your last selected plan on this device. Copy it, build a case brief, or move directly to the free Express Post intake.
Time critical
Water or liquid damage
Keep the phone powered off. Liquid and power together accelerate corrosion and can turn a recoverable board into permanent damage.
Read the detailed Wildfire guideDo now
- Power the phone off and leave it off.
- Gently dry the exterior without heat.
- Arrange a diagnosis as soon as practical.
Avoid
- Do not charge, power-cycle or test it repeatedly.
- Do not use rice, a hair dryer or an oven.
- Do not open the phone outside a suitable workspace.
Likely lab path
- Corrosion inspection and controlled cleaning.
- Board stabilisation and component-level repair.
- Forensic extraction once communication is stable.
Saved recovery brief
Build the case summary once, then bring it back later
Choose the facts that matter to an engineer. The brief is stored only in this browser, can be copied into the job form, and contains no name or contact details.
What recovery involves
Your data may still be present even when the phone is unusable
Mobile phone data recovery retrieves inaccessible data after physical damage, software corruption, accidental deletion or a security lockout. The recovery path depends on whether the phone can still communicate, whether its logic board can be stabilised and how the device protects its encryption keys.
Logical recovery
For phones that can still communicate with forensic tools. Used for supported deletions, corruption, failed updates and some lock scenarios.
Physical recovery
For dead or damaged boards. May involve micro-soldering, component repair, ISP/JTAG work or direct chip-level techniques.
Phone families handled by the laboratory
Apple iPhone
Samsung Galaxy
Google Pixel
Huawei / Honor
OPPO / Realme
Xiaomi / Redmi
Motorola / Nokia
iPad & Android tablets
Recovery methods
One laboratory, several paths to the data
Engineers begin with the least invasive method and move to board-level or chip-level work only when simpler extraction is not possible.
Board-level repair
Micro-soldering and stabilisation
Failed connectors, power rails and board components can be repaired long enough to create a stable forensic image of the data.
Advanced recovery
Direct and chip-level techniques
ISP, JTAG and chip-level procedures are reserved for severe cases where the device cannot be made to communicate normally.
Australia-wide process
From your home to the laboratory and back again
No visit is required. Every client can use the same tracked Express Post intake from anywhere in Australia.
Start the case online
Submit the phone details or call an engineer. Wildfire creates the case and emails the free Australia Post Express label.
Pack and lodge the phone
Use a rigid box with protective padding, attach the prepaid label and lodge the parcel through Australia Post.
Free diagnosis and approval
The laboratory identifies the safest recovery path and sends the exact written quote before any recovery work begins.
Track recovery and receive data
Follow the case online with your job number and PIN. Verified recovered data is returned by the agreed secure method.
Inside the Wildfire laboratory
A specialist lab behind an Australia-wide mail-in service
Wildfire is a dedicated data recovery and digital forensics laboratory rather than a general repair shop. Phone cases can move between forensic extraction, electronics diagnosis and precision board work without being outsourced to another provider.
- Professional forensic toolingCellebrite UFED, Oxygen Forensic and specialised phone extraction equipment.
- Board-level capabilityMicroscope inspection, component-level diagnosis and precision rework stations.
- Secure handlingRestricted laboratory access and evidence-aware procedures for sensitive cases.
- Free Express intake nationwideEvery client can request a prepaid Australia Post Express label and track the case online.
Evidence behind the service
Show the proof, conditions and limits clearly
This section is designed to publish only evidence that can be tied to an internal record, named person, source document or live review profile.
Performed internally
Microscope inspection, controlled board cleaning, micro-soldering, board stabilisation and supported forensic extraction can be described here when they are performed by Wildfire rather than outsourced.
See the laboratory workflowSecure intake and return
Publish the exact tracked-intake, access-control, recovered-data verification, retention and secure-return procedures used for consumer and forensic cases.
Review the tracked intakeNo Data, No Fee conditions
State which standard consumer recoveries qualify, which diagnostic or specialist charges can apply, and when a case falls outside the guarantee. Link to the complete terms rather than relying on a badge alone.
Review the published conditionsCases that may not be recoverable
- Completed factory resets on modern encrypted phones without a usable backup.
- Destroyed original encryption components or keys.
- Overwritten deleted data or unsupported lock states.
- Storage damage beyond a readable and decryptable state.
Verification register
Not yet suppliedAdd these records before calling the proof section complete
Named engineersName, role, years of relevant experience and profile photograph.
QualificationsCertification name, issuer, identifier where appropriate and validity date.
Turnaround evidenceDate range, completed-case sample size, median and 80th-percentile turnaround.
Review linksDirect links to the genuine review platforms and current public ratings.
Original photographsEquipment, facility and case photographs linked to consent and job records.
Case verificationJob reference, approved public facts, outcome evidence and client consent.
Compare recovery providers
Six questions worth asking before anyone touches the phone
Australian recovery pages commonly lead with speed, office locations or a free quote. Those are useful, but they do not tell you how the phone will be handled. Use this checklist with any provider.
01Is diagnosis free and genuinely no-obligation?
A proper diagnosis should lead to a written recovery path and quote before work. Wildfire states that standard consumer diagnosis is free.
02Will I approve an exact quote before recovery starts?
A model estimate is only a guide. Wildfire confirms a fixed written quote after diagnosis and waits for approval.
03Are forensic and board-level methods available in-house?
Dead and locked phones often need more than screen repair or desktop software. Ask who performs micro-soldering, stabilisation and forensic extraction.
04How is the phone transported and tracked?
Wildfire provides a prepaid Australia Post Express label, a shipping guide and online job tracking rather than requiring a public drop-off.
05Can I tell the lab exactly which data matters most?
Recovery success should be judged against your priorities. Use the saved case brief on this page to identify the photos, messages or business data that matter.
06What does “No Data, No Fee” include and exclude?
Ask for the conditions in writing. Wildfire applies the guarantee to standard consumer recoveries and confirms the case category before commitment.
Interactive case studies
Follow three specialist recovery pathways
These drafts use the case details supplied for this project. Match every outcome, location, image and technical step to the corresponding job record and client consent before publishing them as verified case studies.
Draft — verification required
iPhone 15 Pro · Noosa ocean exposure01 02 03 04
Wedding photos saved after an ocean plunge
The supplied case outline describes an iPhone 15 Pro exposed to salt water near Noosa, with wedding photographs identified as the priority data.
Incident
Ocean-water exposure introduced conductive salts and rapidly developing corrosion. The recovery priority was the original photo and video library.
Diagnosis
Microscope inspection and controlled board testing were used to map corrosion before further power was applied.
Laboratory work
Controlled cleaning, ultrasonic treatment where appropriate, and micro-soldering repair were used to stabilise the original logic board.
Outcome to verify
Confirm the exact recovered folders, validation method, turnaround and client approval against the job record before publication.
View the technical pathway
- Keep the phone powered off and document the exposure.
- Inspect corrosion under magnification.
- Clean and stabilise affected power and communication areas.
- Repair the original board sufficiently for authenticated extraction.
- Validate the requested photo and video data before return.
Draft — architecture check required
Samsung Galaxy S24 · Brendale battery event01 02 03 04
Business data recovery after severe electrical damage
The supplied case outline describes a battery event near Brendale and business data recovered after the phone could no longer operate normally.
Incident
A battery or power event left the handset electrically unsafe and unable to complete a normal startup.
Diagnosis
The laboratory would first isolate battery risk, inspect the power path and determine whether the original board could be stabilised.
Advanced work
Use the exact job notes to describe any NAND, ISP, board transplant or direct-reading work. Modern encrypted Samsung devices often require more than raw memory access.
Outcome to verify
Confirm the extraction method, encryption handling, recovered business data and chain of custody before making a public chip-off claim.
Technical accuracy note “Chip-off” should only be published if the job record confirms physical memory removal and a valid path through the device’s encryption architecture.
Draft — authority and consent required
Google Pixel 8 · Verified deceased estate01 02 03 04
Locked-device assessment with deleted-data investigation
The supplied case outline concerns a deceased estate, a locked Pixel 8 and an investigation into deleted data using supported forensic methods.
Authority
Estate authority, identity and scope must be verified before any lock or forensic work begins.
Preservation
The phone is preserved in its current state to avoid unnecessary writes, remote erasure or repeated lockout attempts.
Extraction
Supported Cellebrite or equivalent workflows may be assessed according to the model, software version, lock state and lawful authority.
Deleted-data review
Any carving or deleted-record claim must specify what artefacts remained, how they were validated and the limitations of modern encrypted storage.
Evidence-aware handling Publish only after confirming authority documents, approved scope, tool support, audit notes and client consent.
Wildfire knowledge hub
A useful page to return to and a source others can reference
Bookmark this page for the saved brief and packing progress, or use the verified Wildfire links below for shipping, job tracking and specialist guidance.
Request the free Express Post labelVerified Wildfire shipping page and packaging guide
Track an active recoveryUse the job number and PIN from the intake email
Mobile phone forensicsEvidence-aware extraction for legal and sensitive cases
iPhone water damage: first stepsDetailed emergency guidance from the Wildfire blog
Samsung Galaxy recoveryBrand-specific recovery capabilities and common failures
Browse all recovery articlesPractical guides, case explanations and prevention advice
Free Australia Post Express
No visit required. We send the Express label to you.
Start the case online and Wildfire emails a prepaid Australia Post Express label. Pack the phone, lodge it through Australia Post and track the recovery online.
1
Request the labelStart the case through the verified shipping page.
2
Pack the phoneUse a rigid box and enough padding that the phone cannot move.
3
Lodge and trackAttach the label, lodge through Australia Post and keep the tracking number.
Saved dispatch checklist
Prepare the phone for intake
Power the phone off and leave it off. Continue with the checklist below.
0 of 5 ready
Your progress is saved in this browser
If a battery is swollen, hot, punctured, smoking or fire-damaged, do not lodge the parcel until a Wildfire engineer confirms the safe intake method. Call 1300 806 557.
Tracked intakeFree prepaid Express label and online recovery status.
Straight answers
Mobile phone recovery questions
Straight answers about diagnosis, free Express Post intake, packing, tracking and technical recovery.
Cost depends on the phone, damage and required recovery method rather than the amount of data. The interactive recovery check prepares the symptoms and likely assessment pathway but does not diagnose or quote remotely. Wildfire confirms the exact written quote after the free diagnosis, and no work starts until you approve it.
Open Wildfire’s shipping page or start the job form. After the case details are received, the prepaid Australia Post Express label is emailed to you. Attach it to a securely packed parcel and lodge it through Australia Post.
No. No visit is required. Mobile recovery intake can be handled through the free prepaid Australia Post Express service, so you can start the case online from anywhere in Australia.
Power it off, protect it from movement and use a rigid box with padding on every side. Include the case reference inside and attach the prepaid label outside. Do not include chargers unless an engineer specifically asks for them.
Do not lodge a phone with a swollen, hot, punctured, smoking or fire-damaged battery until a Wildfire engineer confirms the safe intake method. Call the laboratory first on 1300 806 557.
Often, yes. Keep the phone off and do not charge it. The laboratory may use corrosion cleaning, board stabilisation, forensic extraction or advanced chip-level methods depending on what the liquid damaged.
Use Wildfire’s Track My Recovery page with the job number and PIN from the intake email. The tracker is the fastest way to return to the current stage without repeating the case details.
Chip-off is an advanced technique in which a memory component is removed from a damaged board for specialist reading and reconstruction. Modern encryption means raw memory access alone is not always enough, so engineers assess device architecture and non-destructive options first.
Ready for the free Express Post intake?
Request the prepaid label, send the phone from anywhere in Australia and receive the exact written quote after diagnosis.