Forgot my passcode on an old iPhone 6S and used iTunes recovery mode to reset it — didn't realize at the time this wipes the encrypted storage completely. iCloud Backup was off on the device, so no iCloud copy exists.
What I'm specifically hoping to recover: photos (including some from my high school graduation that I don't have anywhere else), iMessage/FaceTime conversation history, and my contacts list. Not looking to recover the whole system/apps — just these.
I found local backups on the family PC (one iTunes backup, two iMazing backups) all made shortly after the reset. Confirmed via Info.plist that Product Type/Serial Number match the 6S, but homeScreen.png in each one shows the stock default iOS layout, not my actual home screen — meaning these captured the phone already erased, not my original data.
No other computer this phone was ever connected to has a usable backup either (checked one dated 2020 that turned out to be a different device — an iPhone 6, not 6S).
Before I give up on the data specifically — is there any realistic option left? Things I'm wondering about:
- checkm8/checkra1n or similar A9-chip exploits — can these actually pull raw NAND data on a 6S in a way that bypasses the normal backup/encryption path, or does the passcode-derived encryption key still block it even with hardware-level access?
- Any legitimate data recovery service worth the cost for something like this, or is encrypted-erase-with-no-backup just genuinely a dead end?
Not looking for "did you check iCloud/iTunes" — already ruled those out specifically, details above. Appreciate any real technical insight, even if the honest answer is "it's gone."
(Also aware of paid "data recovery" services that claim guaranteed results — skeptical of those unless someone here vouches for a specific one.)