Recover Lost Voice Memos on iPhone after Update: 4 Ways

This article offers 4 ways for you to recover missing iPhone Voice Memos after iOS 17 update on iPhone, Windows or Mac with or without backups. You can even use another handy tool to back up iPhone without iTunes/iCloud.

By @Kathy Last Updated May 10, 2024
 

Why did my iPhone voice memos disappear?

Not sure if it is because of a recent iOS 17 update but suddenly found my old voice memos had been wiped out. Is Apple gonna do something in the next update? What should I do to recover lost Voice Memos iPhone after update?

- Question from Apple Community

Why did Voice Memos miss on iPhone after update?

Voice Memos on iPhone help users capture voice notes, interviews, meetings, or any other sounds you want to save. But in some situations, you will find that your Voice Memos are lost after iOS 16/17 update.

Here are some potential reasons that could lead to the occurrence of the malfunction.

⛔ Updates can sometimes introduce bugs or glitches, causing Voice Memos to malfunction or disappear.
⛔ Something goes wrong during the installation process.
⛔ Updates can reset or change settings, and this might affect how the Voice Memos app appears or functions.
⛔ In rare cases, an update might make certain apps incompatible, and they may not work correctly or be available for your specific iOS version.

Regardless of the reason behind the disappearance of voice memos on your iPhone, you can recover them using the 4 methods mentioned below, even if you haven't previously backed up the data.

How to recover lost Voice Memos on iPhone after update

In this section, you can learn how to recover your missing Voice Memos using your iTunes, Finder, or iCloud backup, or even complete the process without relying on any backup.

Method 1. Retrieve lost Voice Memos without backup (For Windows)

When it comes to recovering iPhone data without backups, MyRecover for iOS can be the best way to achieve the process. You can make it within only 3 steps and more than 10 types of iPhone data including Voice Memo, photos, videos, contacts, etc. can be retrieved.

Step 1. Download and install it on your Windows PC > Connect your iPhone to the Windows PC > If asks, click Trust to continue.

Step 2. Click Scan Now on MyRecover for iOS to scan your iPhone.

Step 3. Click the Voice Memo icon to choose the targeted files you want to restore and then click Recover to complete the task.

Tip: With this tool, you can also retrieve old Voice Memos from iPhone.

Method 2. Recover disappeared Voice Memos with iTunes Backup (For Windows)

You can recover disappeared voice memos through your iTunes backup file. When you connect your iPhone to your computer, iTunes automatically creates a full backup. And you can connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable to restore the lost data from the previous backup now.

Step 1. Launch the iTunes software on a Windows PC and it will detect your iPhone and display it.

Step 2. Click the iPhone icon when it shows in iTunes > Choose Summary, and click the Restore Backup button under the Backups section. Then select the backup that contains the lost Voice Memo and click Restore in the pop-up window to finish the process.

Note: If you receive a notification in iTunes stating that the backup cannot be restored to this iPhone software too old, you can find solutions in this passage: Fix the Backup Cannot be Restored to This iPhone Software Too Old

After the process is complete, you can browse the voice memos folder to find the lost files that have reappeared.

Method 3. Find disappeared Voice Memos with Finder Backup (For Mac)

For Mac users, you can use your Finder’s backup to get your missing Voice Memos on iPhone.

Step 1. Turn on your Mac and connect your iPhone to it with a USB cable > Launch the latest version of Finder.

Step 2. Click the iPhone in the left panel and then click Restore Backup > Choose an iPhone backup you want to restore and click the Restore button to begin the task.

Method 4. Recover missing Voice Memos with iCloud Backup

If you need to get the missed Voice Memos from the iCloud backup, then you need to factory reset your iPhone first: Go to the Settings app on iPhone > Choose General > Transfer or Reset > Tap on Erase All Content and Settings to make it. Then you can turn on your iPhone and follow the on-screen instructions to set up your iPhone.

When it asks, connect your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup on the App & Data screen. Sign in to your iCloud account with your Apple ID and select the latest backup from the list to recover the Voice Memos.

That’s all about how to fix the issue when your iPhone Voice Memos are missing after iOS 17/16 update. If you need a better iTunes/iCloud alternative to back up your iPhone data on PC, then you can keep on reading to explore the useful FoneTool.

Bonus: A better way to protect Voice Memos from loss

If you want to prevent your phone data, including Voice Memos, from being lost, FoneTool is a better backup tool compared to iTunes and iCloud. It can easily back up various iPhone models including iPhone 4 to iPhone 15 to Windows PC within a few clicks.

 Selective or Full Backup: You can use FoneTool to fully back up iPhone like iTunes/iCloud, or selectively back up photos, videos, music, contacts and messages.  Easily Access iPhone Files: You can easily view or export the backup files on PC after the backup.  Fast Backup Speed: FoneTool allows you to back up hundreds of files in seconds, significantly faster than iTunes or similar software.  No Apple ID Limitation: FoneTool will help you easily restore iPhone backup to another iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch between different Apple IDs.

Now you can download FoneTool and learn how to fully back up your iPhone data in a very short time.

Download Freeware Win 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
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Step 1. Turn on FoneTool on your PC > Connect your iPhone to the computer with a USB cable.

Step 2. Choose Phone Backup > Full Backup > Click Get Started to begin.

Step 3. Select the storage path > Tap Start Backup to complete the task.

Conclusion

From this article, you can obtain 4 methods to recover lost voice memos on iPhone after update, regardless of whether you have previously backed up iPhone data. If you need a better iPhone backup app, FoneTool will be your best choice.

Except for selective and full backup, you can also use FoneTool to back up WhatsApp without opening it.