Before-you-start checklist
Five minutes tells you whether what you're looking for has a chance of being in your backup. Tick all five and you're ready.
- Your Mac runs macOS 13 or later.
Apple menu > About This Mac shows the version. - This Mac has a local backup of your iPhone.
In Finder, select your iPhone > Manage Backups; your phone should be in the list. If you only have iCloud backups, LAILOLA can't read them. - That backup isn't encrypted.
A lock icon in Manage Backups means encrypted, which LAILOLA can't read at this time. Uncheck "Encrypt local backup" in Finder (you'll need the backup password), then click Back Up Now. - What you want was still on the phone when the backup was made.
Check the backup date. Anything gone before then isn't in the backup. If you need what's in an older backup, copy its folder before making a new one — the new one replaces it. - Your Mac has enough space.
A full backup is roughly the phone's used storage (iPhone Settings > General > iPhone Storage).
All five ticked?
Open LAILOLA and choose the backup. When the scan finishes, the numbers appear: how many messages, photos and files are still there. That part is free — make sure what you want is in there before deciding on Pro.
No backup yet? Make one
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac. If the iPhone asks "Trust This Computer?", tap Trust.
- Open Finder and select your iPhone in the sidebar.
- Choose "Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac" and leave "Encrypt local backup" unchecked.
- Click Back Up Now. The first backup takes around half an hour, depending on how much is on the phone. Keep the cable connected.
Everything LAILOLA can't do is listed here.