Google Pixel Data Recovery from Complex Board-Level Failures

Google Pixel Data Recovery

from Complex Board-Level Failures

A non-functional Google Pixel phone was sent to DriveSavers after it stopped powering on and showed no signs of life — no boot behavior, no vibration, no screen activity, no charge response, and no measurable current when connected to power.

The customer, a technically knowledgeable repeat client, urgently needed his personal files recovered — especially photos, videos, and messages from recent years. This case turned into a high-stakes, multi-stage Google Pixel recovery effort that involved board-level repairs and specialised Android data extraction tools. Despite the phone’s complete hardware failure, our team recovered over 91 GB of critical data from the device.

Initial Problem: A Non-Responsive Pixel Device

The Google Pixel device arrived at DriveSavers with symptoms common in phones with failed boards or severely damaged chips that often lead to the assumption that the data is lost for good.

DriveSavers engineers confirmed there was no activity on the key communication lines between the CPU and other components on the board. Although there was no visible physical damage, signal probing revealed a deeper problem: a break in the connection between the processor and the logic board.

Step One: Rebuilding the CPU Connection

Using hot air BGA rework equipment under a microscope, the DriveSavers engineering team removed the CPU from the Pixel phone, cleaned both the chip and the board, and then rebuilt the connections through a process known as reballing. This step is extremely precise — any misalignment can cause permanent damage to nearby components.

Once the CPU was reinstalled and soldered back in place, data recovery engineers saw signal activity resume across the lines that had previously been identified as dead. This confirmed that the processor was once again communicating with the rest of the device.

But the job wasn’t finished yet.

Step Two: Fixing the Power Delivery Path

After the CPU was reinstalled and the processor was functioning, the Pixel device still wouldn’t boot. The engineers turned their attention to the power circuitry. Using a thermal camera, multimeter, and power injection tools, they identified a failed MOSFET — a component responsible for sending voltage to a control chip related to secure data access.

The failed MOSFET was removed and replaced with a new one of the same specification. This restored full power to the board and allowed the phone to enter a stable, recoverable state — enabling the data recovery process to begin.

Recovering Data from the Google Pixel Phone

Using DriveSavers Data Recovery’s proprietary tools developed specifically for Android, engineers recovered over 91GB of data from the device, including years of photos, videos, text messages, MMS, attachments, call history, contacts, calendar events, and app-specific files.

Our data extraction process goes beyond simply copying files. We use specialised techniques to ensure that recovered content — especially complex file types — remains intact, accessible, and complete. All data sets are double-checked for accuracy, and a verified backup is made prior to shipment to help safeguard the information in case of future loss.

The recovered files were then organised into clearly labeled folders to make navigation easy for the customer.

What Made This Google Pixel Recovery Unique

The Pixel device had two unrelated but equally severe board-level problems:

  1. 1. A disconnected CPU that prevented all communication
  1. 2. A failed power component that blocked access to secure storage

Neither issue showed up during visual inspection. Both required advanced diagnostics and precise board-level rework.

Final Thoughts

This case shows that even an unresponsive Google Pixel phone isn’t the end of the road. With the right tools, methods, and experience, full data recovery is still possible — even from smartphones with severe hardware failure.

Whether the problem is physical damage, firmware corruption, or an inaccessible device running a custom OS, the DriveSavers team specialises in complex recoveries and is equipped to recover data when others can’t.

Learn More About Android Data Recovery

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What is Data Recovery?

Data recovery is the process of locating, accessing, and restoring files that have become unavailable due to accidental deletion, corruption, or device issues.

Mike Cobb, Director of Engineering and CISO
As Director of Engineering, Mike Cobb manages the day-to-day operations of the Engineering Department, including the physical and logical recoveries of rotational media, SSDs, smart devices and flash media. He also oversees the R&D efforts for past, present, and future storage technologies. Mike encourages growth and ensures that each of the departments and their engineers continues to gain knowledge in their field. Each DriveSavers engineer has been trained to ensure the successful and complete recovery of data is their top priority.

As Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Mike oversees cybersecurity at DriveSavers, including maintaining and updating security certifications such as SOC 2 Type II compliance, coordinating company security policy, and employee cybersecurity education.

Mike joined DriveSavers in 1994 and has a B.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of California, Riverside.

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