I accidentally left my powered-on iPad on an electric stove burner set to maximum for up to two minutes because I mistakenly thought I was boiling rice. When I returned, it was producing thick white smoke. The plastic case and stickers had melted, and I burned my hand while moving it. The iPad was playing a video through headphones, which started glitching before it shut down. It has not turned on after about 18 hours. The smoke smelled like burnt plastic and rubber. Is there any realistic chance the iPad itself survived, and is there a way to recover the data?
3 Answers
A reputable Apple repair or data-recovery shop can inspect it, but this is probably beyond an ordinary screen or battery repair. They may be able to temporarily repair the board well enough to recover data, though there is no guarantee. Don’t open it yourself or put it on a charger, especially if it is still in a trash container.
Your best chance for the data is an iCloud backup. Sign in to your Apple account through Apple’s cloud services and check whether your photos, notes, files, and device backup are there. Anything stored only locally may require a specialist repair or data-recovery technician, and recovery could be expensive or impossible if the storage or logic board was damaged.
The iPad is very unlikely to be functional after reaching temperatures high enough to melt the case and produce smoke. Heat may have damaged the battery, display, logic board, and solder joints. Do not try charging it or repeatedly powering it on. Since it contains a lithium battery and may be damaged, handle it carefully and contact a repair shop or your local hazardous-waste service for safe handling.
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