Kelly Heffner Wilkerson

Kelly is Decipher Tools’ lead developer. She’s been developing software for iPhones and iPhone backups since 2008 when the App Store first opened. Kelly earned her Master’s Degree in Computer Science from Harvard University in 2010 and her Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Arizona in 2001. She also taught mobile development, introduction to programming, and programming languages at both Harvard and Arizona State.

Kelly is passionate about problem solving and addressing real-world tech problems. That's how she's became a leading expert in iPhone backup corruption and data recovery. When she’s not testing new software builds and chasing bugs on one of the many iPhones that reside on her office desk, you can probably find her at home being chased around the house by one of her two young sons!

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Our Picks for Durable iPhone and Android Screen Protectors and Cases

in Android, iPhone

Jump to the screen protector recommendations Jump to the case recommendations My first cell phone screen "incident" happened when my iPhone 4 fell out of the pocket of my maternity [... Read more about Our Picks for Durable iPhone and Android Screen Protectors and Cases]


How to Recover a Forgotten iPhone Screen Time Passcode

in iPhone

Update March 7, 2024: The ways to change or remove an iPhone/iPad Screen Time passcode have changed significantly over the past few years, so I'm updating this post to reflect [... Read more about How to Recover a Forgotten iPhone Screen Time Passcode]


How to See What Version of an iPhone App You Have

in iPhone

Today an app developer asked me an interesting question: “How do you find out what version of an app you're running?” Here's the short and most reliable way to check: [... Read more about How to See What Version of an iPhone App You Have]


My Favorite Gift Ideas for iPhone Users 2023

in iPhone

With the holiday season just around the corner, it's shopping time! I've curated a list of presents for all of the different kinds of Apple people in your life. For [... Read more about My Favorite Gift Ideas for iPhone Users 2023]


Recover Discord Email and Username from iPhone Backup

in Data Recovery, iPhone

We had a customer write in today with an interesting problem. He writes: In this iphone backup I have my discord account, The problem is I don't remember my email [... Read more about Recover Discord Email and Username from iPhone Backup]


Two Ways to Print Text Messages from iPhone

in iTunes, iPhone

If you find yourself in need of a hard copy print out of your iPhone text messages, including SMS and iMessage, the question is simple: How do I print iPhone [... Read more about Two Ways to Print Text Messages from iPhone]


How to Print Text Messages from iPhone - Techniques for Short or Long Conversations

in iTunes, iPhone

In this post we're going to go over two techniques for printing text messages from iPhone. The first technique will build a Pages document using screenshots and the Shortcuts app [... Read more about How to Print Text Messages from iPhone - Techniques for Short or Long Conversations]


Adding Location and Date Metadata to Recovered iPhone Thumbnail Photos

in iPhone

Recently, I've run into a few situations where someone writes in about wanting to save their Photos app thumbnails out of an iPhone or iPad backup after their photo library [... Read more about Adding Location and Date Metadata to Recovered iPhone Thumbnail Photos]


No Google Sign In Choice on Pokemon Go

in iPhone

I ran into this problem last night on my son's iPhone. He needed to sign into the Pokemon Go account we use that I made years ago under my email [... Read more about No Google Sign In Choice on Pokemon Go]


How to Export Your Data from Instagram

in Instagram

Social media platforms like Instagram have become more than just a means of connecting with friends. We upload cherished photos, have important conversations, and meet new people. Whether you're looking [... Read more about How to Export Your Data from Instagram]


How to Prepare and Send your iPhone Text Messages to your Lawyer

in iPhone

If you're working remotely with your attorney, you may need to independently save your iPhone text messages and iMessages and send them electronically to your lawyer. Here is our step-by-step [... Read more about How to Prepare and Send your iPhone Text Messages to your Lawyer]


Is my Apple Watch Making an Indent on my Wrist?

in Applewatch

I've been wearing an Apple Watch since they came out in April of 2015. I've been aware that there is a small "divot" where my watch sits, but I hadn't [... Read more about Is my Apple Watch Making an Indent on my Wrist?]


FFXIV DirectX/XAudio2 Crashes and Short Graphics Freezes

in Development

A couple of years ago, I bought a new gaming PC (a super duper MSI gaming desktop) after years of playing Final Fantasy XIV on Windows via bootcamp on my [... Read more about FFXIV DirectX/XAudio2 Crashes and Short Graphics Freezes]


Keeping Text Message History for Real Estate Transactions

in iPhone

My mom is a REALTOR® (as well as my step mom!) and I work all day on iPhone needs like pulling text messages and voicemails of the iPhone and on [... Read more about Keeping Text Message History for Real Estate Transactions]


Sending iMessages From Your Email Address Instead of Phone Number? Here's How to Stop That!

in iPhone

If your friends, family, or colleagues are telling you that your text messages are coming from your email address instead of your phone number, the culprit is likely in your [... Read more about Sending iMessages From Your Email Address Instead of Phone Number? Here's How to Stop That!]


There's No Yubikey Minidriver for Windows ARM64

in Development

This blog post is all about my adventures in trying to code sign on Windows 11 running via Parallels on an M1 MacBook Pro, with the private keys stored on [... Read more about There's No Yubikey Minidriver for Windows ARM64]


Automating EV SSL Yubikey Multiple Pin Prompts

in Development

We use an EV codesign certificate to sign our software on Windows. The EV codesign certificate from SSL.com is on a Yubikey usb and requires me to enter a PIN [... Read more about Automating EV SSL Yubikey Multiple Pin Prompts]


Last-Minute Gift Ideas for iPhone Users

in iPhone

Every December I say that I should write a post about gift ideas for iPhone users but never write it. But, a lot of friends and family ask me for [... Read more about Last-Minute Gift Ideas for iPhone Users]


Can't Use Your Apple ID on This Device

in iPhone

Today here at the Decipher office, Steve had to remove his older iPad mini from his Apple ID registered recovery devices, which required removing the iPad mini from his Apple [... Read more about Can't Use Your Apple ID on This Device]


How to Change From a Physical SIM to an eSIM on T-Mobile Business Account

in iPhone

Today our business got our first iPhone 14 Pro, which is our first device to require an eSIM instead of a physical SIM card. The device-to-device transfer wasn't working from [... Read more about How to Change From a Physical SIM to an eSIM on T-Mobile Business Account]


How to Turn Off a Samsung Galaxy Without the PIN

in Android

I just got a Samsung Galaxy S8+ from my awesome brother in law, for testing and development work. But, when I charged it up and it turned on automatically, it [... Read more about How to Turn Off a Samsung Galaxy Without the PIN]


How to Find Your iPhone or iPad's UDID

in iTunes, iPhone

You may need to know your iPhone or iPad's UDID (Universal Device Identifier) in order to give it to an iOS developer or to help you identify your device's iTunes [... Read more about How to Find Your iPhone or iPad's UDID]


Notarizing Apps Distributed as DMGs

in Development

We distribute our software for macOS as apps in Apple disk images, or said more simply, we distribute our software as a .app inside of a .dmg. For the past [... Read more about Notarizing Apps Distributed as DMGs]


iPhone WiFi Switch Won't Turn On | iPhone Disconnects from WiFi

in iPhone

Back in 2018, helped a customer fix a software glitch with their iPhone wifi, where the wifi switch often wouldn't turn on. Or, the wifi would appear to be on [... Read more about iPhone WiFi Switch Won't Turn On | iPhone Disconnects from WiFi]


Redragon Perdition m901 Key Binding Not Working

in Development

In June, my Cosair Scimitar went to mouse heaven, so I bought a new Redragon Perdition M901 gaming mouse for playing Final Fantasy XIV. When I first tried to set [... Read more about Redragon Perdition m901 Key Binding Not Working]


How to Fix "No Internet" on Windows Connecting to Eero WiFi

in Development

We recently switched to Eero for our wifi mesh network. However we found that our iMacs, when booted to Windows 10 using basecamp, would have a "No Internet" message connected [... Read more about How to Fix "No Internet" on Windows Connecting to Eero WiFi]


Six Fixes for "iTunes Could Not Restore the iPhone Because an Error Occurred"

in iPhone

I've seen my share of useful, not so useful, and downright silly app error messages. The iTunes error message "iTunes could not restore the iPhone because an error occurred" is [... Read more about Six Fixes for "iTunes Could Not Restore the iPhone Because an Error Occurred"]


Seven Ways to Recover Deleted iPhone Photos

in Data Recovery, iPhone

Unfortunately, if you're reading this, you've probably lost or accidentally deleted pictures from your iPhone. First, we're sorry to hear that! Next, let's try everything we can to help you [... Read more about Seven Ways to Recover Deleted iPhone Photos]


How to Fix an iPhone Backup that Causes Freezes or Repeated Rebooting

in Development, iPhone

Every so often, we receive emails about iPhones or iPads that are stuck frozen or rebooting after setting them up or restoring from a backup. Here's a few example scenarios, [... Read more about How to Fix an iPhone Backup that Causes Freezes or Repeated Rebooting]


How to Fix: iPhone Backup Corrupt or Not Compatible (Backup and Restore)

in Corrupt iPhone Backup, iTunes, iPhone

If you have a corrupt iPhone backup, you'll usually find out in one of two ways: When trying to make a backup, an error message pops up saying “iTunes could [... Read more about How to Fix: iPhone Backup Corrupt or Not Compatible (Backup and Restore)]


Apple Mail Offline SMTP Gmail Outgoing Mail Account

in macOS

I originally wrote this post when I helped a friend with her outgoing email in Apple Mail. Her outgoing email account (SMTP server) for a Gmail based email account kept [... Read more about Apple Mail Offline SMTP Gmail Outgoing Mail Account]


How to Recover Deleted iPhone Contacts

in Data Recovery, iTunes, iPhone

In recent months we've received a lot of reports that iPhone (iPad, and iPod Touch) users suddenly find all of their contacts are missing from their iPhone, with no clues [... Read more about How to Recover Deleted iPhone Contacts]


How to Recover Missing iPhone Notes

in Data Recovery, iTunes, iPhone

If you're like me, you keep some fairly important things in your iPhone Notes app, and you're pretty devastated when the notes are suddenly missing (which has happened to me). [... Read more about How to Recover Missing iPhone Notes]


macOS Error Opening .dmg Disk Image - No Mountable File Systems

in macOS

I ran into an interesting macOS error while working with a customer. I didn't find a lot of good search results addressing the issue, so I decided to write up [... Read more about macOS Error Opening .dmg Disk Image - No Mountable File Systems]


SWT StackOverflowError on Windows

in Development

Recently I was chasing down a crash report from a customer on Windows 7. The underlying exception trace is summarized as follows: java.lang.StackOverflowError at org.eclipse.swt.internal.ole.win32.COM.VtblCall(Native Method) at org.eclipse.swt.internal.ole.win32.IDispatch.Invoke(Unknown Source) at [... Read more about SWT StackOverflowError on Windows]


How to Factory Reset a Samsung Galaxy Without the PIN

in Android

In a previous blog post, I talked about how to power down a Samsung Galaxy if you don't have the PIN as part of my efforts after getting a hand [... Read more about How to Factory Reset a Samsung Galaxy Without the PIN]


Recovering Snapchat Friends Metadata

in iPhone, Snapchat

As I wrote about in an earlier post: it seems as though the latest Snapchat updates remove a lot of the metadata that Decipher Backup Browser leveraged to recover Snapchat [... Read more about Recovering Snapchat Friends Metadata]


How to Find a Deleted Facebook Messenger Contacts from iPhone

in Data Recovery, iPhone, Facebook

Maybe it was an accident, or maybe you didn't think you needed to talk to this person again, but you deleted a conversation from Facebook Messenger, and you really wish [... Read more about How to Find a Deleted Facebook Messenger Contacts from iPhone]


Our Favorite Tools for Small Business

in Development

As a small business owner, friends and family often ask me for recommendations when they're starting up a website or app. Some of the services we use here at Decipher [... Read more about Our Favorite Tools for Small Business]


Repair or Reinforce Apple iPhone USB and MacBook Power Cables

in macOS, iTunes, iPhone

Let's face reality: Apple cables tend to wear out and break. This article is all about ways to reinforce your Apple cables to extend their lifetime, or fix fraying cables. [... Read more about Repair or Reinforce Apple iPhone USB and MacBook Power Cables]


How to View Your iPhone's Debug Log/Console

in iTunes, Development

In this article, we're going to show you how to view your iPhone's debugging logs live. Updated December 1, 2019: Our suggestions are up to date for iOS 13 and [... Read more about How to View Your iPhone's Debug Log/Console]


Java Crash libFontParser.dylib TSFNTFont::GetFormat() on macOS

in Development

I recently ran into a new JVM crash with a customer, and found that there wasn't much online when I researched the problem. Upon trying to show the first JFrame [... Read more about Java Crash libFontParser.dylib TSFNTFont::GetFormat() on macOS]


How to Recover a Forgotten Photo Vault PIN

in iPhone

A while ago, we wrote a post about recovering a forgotten restrictions passcode. That got me thinking about other popular passcodes that don't have a built-in recovery mechanism. Then a [... Read more about How to Recover a Forgotten Photo Vault PIN]


Assistive Technology not found: com.sun.java.accessibility.AccessBridge

in Development

I found myself painted into a little development corner recently. Our software has a very tiny bit of Java Swing code in it (one JOptionPane with a JPasswordField in it), [... Read more about Assistive Technology not found: com.sun.java.accessibility.AccessBridge]


How to Install an SSL Certificate on Google App Engine

in Website/Seo, Development

One of my favorite blog posts of all time was "The Undocumented Guide to Using SSL on Google App Engine" which was on a blog called Neutron Drive Blog. Every [... Read more about How to Install an SSL Certificate on Google App Engine]


Why Does my iPhone Screen Drag Down to Half Screen Sometimes?

in iPhone

My friend texted me recently asking one of those good iPhone questions that is difficult to search for: “Sometimes when I swipe my home button a few times, the screen [... Read more about Why Does my iPhone Screen Drag Down to Half Screen Sometimes?]


How to Fix: iPhone Backup Corrupt or Not Compatible

in Corrupt iPhone Backup, iTunes, iPhone

Today we're going to address a question from a customer: "I backed up my phone last night to iTunes before trading it in today...wiped the old phone and turned it [... Read more about How to Fix: iPhone Backup Corrupt or Not Compatible]


iPhone Text Tones are All Silent

in iPhone

This morning my husband's iPhone 6 Plus stopped playing text tones. The ringer worked fine, but all of the text tones just vibrated, even while trying to change the tone [... Read more about iPhone Text Tones are All Silent]


How to Fix the iPhone Disconnected Error During Backup or Restore in iTunes

in iTunes, iPhone

If you're getting an error in iTunes that your iPhone “disconnected” during a backup or restore, this essentially means that the backup or restore stopped when iTunes didn't expect it [... Read more about How to Fix the iPhone Disconnected Error During Backup or Restore in iTunes]


(Fixed) App Store Connect Subscription Status URL Not Working/Never Called

in Website/Seo, Development

I've been helping my husband track down an issue where he wasn't getting any subscription status notifications from Apple for his app. We reviewed the SSL certificate requirements, could navigate [... Read more about (Fixed) App Store Connect Subscription Status URL Not Working/Never Called]


How to Fix iPhone Personal Hotspot Bugs

in iPhone

A bug I've seen for several years on my iPhones 7/8/XS is that my iPhone personal hotspot network isn't appearing (not discoverable) to other devices. This post is about my [... Read more about How to Fix iPhone Personal Hotspot Bugs]


Two Methods to Print Text Messages from iPhone XS/X/8/7/6

in iPhone

You may need to print text messages from an iPhone for a court case, immigration documentation, or just to have a memento of a lovely conversation you have on your [... Read more about Two Methods to Print Text Messages from iPhone XS/X/8/7/6]


Cannot Restore a Backup to an iPhone - How to Fix The Backup

in Corrupt iPhone Backup, iTunes, iPhone

If you're getting an error making it so you cannot restore a backup to your iPhone, there are a few possible causes: There are some communication errors in the iTunes [... Read more about Cannot Restore a Backup to an iPhone - How to Fix The Backup]


How to Make Backups of Your iPhone via Wifi

in iTunes

iTunes has an option called "Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi", that allows you to interact with your iPhone (or iPad/iPod Touch) in iTunes without having the device plugged into [... Read more about How to Make Backups of Your iPhone via Wifi]


Solution for Corrupt iPhone Backups

in Data Recovery, iTunes, iPhone, Corrupt iPhone Backup

Here is a solution to the error iTunes could not restore the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone that is being restored. If you're [... Read more about Solution for Corrupt iPhone Backups]


Where Are iPhone Backups Stored on My Computer?

in iTunes, iPhone

You may need to access the files for your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch backups on your computer in order to delete or rename them. Each backup of a device is typically named [... Read more about Where Are iPhone Backups Stored on My Computer?]


Tips to Take Better Mac Screenshots

in Website/Seo, Development

I take a lot of Mac screenshots, whether it be for our website or to illustrate instructions I'm sending to a friend or customer. Techniques to make my Mac screenshots [... Read more about Tips to Take Better Mac Screenshots]


How To Run a (Mostly) Static Website in Google App Engine

in Website/Seo, Development

Update March 30, 2020: Are you interested in seeing this post updated for a Python 3 App Engine envrionment? Let us know in the comments! I have been migrating my [... Read more about How To Run a (Mostly) Static Website in Google App Engine]


Fix for "This Action Cannot Be Completed" in iTunes and Mac App Store

in macOS, iTunes, iPhone

This morning I was trying to update one of my Mac App Store apps and noticed that I still wasn't signed in after my recent Apple ID password change. I [... Read more about Fix for "This Action Cannot Be Completed" in iTunes and Mac App Store]


Reduce Text Message Attachment Size by Turning Off Live Photos

in iPhone

Taking photos and sending them via iMessage directly in the Messages app has become a lot easier (and therefore a lot more common) in iOS 10 and iOS 11. If [... Read more about Reduce Text Message Attachment Size by Turning Off Live Photos]


How to Transfer iPhone Text Messages to Computer

in iPhone

One way to free up space on your iPhone is to save all of your text messages to a Windows or Mac computer, so you can delete the messages from [... Read more about How to Transfer iPhone Text Messages to Computer]


Why is my iPhone backup corrupt? (And How To Fix It)

in Corrupt iPhone Backup, iTunes, iPhone

After trading in your iPhone for a new iPhone X, or resetting your phone to fix some issues, you open iTunes to restore your backup and see a nasty message [... Read more about Why is my iPhone backup corrupt? (And How To Fix It)]


How to Bulk View and Save All of Your iPhone Messages App Photos and Videos

in Data Recovery

We made our Decipher TextMessage software to help people with their SMS and iMessage history, like collecting archives and backups of their important conversations, or print iPhone/iPad/iPod text messages for [... Read more about How to Bulk View and Save All of Your iPhone Messages App Photos and Videos]


How to Put iPhone Text Messages on PC

in iTunes, iPhone

This article provides a few ways to get your iPhone Text Messages on PC, so you have them saved for searching, printing, or just a good backup copy. We'll provide [... Read more about How to Put iPhone Text Messages on PC]


How to Enter Passcode on a Broken iPhone Screen

in iTunes, iPhone

If your iPhone screen is broken, you likely want to plug it into iTunes to make a backup and copy your photos before getting a replacement screen or new iPhone. [... Read more about How to Enter Passcode on a Broken iPhone Screen]


How I Fix Problems With My AirPods

in iPhone

I've seen two different kinds of errors in which my AirPods won't connect to my iPhone. Sometimes, one AirPod won't work, and I see a little red exclamation point by [... Read more about How I Fix Problems With My AirPods]


How Can I Access Files From Apps No Longer Supported in iOS 11?

in Updates, Data Recovery, iOS 11, iPhone

One major change in iOS 11 is that iOS no longer runs older 32-bit architecture apps. It's not likely that many of these apps will be updated, especially those that [... Read more about How Can I Access Files From Apps No Longer Supported in iOS 11?]


Can You Restore an iOS 11 Backup to iOS 10?

in Updates, Data Recovery, iOS 11, iPhone

Update January 25, 2018: If you need to install 32-bit apps on an iPhone/iPad/iPod that is running iOS 10, open the App Store app and go to your past purchases. [... Read more about Can You Restore an iOS 11 Backup to iOS 10?]


Automated Google Pagespeed Reports

in Website/Seo, Development

Google is going to be including page speed in mobile search ranking soon, so if you've been ignoring your page speed scores, it's probably time to take a look. In [... Read more about Automated Google Pagespeed Reports]


How to Recover Deleted iPhone Text Messages

in Data Recovery, iTunes, iPhone

One of the great things about working on Decipher TextMessage is that I often get to help people recover very precious data, such as text messages that were accidentally deleted [... Read more about How to Recover Deleted iPhone Text Messages]


Teach Siri Dictation How to Spell Proper Nouns

in iPhone

If you use voice dictation to type on your iPhone, you might have noticed that Siri/dictation uses the "common" spelling of proper nouns. If you use a less common spelling [... Read more about Teach Siri Dictation How to Spell Proper Nouns]


How to Get Facebook Notifications from the Facebook Comments Plugin on your Site

in Website/Seo, Facebook

We use the Facebook Comment Plugin for our software reviews, because we like the validity that real people's profiles lend to their reviews. But, I was irritated with it because [... Read more about How to Get Facebook Notifications from the Facebook Comments Plugin on your Site]


Should I Back Up Apps in iTunes?

in iTunes

Update October 2017: As of iTunes 12.7, the entire concept of backed-up apps has been removed from iTunes, so you should no longer see any prompts about backing up apps [... Read more about Should I Back Up Apps in iTunes?]


iTunes Sync vs Backup - How to Ensure you Keep Your Data

in iTunes, iPhone

I've been working with iPhone data for several years. I love it, because I get to help people recover valuable and sentimental data every day (like photos of newborn babies, [... Read more about iTunes Sync vs Backup - How to Ensure you Keep Your Data]


iPad or iPhone Sound Stuck on Headphone Volume?

in iPhone

Last night my son complained that our iPad's sound stopped working. When I took a look, I realized that when I tried to change the volume, the volume bar always [... Read more about iPad or iPhone Sound Stuck on Headphone Volume?]


Google Talk Not Working Via OS X Messages App

in macOS

If you're like me, you participated in the 2015 Safer Internet Day by completing Google's Security Checkup to get an additional 2GB of quota in your Google Drive plan. (If [... Read more about Google Talk Not Working Via OS X Messages App]


Problems with iCloud Backups

in iPhone

I love using iCloud as a secondary backup mechanism (that makes it a backup backup-mechanism?) It's automatic, so it's a nice little cushion of safety should I ever need it. [... Read more about Problems with iCloud Backups]


How to Back Up iBooks PDFs

in iTunes, iPhone

I do some serious PDF hoarding in the iBooks app on my iPhone. Calendars, e-books, flyers, things I loved reading and want to read again, things I want to love [... Read more about How to Back Up iBooks PDFs]


How to Save iPhone Text Messages to Your Computer

in iPhone

Saving text messages to your computer is a great way to preserve memories, free up space on your iPhone, or make sure that you've got a backup of important conversations. [... Read more about How to Save iPhone Text Messages to Your Computer]


How to Recover Deleted Text Message Attachments

in Data Recovery, iPhone

When you delete a text message or iMessage on an iPhone, the iPhone Messages app deletes the message text itself from a database and then deletes the attachment files. Occasionally, [... Read more about How to Recover Deleted Text Message Attachments]


Why Deleted iPhone Text Messages are Recoverable, and How to Find Them

in Data Recovery

In addition to saving text messages, a lot of people use our Decipher TextMessage to recover deleted text messages and attachments. Today I thought it might be interesting to discuss [... Read more about Why Deleted iPhone Text Messages are Recoverable, and How to Find Them]


Forgotten or Unknown iTunes Backup Password: How to Try a Blank Backup Password in iTunes

in iTunes, iPhone

iTunes asking you for a backup password, but convinced you never set one? We may have the trick to help you get your backup restoring, or to disable the encryption [... Read more about Forgotten or Unknown iTunes Backup Password: How to Try a Blank Backup Password in iTunes]


How to Find a Phone Number You Deleted on iPhone

in Data Recovery, iTunes, iPhone

Maybe it was an accident, or maybe you didn't think you needed to talk to this person again, but you deleted a phone number or contact from your iPhone, and [... Read more about How to Find a Phone Number You Deleted on iPhone]


How to Recover Deleted Pictures From iPhone Text Messages

in Data Recovery

Author's update February 13, 2017: This deleted text message photo recovery post relies on the old buggy attachment deletion that was fixed in iOS 8 and later. You may still [... Read more about How to Recover Deleted Pictures From iPhone Text Messages]


How to Handle Direct File Upload Google App Engine Python

in Website/Seo, Development

I searched my little heart out on the query "Python Direct File Upload Google App Engine" until I had given up hope thinking it was only doable in PHP. I [... Read more about How to Handle Direct File Upload Google App Engine Python]


Your Apple Music Membership has Expired Errors

in iTunes, iPhone

If you're not an Apple Music subscriber, you may see some (irritating) messages like “Your Apple Music membership has expired.” or “Hear this and any other song you want.” while [... Read more about Your Apple Music Membership has Expired Errors]


Snapchat Metadata Changed/Removed in iPhone Backups

in iPhone, Snapchat

It looks like the latest Snapchat update has either changed the structure of the metadata storage used within the app, or simply marked the metadata file as not to be [... Read more about Snapchat Metadata Changed/Removed in iPhone Backups]


Mixed Content Errors from Disqus on HTTPS Site

in Website/Seo, Development

Yesterday I noticed that our SSL connection on this blog had errors due to “mixed content”, meaning our HTTPS site was loading additional content that was served over insecure HTTP. [... Read more about Mixed Content Errors from Disqus on HTTPS Site]


Birthday Calendar Duplicated on iOS 10

in iTunes, iPhone

We recently were alerted to an interesting iOS 10 glitch where after updating to iOS 10, calendars are duplicated, sometimes hundreds of times. Some of the duplicated calendars can be [... Read more about Birthday Calendar Duplicated on iOS 10]


Encryption Bugs in iPhone Backups

in iTunes, iPhone

I've been investigating a pretty cruddy iPhone backup bug this past week. The bug goes something like this: Person makes an encrypted backup of their iPhone, the backup goes for [... Read more about Encryption Bugs in iPhone Backups]


Using WordPress on Google App Engine

in Website/Seo, Development

First, I'm really excited to be working on our new Decipher Tools knowledgebase/faq. It will be linked into our site header when we fully replace the content from our old [... Read more about Using WordPress on Google App Engine]


iOS 10.1 Update Released Removing Encrypted Backup Metadata

in Updates, Data Recovery, iPhone

iOS 10.1.0 was publicly released today, fixing an issue that made it easier for password guessing software to brute force iPhone backup passwords. The password-guessing vulnerability had to do with [... Read more about iOS 10.1 Update Released Removing Encrypted Backup Metadata]


Restoring iPhone Backup Takes Forever then Fails with Disconnected Message

in iPhone

The latest iPhone restore bug I've been tracking is a great example of unintended consequences. Now that we have iPhones with really large storage capacity, we also have REALLY large [... Read more about Restoring iPhone Backup Takes Forever then Fails with Disconnected Message]


iTunes Could Not Restore the iPhone Because the Backup Does Not Exist

in iPhone

If you've gotten to this blog post, you may be somewhat frustrated after selecting a backup to restore in iTunes, to then have iTunes report: iTunes could not restore the [... Read more about iTunes Could Not Restore the iPhone Because the Backup Does Not Exist]


iTunes Claims My Backup Password Was Incorrect - But It's Not!

in iTunes, iPhone

If you've recently changed your backup password in iTunes, and now iTunes is reporting that “the password was incorrect” when you try to restore that backup, then we may be [... Read more about iTunes Claims My Backup Password Was Incorrect - But It's Not!]


Selective Restore from an iPhone Backup

in iPhone

After making our backup repair tool, we started getting requests for a tool to selectively restore an iPhone backup. A selective iPhone backup means you get to pick the data [... Read more about Selective Restore from an iPhone Backup]


iPhone Caught in a Reboot Loop After Updating and/or Restoring a Backup

in iPhone

Starting in iOS 9, we've seen a problem in which an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch gets stuck in what we call "the boot loop". While iOS is starting up [... Read more about iPhone Caught in a Reboot Loop After Updating and/or Restoring a Backup]


How to Force Reminders to Sync / Update on iPhone

in iPhone

I use the Reminders app for my grocery lists. When I add items from my computer, or my husband adds things to our shared lists, they don't update on my [... Read more about How to Force Reminders to Sync / Update on iPhone]


iOS 10 Wifi Login Causes Settings App Crash

in iPhone

I've noticed my Settings app in iOS 10 crash occasionally when trying to join a wifi network that uses a webpage for credentials (like hotel wifi that needs your room [... Read more about iOS 10 Wifi Login Causes Settings App Crash]


iPhone Apps Won't Open, Crash on Launch

in macOS, iPhone

Yesterday, every third-party app I tried to launch crashed as it started up. Every one! My Apple apps (Podcasts, Mail, App Store, etc) all started without a hitch. The short [... Read more about iPhone Apps Won't Open, Crash on Launch]


New Photos Not Appearing in iPhone Camera Roll

in macOS, iPhone

Today my friend had an interesting iPhone bug. New photos she was taking in the iPhone Camera app were no longer showing up in her "Camera Roll" album, or anywhere [... Read more about New Photos Not Appearing in iPhone Camera Roll]


Apple ID: This Email Address is Already Being Used as an Alternate Email Address

in macOS, iPhone

I tried to log into iCloud.com yesterday, and I was greeted with a little security box asking me to verify my email address. When I entered my Apple ID email [... Read more about Apple ID: This Email Address is Already Being Used as an Alternate Email Address]


Mysterious Bingbot Sitemap Failures

in Website/Seo

A while ago, our Bing Webmaster Tools started reporting Failure status for Bingbot crawling our sitemap. While researching the issue, I didn't find much good information, so I wanted to [... Read more about Mysterious Bingbot Sitemap Failures]


Incorrect Dates and Times in Windows Programs - Windows Time Zone Glitches

in Development

Are you seeing incorrect date/times in a program on Windows? We occasionally see a Windows settings problem that causes programs to translate dates and times incorrectly, usually off by just [... Read more about Incorrect Dates and Times in Windows Programs - Windows Time Zone Glitches]


How to Put Text Messages Back on Your iPhone After a Factory Reset

in iPhone

A factory reset in iTunes will fix a lot of iPhone problems, including battery drain and general sluggishness. However, you may not want to lose your text messages, which will [... Read more about How to Put Text Messages Back on Your iPhone After a Factory Reset]


Unable to Sync, Backup, or Restore Older iPods, iPads, and iPhones

in iPhone

I've been very surprised to get a steady trickle of emails from people who are running into problems syncing, backing up, and restoring older iOS devices — especially iPods and [... Read more about Unable to Sync, Backup, or Restore Older iPods, iPads, and iPhones]


iPhone Sound (Ringers, Alerts, Notifications) Randomly Turns Off

in iPhone

A few months ago, my dad told me about a strange issue he was having with his iPhone 5c: Randomly, his iPhone sounds and vibrations would stop working. He would [... Read more about iPhone Sound (Ringers, Alerts, Notifications) Randomly Turns Off]


How to Restore an iOS 9.3 Backup to an iPhone Running iOS 9.2

in iPhone

We've gotten a few handfuls of emails about restoring an iOS 9.3 backup to a device running iOS 9.2. This isn't too surprising since Apple's iOS 9.3 release has had [... Read more about How to Restore an iOS 9.3 Backup to an iPhone Running iOS 9.2]


Factory Reset Your iPhone, But Keep Your Data

in iPhone

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to somehow factory reset your iPhone, but keep your data? Note: If you have a backup that iTunes reports as corrupted when trying [... Read more about Factory Reset Your iPhone, But Keep Your Data]


Get Insights About Your Teen's iPhone Screen Time Without Intruding

in iPhone

The next product we're working on is a tool for parents, but it's applicable to anyone that is interested in information about how an iPhone is used, when it is [... Read more about Get Insights About Your Teen's iPhone Screen Time Without Intruding]


iPhone Shortcut to Jump to the Bottom of Photo Albums

in iPhone

I sync the last twelve months of photos to my iPhone, and it's always been a big pain to get to the more recent photos. I find myself flicking and [... Read more about iPhone Shortcut to Jump to the Bottom of Photo Albums]


App Store keeps asking for your password on iOS 9?

in Development, iPhone

Is the App Store or iTunes Store app on your iPhone repeatedly prompting your for your Apple ID and password? I mean repeatedly as in, you enter it, the iPhone [... Read more about App Store keeps asking for your password on iOS 9?]


Wipe your iOS Device, But Keep Your Health and Activity Data

in Development, iPhone

Update September 26, 2015 Great news! We've taken the ideas from this blog post and turned them into our app Decipher Activity Transfer, featured on iDownloadBlog.com! Click here to see [... Read more about Wipe your iOS Device, But Keep Your Health and Activity Data]


FIXED - Upgrade to iOS 9 causing iPhones and iPads to Freeze on Slide to Upgrade Screen

in Development, iPhone

Apple released a fix for this issue in iOS 9.0.1. Yay! Please see Apple's official update about this issue linked here. We're seeing a lot of reports on Twitter and [... Read more about FIXED - Upgrade to iOS 9 causing iPhones and iPads to Freeze on Slide to Upgrade Screen]


How to Recover Lost Photo Stream Pictures

in iPhone

Apple's "Photo Stream" feature automatically copies photos between all of your devices as they are taken. The photos are not stored on iCloud, so it can be a good photo-sharing [... Read more about How to Recover Lost Photo Stream Pictures]


Display Glitch while Dragging Windows on Scaled iMac Retina

in macOS

Because I'll take any excuse to go talk to the Genius Bar staff, I went with my husband to his appointment about his new iMac's spectacular graphics bug. When he [... Read more about Display Glitch while Dragging Windows on Scaled iMac Retina]


iOS Messages Crash Bug: How to Prevent It and How to Fix It

in iPhone

A new bug has been found in which someone can send you a text message with a set of characters that causes your iPhone to reboot. In many cases, this [... Read more about iOS Messages Crash Bug: How to Prevent It and How to Fix It]


discoveryd or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

in macOS, iTunes, Development, iPhone

I originally wrote this back in March and it didn't get published, but given the new surge of discoveryd complaints, I'm posting it here now. Apple is getting a lot [... Read more about discoveryd or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb]


Breaking it Down: How Twitter Lost 4 Million Users Due to iOS 8 (and iPhone 6 Upgrades)

in iPhone

Twitter's company earnings call yesterday has started a storm of news about how Twitter lost users due to the release of iOS 8. There are two major components cited for [... Read more about Breaking it Down: How Twitter Lost 4 Million Users Due to iOS 8 (and iPhone 6 Upgrades)]


Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages from iPhone

in Data Recovery, WhatsApp

If you have recently deleted some important WhatsApp messages and are looking to recover them, you've probably noticed that the only recovery technique offered by WhatsApp is to restore from [... Read more about Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages from iPhone]


How to Tell if Your iPhone Battery Needs Replacing

in iPhone

We might be able to help you diagnose your iPhone battery! I've been seeing a lot of tweets and forum posts lately about people wondering if there is a way [... Read more about How to Tell if Your iPhone Battery Needs Replacing]


Decipher Backup Repair 8.4.0 and Decipher TextMessage 8.3.0 Updates

in Updates, iPhone

Today we released updates to Decipher TextMessage and Decipher Backup Repair. Here's the rundown of what's new: What's new in Decipher Backup Repair 8.4.0 Improved repairs for partial or damaged [... Read more about Decipher Backup Repair 8.4.0 and Decipher TextMessage 8.3.0 Updates]


Call For Beta Testers for Decipher WhatsApp - Save and Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages

in Data Recovery, WhatsApp

Update: Decipher WhatsApp is out of beta! Please click here to go to the official Decipher WhatsApp page. We've taken our deleted data experience and made Decipher WhatsApp, to save [... Read more about Call For Beta Testers for Decipher WhatsApp - Save and Recover Deleted WhatsApp Messages]


Syncing Gone Awry. Pile of "Other" Space on iPhone

in iTunes, iPhone

In my continuing exploration of rampant iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch "Other" disk space, today we're looking at an issue where a failed sync dumps music, photos, or other synced [... Read more about Syncing Gone Awry. Pile of "Other" Space on iPhone]


What's Eating Your iPhone Storage Space?

in iTunes, iPhone

The big news this week is a class-action lawsuit against Apple for misrepresenting the storage capacity for 8GB and 16GB iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches. As someone who has written [... Read more about What's Eating Your iPhone Storage Space?]


Save Voicemails Forever to Computer iPhone - iOS8

in Data Recovery

Lately we've received quite a few emails from iPhone users who are interested in saving / exporting their voicemails to computer for safekeeping. Here are some basic tips for taking [... Read more about Save Voicemails Forever to Computer iPhone - iOS8]


Common iMessage Problems and Solutions

in iPhone

I see a lot of tweets and forum posts about iMessage issues, so I thought I would make a post with some of the common issues I see, along with [... Read more about Common iMessage Problems and Solutions]


How to Restore Your Data if You Need to Factory Reset to Fix iOS Software Problems

in iTunes, iPhone

I have some beta versions of a new tool for us, and I am having a heck of a time describing it. Here is the rundown: Sometimes software problems cause [... Read more about How to Restore Your Data if You Need to Factory Reset to Fix iOS Software Problems]


Why I Backup in iTunes and Backup to iCloud

in iTunes, iPhone

I backup and restore my iPhone a lot. Like, ten-times-a-day a lot. Our software pulls information from iPhone backups and fixes corrupt backups, so I'm frequently experimenting to reproduce broken [... Read more about Why I Backup in iTunes and Backup to iCloud]


Texts Not Going Through to Friends No Longer on iPhone

in iPhone

Some big news for Apple this week was their unveiling of a site for removing a phone number from the iMessage system. This fixes a rare-but-serious problem in which an [... Read more about Texts Not Going Through to Friends No Longer on iPhone]


iTunes Not Showing any iPhones After 10.0.1.26 Update

in iPhone

For the past two mornings, I've woken up to find that none of my iPhones, iPads, or iPod Touches will appear in iTunes on my Mavericks iMac anymore. Restarting will [... Read more about iTunes Not Showing any iPhones After 10.0.1.26 Update]


How to Fix your iPhone's Broken Ringer

in iPhone

If your iPhone sound is working for videos and games, but not when you get phone calls or text messages, here are a few solutions to try to fix your [... Read more about How to Fix your iPhone's Broken Ringer]


Decipher TextMessage for WhatsApp? What Do You Think?

in Data Recovery

We're thinking of taking our Decipher TextMessage program and making a version that works for WhatsApp messages. This program would enable you to save your WhatsApp text messages from your [... Read more about Decipher TextMessage for WhatsApp? What Do You Think?]


iPhone Turning On and Off and Rebooting During Startup — We Can Help!

in iPhone

I've come across a handful of customers that had the following scenario: iPhone1 is stuck in a cycle of rebooting during startup. iPhone works perfectly fine if restored to factory [... Read more about iPhone Turning On and Off and Rebooting During Startup — We Can Help!]


iTunes Could Not Restore the iPhone Because the Backup was Corrupt — What Now?

in iPhone

Many different issues can trigger the error message "iTunes could not restore the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the device that is being restored," but [... Read more about iTunes Could Not Restore the iPhone Because the Backup was Corrupt — What Now?]


How To Setup AppBundler to Point The Java Working Directory to Your App Resources

in Development

Today we're switching all of our build process over to Ant and bundling our OSX Java programs with AppBundler so we can properly package a JRE with our software. I [... Read more about How To Setup AppBundler to Point The Java Working Directory to Your App Resources]


iOS Developers: Beware of Long File Paths

in Development

I try to keep my blogging targeted to customers and the general public, but today I have a very interesting finding to share with iOS developers. (If you stumbled onto [... Read more about iOS Developers: Beware of Long File Paths]


Stop Asking "Are you getting my texts?" With Read Receipts

in iPhone

I was sitting in a restaurant this past week, when I overheard a mom talking to her teenage son about him not responding to her texts. She asked "Are you [... Read more about Stop Asking "Are you getting my texts?" With Read Receipts]


Do You Have an iOS Battery Drain Problem?

in iPhone

I'm brainstorming an at-home iPhone diagnostic tool this week, mostly to find possible (fix-able) causes for abnormal battery drain. While doing some preliminary research, I read the best iPhone battery [... Read more about Do You Have an iOS Battery Drain Problem?]


Should you Upgrade to iOS8's iCloud Drive? What Does it Break?

in iPhone

One of the exciting features of iOS8 is iCloud Drive, a sexy-looking new iCloud document storage system. But, there is a big gotcha if you use iCloud document storage on [... Read more about Should you Upgrade to iOS8's iCloud Drive? What Does it Break?]


Fast Ways to (Painlessly) Free Up Space so You Can Install iOS8

in iPhone

Aaah! You're excited to install iOS8 on your iPhone1, but when you try to install from the Settings app on your iPhone, you see the message: "This update cannot be [... Read more about Fast Ways to (Painlessly) Free Up Space so You Can Install iOS8]


Unable to install an iPhone app? Here’s the Fix

in iPhone

Here's a weird situation: There is no app icon on your iPhone's1 home screen for an app you want to use, but when you go to install it from the [... Read more about Unable to install an iPhone app? Here’s the Fix]


Possible Solutions for Broken Sound On Your iPhone

in iPhone

It's about time I write a post about this: All of the sudden your iPhone volume is muted, and you're not sure why. It happens to the best of us [... Read more about Possible Solutions for Broken Sound On Your iPhone]


iPad Home Button Broken? Two Alternative Ways to Access the Home Screen

in iPhone

About two months ago, the home button finally gave out on the iPad my son uses. We're not thrilled about the idea of spending any money on a device doomed [... Read more about iPad Home Button Broken? Two Alternative Ways to Access the Home Screen]


Fixing "Setup was Unable to Create a New System Partition" Error While Installing Windows 7 via Bootcamp

in macOS

This is a little bit outside the scope of this blog, but I can't help myself. I recently got a new iMac, and tried to install Windows 7 on it [... Read more about Fixing "Setup was Unable to Create a New System Partition" Error While Installing Windows 7 via Bootcamp]


How to Fix an iPhone or iPad That is Not Charging

in iPhone

If your iPhone or iPad1 doesn't charge when you plug it in (or intermittently charges,) the culprit is usually debris in your charging port (Lightning or 30-Pin.) We have some [... Read more about How to Fix an iPhone or iPad That is Not Charging]


How to Control your iPhone Volume if a Volume or Mute Button Breaks

in iPhone

There are three physical volume controls on the side of the iPhone (or iPad or iPod Touch): the volume up & down buttons, as well as the mute on/off switch. [... Read more about How to Control your iPhone Volume if a Volume or Mute Button Breaks]


Reduce Your iPhone Cell Data Usage With These Three Settings

in iPhone

When I moved house earlier this year, we were without internet service in our new home for several weeks. For the first time in quite a long time, my iPhone [... Read more about Reduce Your iPhone Cell Data Usage With These Three Settings]


iPhone Battery Dies Too Quickly? Ten Tips to Extend Your iPhone Battery Life

in iPhone

If you find yourself digging out your iPhone charger too many times throughout the day, we have some tips to help you reduce the drain on your iPhone's battery. You're [... Read more about iPhone Battery Dies Too Quickly? Ten Tips to Extend Your iPhone Battery Life]


How to Save iPhone Voicemail To Your Computer

in Data Recovery

As of iOS7, the iPhone has no way to extract the contents of a voicemail out of the iPhone and save it on a computer or send it in an [... Read more about How to Save iPhone Voicemail To Your Computer]


How to Delete Items from an iPhone List

in iTunes

One of the most common customer-support questions iPhone app developers get is "How do I delete a thing?" where "thing" is whatever is shown in a list. Swipe your finger [... Read more about How to Delete Items from an iPhone List]


How to Fix iTunes "Could Not Restore the iPhone Because the iPhone Disconnected" Message

in iTunes

I know I'm weird, because I get a little thrill out of seeing new error messages in iTunes. Most people groan, and granted it takes some time out of my [... Read more about How to Fix iTunes "Could Not Restore the iPhone Because the iPhone Disconnected" Message]


How to Recover Photos from Deleted iPhone Text Messages

in Data Recovery

We have a much newer blog post about finding deleted text message attachments! Check it out here!. One of the improvements that we're making to Decipher TextMessage is the ability [... Read more about How to Recover Photos from Deleted iPhone Text Messages]


How Does SnapHack Work?

in iPhone, Snapchat

If you're reading this article, you've probably stumbled on all the hubub about the app SnapHack, an app that enables you to save your received SnapChat photos. So how does [... Read more about How Does SnapHack Work?]