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Attorney Quick-Start Guide

HOW IT
WORKS

No forensics degree required. Follow these steps to go from a client's phone to a court-ready evidence report — usually in under 20 minutes.

WHAT YOU NEED

Gather these four things before opening ExtractPhone. Having everything ready lets you complete the entire report in one sitting.

A Computer

Any Windows PC or Mac with a modern browser — Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. No software installation required. ExtractPhone runs entirely in your browser.

Client's Phone or Backup

The physical device with a USB cable, an existing iTunes or Finder backup file, a WhatsApp conversation export, or a CSV spreadsheet of records.

Your License Key

Emailed to you after purchase. It is a unique string of letters and numbers. Keep it private — it is linked to your account and tracks your report usage.

Basic Case Information

Client's full name, your name or firm name, the case number, and a one-sentence description. This populates the cover page of your report.

THREE WAYS TO GET THE DATA

Pick the method that fits your situation. Method A provides the most complete picture. Methods B and C work when physical access to the phone is not possible.

Recommended

Method A: iPhone Backup

Full backup: messages, contacts, call logs, photos, and app data. Best for comprehensive cases.

A
1
Connect the iPhone via USB cable Plug the phone into your computer. Unlock the phone and tap Trust This Computer if a prompt appears.
2
Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) On Mac: open Finder and click the phone in the left sidebar. On Windows: open iTunes and click the phone icon near the top-left.
3
Select "This computer" and click Back Up Now Under the Backups section, choose This computer, then click Back Up Now. Wait for the progress bar to finish (5 to 20 minutes).
4
Locate the backup folder The backup is stored here automatically: Mac
~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
Windows
C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
5
Upload the backup folder to ExtractPhone In ExtractPhone, click the upload area and select the entire backup folder. The tool parses it automatically.
Quick Method

Method B: WhatsApp Export

Ideal when the key evidence is in a WhatsApp conversation. Works for iPhone and Android.

B
1
Open the relevant WhatsApp conversation On the client's phone, open WhatsApp and tap the specific chat that contains the evidence you need.
2
Tap: 3 dots → More → Export Chat On iPhone: tap the contact name at the top, scroll down to Export Chat. On Android: tap the three vertical dots at top-right → More → Export Chat.
3
Choose "Include Media" When prompted, select Include Media to bundle photos and videos with the text. WhatsApp creates a .zip file.
4
Email the .zip file to yourself Share the .zip via email or AirDrop to your computer, then download the attachment.
5
Upload the .zip to ExtractPhone Upload the zip file as-is. Do not unzip it first. ExtractPhone extracts and organizes everything automatically.
Manual Entry

Method C: CSV Template

Use when the phone is unavailable and you have records from a carrier subpoena, printout, or spreadsheet.

C
1
Download the CSV template Visit /templates and download the ExtractPhone CSV template with pre-labeled columns.
2
Open in Excel or Google Sheets Each row is one message or call. Columns are: Date, Time, Sender, Recipient, Message, Type. Do not rename the column headers.
3
Enter the records Type each message or event in its own row. Use the date format in the template header (MM/DD/YYYY). Leave fields blank rather than writing "N/A."
4
Save as CSV Excel: File → Save As → CSV (Comma delimited). Google Sheets: File → Download → Comma-separated values (.csv).
5
Upload the CSV to ExtractPhone Select your .csv file in the upload area. ExtractPhone parses it and displays all records for review before you generate the report.

8 STEPS TO A COURT-READY REPORT

Once your data file is ready, follow these steps inside ExtractPhone. Your session is preserved until you close the browser tab.

1

Enter Your License Key

Paste your license key into the field on the first screen and click Verify. Validation is instant. Check your purchase confirmation email if you cannot find the key.

Lost your key? Email support@extractphone.com with your order number.
2

Enter Case Information

Fill in: attorney or firm name, client's full name, case number, court name (optional), and a one-line case description. This appears on the report cover page and is never sent to ExtractPhone servers.

3

Upload Your Data File

Drag and drop your file into the upload zone, or click to browse. Supported formats: iPhone backup folders, WhatsApp .zip exports, CSV files, screenshots, PDFs, and ZIP archives. A progress bar tracks parsing.

Large backups over 2 GB may take 1–2 minutes. Do not close the tab while processing.
4

Review Extracted Data

All records appear in a sortable table: messages, call logs, contacts, timestamps, and media files. Use the search bar to locate specific names, dates, or keywords. Confirm everything looks correct before proceeding.

5

Flag Key Evidence

Click the star icon next to any record to flag it. Flagged items appear in a highlighted "Key Evidence" section at the front of your report, making it easy for judges and opposing counsel to find critical material immediately.

6

Add Attorney Notes

Add context notes to any record or to the report overall. Notes appear in a clearly labeled "Attorney Note" box — visually distinct from raw evidence — so there is no ambiguity about what is data and what is your analysis.

Notes are clearly formatted separately from evidence throughout the PDF.
7

Generate the Report

Click the Generate Report button. ExtractPhone assembles your evidence, case information, flagged items, and notes into a formatted PDF. Generation typically takes 10 to 45 seconds. A preview appears when complete.

8

Download Your Report

Click Download PDF. The file is named with your case number and today's date. Store it in your case management system. Your report is ready to submit to court or share with opposing counsel.

Download a backup copy and store it off your primary machine.

YOUR CLIENT'S DATA NEVER LEAVES YOUR COMPUTER

ExtractPhone processes everything directly in your web browser using local computation. When you upload a backup or export file, your browser reads it on your machine — it is never transmitted to ExtractPhone's servers or any third party. When you close the browser tab, all data is gone permanently.

Zero data uploaded to our servers
Processed in your browser only
No third-party data sharing
All data cleared when tab closes
Attorney-client privilege protected

ATTORNEY FAQ

Common questions from attorneys using ExtractPhone for the first time.

ExtractPhone reports are designed to support FRE 901 authentication requirements. Each report includes SHA-256 hash values for all files, a chain-of-custody section, extraction timestamps, and metadata documentation to support authentication.

Admissibility is ultimately determined by the court. We recommend presenting the report alongside a brief attorney declaration attesting to how the data was obtained from the client's device. Many attorneys use ExtractPhone reports as organized exhibits supported by a short affidavit.
If physical access is not possible, you have two alternatives:

  • WhatsApp Export (Method B): If the client can unlock their own phone, they can perform the export themselves and send you the .zip file.
  • CSV Template (Method C): If you have printed records or records from a carrier subpoena, enter them manually using our template.

If the phone is locked and you need a full extraction, consult a licensed digital forensics examiner who can apply proper legal procedures to access the device.
Yes. ExtractPhone is used across practice areas including:

  • Family law — harassment documentation, communications in custody disputes
  • Criminal defense — alibi evidence, timeline reconstruction, witness communications
  • Employment law — workplace harassment, wrongful termination communications
  • Personal injury — timestamped photos, accident timeline evidence
  • Business litigation — trade secret theft, breach of contract communications

The tool works with messages, call logs, photos, and documents regardless of case type.
Most attorneys complete the full process — upload to download — in 10 to 20 minutes. Time varies by data volume:

  • WhatsApp export (single conversation): 5–8 minutes total
  • iPhone backup (1–2 years of data): 12–20 minutes total
  • Large iPhone backup (4+ years): 20–35 minutes total

Most of that time is spent reviewing and flagging records, not waiting on the software.
ExtractPhone supports:

  • iPhone backups — folders created by Finder or iTunes (unencrypted)
  • WhatsApp exports — .zip files containing the chat and media
  • CSV files — structured records in comma-separated format
  • Screenshots — PNG, JPG, WEBP with EXIF metadata extraction
  • PDF documents — text extracted and indexed
  • ZIP archives — automatically unpacked and processed
  • AI conversation exports — ChatGPT JSON history, Claude exports

Android backups are not natively supported but records can be imported via the CSV template.
Yes, completely. ExtractPhone uses a browser-first, zero-upload architecture. Here is exactly what happens when you upload a file:

  • Your browser reads the file using the Web File API — it stays on your machine
  • All processing runs in browser memory via JavaScript — no server calls are made
  • No data is transmitted over the internet at any point
  • ExtractPhone's servers never see your client's name, messages, or any case data
  • When you close the browser tab, all data is released from memory and is permanently gone

This architecture protects attorney-client privilege because no third party ever has access to your client's communications.

READY TO GET STARTED?

Open the report generator now. You can have your first court-ready evidence report downloaded in under 20 minutes.

No software to install Works in any modern browser Client data stays on your computer Reports in under 20 minutes