This article covers what you’ll need for your Hearsay collection, how to set things up, and what devices and software are supported. It includes a checklist of items, helpful tips, and minimum system requirements. Checking your computer’s available storage is a quick and important step that helps ensure a smooth extraction.
What You Need
A desktop or laptop computer
A USB cable to connect your computer and phone
Your Phone
Your Hearsay Extraction Code (created by the account holder or your attorney in the online portal)
Tips
Make room on your computer. Your computer should have ~50GB of space for an Android extraction, or 150-200GB for iPhones (average). If you need more space, please have an 256GB+ SSD external hard drive or thumb drive available.
Make sure that you have enough USB ports (2-3) on your computer to simultaneously connect the power (for laptops), phone and additional storage, if needed.
Plug the USB cable from your phone directly into a USB port on the computer (same if using external storage). Do not plug through a hub, splitter, or dock unless it has its own power source. On Windows desktop computers, use one of the USB ports on the back of the computer, as these are more reliable.
Plan for the extraction to take 1–1.5 hours. The time may vary based on your phone’s age, computer performance, storage location, or USB cable.
Make sure the USB cable supports data transfer. Some low-cost cables from gas stations or supermarkets only charge the phone and do not allow for data transfer.
Need More Storage?
If your computer doesn’t have enough free space, we recommend using an external storage device. Below are some good options to consider:
External SSDs
Fastest, preferred option.
External Hard Drive
Slower than SSDs.
USB Flash Drives
Least expensive option, but may have performance issues depending on quality.
Compatible USB Cables
You will need a USB cable that supports data transfer. A charging-only cable will not work for an extraction. An easy way to check if your cable is compatible is whether your computer recognizes your phone:
On Mac, your phone should appear in Finder.
On Windows, your phone should appear in File Explorer.
If your phone charges but does not appear on your computer, your cable is likely charging-only.
Even with a compatible cable, transfer speed can affect your extraction. USB 3.0 or higher cables are the fastest and can reduce extraction time, but they are not required.
Note: If your iPhone is not connecting to a PC, it may also be due to missing iPhone drivers. See How to Install Drivers for steps on how to install or update drivers. Drivers are software that let your computer recognize your phone.
USB-C to USB-C
Works best for newer Androids and iPhones (iPhone 15 and later).
Use USB 3.0 or higher for faster and more stable transfers.
USB-C to USB-A
Used for newer phones with USB-C ports connecting to older computers with USB-A ports.
USB 3.0 or higher is recommended for reliability.
Lightning to USB-A
For older iPhones with a Lightning port connecting to a computer with USB-A ports.
Apple-certified (MFi) Lightning cables work most consistently.
Lightning to USB-C
For older iPhones with a Lightning port connecting to a computer with USB-C ports.
Apple-certified (MFi) Lightning cables provide the best results.
Minimum Hardware Requirements
To use the Hearsay Extractor, your device must meet the following minimum system requirements:
Apple Computer: macOS 10.14+
Windows Computer: Windows 7+
Apple iPhone: iOS 10.14+
Apple iPad: iPadOS 10.14+
Android Phone: Android 10+
Android Tablet: Android 10+
Note: Chromebooks are not compatible with the Hearsay Extractor. Microsoft Surface devices are generally compatible but may experience slower extraction times due to power or USB limitations.
Next Steps