How to Retrieve Data from an Android Phone with a Broken Screen

Data loss is a significant issue for all Android users - losing data equates to losing time and money in the process of retrieving it. This loss can stem from various factors such as accidental deletion, virus attacks, physical damage, or formatting errors, with physical damage being the most catastrophic. Issues like cracked and shattered screens, water-damaged phones, and other similar scenarios can render your device non-functional, and as a result, lead to the loss of data.

Is it Possible to Recover Broken Android Data?

Can you retrieve data from an Android phone with a broken screen? It depends. Usually, data saved on an SD card is recoverable. However, if the data is stored in the Android internal storage, the situation might be more complicated.

If it's the touch screen that's not working but the display is still visible, you may still have a chance to attempt data retrieval. However, if your Android device has a black screen and is unresponsive, the likelihood of recovering data is significantly lower.

Depending on the specific situation you're facing, there are several methods to recover data from an Android phone with a broken screen.

Method 1: Recover Data from an Android Phone with a Broken Screen using a USB OTG Cable

If your Android phone is still functional but the touchscreen is not working, you can use a USB OTG (On-The-Go) cable to retrieve data from the Android device.

USB OTG (USB On-The-Go) is a standard that enables you to connect an Android phone to another device, such as a mouse. Using a USB OTG cable, you can link your Android phone with a broken screen to a mouse and subsequently utilize the mouse to navigate and control your Android device.

By doing so, you'll be able to transfer your files wirelessly to another device or to a cloud-based service.

To recover data from an Android phone with a broken screen:

Step 1. Use a USB OTG cable to connect your Android phone and a mouse.

Step 2. Use the mouse to unlock your Android phone.

Step 3. Transfer your Android files to another device wirelessly using data transfer apps or Bluetooth. This can be done by following these steps: 1. Download a Data Transfer App: Install a reliable file transfer app on both your Android devices, such as ShareIt, Xender, or Google's Files app. 2. Connect the Devices: Open the app on both phones and choose the "Send" or "Receive" option depending on which role you want each device to play. They usually have options like "Connect to another device" or "Receive files." 3. Establish Connection: The app will scan for nearby devices. On one device, select the other device from the list to initiate the connection. 4. Select Files: In the sender's device, choose the files (photos, videos, documents, etc.) you wish to transfer. Tap on "Send" or "Transfer" to start the process. 5. Wait for Transfer: The app will transfer the files over Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth. This might take some time depending on the file size and the speed of the connection. 6. Receive Files: On the receiving device, the files will appear in the app's designated folder or in the default download location. Save them to your desired location. Alternatively, if you prefer using Bluetooth: 1. Activate Bluetooth: Go to your Android device's settings and turn on Bluetooth. 2. Pair Devices: Make sure both devices are discoverable and pair them by selecting the other device from the available devices list. 3. Send Files: From the sender's device, go to the file manager, select the files you want to send, and choose the "Share" or "Send via" option, then select Bluetooth. 4. Confirm Transfer: On the receiving device, confirm the pairing request and accept the incoming files. 5. Save Files: Once transferred, save the files to your preferred location on the receiving device. Remember that Bluetooth transfers might be slower than using data transfer apps.

Method 2: Recover Data from Android Phone with Broken Screen using USB Debugging

Have you ever enabled "USB Debugging" and selected the "Always allow from this computer" option on your Android device? If so, you can easily perform broken Android data recovery using a USB cable.

When USB debugging is enabled on your Android device, you can connect your phone to a computer and access the device's storage without the need to unlock the device or authorize the computer.

Thus, with USB debugging enabled, you have two options for retrieving data from a broken-screen Android phone.

Option 1: Copy Files from Android Internal Storage to Computer using File Explorer

Now that you have access to your Android's internal storage, you can manually copy files from your Android device to your computer, such as photos, videos, music, and more. However, certain types of content like contacts and text messages might become unreadable when copied using traditional methods. If you wish to make these files readable, proceed with Option 2 instead.

To recover data from an Android phone with a broken screen:

Step 1. Connect your phone to the computer that you authorized when enabling USB debugging.

Step 2. Navigate to "This PC" > [your device name] > "Internal shared storage."

Step 3. Locate and copy the folder that contains the content you wish to recover to your computer.

Option 2: Recover Android Data to Computer using Android Data Recovery Software

Using an Android data recovery software is another option for retrieving your valuable data. Unlike using File Explorer, which can only recover multimedia files and documents, this powerful tool has the capability to restore over 20 types of deleted or lost data, including photos, videos, audio files, messages, contacts, call logs, and documents from Android devices. It supports a wide range of Android phones such as Samsung, LG, HTC, Huawei, Sony, ZTE, and more. It is useful for:

• Recover data lost due to accidental deletion
• Recover Android data after a virus attack, device malfunction, rooting...
• Recover various types of files on Android

To recover data from an Android phone with a broken screen:

Before beginning, ensure that your device has been rooted. Otherwise, this tool will be unable to access your phone.

Step 1. Connect your Android phone to the computer

1. Launch the Android Data Recovery software and connect your Android phone to the computer using a USB cable. 2. Click the "Start" button to allow the software to recognize and establish a connection with your device.

Step 2. Scan your Android phone to find the lost files

Upon connecting your Android phone, the software will promptly scan the device to detect all existing and lost data. You can conveniently locate the lost files you desire by selecting the appropriate file categories.

Step 3. Preview and recover data from Android phone

Preview each recoverable file one by one, and then you can quickly select the ones you want. Use the "Only display deleted items" option to list only the deleted files. Finally, click the "Recover" button to restore the selected files immediately.

Method 3: Recover Data from Android Phone with Broken Screen Without USB Debugging

If USB debugging is not an option, you can still recover data from an Android phone with a broken screen using Google Drive or the SD Memory Card. The former method is for users whose screen is still functional, while the latter is for those with a completely non-functional screen.

Option 1. Use Google Drive

If you've previously backed up your Android device to Google Drive, you can easily restore it from there by following these steps:

Step 1. Access the Settings menu on your device.

Step 2. Select the "Backup & Reset" option.

Step 3. Choose "Back up my data."

Step 4. Go back to the "Backup & Reset" option to confirm that your Google account is linked to your backup account.

Step 5. Once done, log in to your Google account on your new or repaired Android device and go to "Backup & Restore" > Tap "Automatic Restore" to retrieve the lost data onto the new device.

Option 2. Use an SD Memory Card

If you have the habit of saving your data on your SD memory card, you can retrieve lost data from the SD card without enabling USB debugging. This method can also be used to recover data from a locked Android phone with a damaged screen. Here's how to do it: 1. Connect your Android device to a computer using a USB cable. 2. Ensure that your computer can recognize the SD card as an external storage device. 3. Download and install a reliable data recovery software for Android, such as Dr.Fone, tools MobiSaver, or DiskDigger. 4. Launch the data recovery software and select the "SD Card Recovery" or similar option. 5. The software will scan the SD card to detect any lost or deleted files. 6. Preview the recoverable files, such as photos, videos, or documents, and select the ones you wish to restore. 7. Click on "Recover" or a similar button to save the selected files to your computer or another safe location. 8. If needed, transfer the recovered files back to your Android device or a new SD card. Please note that the effectiveness of this method may vary depending on the data recovery software and the extent of the data loss. It's always best to regularly back up your important data to prevent potential loss.

Step 1. Insert your SD memory card into your new Android device.

Step 2. Open the file manager and navigate to the SD card folder.

Step 3. Choose the data you wish to retrieve and click on the "Copy" tab.

Step 4. Navigate to the internal storage folder and tap "Paste" or "Copy here." It's important to ensure that you have enough internal storage space on your device before doing this.

Bottom line.

Our phones contain a wealth of sensitive information. The most effective way to safeguard all data stored on our smartphones is to back it up, making it easy to retrieve deleted or lost data. However, if you accidentally erase some crucial data on your device, don't panic. You can utilize the methods outlined in this guide to effortlessly recover them. If none of the aforementioned solutions work, your final option is to seek assistance from a professional data recovery service.