How to recover data from a broken screen Android phone?

Data Recovery
1

Accidentally dropped my Android phone and now the screen is completely shattered. I have important data on it that I need to recover. The touchscreen isn’t responsive, and I didn’t back up the data beforehand. Any advice on how I can retrieve my files?

2

Totally been there and it’s super frustrating. If your Android phone’s screen is shattered but the device still powers on, there are a few approaches you can try to recover your important data.

First, if you’ve enabled USB debugging before the screen broke, you’re in luck. You can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands to pull data from your phone. Here’s a quick rundown:

  1. Install ADB: You’ll need to install Android SDK on your computer. Once installed, make sure ADB is set up properly by typing adb devices in your command prompt/terminal to check if your phone is listed.
  2. Access Files: Assuming you see your device, you can use commands like adb pull /sdcard/ to copy files from your internal storage to your computer.

However, if USB debugging wasn’t enabled, you’ll need different methods. Here are some other strategies you can try:

1. OTG Adapter and Mouse:

  • Get an OTG Adapter: These adapt from your phone’s micro-USB or USB-C port to a regular USB port.
  • Connect a Mouse: Plug a USB mouse into the OTG adapter. You can control your phone using the mouse if the touchscreen is completely unresponsive.
  • Transfer Data: Use the mouse to navigate and transfer your data to a cloud service or directly to a computer.

2. Screen Mirroring Apps:

  • Scrcpy: If you have USB debugging enabled, you can use scrcpy, a powerful tool to mirror and control your Android device on your computer. Just connect your phone to the computer and run scrcpy, it’ll mirror your phone’s display to your computer where you can control it and drag and drop files easily.
  • Vysor: Another option but requires both the mouse and the mirror technique. Download and install Vysor on your computer and follow the instructions.

3. Extracting Data via Recovery Software:

  • If your PC doesn’t recognize the device or the data retrieval methods above seem complex, you can try data recovery software like Disk Drill. Check out Disk Drill Data Recovery Software.
  • Download Disk Drill: Available for both Windows and Mac, Disk Drill can recover data even from broken devices pretty efficiently.
  • Use Disk Drill: Connect your phone to the computer and use Disk Drill to scan the device. It’ll help you find and recover lost files, photos, and other data.

4. Professional Data Recovery Services:

  • If nothing works or if you’re uncomfortable doing it yourself, consider professional help. Companies specialize in recovering data from damaged devices; they’ll charge a fee but handle everything.

One more thing – if you have an SD card in your phone, just take it out and use an adapter to access files directly on a computer.

Given the urgency and importance of your data, try these steps in order based on what resources you have available ASAP. Hope this helps and you get your data back!

3

Hey there,

Dealing with a broken screen on an Android phone is a real pain, especially when you need to recover important data. @byteguru covered some solid methods, but let’s add a few more tricks that might help you out without diving into the same details.

Method 5: Resort to Google Find My Device

If you’ve ever registered your phone with a Google account, then Find My Device can be a lifesaver. This tool is primarily for finding and locking lost phones, but it can also unlock your device remotely. Here’s how:

  1. Log in to Find My Device: Use your Google account to sign in on the Find My Device site.
  2. Select Your Device: Make sure your broken phone is selected.
  3. Erase Data: This may sound counterintuitive, but erasing your data remotely also resets your phone – allowing you to set it up again and back up data. Ensure you know your Google account credentials to restore important backups.

:exclamation:Cons: You can’t be 100% sure which data gets backed up during the reset process and it’s a drastic measure.

Method 6: Borrow the Display

If your phone’s display is totally toast but the internal components are fine, you could temporarily swap the screen. This is more hands-on, but less tech-centric:

  1. Borrow a Screen: If you or a friend have a phone of the same model, you could use their screen temporarily.
  2. Disassemble: Carefully detach their screen, attach it to your broken device, and backup data immediately using your preferred method.
  3. Reattach: Reassemble both phones back to their original state.

Pros: You physically access your phone and control it directly.
Cons: Risk of damaging both devices if not done carefully. Requires some technical skill.

Method 7: Using Google Cloud Backup

You might not have realized, but your Android device might be backing up vital data automatically:

  1. Google Drive/Photos: Log into your Google account on another device and check if your contacts, photos, and documents are already backed up.
  2. Download Data: Once you’ve confirmed the backup, you can download your important data from Google Drive or Google Photos.

Pros: Minimal effort if backups are enabled.
Cons: Only works if the data was being backed up beforehand. Limited to what Google services automatically backup.

Method 8: Revisit Disk Drill

While Disk Drill is a solid option, let’s add some depth. It’s not the only tool around, but it’s quite effective. Here are the pros and cons for a detailed perspective:

Pros:

  • User-Friendly Interface: Easy to navigate, even for non-tech-savvy people.
  • Versatility: Works on Windows and Mac.
  • Extensive Recovery Options: Can recover from various scenarios, even when the device isn’t fully functional.

Cons:

  • Cost: Quality comes at a price, and Disk Drill’s full version isn’t free.
  • Scanned Data Integrity: Sometimes, the recovered data might have corrupted or missing parts.

While Disk Drill is great, other software like Dr.Fone, iMobie PhoneRescue, and EaseUS MobiSaver are worth considering for comparison.

Method 9: Using Google Assistant.

Ironically, your Android device’s AI assistant can help in this situation. If you’re set up to use Google Assistant, you can talk to it to initiate certain actions:

  1. Voice Command: Say, “Hey Google, back up my data” to ensure your device starts backing up.
  2. Navigation: You can ask Google Assistant to send files, texts, or emails to yourself.

Pros: Hands-free if your screen’s non-responsive.
Cons: Limited in scope and often dependent on previous voice settings configurations.

Method 10: App Remote Services

There are apps that can control your phone remotely, such as AirDroid or TeamViewer. For this, you’d ideally need to have set them up in advance.

  1. Install: Ensure these apps are installed and configured beforehand.
  2. Log In Remotely: Use the companion software on your computer or second device.

Pros: Great range of control over your device.
Cons: Usually needs setup before your phone breaks.

Keep pushing through these methods, hopefully one will help you navigate the treacherous waters of data recovery from a shattered screen Android phone. Good luck!

4

Given the situation, another approach you might find useful beyond the great suggestions already shared is using Google’s Backup and Restore Services. Sometimes we forget, but many Android phones automatically backup various types of data to your Google account. Here’s how you can leverage that without diving into too much technical detail:

Google Backup and Restore

  1. Sign in to Your Google Account: Use a computer or another device to log in to your Google account.
  2. Check Backups: Navigate to the Google Drive or Google Photos to see if your contacts, photos, or other documents are already backed up. Typically, Android phones sync stuff like contacts, photos, and app data automatically unless you’ve disabled this feature.
  3. Restore: Once confirmed, you can download your critical files directly from Google Drive or Google Photos to your computer or another cloud storage.

Pros:

  • Effortless: If automatic backups were enabled, the process is quite smooth.
  • Comprehensive: Covers a lot of essential data typically.

Cons:

  • Partial Backup: Not all data might be backed up this way (e.g., specific app data or offline files).
  • Default Settings Dependence: This only works if the backups were active before the incident.

SIM Card and Removable Storage

If you’re using a phone with external memory options, don’t overlook the simplest yet often missed method:

  1. Remove SD Card: If your phone has additional storage via an SD card, simply remove it.
  2. Insert into a Reader: Use an SD card reader to connect this to your computer.
  3. Copy Files: Drag and drop the needed files from your SD card to your computer.

Pros:

  • Direct Access: Bypasses the broken screen problem entirely.
  • Quick and Easy: Can be done in moments if you have the right adapters.

Cons:

  • Limited to SD Data: Only works for data on the SD card, doesn’t help with internal storage.

Use of Amazon’s Echo Devices

If you have an Amazon Echo device setup and your phone was configured to use Alexa:

  1. Voice Commands: Say “Alexa, find my phone” or “Alexa, back up my data.” You might find Alexa more flexible in terms of device control and data manipulation.
  2. Remote Actions: If there’s any level of interaction possible, use voice commands to send vital data to cloud services or transfer files.

Pros:

  • Remote Operation: Can be a life-saver if the touchscreen is completely dead.
  • Existing Ecosystem: Useful if you’re already within the Amazon tech environment.

Cons:

  • Dependency on Pre-configured Settings: Works best if the phone was already configured to be controlled via Alexa.
  • Limited Commands: Not as full-featured as direct USB or OTG solutions.

Try Alternative Recovery Software

While Disk Drill is a prime recommendation, let’s throw a few more into the mix for variety and better matchups to specific needs:

  1. Dr.Fone: This software by Wondershare is a comprehensive toolkit designed specifically for data recovery among other functions.
  2. iMobie PhoneRescue: Another robust recovery tool that supports Android devices.
  3. EaseUS MobiSaver: Known for its user-friendliness and effectiveness in data recovery.

While software like Disk Drill from CleverFiles remains top-notch, exploring alternatives can sometimes offer different advantages.

Pros:

  • Multiple Options: More software choices increase the likelihood of successful data recovery.
  • Specialized Tools: Each tool might have specialized recovery capabilities.

Cons:

  • Trial and Error: You might need to try a couple of options before finding the one that works.
  • Cost Factor: Premium functionality often comes with a price tag.

Borrowing a Spare Device

You might also consider leaning into the shared resources, like a tech-savvy friend or family member:

  1. Ask for Help: If you know someone familiar with phone repairs, borrowing their expertise could assist in either a temporary screen swap or navigating broken screen solutions.
  2. Reserve Parts: Occasionally, local tech shops have reserve parts that can be loaned for brief periods if you explain the situation.

Pros:

  • Knowledge Sharing: Benefit from someone else’s expertise, possibly discovering quicker or more effective solutions.
  • Local Resources: Local tech shops can often provide solutions much faster.

Cons:

  • Availability: Dependent on having such resources or connections close by.

Finally, if all else fails, devices like Raspberry Pi offer DIY digital interfaces. Using a microcontroller to interface with your device might sound crazy but could be worth exploring if you’re familiar with some basic electronics.

Hope these extra tips help you regain access to your data. It’s always a drag when these situations hit, but with patience and these methods, getting your info back is definitely within reach.