How to Recover Data from Broken Phone in 2024
How to Recover Data from Broken Phone
Losing access to your phone due to damage can be distressing, especially when it contains important data such as contacts, messages, photos, or work files. However, just because your phone is broken doesn’t mean your data is lost forever. A cracked screen or water damage can’t hold your phone’s secrets forever - there are ways to extract the valuable data trapped inside. When disaster strikes and your phone breaks, the first thought that runs through your mind is probably “all my data is gone!” But fear not, we’ve got the know-how to help you rescue your valuable information. From using built-in features to specialized software, we’ll cover every possible solution to restore your data.
Understanding the Types of Phone Damage
Before jumping into recovery methods, it’s important to assess the type of damage your phone has experienced. To craft a customized data rescue plan, we need to homing in on the most effective recovery technique for your specific scenario. Here are the common types of phone damage:
Broken Screen: The phone functions but the screen is cracked or unresponsive.
Water Damage: Your phone has been submerged in water or exposed to moisture.
Dead Phone: The phone no longer turns on due to hardware failure or battery issues.
Software Issues: The phone is stuck in a boot loop, or the operating system has crashed.
Each type of damage requires a different approach, but don’t worry—we’ve got solutions for all of them.
1. Recover Data from a Phone with a Broken Screen
If your phone still works but the screen is broken or unresponsive, you can easily retrieve your data using a variety of methods. To function properly, these solutions need permission to access the files stored on your phone or synced to the cloud.
Use a USB OTG Cable and a Mouse
If your phone screen is unresponsive but the phone itself is functioning, you can use a USB OTG (On-The-Go) cable to connect a mouse and navigate your phone:
Connect the OTG cable to your phone’s charging port.
Plug in a USB mouse to the other end of the OTG cable.
Use the mouse to unlock your phone and navigate to your data.
Transfer your files to a computer via USB or upload them to cloud storage.
Use Samsung Smart Switch (For Samsung Devices)
Samsung users can take advantage of the Smart Switch feature, which allows them to transfer data from a broken device to a new one:
Install Samsung Smart Switch on your computer.
Connect your Samsung phone to the computer using a USB cable.
Follow the on-screen instructions to back up your data and restore it to a new device.
Use Google Drive or iCloud Backup
If your phone is synced with Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone), you can restore your data from the cloud:
Log in to Google Drive or iCloud on a computer or another device.
Navigate to the backup section and download the data you need.
You can restore this data to a new phone or save it to your computer.
2. Recover Data from a Water-Damaged Phone
Water damage can make a phone unresponsive or completely dead, but the internal storage might still be intact. Here’s how you can recover data from a water-damaged phone:
Dry Your Phone
First and foremost, you need to dry your phone before attempting any data recovery:
Turn off the phone immediately if it’s still on.
Remove the SIM card, memory card, and battery (if possible).
Place the phone in a bowl of uncooked rice or use silica gel packs to absorb moisture. Let it sit for 48 hours.
After drying, try turning the phone on. If it works, back up your data immediately.
Use a Data Recovery Tool
If your phone doesn’t turn on after drying, you can use specialized data recovery software to extract the data from the device:
Dr.Fone - Data Recovery: This software allows you to recover data from water-damaged or unresponsive Android phones.
iMobie PhoneRescue: An excellent tool for recovering data from iPhones that are water damaged.
To use these tools:
Download and install the recovery software on your computer.
Connect your phone via USB.
Follow the on-screen instructions to scan your phone for recoverable data.
Extract the files and save them to your computer.
Use the SD Card or SIM Card
If your phone uses an SD card for external storage or saves data to the SIM card, you can recover data directly from these components:
Remove the SD card and SIM card from the phone.
Insert the SD card into a card reader and connect it to your computer.
Use a file explorer to access the data and back it up.
3. Recover Data from a Dead Phone
When a phone is completely dead, the chances of recovering data are reduced, but there are still some methods worth trying.
Use Data Recovery Software
For Android phones, you can use Dr.Fone - Broken Android Data Extraction. For iPhones, use iMobie PhoneRescue. Here’s how to recover data using these tools:
Download the appropriate software on your computer.
Connect your dead phone to the computer using a USB cable.
Launch the software and choose the option for Broken Data Extraction.
The software will guide you through the process of scanning the phone for any recoverable data.
Extract and save the data to your computer.
Use Professional Data Recovery Services
If your phone is completely unresponsive and none of the above methods work, you might need to turn to professional data recovery services. Dead phones aren’t a problem for these pros - they’ve got the specialized gear to retrieve valuable data.
Some well-known services include:
DriveSavers
Ontrack
Geek Squad
Keep in mind that professional services can be costly, but they are often the last resort for critical data recovery.
4. Recover Data from a Phone Stuck in a Boot Loop
If your phone is stuck in a boot loop or keeps restarting, you can use these methods to recover your data:
Enter Recovery Mode (Android)
Power off the phone.
Hold the Volume Up + Power + Home (or other combination depending on your phone model) to enter Recovery Mode.
In Recovery Mode, use the volume buttons to navigate to Backup Data and select it.
This will create a backup of your data on your SD card or internal storage, which you can access later.
Use iTunes or Finder (iPhone)
If your iPhone is stuck in a boot loop, you can use iTunes or Finder to restore the device without losing data:
Connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes or Finder installed.
Put the phone in Recovery Mode by holding the Volume Up + Power buttons until the recovery screen appears.
Select Update to reinstall iOS without deleting your data.
5. Preventing Future Data Loss
While it’s possible to recover data from a broken phone, prevention is always better than cure. Here are some tips to avoid data loss in the future:
Regular Backups
Always enable automatic backups to Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iPhone) to ensure your data is safe, even if your phone is damaged.
Use External Storage
Consider using SD cards or external hard drives for important files. This way, even if your phone is lost or broken, your data remains safe.
Use Data Recovery Apps
Install a reliable data recovery app on your phone, such as DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver, which can help retrieve deleted files in case of accidental deletion or system crashes.
Conclusion
Recovering data from a broken phone may seem daunting, but with the right approach, it’s entirely possible. Whether your phone is physically damaged or suffering from a software issue, there are numerous methods to get your valuable data back. By using data recovery tools, cloud backups, or professional services, you can recover your lost files and prevent future data loss through regular backups and smart storage practices.
FAQs
1. Can I recover data from a phone that won’t turn on?
Yes, you can recover data from a dead phone using specialized data recovery tools like Dr.Fone or professional data recovery services. In some cases, removing the SD card or SIM card might help retrieve the data.
2. Is it possible to recover data from a phone with a black screen?
Yes, if the phone is still functioning despite the black screen, you can use an OTG cable with a mouse or connect it to a computer and access the data through USB. Cloud backups can literally be your lifesaver when disaster strikes and files go missing.
3. What should I do if my phone is water damaged?
If your phone has been exposed to water, turn it off immediately and let it dry out for at least 48 hours. Once dry, attempt to turn it on and recover the data using tools like Dr.Fone or cloud backups.
4. Can I recover deleted files from my phone?
Yes, if the files were not overwritten, data recovery apps like DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver can scan your phone’s storage for deleted files and recover them.
5. What is the best way to prevent data loss on my phone?
The best way to prevent data loss is to enable automatic backups on Google Drive or iCloud and store
important files on external storage like SD cards or external hard drives.