How to Retrieve Data from a Broken Android
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2025 4:11 am
If your phone has had a real disaster and is completely broken due to a fall or other accident, this can be a problem. The touch screen does not work and you cannot enter the password or pattern and log into the phone.
But even from such a device, you can successfully extract data, and we will tell you how to do this.
When the touch screen is damaged, you cannot control the phone, even if it is still functional (at least it does not look like a brick). The simplest thing to do is to replace the sensor, i.e. the entire screen block, then you will again have access to the settings and internals of the phone. If this is not possible, you need to access the phone's operating system via a computer, i.e. simply connect it with a cable. But this will only work if USB debugging was already enabled on the phone.
Among the available methods to extract data from a broken phone, we highlight:
Using an OTG adapter or cable to connect a mouse and keyboard;
Copying or transferring data using a memory card;
Recover data using cloud storage;
Using emergency data recovery software.
Let's take a step-by-step look at all these methods for recovering data from a georgia mobile database smartphone if the screen is broken and not working.
How to enable USB debugging
On all Android phones, we recommend enabling USB debugging in advance, which means you can edit system files and fix software errors. Here's how to do it:
Go to Settings - About phone;
You will see the line Build Number;
Click on it 7-10 times in a row until you see the line Debug mode enabled.
For debugging to work, you need to have Android Debug Bridge installed on your computer. This is a universal development tool. You can find it on developer resources, such as XDA-Developers.
How to Enable USB Debugging on Android
After installing the file, connect your phone to your computer, when the first window appears, select File Transfer Mode, and enter the adb devices command in the command line.
Next, pop-up windows will appear on your phone - click Allow access for USB debugging.
Finally, the serial number of the phone should appear in the command line on the computer. This means that the debug mode is set up.
Now you can delete, edit system files, erase built-in applications and, among other things, copy and restore files from a broken phone. This is preparatory work for all sorts of troubles that may happen to the phone in the future.
Recovering data from your phone using an OTG cable
If the phone is generally functional, but the sensor does not respond, you can try using an OTG cable - this cable helps connect Android to a mouse, and use the mouse instead of a sensor to control the device.
Connect your Android and mouse with a cable, use the mouse as a cursor, send data wirelessly or via Bluetooth to another device. Sounds simple, but it can be complicated in practice, but it's worth a try if you can find a cable or OTG adapter for your smartphone.
Recover data from SD card
Initially, you can try the simplest methods to extract data - for example, remove the SD card and insert it into the computer's card reader. You will get access to all the files that were stored on the removable media - and these can be photos, notes, documents or even a complete backup copy, then you will also have the most important contact file.
But even from such a device, you can successfully extract data, and we will tell you how to do this.
When the touch screen is damaged, you cannot control the phone, even if it is still functional (at least it does not look like a brick). The simplest thing to do is to replace the sensor, i.e. the entire screen block, then you will again have access to the settings and internals of the phone. If this is not possible, you need to access the phone's operating system via a computer, i.e. simply connect it with a cable. But this will only work if USB debugging was already enabled on the phone.
Among the available methods to extract data from a broken phone, we highlight:
Using an OTG adapter or cable to connect a mouse and keyboard;
Copying or transferring data using a memory card;
Recover data using cloud storage;
Using emergency data recovery software.
Let's take a step-by-step look at all these methods for recovering data from a georgia mobile database smartphone if the screen is broken and not working.
How to enable USB debugging
On all Android phones, we recommend enabling USB debugging in advance, which means you can edit system files and fix software errors. Here's how to do it:
Go to Settings - About phone;
You will see the line Build Number;
Click on it 7-10 times in a row until you see the line Debug mode enabled.
For debugging to work, you need to have Android Debug Bridge installed on your computer. This is a universal development tool. You can find it on developer resources, such as XDA-Developers.
How to Enable USB Debugging on Android
After installing the file, connect your phone to your computer, when the first window appears, select File Transfer Mode, and enter the adb devices command in the command line.
Next, pop-up windows will appear on your phone - click Allow access for USB debugging.
Finally, the serial number of the phone should appear in the command line on the computer. This means that the debug mode is set up.
Now you can delete, edit system files, erase built-in applications and, among other things, copy and restore files from a broken phone. This is preparatory work for all sorts of troubles that may happen to the phone in the future.
Recovering data from your phone using an OTG cable
If the phone is generally functional, but the sensor does not respond, you can try using an OTG cable - this cable helps connect Android to a mouse, and use the mouse instead of a sensor to control the device.
Connect your Android and mouse with a cable, use the mouse as a cursor, send data wirelessly or via Bluetooth to another device. Sounds simple, but it can be complicated in practice, but it's worth a try if you can find a cable or OTG adapter for your smartphone.
Recover data from SD card
Initially, you can try the simplest methods to extract data - for example, remove the SD card and insert it into the computer's card reader. You will get access to all the files that were stored on the removable media - and these can be photos, notes, documents or even a complete backup copy, then you will also have the most important contact file.