A broken smartphone screen is one of the most unpleasant situations for the owner. Especially if important data remains on the device: photos, contacts, correspondence or work documents. Even if the display does not completely respond to touches or only shows a black screen, there is still a chance to save the information.

In this article we will analyze all the current methods for retrieving data from a non-working Androiddevice - from simple (via memory card or cloud services) to advanced (use ADB or recovery mode). Important: the effectiveness of each method depends on the degree of damage to the phone and its model. For example, on Samsung Galaxy with the function Smart Switch the algorithm of actions will differ from devices Xiaomi or Google Pixel.

If the phone at least turns on, but the screen does not work, your chances of success are above 80%. If the device does not show signs of life (does not vibrate, the charging indicator does not light up), first check section about “dead” gadgets.

1. Preparation: what you need to do before you begin recovery

Before you try to connect your broken phone to your computer, follow a few critical steps:

  • 🔋 Check the battery charge. If your phone is low, connect it to the charger for 15–20 minutes. Even if the screen does not show charging progress, the indicator (usually red or orange) should light up. On some models Huawei and Honor when the charge is low, the device may not respond to connection to the PC.
  • 🔌 Use the original cable. Cheap Chinese wires often do not transmit data, they only charge. If you have USB Type-C, try a cable from another device (for example, from MacBook or Nintendo Switch - they are usually of high quality).
  • 🖥️ Update drivers on your PC. Outdated drivers Android can block access to the device. Download the latest version from the phone manufacturer's website or install Android SDK Platform-Tools (needed to work with ADB).
  • 📱 Determine the model and version of Android. This will help you choose the exact instructions. For example, on Samsung c Android 12+ the method may not work through MTP, but it will work Smart Switch.
⚠️ Attention: If the phone was locked with a pattern or PIN code and the screen does not work, most methods (except ADB and factory reset) will be useless. In this case, proceed immediately. to section about ADB.

Also prepare:

  • 💾 Card reader (if the phone has a removable memory card microSD).
  • 🔧 Screwdriver (for removing SIM card or battery, if required).
  • 📡 Wi-Fi router (if you plan to use cloud services).
📊 Does your phone at least turn on, but the screen does not work?
Yes, it turns on, but the screen is black/broken
Yes, it turns on, but does not respond to touches
No, it doesn’t turn on at all
I don’t know, I haven’t tried it

2. Extracting data through a memory card (the easiest way)

If your phone has memory card microSDinstalled, and data (photos, videos, documents) were saved to it, you are in luck. This method works even if the phone is completely dead, the main thing is to physically remove the card.

Instructions:

  1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10-15 seconds if it does not respond).
  2. Remove the SIM card tray using a paperclip or a special key (usually included). On some models Xiaomi i Redmi the memory card and SIM are installed in one tray.
  3. If the memory card is inserted separately (for example, under the back cover), carefully remove it. On phones with a non-removable battery (Samsung Galaxy S21, Google Pixel 6there is no memory card - skip this method.
  4. Insert microSD into the card reader and connect to the computer. The data will be displayed as a regular flash drive.

What can be restored: photos, videos, music, documents (if they were saved to the card). Contacts, SMS and applications are not stored on the memory card!

⚠️ Attention: If the memory card was encrypted (for example, through settings Android), data without a password cannot be read. In this case, try the methods with ADB or contact a service center.

☑️ Preparing to remove the microSD

Done: 0 / 4

3. Connecting via USB in file transfer mode (MTP)

If the phone turns on, but the screen does not work or does not respond to touches, try connecting it to the computer via USB in MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) mode. This method will work if you have previously connected the device to this PC and allowed access.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Connect the phone to the computer with the original cable.
  2. The connection sound should appear on the phone (if the speakers are working). If there is no sound, try another USB port on your PC or restart your phone.
  3. On your computer, open This computer (My computer in Windows 7). The phone should appear as a removable drive.
  4. If the phone is not visible:
    • Try switching the connection mode. To do this, on a phone (even with a broken screen), swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification panel and tap on the notification Charging via USB → select File transfer. Note: on some phones (Xiaomi, Oppo) you need to select MTP.
    • If the screen does not respond, try connecting USB keyboard via an OTG adapter and press Tab + Enterto confirm access.
  • Copy the necessary files from your phone to your computer. Folder paths:
    • Photo/video: DCIM/Camera or Pictures
    • Downloads: Download
    • Documents: Documents or My Files

    Problems and solutions:

    Problem Possible cause Solution
    Phone is not detected Outdated drivers Install Android SDK or drivers from the manufacturer's website
    Requests unlocking Phone is locked Use ADB (section 5) or reset to factory settings
    Folders are empty Data is stored in internal memory Try it ADB pull (section 5)
    Connects as "Charging" Mode not selected MTP Switch manually (if the screen is partially working) or use an OTG keyboard
    💡

    If the phone connects, but folders do not open, try using a file manager on your PC, for example Total Commander or Double Commander - they sometimes work better with damaged files systems.

    4. Recovery via cloud services (Google, Samsung, Xiaomi)

    If your phone was turned on sync with the cloud, you can restore some data without a physical connection. This method is suitable for contacts, photos, notes and some documents.

    Google Account (for all Android phones):

    • 📧 Contacts, calendar, mail: automatically synchronizes with Google Contacts and Gmail. Check them on the website contacts.google.com.
    • 📷 Photos and videos: if it was enabled Google Photos, go to photos.google.com. Even if the phone crashed a month ago, the photos could have been saved.
    • 📄 Documents and notes: check Google Drive and Google Keep.

    Manufacturers with their own clouds:

    • 🌐 Samsung: service Samsung Cloud (access via account.samsung.com). Stores contacts, messages, notes and even some settings.
    • 🌐 Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco: Mi Cloud (i.mi.com). Saves photos, contacts, SMS and call records.
    • 🌐 Huawei/Honor: Huawei Cloud (cloud.huawei.com). Supports backup of applications and system data.

    How to check whether synchronization has been enabled:

    1. Go to Google Account settings.
    2. Go to the section Data management and personalization → Managing your data.
    3. Check if your phone is backed up. If yes, the data can be downloaded as an archive.
    ⚠️ Attention: Cloud services usually do not save:
    • Local files (for example, downloaded from Downloadbut not uploaded to the cloud).
    • Data of some applications (for example, correspondence in Telegram without cloud chat).
    • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings.

    If the necessary data is not in the cloud, proceed to the next method.

    How to download all data from Google Account right away?

    In the Google Account settings (takeout.google.com) you can create an archive with all the data: mail, contacts, photos, search history, etc. The archive will be available for downloading within 7 days.

    5. Using ADB (for advanced users)

    ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a debugging tool that allows you to manage your phone through the command line. It will help if:

    • The screen does not work, but the phone turns on.
    • The USB connection does not provide access to files.
    • The phone is locked, but was previously enabled USB debugging.

    Important: ADB only works if the "USB Debugging" option was previously enabled on the phone in the developer settings. If you have not activated it, this method will not work.

    Instructions:

    1. Download and install Android SDK Platform-Tools (or only adb.exe for Windows).
    2. Connect your phone to your computer.
    3. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd → Enter).
    4. Go to the folder with adb: 
      cd C:\platform-tools
    5. Check if the PC sees your device: 
      adb devices

      If the phone is displayed in the list, you can continue. If not, install drivers or try another USB port.

    6. Copy the necessary files. Example commands: 
      adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/ C:\Phone_Backup\Photos

      adb pull /sdcard/Download/ C:\Phone_Backup\Downloads

      Here /sdcard/ is the internal memory of the phone (not a memory card!).

    7. If you need to unlock the phone (for example, remove the PIN), use: 
      adb shell input text 1234 && adb shell input keyevent 66

      where 1234 is your PIN code, and 66 is the pressing command Enter.

    Deciphering the main ADB commands:

    Command Description
    adb devices Shows connected devices
    adb pull [path] Copies files from the phone to the PC
    adb shell ls [path] Shows the contents of the folder on the phone
    adb reboot recovery Reboots the phone into recovery mode
    ⚠️ Attention: Do not use commands adb shell rm or adb shell factory_reset —they can erase data beyond recovery!
    💡

    ADB is the most powerful tool for extracting data from a broken phone, but only works when USB debugging is enabled. If you have not configured it before, proceed to the next method.

    6. If the phone does not turn on at all ("dead" device)

    If the phone does not respond to charging, does not vibrate and does not show signs of life, the chances of data recovery are minimal. However, there are several options:

    • 🔌 Check the power supply and cable. Try charging your phone using a different adapter (preferably the original one). Some models Samsung and OnePlus require a charger with support to start. Quick Charge.
    • 🔋 Try to “light” from another phone. If the battery is completely discharged, connect it to your work phone via an OTG cable (for 5-10 minutes). Sometimes this is enough to start the device.
    • 🛠️ Remove the battery (if removable). On older models (Samsung Galaxy S5, LG G4), you can remove the battery, wait 1 minute and insert it back. Sometimes this helps to reset frozen firmware.
    • 💽 Contact the service center. Masters can connect the phone to the programmer via JTAG or ISP and retrieve data directly from memory. Cost: from 3,000 to 10,000 rubles (depending on the model).

    What to do if the phone turns on, but immediately turns off:

    1. Connect it to charging and immediately try to log in recovery mode (see next section).
    2. If the phone overheats, cool it (put it on a cold surface for 10 minutes), then try again.
    ⚠️ Attention: If the phone has been dropped into water or has been subjected to physical impact (shock, fall from a height), do not try to turn it on on your own! A short circuit can permanently destroy the data. In such cases, immediately take the device to the service.

    7. Recovery Mode and factory reset

    If the phone turns on, but the screen does not work, you can try to log in recovery mode (Recovery Modeand make a backup copy or reset the settings. This method is suitable for devices with custom recovery (for example, TWRP), but sometimes it helps with stock recovery.

    How to enter Recovery Mode:

    1. Turn off the phone (press the power button for 10–15 seconds).
    2. Hold down the combination of buttons (depending on the model):
      • Samsung: Power + Volume Up + Bixby (or Home on older models).
      • Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco: Power + Volume up.
      • Google Pixel, OnePlus, Nokia: Power + Volume down.
      • Huawei/Honor: Power + Volume up (hold for 10 seconds).
  • Hold the buttons until the logo or recovery menu appears.

    • What you can do in Recovery Mode:

    • 🔄 Reset to factory settings (Wipe data/factory reset). Attention: This will delete all data from the phone!
    • 💾 Install the update from the memory card (Apply update from SD card). If you have a backup in format .zip, you can try to restore it.
    • 🔧 Reboot into mode bootloader (Reboot to bootloader) for further work with ADB or Fastboot.

    How to manage the menu without a working screen:

    • Buttons volume - move up/down.
    • Button power —select the item.
    • On some phones (Samsung), you need to press to confirm Bixby.
    ⚠️ Attention: If you select Wipe data/factory reset, all data will be deleted without the possibility of recovery! Use this item only if other methods have not worked and you are ready to lose information.
    How to make a backup in TWRP?

    If a custom recovery is installed on your phone TWRP, you can create a full backup of the system:

    1. Log in TWRP (usually the same combination of buttons as for stock recovery).
    2. Select Backup.
    3. Tick the boxes System, Data, Boot.
    4. Swipe to confirm (if the screen does not work, this will be a problem).
    5. After creating a backup, copy the folder TWRP from the memory card to the PC.

    8. Alternative methods and service centers

    If none of the above methods worked, there are two options left:

    • 🔧 Contact the service center. Masters can:
      • Connect to the phone via JTAG or ISP (direct memory connection).
      • Replace the screen (if the problem is only in the display) and copy data.
      • Recover data from damaged flash memory (expensive, but sometimes possible).

      Cost: from 2,000 to 20,000 rubles (depending on complexity). In Moscow and St. Petersburg, you can contact Samsung Service Center, iClub (for iPhone, but sometimes they also take Android) or FixPrice.

    • 🛒 Buy a new phone and restore data from a backup. If you have enabled synchronization with Google or the manufacturer's cloud, the first time you turn on a new device, the system will offer to restore data.

    How to choose a service center:

    Criteria What to check
    Reputation Read reviews on Yandex.Maps or Google Maps. Pay attention to the latest reviews (for the last month).
    Guarantees Ask if they provide a guarantee for data safety. Good services provide a receipt for the device.
    Price Compare prices in 2-3 services. If somewhere is too cheap (for example, 500 rubles for data recovery), this is a reason to be wary.
    Equipment Check if they have programmers for JTAG/ISP. Without them, the chances of success are minimal.

    What you should not do:

    • 🔥 Try to disassemble the phone yourself (risk of damaging the cables or the board).
    • 💦 Dry the phone in rice or a hairdryer (this does not help, but only aggravates the corrosion).
    • 🔌 Connect the phone to non-original chargers (the power controller may burn out).
    ⚠️ Attention: Details of app interfaces, prices at service centers and available recovery methods may change. Before your visit, check the latest information on the service website or by phone.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions

    Is it possible to restore data if the phone has been locked with a pattern key?

    If the screen does not work, but the phone turns on, the only chance is use ADB (if USB debugging was previously enabled). Commands for unlocking:

    adb shell rm /data/system/gesture.key

    adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db
    

    adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-wal
    

    adb shell rm /data/system/locksettings.db-shm
    

    adb reboot

    After a reboot, the pattern key will be reset. Attention: on new versions Android (10+) this method may not work.

    How extract data if the phone does not turn on and is not detected by the computer?

    In this case, there are two options left:

    1. Service Center with equipment for JTAG/ISP.
    2. Independent repair (only if you are confident in your skills): replacing the display cable, checking the battery, soldering contacts.

    If the phone does not respond even to charging, most likely the problem is with the motherboard. Data recovery in this case will be expensive (from 10,000 rubles).

    Is it possible to recover deleted files after resetting the settings?

    After factory reset the data is not completely deleted - they are marked as free space. There are chances of recovery, but only if:

    • You immediately stopped using the phone.
    • Use professional tools like Dr.Fone, EaseUS MobiSaver or 7-Data Recovery.
    • Turn to a service center with a programmer.

    Independent recovery after a reset is unlikely, especially if the phone has been reflashed.

    How to transfer data from a broken phone to a new one?

    The methods depend on what data you need:

    • Contacts, mail, calendar: synchronize the new phone with the same one Google Account.
    • Photo/video: if they were in Google Photos, installing the application on a new phone will automatically update the media library.
    • Applications and settings: when you turn on your new phone for the first time, select the option Copy data from old device and connect the broken phone via USB-OTG (if it somehow works).
    • Local files: use the methods from this article (for example, ADB or a memory card), then