How to Transfer Data From a Phone With a Broken Screen: For Android & iPhone

Part 1: Quick Check — What Type of Broken Screen Do You Have

Before transferring data from a phone with a broken screen, determine the sort of damage. This matters since each screen condition requires a separate transmission mechanism. Knowing the issue with your phone makes choosing a file-saving method easier. This simple examination identifies the optimal data recovery or transfer method for all Android and iPhone devices.

Screen Condition Overview

Part 2: How to Transfer Data From a Phone With a Broken Screen (Android)

Learn how to safely and conveniently transfer data from a broken phone after recognising screen damage. Transfer photos, videos, contacts, and data even if your screen is broken, locked, or blank. Choose the phone damage-appropriate approach. These approaches work for all Androids.

Method 1: Use OTG Cable + USB Mouse to Control the Phone

This is excellent if your screen is viewable, but the touchscreen doesn't work. Also works for partially working displays.

A mouse can be connected to an Android phone using an OTG adapter. The screen will show a mouse pointer after connection. This unlocks the phone, activates backup, and copies files even with a cracked screen. Follow the steps below:

• Step 1. Use an OTG adapter with a USB mouse.
• Step 2. Install the OTG adapter on your broken phone. Small pointer appears on the phone screen.
• Step 3. Use the mouse to unlock your phone with PIN, pattern, or password.
• Step 4. Launch Files, Photos, Google Drive, Samsung Smart Switch, or backup program.
• Step 5. Move data to a new phone, PC, or cloud.

One of the quickest ways to how to transfer data from broken screen phone is this.

Method 2: Transfer Data to a PC Using a USB Cable

If your phone turns on, plug it into a computer to manually move files. This works even with a black screen if USB debugging is activated or the phone unlocks automatically. Follow the steps:

• Step 1. Connect the broken phone to your PC or Mac using its original USB cord.
• Step 2. Choose a connection type on your phone from "File Transfer or MTP." (This is if the phone screen is working partially.)



• Step 3. A folder with your files appears on the computer when the phone unlocks. Take copies of DCIM, Pictures, Movies, Documents, Downloads, and others.



• Step 4. Store them safely on your PC.

If the phone is locked but the screen is black, use OTG + mouse to unlock and reconnect to the PC. Full file access is provided.

Method 3: Transfer Data to a New Phone using OEM Tools

Most Android brands have phone-to-phone transfer apps. Free, fast, and easy apps. Old phone apps, photos, and settings are copied to new phone. This helps if your screen works or you can utilise OTG.

Samsung Smart Switch

Samsung's official transfer tool is Smart Switch. Follow the steps:

• Step 1. Download Smart Switch on both phones.
• Step 2. Use your mouse to open Smart Switch on your broken phone.
• Step 3. Select "Send Data > Wireless or Cable."

• Step 4. Select "Receive Data" on the new Samsung phone.

This Samsung data transfer from a damaged smartphone tutorial is one of the easiest.

Method 4: Google Account Data Transfer

If the screen shows something or OTG unlocks the phone, this works. Google Account backup is easy and automatic. Follow the steps below:

• Step 1. Go to "Google > All Services > Backup and Restore >Backup."
• Step 2. Select "Back up now."



• Step 3. Use your Google account on your new phone.
• Step 4. While setting up new android device, choose copy apps & data and press next on "Use another device".

Step 5. Google recovers contacts, images, apps, call logs, texts, and more.

This method teaches how to transfer data from a broken phone quickly and safely.

Bonus Tip: When Transfer Isn't Possible on Android — Use Data Recovery Tools (Dr.Fone)

If the file transfer on your broken phone is hindered due to any reason such as the screen turns black, touch stops working, or the phone stops responding— no worries! Dr.Fone - Data Recovery is the best backup for broken-screen phones or when traditional tools fail.

Dr.Fone supports Android phones as Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, Infinix, Tecno. Data is recovered without USB debugging. Without transferring, the tool restores photos, videos, WhatsApp conversations, contacts, and more. This helps learn how to transfer data from broken phone safely.

Dr.Fone provides three recovery options for Android devices. The first, for phones with a broken or unresponsive screen but a working display, works for all Android devices. The other two—touch screen not responsive and black/broken screen—are available only for older Samsung models.

Note: Recover data from "Screen On but Unresponsive" scenario is compatible with all Android phones.

Step-by-Step Guide

• Step 1. Install and launch Wondershare Dr.Fone on PC. Click "Toolbox > Data Recovery" from the main page and select Android. Different recovery choices appear. Choose "Recover from Broken Phone."

• Step 2. Choose your phone's issue——"displays still works, but the screen is broken or unresponsive". This recovery scenario is limited to devices that have a working display which can be turned on but are non-operable by touch. It works with all Android phones.

• Step 3. The required drivers will be downloaded automatically by the program. Installation should be completed without your intervention, so the program will automatically move to the next screen once it is finished.

• Step 4. Select an appropriate method to recover or move your data: Either save the data from your phone to the cloud or use a social media app that is supported on both devices to move data from your phone to another device or computer.

Part 3: How to Transfer Data From a Phone With a Broken Screen (iPhone)

Apple iPhones make data transfer from shattered/broken screen phones easier. Move files on a black, broken, or touchless screen. Send them to iCloud, a new iPhone, or a PC.

Here are several easy methods. Each method works with damaged screens.

Method 1: iCloud Sync & Auto Backup

Using iCloud to transfer data from a broken phone is simple. If your iPhone is in iCloud, your data may be protected. The steps are below:

• Step 1. Connect your broken iPhone to Wi-Fi or mobile data.
• Step 2. If the screen is partially visible, go to "Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Backup."
• Step 3. Select "iCloud Backup" and click "Back Up Now."



• Step 4. Setup your new iPhone. Select "Restore from iCloud Backup" after turning on. Use the same Apple ID.

Even if your touchscreen is broken, iCloud may save your old info. This is the easiest approach to how to transfer data from a broken phone.

Method 2: Use iCloud.com from a Computer

Even without a screen, you may access your files on a computer. This works for photographs, videos, notes, and contacts. Let's see how:

• Step 1. Open a browser on a computer and navigate to iCloud.com.
• Step 2. Sign in with your Apple ID.

• Step 3. Access Photos, Contacts, Notes, or iCloud Drive.
• Step 4. Download what you need to your PC. You can transfer these files to your new phone.

This enables you to quickly access files without touching your broken iPhone.

Method 3: Finder/iTunes Data Transfer

This method is good for backing up a damaged iPhone. Sometimes iCloud is full, and you need to transfer data from a phone with a broken screen. Follow the steps below:

• Step 1. Connect the broken iPhone to your Mac or Windows PC via cable.
• Step 2. Open Finder on macOS Catalina or later. Open iTunes on Windows or earlier macOS.
• Step 3. Third, select your iPhone when it appears.
• Step 4. Click "Back Up Now."

Connect your new iPhone and select Restore From Backup after the backup is ready. This enables the transfer data from a broken phone without touching.

Method 4: External Keyboard/Lightning OTG

This approach helps if your iPhone screen is cracked and you can't input the passcode. iPhones may use external keyboards with Lightning-to-USB or Lightning-to-OTG adapters. The steps are:

• Step 1. Connect your iPhone to a Lightning OTG adaptor.
• Step 2. Connect a USB keyboard to the adaptor.



• Step 3. Type your passcode using the keypad. Even without a screen or touch, this unlocks the phone.
• Step 4. Connect iPhone to PC/Mac and back up with iTunes/Finder after unlocking.

Transferring data from a malfunctioning phone with a frozen passcode screen worries many consumers. This easy solution helps.

Part 4: Special Case — Completely Dead Phone

One phone with a cracked screen makes data transfer difficult. This happens when the phone is broken and lifeless. Normal transfer methods won't work if your phone doesn't turn on, charge, or have power. In this case, transferring home data from a shattered phone or a screen-only phone is impossible.

When a phone dies, standard tools cannot read its storage. USB cables, OTG, iCloud, Google, and backup programs fail. Your only possibilities are:

1. Repair the Screen or Hardware

Phones can feel dead if the screen or battery is damaged. A repair shop can replace the battery or the display. Follow the preceding steps to transfer data if the device turns on again.

2. Use a Pro Data Recovery Lab

These labs can recover data from damaged phones with specialized equipment. They can rescue files from broken screens, motherboards, and touch.

3. Chip-Off Recovery

This is the last choice. The phone's storage chip is removed and read by experts using specialised gear. It is expensive, but it transfers data from a broken phone when nothing else does.

Conclusion

You can now transfer data from a broken-screen phone utilizing various secure and straightforward methods. Moving photographs, contacts, messages, and more is possible even if your screen is damaged, blank, frozen, or dead. When the screen doesn't reply, try iCloud, Google, PC tools, OTG cables, or data recovery programs. These techniques make how to transfer data from broken screen phone easy and safe.

However, if conventional ways do not work — such instance could be a fully black screen, non-functioning touch, or disabled USB debugging — Wondershare Dr.Fone is the next best option. Dr.Fone - Data Recovery provides you with the means to fetch the files like photos, videos, WhatsApp data, documents, and so on, without requiring the use of the phone's screen.