In this guide, we will inform you about how to access an Android phone with a broken screen. How many times have you dropped your phone, thinking the screen would crack when you picked it up? Luckily for us, most phone screens are relatively durable and don't easily shatter. But when they do, you find yourself in a panic, trying to figure out how to access your phone.
When your phone breaks and the screen fails, not only are you unable to use your phone, but now all the information stored on your phone becomes inaccessible. The good news is that it is possible to recover all the information present on your device with a little troubleshooting and fixing.
Use an OTG Adapter for Access
If you can see the screen but cannot touch it because you'll cut your hand, or if the screen is unresponsive, use an OTG adapter to control the phone with a mouse.
An OTG (On-the-Go) adapter has two ends. One end is connected to the USB port on your phone, and the other end is a standard USB-A adapter to which you can connect the mouse. Once both are connected, you'll be able to use your phone without touching the screen.
Not all Android phones have the ability to use OTG, so check with your manufacturer if you have it. If not, you may not be able to retrieve your phone's information without using third-party software.
In addition to helping you access an Android phone with a broken screen, there are a variety of other uses for an OTG adapter, including connecting a keyboard.
As a side note, if your phone is not compatible but the screen is still visible, consider installing a thin glass screen protector on the cracked screen. This may allow you to continue using the phone long enough to save all your information.
Fix USB Errors
To access your phone through your computer, you need to enable USB debugging mode. USB debugging allows your Android device to connect to the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) via a USB connection. When using USB debugging, your Android device receives commands, files, and other data from your computer. It also works in reverse, allowing your computer to pull necessary information like log files from your phone. Here's how to enable USB debugging mode on an Android phone:
- Use an OTG adapter to connect your phone to a USB mouse.
- Click with the mouse to open your phone.
- Access the settings by pulling down the top menu on your phone and tapping on the gear icon in the top right corner.
- In the settings, scroll down to the "About phone" menu.
- Tap on "Software Information."
- Look for the "Build number" and tap on the box seven times.
- Go back to the settings and scroll down. In the "About phone" menu, there is now an option to access developer options.
- Within developer options, toggle the switch to enable USB debugging.
Connect your phone to your computer via a USB connection. From your computer, you can access and open folders on your phone and copy the data you want to your computer.
If Your Screen Doesn't Turn On
If your screen doesn't work, it is best for most users to use an Android data recovery tool. Most of these tools are paid versions, but you can try some free tools like MiniTool Mobile Recovery for Android, Undeleter Recover Docs & Pictures, and DiskDigger for Android. The free versions may have limited functionality and you may need to upgrade to perform what you need.
Some paid data recovery tools include 7-Data Recovery, Dr Fone, and MobiSaver for Android.
If none of these options work to access your broken phone, you may need to entrust it to a professional. Make sure to go to a reputable store because once they access your phone, they can access all your data.
Your mobile operator may also be able to retrieve your data. However, this can be expensive or included if you have device insurance.
How to avoid these problems
Accessing an Android phone with a broken screen is not always easy, so it's a good idea to try to be prepared if the worst happens. You can do this by keeping your phone backed up and installing programs such as Pushbullet that will give you access to your phone's data even if you can't control it. You can also use Android backup tools to regularly back up your data so you don't have to worry.
Ideally, automatically back up your important photos and documents to Google Drive or another cloud service. That way, if you drop your phone and the screen breaks, you haven't lost the most important elements of your device.
Conclusion
In this comprehensive guide, you have learned how to access your Android phone with a broken screen. If you have any questions, feel free to let us know in the comments. Additionally, if you want to know how to transfer Android contacts to an iPhone, you can refer to this guide.