How to Recover Photos from a Broken Phone

Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

PhotosRecoveryMobileBroken PhoneData ManagementBackupAndroidiPhoneDevicesTroubleshooting

Having your phone broken can be a very frustrating experience. One of the most heartbreaking aspects is often the risk of losing precious photos stored on the device. Whether it's due to a broken screen, water damage or a software malfunction, the good news is that there are several methods you can use to recover photos from a broken phone. In this detailed guide, we'll walk you through several methods, step by step, using simple language. By the end of this guide, you should have a full understanding of how to recover your favorite photos.

1. Use backup services

The easiest way to recover your photos is to use backup services, if you had them activated before your phone broke. Most smartphones have built-in options for backing up data to the cloud, such as Google Photos, iCloud, or other third-party apps like Dropbox.

Google Photos

If you have a Google account and have enabled backup, your photos may have been automatically uploaded to Google Photos.

1. Using a computer or another device, open a web browser and go to Google Photos.
2. Log in using the same Google account that was associated with your broken phone.
3. Once logged in, you will be able to view all your backed up photos.
4. You can download photos by selecting them and clicking on the download option.

iCloud

For iPhone users, iCloud will likely have your photos backed up.

1. Go to iCloud.com on any web browser.
2. Sign in with your Apple ID.
3. Click on the “Photos” icon and you will get access to your backed up photos.
4. Select the photos you want to recover and download them to your computer.

Other cloud services

If you use other services like Dropbox, OneDrive or Amazon Photos, log into their respective websites and check if there are backup copies of your photos available that you can download.

2. Physical extraction via USB connection

If your phone still works but has a broken screen or is hard to use, you can recover your photos by connecting your phone directly to a computer using a USB cable.

1. Connect your phone to the computer using a USB cable.
2. Your phone may ask you to select a connection method (e.g., "File transfer" or "Media Transfer Protocol (MTP)"). This can be difficult if you have a broken screen. Using a USB mouse via an OTG (On-The-Go) adapter can help you navigate your phone.
3. On your computer, open "This PC" or "My Computer" and find your phone under "Devices and drives."
4. Go to the phone's storage, usually found in a folder called "DCIM," where your photos are stored.
5. Select the photos and copy them to your computer.

3. Using professional data recovery services

If both of the above methods fail, especially if your phone is severely damaged, consider using professional data recovery services. Many companies specialize in recovering data from damaged devices.

1. Search for reputable data recovery services in your area or online.
2. Contact them to discuss your situation, and they may ask you to bring or send your phone to them.
3. A professional technician will inspect your phone and try to recover data including photos from it.
4. There is typically a fee charged for services, which varies depending on the extent of the damage and the complexity of the recovery process.

4. Recovery using software tools

There are many software applications designed to recover data from a broken phone. Most of these applications can be downloaded and installed on a computer.

For Android phones

A highly recommended tool for Android devices is Dr.Fone by Wondershare.

1. Download and install Dr.Fone software from the official website.
2. Launch the software on your computer and select "Data Recovery."
3. Connect your broken Android phone to your computer using a USB cable.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions on the software to put your phone into "Download Mode." Depending on your phone model, this usually involves pressing and holding a specific button, such as Volume Down + Home + Power button.
5. Once in download mode, the software will start scanning your phone. This may take some time.
6. After the scan, preview the recoverable files including photos, and select the files you want to save.
7. Click "Recover" to save the photos to your computer.

For iPhones

A popular recovery tool for iOS devices is iMobie PhoneRescue.

1. Download and install PhoneRescue from the official website.
2. Launch PhoneRescue on your computer and select "Recover from iOS Device."
3. Connect your broken iPhone to your computer via a USB cable.
4. Let the software detect your device and choose the type of data you want to recover. In this case, choose "Photos."
5. Click "Next" and the software will start scanning your iPhone for recoverable photos.
6. Preview and select the photos you want to recover, then click "Recover" to save them to your computer.

5. Access photos via SD card

If your phone has an SD card and you have stored photos on it, you can easily recover photos using an SD card reader.

1. Remove the SD card from the broken phone.
2. Insert the SD card into an SD card reader. If your computer doesn't have a built-in card reader, you can purchase a USB card reader.
3. Connect the card reader to your computer.
4. Open "This PC" or "My Computer" and find the SD card under "Devices and drives."
5. Go to the folders where the photos are stored, usually in "DCIM" or similarly named folders.
6. Select the photos and copy them to your computer.

6. Recover via ADB command (for Android)

If your Android phone's screen is not responding but the phone turns on, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) commands to recover data.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Make sure you have ADB installed on your computer.
2. Connect your Android phone to the computer with a USB cable.
3. Open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac) on your computer.
4. To make sure your device is recognized by ADB, type the following command:
   adb devices
5. Once the device is detected, use the following command to drag all the files from the DCIM folder to your computer:
   adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ /destinationfolder
   Replace /destinationfolder with the path where you want to save the photos.

Example:
If you want to save the photos to "C:\Users\JohnDoe\Pictures", the command would be:
adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ C:\Users\JohnDoe\Pictures

Conclusion

Recovering photos from a broken phone may seem daunting, but with the right tools and methods, it's often possible to recover your precious memories. Always remember to back up your photos regularly to prevent future data loss. Each method detailed in this guide offers a different approach depending on the type of damage your phone has suffered and your comfort with technology.

From using cloud services to using professional data recovery services or software tools, you have many options to explore. Hopefully, you will be successful in recovering your photos.

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