Smashed phone screen? How to get your photos off

A smashed phone screen feels like a disaster when your photos are on the other side of it, but the screen is only a display. Your photos, videos and messages are stored on a chip inside the phone, and a broken screen usually leaves that storage untouched. The real problem is that you can no longer see the phone or tap in your passcode. This guide covers the safest ways to get your photos back from an iPhone or Android phone, starting with the simplest.

First, check whether the phone is still alive

Plug it in to charge and leave it for half an hour. Then look for signs of life: a vibration when you press the power button, notification sounds, a ringtone when someone calls it, or a faint image on the display. If it responds, the phone is probably working behind the broken glass, and that makes everything below much easier.

If the phone is bent, the back is bulging or it gets hot, stop charging it and leave it switched off. A damaged battery is a safety risk.

Check the cloud before anything else

Your photos may already be safe. From a computer or another phone, look here:

• iPhone: sign in at icloud.com and open Photos. Check whether iCloud Photos was turned on and how recent the last pictures are.
• Android: sign in at photos.google.com with the Google account used on the phone. Samsung owners should also check OneDrive if they linked it to the Gallery app.
• WhatsApp and other apps: pictures sent through messaging apps may still be in the chat on a linked computer or with the person you sent them to.

Signing in may send a security code to the broken phone. If you have another trusted device, or a phone number set up for your account, use that. If everything you want is there, your job is done.

If it is an iPhone

If the screen is dark but the phone is working, there are a few options:

• Use a computer it already trusts. If you have connected the iPhone to this computer before, plug it in, and if it unlocks with Face ID or you can still enter the passcode, make an encrypted backup using Finder on a Mac or the Apple Devices app or iTunes on Windows.
• Try VoiceOver. If “Hey Siri” is turned on, you can ask Siri to turn on VoiceOver. The phone then reads out what is on the screen, which can be enough to enter your passcode if the touch layer still works.
• Replace the screen. If the phone has never been connected to a computer, it needs someone to tap Trust on the display, so a working screen is the way in.

If it is an Android phone

Android gives you a few more routes, though they vary by make and model:

• Connect a USB mouse. If the display works but touch does not, a USB OTG adapter and a mouse can give you a pointer, so you can enter your PIN or pattern.
• Use a monitor or TV. Many Samsung Galaxy phones support DeX and can show their display over a USB-C to HDMI adapter. With a mouse connected as well, you can operate the phone from the big screen. Support varies, so check your model.
• Try USB file transfer. Once the phone is unlocked, connect it to a computer. It may need you to switch from charging to file transfer, and the photos are normally in the DCIM folder.
• Samsung’s remote unlock. If it was set up in advance, Samsung’s Find service can unlock the phone remotely, which can help a USB connection work.

Replacing the screen is often the best answer

If none of that works, fitting a new screen is frequently the most direct way back to your data, even if you never plan to use the phone again. A screen repair does not normally touch your data, but tell the repairer that the photos matter and that the phone must not be reset or wiped. Back up the moment the phone works again.

Be careful with DIY repairs. The cables between the screen and the main board are delicate, and damaging them or a nearby connector can turn a simple job into a much harder one.

What not to do

• Do not factory reset the phone or use “Erase” in Find My. On a modern phone, this destroys access to your data for good.
• Do not keep guessing the passcode. Blind attempts on a broken screen can lock the phone, and some phones can be set to erase themselves after too many failures.
• Do not hand it in or trade it in until you are certain the photos are safe.
• Do not throw it away, even if it seems completely dead. If it was dropped or crushed hard enough to stop working altogether, the storage chip may still be intact.

Why your passcode matters so much

iPhones and modern Android phones encrypt their storage. The key is tied to the phone’s own hardware and your passcode, so the storage chip cannot simply be removed and read elsewhere. In practice, recovery from a modern phone means getting the original phone working, even briefly, and unlocking it with your passcode. If you have forgotten the code, there is usually no way around it, so keep it safe.

That is why a phone that will not power up after a heavy impact is a job for specialists rather than a high street swap. You can read more on our iPhone data recovery and Android phone data recovery pages.

Once you have your photos back

Turn on iCloud Photos or Google Photos, check that you have enough storage for it to finish, and look at the date of your last backup now and then. A second copy on a computer or external drive means your memories do not rest on one account or one phone.

Need your photos back?

Call Data Retrieval on 020 7064 4996. We offer a free assessment with no obligation, so you will know where you stand before any work is done.