Having a broken or damaged Android phone can be extremely frustrating, especially if you have important data stored on it that you need to access. The good news is that in many cases, you can recover data from a broken Android device without having to pay for expensive data recovery services.
Why is my data still on my broken Android phone?
When an Android phone breaks or becomes damaged, the hardware may stop working properly, but the internal storage where your data is stored is often still intact. This is because the memory components are separate from the other hardware components like the screen or motherboard.
So even if the phone won’t turn on or is physically cracked, there’s a good chance your photos, videos, documents, and other files can still be retrieved from the phone’s internal storage.
Can I recover data without technical expertise?
Yes, there are a few methods for recovering data from a damaged Android device that do not require significant technical expertise:
- Using Android file transfer software on a computer connected via USB
- Using a microSD card data recovery app on another phone
- Using cloud backup services like Google Photos
These options only require you to download and install software, connect the necessary cables, or log into online accounts. No disassembly of the phone or advanced data recovery skills are necessary.
How can I recover data via USB file transfer?
One of the most straightforward ways to recover data from a damaged Android phone is to use a USB cable to connect it to a computer, then access the files directly.
Here are the steps:
- Install Android file transfer software like dr.fone or Android Data Recovery on a Windows or Mac computer.
- Connect your damaged Android phone to the computer using a USB cable.
- If prompted on the phone, grant access to data transfer.
- The phone may appear as an external drive on the computer.
- Use the file explorer on the computer to browse the contents of the phone and copy data off of it.
As long as the phone’s storage is still in working order, this method should allow you to access your files directly through your computer’s operating system.
What if my phone won’t turn on or connect via USB?
If your Android phone is completely broken and won’t power on at all, you likely won’t be able to transfer data directly over a USB connection. But there are still some options:
- Use a microSD card reader to access files stored on an external SD card.
- Connect the phone’s internal storage directly to a computer using a USB adapter cable.
- Send the phone to a data recovery service to extract the data professionally.
So you can still potentially recover some or all of your data as long as the storage components are intact, even if the phone itself won’t turn on.
How can I use a microSD card to recover data?
If you had a microSD card inserted in your damaged Android phone, you may be able to recover data from it using another device:
- Carefully remove the microSD card from the damaged phone.
- Insert the microSD card into a card reader attached to a computer, or into another phone that can read it.
- Browse the files on the SD card and copy them to the computer or second phone.
- Reformat the SD card after data transfer is complete.
This allows you to access photo, video, and document files that were stored on the removable memory card. Just don’t save anything new onto the card before recovering the data, as it may overwrite the existing files.
What if my phone doesn’t have an SD card?
If your Android phone only has built-in internal storage and no microSD card, then a USB connection is the best bet for recovering files. You can use a direct USB connection if the phone will power on, or a USB adapter cable that pulls data from the storage chips directly.
Some phones also have cloud backups like Google Photos that can restore at least some data as well.
How can cloud backups help recover data?
If your broken Android phone was backed up to a cloud service like Google Photos or Drive, you may be able to restore some or all of your data from the cloud:
- Google Photos – Photos and videos are automatically backed up to your Google account.
- Google Drive – Files you proactively backed up can be restored.
- Samsung Cloud – Samsung phones come with free cloud backup.
To recover cloud-backed up data:
- Go to the cloud service on another phone or computer.
- Sign into your account that was on the damaged phone.
- Find the backup from your phone and choose to download or restore.
- The data will be copied from the cloud back to the new device.
This is a convenient way to get back lost photos, videos, documents, contacts, and other irreplaceable data.
What are the limitations of cloud backups?
Cloud backups have some limitations to be aware of:
- Only files that were explicitly backed up will be there.
- Backups can be incomplete if not done regularly.
- Image and video quality may be reduced.
- Backups won’t include all app data.
So while cloud backups are very useful for recovering media files and documents, they may not fully restore all data from your phone.
What professional data recovery options exist?
For severely damaged phones where DIY data recovery is not possible, you may need to turn to professional recovery services. These can retrieve data in many scenarios but cost much more.
Here are some professional options:
- Local repair shops – Many independent phone repair shops offer data recovery services in addition to hardware repairs.
- Mail-in recovery services – Companies like DriveSavers and OnTrack specialize in data recovery and allow you to mail in the device.
- Data recovery specialists – Specialists like Disk Doctors have sophisticated tools to repair storage hardware and extract data.
These professional services are expensive, typically costing hundreds to thousands of dollars. But they can recover data in cases where DIY options fail.
When are professional services the only option?
You will most likely need professional data recovery if:
- The phone is completely dead and won’t turn on at all.
- The storage components are mechanically damaged.
- DIY software can’t recognize or read the storage.
- Advanced hardware disassembly or data extraction is required.
Basically if you’ve exhausted all DIY options without success, professional recovery is the last resort to salvage the data.
Can I recover data from a phone that won’t turn on?
It is possible to recover data from an Android phone that is completely dead and unresponsive. If the storage hardware itself is still functional, the data should still be there.
For phones that won’t power on, you have two options:
- Use a USB adapter cable to access internal storage directly from a computer.
- Send to a professional recovery service to disassemble and retrieve data.
USB adapter cables connect the phone’s storage chips directly to a computer and do not require the phone to turn on. Professional services go a step further and transplant the storage chips to specialized recovery hardware.
So with the right tools, it’s possible to access data from even a totally dead phone – the data doesn’t just disappear when a phone breaks.
How can I tell if a phone is completely broken?
Here are some signs that an Android phone is likely completely and irreparably damaged:
- Does not boot up or show any signs of life.
- Has major physical damage like a cracked motherboard.
- Was exposed to significant water or other liquid damage.
- Storage components are unresponsive or reporting errors.
- Professional diagnosis declares unrecoverable damage.
In these cases, DIY options probably won’t work and professional data recovery is the only hope – but there’s no guarantee even the pros can retrieve the data.
Can I recover data after factory resetting a phone?
If you or someone else accidentally did a factory reset on your Android phone, the data is still recoverable in many cases. This is because resetting just removes the file indexing, not the files themselves.
To recover data after a factory reset:
- Don’t save anything new onto the storage after the reset.
- Use data recovery software to scan the raw storage space.
- Look for recoverable partitions and raw file signatures.
- Extract any recoverable user files you can find.
Specialized recovery software like DiskDigger have modes designed specifically for undeleting files after a factory reset. You can often get back a significant portion of your photos, videos, documents and other user data.
Is a factory reset the same as securely wiping a phone?
No, a factory reset is not the same as fully wiping or securely erasing data from an Android phone. Here is the key difference:
- Factory reset – Resets app data and user settings but does not securely wipe files.
- Secure wipe – Overwrites all data with zeros to prevent any chance of recovery.
So a factory reset removes just enough to reset the phone to a clean state. But data recovery is still possible if you act quickly before anything gets overwritten.
What are the best Android data recovery software options?
Here are some of the top data recovery apps and programs for retrieving files from damaged Android devices:
| Software | Key Features |
|---|---|
| DiskDigger | Free app with basic recovery features, great for photos. |
| dr.fone – Android Data Recovery | Robust recovery for 6000+ Android models. |
| EaseUS MobiSaver | Recovers data lost due to OS update, virus and more. |
| PhoneRescue for Android | Advanced scanning modes for deep recovery. |
These programs can recover data directly from your Android device or image backups and give you options to preview files before recovering.
What should I look for in recovery software?
Key things to look for when choosing Android data recovery software include:
- Ability to directly access and scan Android internal storage.
- File previews before recovery.
- Support for a wide range of Android brands, models, OS versions.
- Tools for SD card and image file recovery.
- Ease of use with clear guides and recovering.
- Good customer support in case any issues occur.
The software should also clearly explain the recovery process so you know what to expect when retrieving your files.
How can I avoid needing data recovery in the future?
Here are some tips to avoid finding yourself needing to recover lost data from a damaged Android phone again in the future:
- Backup your data regularly to the cloud and external SD card.
- Encrypt your device to protect data if the phone is lost or stolen.
- Install a quality case and screen protector to prevent physical damage.
- Avoid exposing your phone to moisture or extreme temperatures.
- Download apps only from trusted sources to avoid malware.
- Eject the SD card properly before removing it from your phone.
Practicing data loss prevention is much less stressful than trying to recover data after the fact! But if you do need to recover data from an Android device again, you now know some DIY methods to try before spending on professional recovery.
Conclusion
Recovering lost data from a broken or damaged Android phone is often possible with the right tools and techniques. While professional recovery services are always an option for severe cases, you can try more affordable DIY data recovery using USB file transfers, microSD cards, cloud backups, or Android recovery apps first.
With some effort and time invested, you have a good chance of getting back your lost photos, videos, documents, and other irreplaceable files without needing to pay hundreds or thousands to professional data recovery companies. Just make sure to act quickly before anything gets overwritten, and don’t save any new data to the device before recovering what you can first.