Having a broken iPhone that won’t turn on can be very frustrating, especially if you have important data stored on the device that you need access to. The good news is that even if your iPhone won’t power on, there are still ways to recover and transfer data from it, provided the phone itself is not too badly damaged.
Try charging and hard resetting the iPhone
As an initial troubleshooting step, try connecting your iPhone to a charger and letting it charge for at least 30 minutes. Sometimes an iPhone may appear to be “bricked” when really its battery has just been fully depleted. After charging, press and hold the Power and Home buttons together for at least 10 seconds to hard reset the iPhone. This will force the device to restart. If the hard reset works and you can turn the iPhone back on, immediately back up the data before attempting any further repairs.
Connect the iPhone to a computer
If charging and resetting does not resuscitate your unresponsive iPhone, the next thing to try is connecting it to a computer. Use the iPhone’s original cable and plug the phone into a computer it has previously been synced with. Even if the iPhone screen is damaged or blank, a computer may still recognize it. Open iTunes on the computer and look under the list of connected devices to see if your iPhone is detected there. If it is, you can try backing up the data to your computer.
Put the iPhone into Recovery Mode
If your computer does not recognize your connected iPhone, you can try putting the device into Recovery Mode and then connecting it. To do this, press and hold the Home button while also connecting the iPhone to your computer via the USB cable. Keep holding the Home button until you see the Recovery Mode screen on the iPhone. This essentially restarts the phone in a special troubleshooting state that forces a connection via iTunes. With the iPhone in Recovery Mode, open iTunes on the computer again and see if it detects the device this time around.
Use data recovery software
Special third-party software exists that is designed specifically for pulling data off of unresponsive iPhones and other iOS devices. Two of the top options are:
- Dr. Fone – Used by police departments and government agencies, Dr. Fone can recover many different types of lost iOS data. It has various specialized phone recovery tools.
- iMyFone D-Back – User-friendly iPhone data recovery software with both Windows and Mac versions. Free trial available.
These types of advanced data recovery suites use complex techniques to extract iPhone data without even needing the device to power on. However, this option does require you to download, install, and run the recovery software on a computer.
Send the iPhone for professional data recovery
For extremely severe cases of iPhone damage, you may need to turn to professional data recovery services. Companies like DriveSavers and Gillware have cleanroom facilities where highly trained technicians can work directly on storage chips and other iPhone components to manually pull data at the lowest levels. This is an expensive option, but may be your last resort if all else fails.
Transfer iPhone data via iCloud
If your iPhone powers on and functions somewhat normally, even if the screen is cracked or display damaged, you can wirelessly transfer data using iCloud Backup:
- With the iPhone turned on, connect it to a Wi-Fi network.
- Open the Settings app and tap on your name at the top.
- Scroll down and select “iCloud”. Ensure that iCloud Backup is toggled on.
- Tap “Back Up Now” to initiate a backup. A progress bar will track the status.
- Once complete, you can visit icloud.com and login to view and download data that was backed up.
This method uses your iCloud account to wirelessly migrate iPhone data like photos, messages, contacts, documents, and more to Apple’s cloud servers. As long as iCloud is correctly configured and your iPhone has an internet connection, you can backup and extract data without even connecting any cables.
Migrate data directly to a new iPhone
If you are migrating to a new iPhone, you have the option of transferring data directly from your old broken iPhone to the new one during initial setup and activation. You will need both devices handy to do this.
On your new iPhone, choose “Restore from iCloud Backup” when prompted and sign into the same iCloud account used on your old device. This will transfer over content like photos, videos, messages, device settings, and more.
Alternatively, you can select “Move Data from [Old] iPhone” to wirelessly migrate data directly from the older iPhone to the new iPhone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Just make sure both devices are turned on and within close proximity during the data transfer process.
Extract data using backup files
If you previously saved a full iTunes or iCloud Backup snapshot from your broken iPhone, you can use that backup file to extract important device data:
iTunes Backup
Connect the iPhone’s original cable to your computer, enter Recovery Mode if necessary, and open iTunes. Rather than selecting “Restore from iCloud Backup”, choose “Restore from iTunes Backup”. Pick the desired backup file from the list of those available on your computer.
iCloud Backup
Login to icloud.com and navigate to Settings > Manage Storage > Backups. Click on your iPhone backup snapshot, then select “Restore to Device” and pick the new destination iPhone.
This will transfer data like contacts, messages, notes, images, and other content from the iTunes or iCloud backup file to your new iPhone.
Summary of ways to transfer data from a broken iPhone
When your iPhone is damaged, recoverable data depends on factors like the specific issue and repairs needed. But in general, here are the main methods to try for data transfer:
| Method | How It Works | Things to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Charge and reset iPhone | Connect iPhone to power, force restart | Works if iPhone is just frozen/unresponsive |
| Connect iPhone to computer | Link iPhone to PC via USB, recognize in iTunes | May recognize even with blank/broken screen |
| Put iPhone in Recovery Mode | Special restart mode, forces iTunes connection | Needed if iPhone unrecognized by computer normally |
| Use data recovery software | Advanced third-party tools pull data directly | Recovers data even if iPhone doesn’t turn on |
| Send for professional recovery | Experts manually extract data in a cleanroom | Expensive but works in extreme damage cases |
| Backup wirelessly via iCloud | Syncs data like photos, messages, contacts to iCloud | Requires working screen, internet connection |
| Direct transfer to new iPhone | Migration from old iPhone to new via Bluetooth/WiFi | Needs both iPhones powered on and in close proximity |
| Restore from iTunes/iCloud backup | Transfers data from existing full backup file | Backup must have been saved previously |
Preventing data loss on an iPhone
To avoid being in this situation in the future, be sure to regularly backup your iPhone data to both iCloud and iTunes when possible. You should also enable automatic iCloud backups in iPhone settings to backup data continuously.
Some other tips to prevent permanent iPhone data loss include:
- Handle your phone carefully and use a protective case
- Avoid exposing your iPhone to moisture or liquids
- Install important data like photos and videos to cloud storage services
- Encrypt iPhone data for security in case of theft or loss
- Know your Apple ID and password to access iCloud if needed
- Keep up to date with iOS software updates
- Never reset or restore iPhone without first backing up data
Getting help with iPhone data recovery
If you’ve tried the techniques outlined here unsuccessfully, don’t lose hope yet. Contact Apple Support directly or take your iPhone to an Apple Store Genius Bar and explain the issue. Apple technicians have access to advanced internal data recovery tools and may be able to rescue your information where consumer-level options failed.
Third party iPhone and electronics repair shops also often offer data recovery services for situations involving damaged or non-functional devices. Search for reputable data recovery specialists in your area. Be prepared to pay higher costs for extensive recovery efforts requiring part replacements or specialized equipment.
Conclusion
Losing access to your important personal iPhone data can be stressful and frustrating. But in most cases, this data is not irretrievable from a damaged or non-functional device. Using the right tools and techniques, you can likely recover contacts, photos, messages, notes, and other critical content from an iPhone that is not turning on.
First exhaust your DIY options like force restarting the iPhone, viewing it in Recovery Mode, and accessing backups. If you are still unable to transfer data on your own, turn to a professional recovery service for assistance. Being proactive about regularly backing up your iPhone is also key to avoiding potential data loss when problems occur down the line.
