Quick Answers
If your old iPhone is broken but you still need to access the data on it, there are a few options:
- Use iCloud backups – If you had iCloud backups enabled, you can restore that backup to a new iPhone
- Connect to iTunes – Connect the broken iPhone to a computer with iTunes and see if you can access the data that way
- Use data recovery software – Specialized software may be able to recover data from the broken iPhone
- Take it to Apple – Apple may be able to recover data from the broken iPhone at an Apple Store
The best approach depends on the extent of the damage and whether you had backups enabled. With severe damage, data recovery software or professional services may be necessary.
Assessing the Damage
The first step is to determine the extent of the damage to your iPhone. Is it a cracked screen, water damage, or something else? Does the phone turn on at all or show any signs of life? The more significant the damage, the harder it will be to recover data from the device directly.
Some types of damage may allow you to at least access the iPhone with iTunes on a computer. But substantial water damage or a completely broken device will likely require data recovery professionals or software designed for this purpose.
It’s important to take stock of the damage before attempting any data transfers, as you want to avoid making things worse. Don’t try to power on severely water damaged devices before getting help.
Cracked Screen
If the iPhone is otherwise working but has a cracked or damaged screen, you may still be able to recover data by connecting the device to a computer. Open iTunes on a Mac or PC, connect the iPhone to the computer, and see if iTunes recognizes it.
You should be able to view photos and other content synced to iTunes. Back up the iPhone through iTunes to save data like contacts, messages, and photos.
The touchscreen likely won’t work properly due to the cracks, so you’ll need to control things through iTunes on the computer. But the data may still be accessible this way as long as the rest of the phone is functional.
Water Damage
Water damage requires quick action to maximize the chances of data recovery. If the phone was exposed to water, immediately power it down and avoid trying to turn it on.
Allow it to dry out completely for at least 24-48 hours. Placement in rice may help absorb excess moisture. Avoid using heat sources like hairdryers to speed up drying.
After thoroughly drying, connect the iPhone to a computer and see if iTunes recognizes it. If so, you can transfer data immediately. The longer you wait, the more potential for corrosion damage to parts inside the device.
If the phone won’t power on at all after drying out, you’ll likely need professional data recovery or recovery software designed for water damage situations. Don’t give up hope, even severely water damaged devices can sometimes be recovered with expertise.
Extensive Physical Damage
With major physical damage like a smashed or bent device, recovery becomes difficult without professional help or data recovery software. The internal storage chips where your data resides may be damaged or destroyed.
But there’s still a chance that specialty data recovery services can access the NAND flash storage even with extreme physical damage. The right recovery experts can fix or bypass damaged components to copy the data.
This is an expensive process, but may be worthwhile if the data is truly essential. In some cases, hardware diagnostics can determine if the storage chip is intact enough to even make data recovery possible before investing in the full repair.
Using iCloud Backups
If you had iCloud backups enabled on the iPhone before it was damaged, this gives you the simplest path to restoring your data. iCloud automatically saves backups while charging and connected to WiFi, as long as you have space available in your iCloud account storage.
To restore from a backup, get a replacement iPhone and go through the initial setup process. Use your Apple ID credentials and choose to restore from the iCloud backup when prompted. Make sure it’s connecting properly to the Internet during setup.
All of your data like photos, messages, device settings and app data will transfer from the most recent backup. You can then use the new phone as normal with everything intanct.
An iCloud backup makes recovery easy. But if you didn’t have backups enabled, you’ll need to try other options for accessing data off the damaged device directly. Make sure backups are configured for any new iPhone you get in the future.
iCloud Backup Limitations
Keep in mind iCloud has storage limits based on the amount you pay for your iCloud subscription. It does not back up absolutely everything by default. For example:
- Music and some other media are not included
- Data stored in third-party cloud services won’t backup
- Information like text messages may be limited based on storage space
So depending on your usage, there could still be important items that were only on the damaged iPhone and not the iCloud backup. Review Apple’s support documents to understand exactly what iCloud does and does not save.
Using iTunes to Transfer Data
If you don’t have an iCloud backup, the iTunes method may allow you to recover some data directly off the damaged iPhone. This requires connecting the device to a computer and hoping iTunes can interact with it.
Here are the steps to attempt transfer of data via iTunes:
- Install the latest version of iTunes on a Mac or Windows PC
- Use an official Lightning cable to connect the damaged iPhone to the computer
- Open iTunes and look for your iPhone’s name under the Devices section
- If you see the phone name, select it and explore the available data
- Use the Back Up Now option in iTunes to save data to the computer
If the phone powers on and connects via USB, this method makes it easy to get photos, texts, app data, and other information off the device. You can migrate it to a new iPhone at a later time.
But if the phone has extensive water or physical damage, iTunes likely won’t recognize it. In that case, more advanced data recovery is required. Don’t force anything, as you risk making the situation worse.
Recovery Mode
For slightly damaged devices, Recovery Mode may allow an iTunes backup. Here’s how to try it:
- Connect the device to computer via USB
- Quickly hold the Home button for 10 seconds, release, then hold again for 14 seconds
- If successful, you’ll see the Recovery Mode screen
- In iTunes select your iPhone and choose Back Up Now
This forces the device into a special recovery state that sometimes permits data access when normal methods don’t work. But Recovery Mode is still dependent on internal components functioning properly.
Professional Data Recovery Services
For an iPhone with catastrophic damage, your best chance lies with professional data recovery companies that specialize in retrieving data from damaged devices. They have specialized tools that can essentially repair some components and copy data at the storage level.
Keep in mind, these services are expensive, often $1000 or much more depending on the severity of the situation. The process involves:
- Evaluation – The damaged device is examined and diagnosed. You’ll receive a summary of the situation with the estimated chance of recovery.
- Data copying – If recovery looks possible, the next step is repairs to components, chip removal, and data duplication.
- Return of data – The recovered data is transferred to you on an external hard drive or other media.
It’s an involved process with no guarantees, but specialized services like DriveSavers, Kroll, Ace Data Recovery, Gillware and others have proven success with everything from water damage to smashed device recovery.
When to Avoid Recovery Services
Data recovery services shouldn’t be needed for:
- Functioning screen damage – If the touchscreen still works, use iTunes.
- Minor water damage – Allow time to dry thoroughly, then try iTunes.
- Very old devices – The cost likely exceeds the value of very outdated iPhone data.
In these cases the risks and costs outweigh the benefits compared to other DIY-style options. But with significant damage causing device failure, professional recovery can literally save the day when all else fails.
Using Data Recovery Software
Software provides another potential method for retrieving data off an iPhone with serious damage. The phone would need to still have an intact data storage chip.
Specifically, you need data recovery programs designed for iOS devices that can create a bit-for-bit digital copy or “image” of the storage contents. From this RAW image file, the goal is extracting the messages, photos and other individual pieces of user data.
Popular recovery programs like PhoneRescue for iOS, EaseUS MobiSaver, iMyFone D-Port Pro, and others are purpose-built for this task. The process involves:
- Connecting the damaged device to a computer
- Making a full forensic image of the storage
- Running the image through the program to parse user files
- Saving the recovered data to another device
This gives you access to the most data possible off an iPhone with hardware issues, as long as the storage chip remains intact. Just connecting the phone and clicking “Recover” automates many complex data replication steps.
Advantages vs. Data Recovery Services
The main advantages of using data recovery software over professional services are:
- Much lower cost – $50 to a few hundred dollars for the software license fee versus thousands for pro services.
- Faster – Recover data yourself in hours instead of waiting days.
- Recover multiple times – The original image can be reused if issues arise.
The main downsides compared to pro recovery are lower chances of success with very seriously damaged devices, and requiring more technical knowledge to operate the software effectively yourself.
Using a Backup iPhone or iPad
If you previously used file sharing features between an iPhone and iPad or another iPhone, you may be able to access the broken iPhone’s data from that secondary device instead.
For example, photos are easy to share via iCloud Photo Sharing between Apple devices tied to the same iCloud account. If this was enabled, the photos should be safely on your iPad already.
Other types of data like messages, notes, and contacts can sync between devices when set up properly as well. And content purchased through iTunes is attached to your Apple ID, so can be downloaded again.
Essentially if you consistently used features that sync or share data between devices, the information may exist elsewhere already, available on another iPhone, iPad, or even Mac or PC.
Third Party Cloud Syncing
Similarly, many third party apps have cloud syncing options to share data between devices. For example:
- WhatsApp messages sync between Android and iPhone.
- Google Drive app files are available on all devices.
- Snapchat Memories sync across iOS devices.
Review your most used apps for cloud sharing and logging in to your accounts on another device. This synced data won’t be lost.
Summary & Recommendations
Here are some key points to remember and best practices for data recovery from a damaged iPhone:
- Act quickly if liquid damaged – Dry out the device completely.
- Don’t force powering on – This risks further component damage.
- Try iTunes backup first – This is the easiest DIY method.
- Use iCloud restore if backups existed – Get a replacement phone and download your iCloud data during setup.
- Research data recovery software – Powerful tools if hardware allows data access.
- Consider professional recovery – For critical data on severely damaged devices.
- Check syncing sources – Data shared safely to other devices or cloud services.
- Always maintain current backups – Whether iTunes, iCloud, or other cloud storage.
Follow these tips starting today to make sure your irreplaceable iPhone data remains protected in the future.
Sample Data Recovery Cost Table
| Service Type | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| DIY iTunes Backup | $0 |
| iCloud Backup Restore | $0.99-$9.99/month |
| Data Recovery Software | $50-$300+ |
| Repair Shop Recovery | $300-$1000 |
| Pro Data Recovery Service | $1000-$5000+ |
Conclusion
Recovering data from a damaged or broken iPhone is possible with the right approach. For the best chance of success, stay calm, avoid actions that could worsen damage, and carefully try recovery options starting with inexpensive DIY methods like iCloud and iTunes backups before considering costlier professional services. With persistence and care, you can likely get photos, messages and other important data back even from a badly broken iPhone.