How do you get pictures off a water damaged phone that won't turn on?

Dealing with a water damaged phone that won’t turn on can be extremely frustrating, especially if you have important photos stored on it that you need to recover. The good news is that there are several methods you can try to get those photos off the phone, even if it won’t power on.

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Can you recover photos from a phone that won’t turn on?

Yes, it is often possible to recover photos and other data from a water damaged phone that won’t power on. Here are some of the main options to try:

Use data recovery software designed for phones – This specialized software can pull data off phones even if they won’t boot up.

Remove the memory card – If your photos are stored on a removable SD card, you may be able to access them by putting the card in another device.
Connect the phone to a computer – With the right cables, some computers may be able to access phone storage even if the phone screen is dead.
Use cloud backup services – If your photos were being backed up to the cloud, you can download them to another device from services like Google Photos.

Take the phone to a repair shop – Phone repair experts often have tools to directly access memory chips and recover data.

The chances of success depend on the extent of the water damage and what phone model you have. But in many cases, at least some photo recovery should be possible.

Important precautions when dealing with a water damaged phone

Before attempting to recover photos from a water damaged phone, there are some important precautions to take:

Dry it out completely – Remove any moisture both on the surface and inside using rice or silica packets.
Don’t try to turn it on – Attempting to boot up a wet phone can short circuit it and make data recovery impossible.
Don’t charge it – Only charge once you are sure it has fully dried out to avoid further damage.

Back up any recovered data – In case future recovery attempts fail, make sure to back up any photos you successfully pull off.
Be gentle – Avoid bending, knocking, or rough handling that could further break internal parts.

Following these precautions gives you the best chance of being able to recover photos without causing permanent failure of the device.

Using data recovery software to retrieve photos

Specialized data recovery software is often the most effective way to retrieve photos from a water damaged phone that won’t turn on. Here are the key steps when using this method:

Select a reputable recovery software and install it on a computer.
Use the appropriate cable to connect the water damaged phone to the computer.

The software should detect the phone and allow you to scan for recoverable media.
It may take some time to scan the phone’s storage for photo data.
You should then be presented with previews of recoverable photos found.

Select the photos you want to recover and restore them to the computer or another storage device.

Some top data recovery software options for phones include:

Software	Key Features
Dr.Fone	Works with iOS and Android. Has different data recovery modules.
EaseUS MobiSaver	Recovers photos, videos, contacts, messages, and more.
DiskDigger	Free photo recovery app for Android with paid “Pro” version.

The right software makes it easy to recover photos, even from phones that won’t power on. Just be sure to use a trusted program and properly connect the device.

Removing the memory card to recover photos

If the photos on your water damaged phone were stored on an external memory card, removing the card to recover data may be the quickest option.

Here is the process for using a memory card to retrieve photos from a phone that won’t turn on:

Locate the slot for the memory card – often in a tray along the side or under the back cover.

Carefully open the slot and remove the memory card.
Allow any moisture on the memory card to dry before proceeding.
Place the memory card into a card reader or another device like a phone or camera.

The device should mount the memory card as an external storage drive.
You can then browse and copy your photos to retrieve them.

Since memory cards are made to be removable, the data on them is often still recoverable even if the phone itself won’t turn on. Just be sure the card is fully dry before putting it in another device.

Tips for recovering photos from a wet memory card

Use a hair dryer on a low, cool setting to carefully dry the memory card after removing it from the water damaged phone.
Don’t rub or scratch the gold contacts on the memory card while drying it.
Put the memory card in an airtight container with several pouches of silica gel to completely moisture-proof it.

Always copy photos from the card rather than just viewing them directly, in case moisture causes intermittent failure.

Using a computer to access phone storage

It may be possible to use a computer to access the internal storage of a water damaged phone even if the phone remains unusable. This requires having the proper cable and some settings adjustments on the computer.

Follow these steps to try retrieving photos via a direct USB connection to a computer:

On a Windows PC, go to Control Panel > Device Manager.
Turn on USB debugging options to enable data transfer despite phone issues.
Connect the water damaged phone using its USB cable.

The phone may show up as an external drive allowing you to access photos.
On Mac, download Android File Transfer software to interface with the phone.
Use thesame USB connection procedure to access photos.

If the phone experienced major electronic damage, this direct connection method may not work. But it’s worth trying since it can provide access without any special data recovery software.

What to do if the phone isn’t recognized on a computer

Try connecting your phone to a different computer.
Use a different USB cable – some allow only charging vs data transfer.

Toggle any USB connection options or modes on the phone.
On a Windows PC, update or reinstall device drivers related to the phone connection.
Carefully clean and dry the phone’s USB port to ensure a good connection.

Using cloud backups to restore lost phone photos

If your photos were being automatically backed up to the cloud, you can easily recover them by accessing that backup data even if your phone remains broken.

Here are some tips for leveraging cloud backups:

On an iPhone, check if iCloud photos is enabled under Settings > Photos.

Sign into iCloud.com from a computer or another phone to download photos.
For Android phones, open the Google Photos app on another device.
Navigate to Library > Device Folders to find your lost phone and view photos.

Other cloud services like Dropbox or OneDrive may also have your photos if you had set up backups.

Relying on cloud backups means you won’t have to mess with cables, software, or removing components from your water damaged phone. Just connect to the cloud from a working device and restore your photos.

Professional phone data recovery services

For extreme phone water damage where DIY options don’t work, there are professional phone recovery services that may be able to salvage your photos.

Here is an overview of how professional phone data recovery works:

Find a reputable lab like DriveSavers or Gillware to handle phone data recovery.
Ship the damaged device to the recovery facility.

Technicians disassemble the phone in a clean room and remove memory chips.
They use specialized tools to read and copy data from the chips.
If successful, they return a storage device with your recovered photos.

Pro phone recovery can cost several hundred dollars, but may be worth it for irreplaceable photos. This is the last resort when all else fails.

Questions to ask professional photo recovery services

What is your success rate for water damaged phones?
Do you have experience recovering data from my specific phone model?

How soon can you attempt recovery after receiving the phone?
Will I get a storage device with all recoverable data or just select photos?
What security measures do you take to protect my personal data?

Preventing photo loss from water damage

While retrieving photos from a water damaged phone is often possible, it’s much better to avoid the situation altogether. Here are some tips to keep your phone and photos safe from water:

Use a sturdy case designed to withstand submersion.
Avoid taking your phone near water like pools or bathtubs.

Never charge your phone near a sink or other wet areas.
Set up automatic cloud syncing of all photos immediately after taking them.
Backup your phone photos regularly to a computer or storage drive.

Consider paying for phone insurance in case water damage does occur.

Following a careful prevention plan reduces both photo loss risks and the need for tricky recovery processes if your phone does get wet.

Conclusion

Retrieving photos from a water damaged phone that won’t turn on takes some persistence and creativity. But between data recovery software, the cloud, removing the memory card, professional phone repair, and directly accessing phone storage from a computer, there are several decent options for getting those photos back.

Just be sure to dry out the phone thoroughly before attempting anything. And once you do recover those precious photos, immediately back them up in multiple locations so water damage can’t threaten them again!